Aibu to ask how anyone has money left?

[sprinklecupcakes]

How on earth does anyone have any money left at the end of the month. I have totalled up all the bills we need to pay and they total more than the income. I just don't understand?! How can you work full time and still be left with not enough 😭please give me tips on reducing costs and making money last. I have gone to bed crying I cannot live like this. I got paid today and once I pay everything tomorrow I will have £3..😭

For starters sell the iPhones! Even on two wages that's the most expensive phone going. Get one of those when you earn 80k.

Get a much cheaper smartphone and put the sim card in that, use the cash from selling the handsets against debt.

What is your partner driving? Can it be sod for something more basic?

Definitely look in to universal credit but also look in to whether you're eligible for Maternity Allowance too - www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance

BT are con artists nowadays. Try them again though. Tell them you can't afford it and see if they'll at least change your package

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/phone-internet-downloads-or-tv/if-youre-struggling-to-pay-your-mobile-phone-internet-or-tv-bill/

Also, try your mobile phone providers too. I've previously changed my tariff mid contract.

Try BT again, mention that your thinking of going elsewhere, usually does the trick.

Have you applied for maternity allowance? It's not loads but would help with food.

Assume you're already in receipt of child benefit. Again not a huge amount but everything helps.

Consider doing online surveys (I think there's an earn £10 per day thread on MN somewhere), I used to do that and built up a fair amount of Amazon vouchers. Again useful for necessities.

Speak to his IP and see if you can get a payment break/variation on the IVA. I would only do this if there is no where else for you to reduce outgoings from, but from what I've read there's nowhere to cut so speak to the IP and see what they can do in the short term.

@DeepaBeesKit

For starters sell the iPhones! Even on two wages that's the most expensive phone going. Get one of those when you earn 80k.

Get a much cheaper smartphone and put the sim card in that, use the cash from selling the handsets against debt.

What is your partner driving? Can it be sod for something more basic?

The car is my car that I paid off in full a year back it is only a 2011 car but there is no payments and has been reliable from a-b not sure how much we could get to sell it probably not a lot and may end up with a money pit with a banger. The car passed the MOT with no issues.

Are you claiming child benefit and can you claim any tax credits/UC or housing benefits?

Consolidate any debt? Can you cut back on more home made food? Are you bottle or breast feeding? Reusable nappies although I think the initial outlay is quite high.

Question by I’m sure they can give you a better deal

@HamSandwichKiller

Have you applied for maternity allowance? It's not loads but would help with food.

Assume you're already in receipt of child benefit. Again not a huge amount but everything helps.

Consider doing online surveys (I think there's an earn £10 per day thread on MN somewhere), I used to do that and built up a fair amount of Amazon vouchers. Again useful for necessities.

I sent off for child benefit but not heard back yet. Can I get maternity whilst being redundant?

@Timeisavirtue

Try BT again, mention that your thinking of going elsewhere, usually does the trick.

Damn right! Don't just accept what they tell you, there is always wiggle room. Always. You just have to act like a dog with a bone and this can be done without being ill mannered!

Get yourself over to the MoneySavingExpert site, there's a wealth of helpful information there.

I wouldn’t sell a 2011 car that is paid off and reliable to run. I agree it has the potential to be a false economy to sell and buy another that’s cheaper.

If you were working up until 35 weeks pregnant and had been there for 6 years, I think you should be able to claim maternity allowance? It’s only for 39 weeks, and the same rate as smp. I’d look into applying for child benefit and UC too.

The only other thing I can think of (and it is truly terrible advice!) is to stop paying the bills that you can’t afford, like bt and the phones. Let them go to debt collectors and then work out a monthly payment you can actually afford. It’ll destroy your credit file and like I said is a terrible idea, but it will get you out of the monthly commitment although I suspect you’ll get hammered for the whole contract amount but be able to spread it out over time.

You could apply for a breathing space on debts which will stop them chasing you for 60 days.

Ultimately though, I think you’ll have to get back to work as soon as possible, at opposite times to your DP so there’s no childcare costs.

Have you sold off everything thing you have lying around already?

It’s not much help now but if you are wondering how to be better off in general I’d say to reconsider expensive contracts before taking them out in future. Why on earth did you take out a £102 BT contract and such expensive phone contracts? I pay £6 a month for my phone with giffgaff and £20 for broadband with Vodafone so you really are paying over the odds. Even if my income doubled I’d never pay £100 for internet just because I think that’s too much.

@Ugzbugz

Are you claiming child benefit and can you claim any tax credits/UC or housing benefits?

Consolidate any debt? Can you cut back on more home made food? Are you bottle or breast feeding? Reusable nappies although I think the initial outlay is quite high.

I am more than happy to cook but honestly no idea where to even start with meal planning. As partner working full time I didn't think i would be entitled to any benefits but I can look at this tomorrow. We do cloth nappies already except for in the night so only spend £2 something every 3 weeks in aldi on nappies.

Have a look on the gov website. I think you get around £140 a week.

When my mat pat ends my partner will be on 1400 a month and me nothing and we qualify for benefits. Try the calculator websites.

Hi

Try Citizens Advice for help lowering BT and phones (both exorbitant compared to what I pay). There is a website called entitled to that can help with identifying benefits. It’s not uncommon to get into debt with young baby if no mat pay but in time work should pay more than childminder. It’s an expensive time.

I’ve been here and we had £100 left after outgoings & food. It was tight but we managed with very careful budgeting.

Phones & BT = reduce if you can. Contracts are difficult but be stern with them
Gas & electricity = high for just 2 adults and a baby! Submit Regular meter readings, be careful with your usage and get those direct debits reduced if possible (or at least be careful and get in credit!)
Car insurance = that’s really high!! Another contract you’re stuck in?

Shop in Lidl and Aldi. And don’t waste food. Meal plan and budget. I bet you can get your food bill down!

Sell anything you can on eBay or FAcebook Market Place!! I just sold used magazines for £20 on FB - can’t believe it!! I’ve made £100 on eBay this month by selling clothes I don’t actually wear

You need to find a job. Even a few hours on a weekend can make ALL the difference. Or go back full time, even if your salary just pays for nursery. The longer your gap on your CV - the harder it’ll be to get back into work.

I found this out the hard way!

Make lists of all the free things you can do that will bring your family joy….(walk in the woods with a flask of hot choc, walk through town to the see Christmas lights, summer beach BBQ)

It’s a shit time for you. But you’ll be alright!

Your partner needs to contact the insolvency practitioner and say he cannot afford the payments, if it's temporary they will give him a payment break, or if its longer term they will either end the ova sooner or reduce the payments. Are the bank loan and credit cards in your name or his? They need paid last. Contact bt and the phone providers and explain and see what they can do, work out a reasonable budget based on paying rent and essential bills and food, whatever is then left goes towards debt. Dont go without food or heating or get into more debt to pay off loans. Contact the bank to reduce or get payment breaks on the debt if nothing else.

did u try all the insurance comparison sites? seems 3 x higher than usual unless your have a lot of points/new drivers?

HopeHappy gave the link for Matetnity Allowance at 22.37. You should get it if not getting maternity pay from your ex company.

Seconding anyone who has said that you need to go to:

–MSE Debt-Free Wannabe section as those people are legends at helping you to reduce your outgoings. You need to put every little detail in there and there are forms to help you. www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/stop-spending-budgeting-tool/

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/debt-free-wannabe?
–Stepchange
–Turn2Us
–Christians Against Poverty (no faith affiliation involved)
–Benefits and Work.

Your phone contracts are very expensive & your BT is astronomical. Can you cancel any of these & get much cheaper ones? I pay £30 for two phones and £19 for Vodafone each month and they are fairly good quality

Yes you definitely should be able to apply for maternity allowance.

Another option is to plan to work a few evening shifts in a pub or similar. This way you can earn very efficiently within your tax free allowance, while your partner has the baby so you don't need to pay childcare.

Surely you are entitled to tax credit? Have you looked? And also child benefit