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..😭

You should be entitled to maternity allowance- around £600 a month if you were earning enough.

Also you are clearly living beyond your means- those phone/tv/Internet bills are insane. My household income is 10x yours and our bills come to 10x less.

What tv package do you have? Is it really necessary?

If DP’s debt was guaranteed why didn’t the guarantor take over payments when he defaulted prior to the IVA?

How many hours does your dh work @sprinklecupcakes? Maybe he could look into another part-time evening job as a temporary measure?

@TuftyMarmoset

If DP’s debt was guaranteed why didn’t the guarantor take over payments when he defaulted prior to the IVA?

Not sure, never really thought of that until you mentioned it. I know his mum was paying for some as she was always arguing that she couldn't afford them. But then it got put into the IVA for £35 a week.

@Babynames2 Has absolutely solid advice. Contact your previous employer and ACAS for your maternity payments, and apply for UC tomorrow. If you can't get it all done in one day with such a small baby so soon out of the NICU then just do what you can. I would also contact local food banks or your HV about vouchers. That will give your budget some wiggle room.

In the meantime can you sell any old shoes or coats or games consoles that you have lying about? Just putting up on FB marketplace a Wii/PlayStation/ Xbox might get you £50. Things like keyboards you don't use, or even controllers can sell for £5-£10 some PlayStation ones around me are listed at 30-50!

I'm sorry things are so rough for you right now OP, what a shock this must be for you. Just know that none of this is your fault and it is hard, you're allowed to be upset about it. It is crap x

I would phone bt again and mobile providers and Sk again is there anywY you can downgrade ? Explain made redundAnt and have a newborn etc even if it was reduced a few pounds it would help
Also Apply for uc so you get all you are entitled too

@JustWonderingIfYou

You should be entitled to maternity allowance- around £600 a month if you were earning enough.

Also you are clearly living beyond your means- those phone/tv/Internet bills are insane. My household income is 10x yours and our bills come to 10x less.

What tv package do you have? Is it really necessary?

Yes, you should be entitled to statutory maternity. www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/pay You should be able to claim back pay as well. Have you sought legal advice about being made redundant whilst pregnant as well?

When SMP ends see if you can find a job - like bar/waiting tables to fit in around your partner's working time. Maybe try to find something a few hours each week now so you have something lined up for later.

@bestdhever

How many hours does your dh work *@sprinklecupcakes*? Maybe he could look into another part-time evening job as a temporary measure?

He does 12 hours 4 on 4 off nightshift. He has looked for jobs to fit around it but it has been a struggle. He is waiting to hear back from some interviews. I have also applied but not heard anything yet but it has also been a week. I do have savings that I was putting away in cash and coins for a year. So I can count that tomorrow it may be more than I expected.

Hi OP! Firstly I just want to say that you’re doing a great job, it sounds like you’ve had such a stressful few months!

Like others have mentioned, some of your bills do seem really high - I’m wondering if there are reasons you don’t want to share? Eg your partners car insurance - you said he is young, but I am 23, driving for 2 years, 2016 car, insurance is half of what his is! Did he definitely look around for the best deal? Has he got points or previous claims that are affecting his insurance?

Spending £100 in Aldi for 2 adults also seems like a lot, what kinds of foods were you buying? How long would that food shop last you?

I don’t have much to add on top of what has already been said, but please do look at re-negotiating your debts and talk to BT and your phone providers - I didn’t know you could even get phone bills that high!

It probably seems so overwhelming - citizens advice may be able to help point you in the right direction for each thing if you feel like you need the help?

@GrandTheftWalrus
Just wanted to say that if you talk to the school and tell them your situation, I’m sure they will be more than happy to help.

I think you will be entitled to UC. Put in a claim as soon as you can.

www.gov.uk/universal-credit/eligibility

As soon as you have confirmation that you are entitled, you can switch your BT broadband and phone line contract to a BT Essentials Contract with no penalty for early switching. It is £15 per month.

www.bt.com/exp/broadband/home-essentials

Good luck and congratulations on your baby.

• Maternity allowance yes!
• BT - keep fighting. Go to Citizens Advice bureau & ask for help with the BT contract, that’s robbery!
• Mobile phones are very expensive so see if you can change those for sim only or cheaper deal.

Hang in there op I think with a couple of changes you could be ok 👍 deffo deffo maternity allowance. Also once those debts are cleared you will have an extra £300 or so- I’m including your credit card in that.

Xoxox

I could get another job but then how do I afford nursery?

You work when your husband isn’t. Didn’t you say he does 4 on 4 off? That’s 4 days you can work.

I’m on a decent income and having struggled in the past am quite frugal
Look at ways to bring in extra - I sell stuff on eBay and vinted
Cut outgoings - it’s too late now for contracts you are tied into but a tad foolish when your partner was already on an IVA and you have loans - in future go sim only you don’t need the latest tech
Look at any others you can cut - I don’t have sky or Netflix or prime etc

What wage is he on then @sprinklecupcakes surely with those hours he should be getting a shift rate!!
What does he do??

This may be poor advise so id strongly advise speak to a Citizens Advice debt advisor first but in your shoes I’d stop all of the debt and phone payments

This would stop £563 from going out the door and bring your main expenses down to about 1k leaving £350 per month for food and the things that the baby needs.

This would get you more in debt, either one or both of you, but right now you need to keep a roof over your head, food in the fridge and provide what your baby needs.

I had CAB debt advise a long time ago and they told me to prioritise any debt that could leave me homeless (none could) and then they have set basic amounts for things like food. Only what is left over is used to pay off other debts, things like phone contracts are also considered them.

It might be worth still paying off anything in your name so atleast one of your credit ratings is clean and can avoid bankruptcy if it comes to that and your car is safe from repossession

@BoredZelda

I could get another job but then how do I afford nursery?

You work when your husband isn’t. Didn’t you say he does 4 on 4 off? That’s 4 days you can work.

I have applied for jobs but I haven't heard anything. He is fresh out the NICU with additional needs we knew nothing about until he was born. I am trying with the job search but we only got home 6 days ago.

Your gas and elec seem quite high.
I pay 1/2 that for a 2 bed terrace (and heating the garden office).

@LooksLikeImStuckHere they continually ask for donations to help people. Which I feel bad I can't give. Yet looking at our combined wages (me mat pay, him wages) we seem loaded but after bills we certainly aren't!

@DeepaBeesKit

We did a quick shop in Aldi earlier so not extravagant in the slightest and we only had four reuseable bags but it was over £100 confused

Its not just where you shop it's what you buy. £100 in sainsburys/waitrose on fruit, veg, tins of pulses, eggs and milk, bread, rice, pasta, and a small amount of the cheapest meat/fish options is less extravagant than £100 in aldi including wine, junk food, treats and loads of meat/fish.

We don't drink and only eat meat once or twice a week

We also don't buy processed food because we prep meals for the slow cooker etc in the evenings so we can eat in between working hours.

Everything unpacked today was all household cleaning/washing stuff and fruit/veg/pasta/cereal bars/cheese milk etc.

Food prices have increased a lot

Is your partner under the age of 20? If he is working 12 hour shifts 4 on/4 off, by my (dodgy) calculations he’s only earning around £7.50 an hour?

Go to your local Citizens Advice bureau and ask them to check you’re not missing any benefit entitlements.

Call StepChange debt charity to get a plan to sustainably pay off any debt.

If you’re struggling for food make sure you find out details of your local food bank.

If you’re struggling to pay for Christmas presents see what freebies are given away locally on Facebook or check local charity shops.

I’m really sorry OP, it sounds really hard.

@tubbycustard1

Is your partner under the age of 20? If he is working 12 hour shifts 4 on/4 off, by my (dodgy) calculations he’s only earning around £7.50 an hour?

He is salary pay not hourly. I have just asked him to check it was correct. The figure he gave me for what he brings home is -150 IVA and minus -£70 phone. Knowing this now it isn't actually ad horrendous now.

Also check to see if there’s a Baby Bank for free baby things nearby.

Your local children’s centre should do free vitamins which your baby will need when you wean off formula (if you’re not breastfeeding) - call or walk to your local children’s centres and tell them you’re struggling as they often can do food bank referrals.

Ask on local Facebook groups for anyone giving away baby clothes, toys and equipment.

Sorry if I missed this OP but are you getting no maternity pay at all? Have you checked your entitlement to it?

www.maternityaction.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Redundancy-2018.pdf