Urgent money raising ideas needed

[whattodo36]

Ok I know I'll get a lot of blame etc but we've ended up in a situation where I need to desperately raise £300 and I can't think of any ideas so I'm hoping someone may suggest something I haven't considered.

The money is needed for food for the week and to pay a very important bill. There's no wiggle room on the bill as we've already tried.

I've been on countless loan websites all afternoon but due to really bad credit ratings we are getting nowhere. I've thought of selling things but we honestly don't have anything of any value to sell!

I've tried asking family and friends but they aren't in a position to help.

Can anyone think of anything we haven't thought of or can recommend a website that would loan with very bad credit ratings??

[londonrach]

Sell anything you can via Facebook market place.....

[whattodo36]

@londonrach I really wish I could but I don't have anything worth any type of value. I've sold many things in the past so now I just don't have anything left that people would pay for. At most if I clubbed everything together I could probably make about £50 doing that

[colouringindoors]

Sell your time/effort. See if your neighbours will pay to gave their car washed/lawn cut/ironing done/house cleaned if you're equipped/able

[GrazingSheep]

Advance payment from employers?
Food bank referral?

[girlmom21]

Can you pawn your phone or laptop?

[Jaaxe]

Car boot sale? People will literally buy your crap at these

[KentishMama]

What is the split here between needing to buy food and pay a bill?

Re: food, are there food banks near you that you can access?

What do you do, job-wise? Are there extra shifts you could do, or do you have a skill (e.g. gardening) that you could use to get a few quick jobs in? (E.g. posting on local Facebook group to find someone who needs help with gardening this week)

Can you share what the bill is, and what the effect of not paying it would be?

[Starlin]

Vinted? Facebook marketplace? Ask the company for a payment plan? Last case could be overdraft?

[Butchyrestingface]

The money is needed for food for the week and to pay a very important bill.

Can't help with advice re the bill - looks like you're going to have to default on it.

Re food, do all the food banks in your area require a referral? I used to help out at a church run soup kitchen in my area that gave out free food 3x times a day, including the evening meal, which was a sit down affair. No referral needed. Some people came every single day. Anything like that in your area?

[MomwasCasual]

Can you roughly say what the money is needed for?

Not asking cos I'm a nosy git so am a nosy git but people might be able to offer specific advice

[whattodo36]

@girlmom21 I sold my phone 2 months ago and got a cheap pay as you go one so that's not an option unfortunately.

Employers have refused a cash advance.

It's a situation that we've seen coming but just haven't been able to stop. Our energy bill went up two months ago from £65 a month to £300 and there's unfortunately nothing they will let us do about it. On top of that other small increases such a fuel etc are just setting us on a downward spiral

[Nannyogg134]

I really feel for you, I've been in the depths of this myself (more recently than I'd like). Those temporary loans are the beginning of a toxic relationship because the repayments are so high that you're unable to manage without getting another one to cover the shortfall each month. My only advice is to call your local foodbanks; we weren't eligible for a social services referral due to not being on the right benefits, instead we called our local Salvation Army office and a couple of local churches, eventually finding someone who could help. If you're on facebook, see if there is a page where people local to you are giving things away- the one near us often has people who are gifting odds and ends from the cupboard. As for the bill, if it is the council tax, ask to speak to your welfare rights team at the council (there definitely will be one) and tell them your dilemma. If it is a mortgage/rent payment then ask what discretionary power they have for people unable to pay for essential bills. I wish I could give you a better answer and I'm so sorry that you're in this situation.

[ThisUserNameIsAvailableOk]

Posters should be aware not to send money.

What's the bill and how much is it?

[YumYummy]

Do you have a car or bike , could you do Deliveroo?
Can you get referred to a food bank?

[hoowhoo]

Get a second job ideally cash in hand and a referral to food bank. Next call energy company and explain you can't afford it and see what they can arrange

[WeAreAllLionesses]

A loan is not the answer, you'll end up in huge debt as these rises are just the start.

Agree with pp - food banks and churches for food help.

[Macaroni1924]

You may not have anything of value (or that you think is) but old phones, laptops, books, dvd bundles, kids toys, clothes. Basically anything you do not need get it listed on Facebook or gumtree even £5 per item will get you something towards what you need. I bought a house and literally sold everything I could to save the deposit. Old bookshelves, cake tins the lot. If it’s going to sell will go in first 24-48hours

[ThisUserNameIsAvailableOk]

Call them back and tell them you can't afford to pay the bill. It's good that it's the energy bill, they can't cut you off.

Check out Money Saving Expert for tips

[NeverDropYourMooncup]

You'll have to bounce the bill/cancel the DD. They can't take what you haven't got.

You'll switch to a tariff that's higher, but it'll give you a short time to look at whether you are actually using the amount they are wanting you to pay.

[StoneofDestiny]

Not sure what your skills are - Gardening tidies/lawn cutting for others.......

[TheFormidableMrsC]

Is your energy bill actually 300 or is that what they've set the DD to? They can't refuse to help you if you can't pay it. My first thought is get onto the CAB and ask them to liaise with your supplier. Mine tried to put my DD up to 300 but I refused because my average use is 105. I pay for what I use.

I'd get a short term referral to a food bank. So sorry you're in this situation.

[KentishMama]

The problem with this being an energy bill is that those come in every month. If you use a loan to pay this month, then what will you do next month? Another loan? And the month after - another?

I feel like doing extra jobs is the most realistic, anything to increase your income. Cleaning, gardening, ironing, shopping, babysitting, tutoring, bar jobs, deliveroo or similar all spring to mind.

[FlissMumsnet]

Hello everyone,

We've had a number of reports from people concerned about this thread so, as we usually do in these circs, we're putting our heads round the door with some important reminders.
Right now we can't see any evidence to indicate that the OP isn't above board – if we did, we'd remove the thread straight away. But the truth is that, sadly, we at MNHQ can't know with 100% certainty that any poster is genuine, no matter who they are or how long they have been here. As frustrating as it is, we're not able to vouch for anyone here.
We always ask users to remember that not everyone on the internet is who they say they are – and remind folk not to give more to another poster, either financially (in cash or gifts) or emotionally (in time or care and support) than they'd be prepared to lose if things went wrong.
Though, we strongly advise against parting with any cash or giving away your personal details, and if you receive a PM which makes you uneasy - report it to us and we’ll take a look.
We've compiled some useful links posted by Mumsnetters into a financial issues webguide, so that people experiencing difficulties can find all the relevant information in one place.
Sorry to hijack your thread briefly there, OP – we really hope you get it all sorted soon.