To ask what you would do if you has absolutely no money but

[ashamedmum007]

Needed some desperately?

I have to move in the next two weeks. I have virtually no furniture, no sofas or beds. What I do have probably won't survive a move. I have no white goods as they were included in my current rental. I have no car currently as I could afford to keep it on the road so cantmove myself. Working more to earn more isn't doable. I have 3 kids I'm solely responsible for. No financial help from there father just £1000s of unpaid debt via cms ill never see. I have nothing of value worth selling. I can't get credit due to the ex-husband. I have seeked help through charities and been declined. I can't get an advance from UC as I've earned more than £2600 in the past 6 months. I don't have family prepared or able to help. Nor any friends who would be in a position to help. I've scoured Facebook market place, neighbourhoods and Freecycle etc for furniture but always get let down. 3 times I've found sofas waited in for them to be delivered only to be ghosted and them not show. No cooker. No washing machine. No fridge. No beds. No sofas. Not even curtains or lampshades.

What do I do next?

Put something on your town Facebook page rather then free cycle or a selling Facebook page stating your situation and what you need.

You could also try a shout out for someone with a van to help you move?

I hope these suggestions all help, I started from scratch pretty much with two young children, and help a lot of people now through the charity I work with. You aren't alone and you shouldn't feel ashamed of reaching out to these places for help. That's why they're there, because people like me who have been there want to pay it forward.

Have you received any amount of universal credit in the last month even 1p

if so you can apply for a discretionary housing payment (have a look on the councils website)

this can help with, removal costs, deposit, rent in advance and rent for the overlap of your tenancies.

https://britainexplained.com/list-of-benevolent-funds/

Try local freemasons https://www.ugle.org.uk/
https://www.roundtable.co.uk or https://ladiescircle.co.uk/

All are social groups who also donate to charity and I know our local ones have helped individuals that have been in similar situations to you.

I'm.not in your area unfortunately, but for complicated reasons I'm having to get rid of a houseful of furniture, including kitchen equipment, and would much rather it went to someone in your position. If you ask via your local church you might find someone who can gift you items.

I really hope you get sorted out OP. That is a really tough situation.

We have a very active freebie page locally called CLOUD, is there one near you? We have loads of other amazing organisations and charities too which support people especially those with no furniture and single parents. What about homestart, can they do anything?

We're about to give away our sofa and 2 beds but we're at the opposite end of the country. I really hope someone local to you has some stuff available. 🤞 Good luck in your new home.

https://endfurniturepoverty.org/get-help-with-furniture/

This may help you OP

Shropshire council work with several charities to recycle good quality furniture

www.shropshire.gov.uk/recycling-and-rubbish/reduce-reuse-recycle/how-to-re-use-furniture/

Cheshire council do a similar thing www.changing-lives-together.org.uk/

I would ask on local Facebook groups if anyone can help with anything at all. My local groups are amazing. People often ask for help and get all kinds of offers

Does your local council have a department called Helping hands?
Maybe give them a call.

Do you have camping mattresses? Currently double inflatable camp beds are £16 at Asda new, or ask on Freecycle. I gave away white goods etc when I moved, others will too

First of all, congratulations on getting social housing. The only way is up now!

I have recently been strapped for cash (I normally manage to keep on an even keel, but I booked a family holiday for Easter and the bills just kept coming in Jan/ Feb and I nearly hit the bottom of my overdraft there). So, I did several things, with varying degrees of success. I tried selling things on Vinted and eBay, but it turns out nobody wants my tatty old stuff 😳. I put a call out on Facebook, asking if anybody knew of any temporary work/ jobs that needed doing, and a friend who struggles to keep her home in order paid me £70 for a day deep cleaning her house. And I signed up with a couple of temporary agencies and picked up 4 days work as a kitchen porter in a nursing home- that was £320- a nice sum!
(I know you said you couldn't do any work, but just in case casual/ temporary might work?)

Regarding stuff, it seems that the real hurdle is not having a vehicle to pick it up. I think it's very rare that people offering free stuff will also deliver! I'm sitting on a free Facebook sofa right now, and there's one over there that cost £50, but the difference is I'm lucky enough to have a van to pick them up with. So perhaps borrowing/ hiring a van should be a priority? 🤔

For the little things like cushions, curtains, kitchen equipment etc, charity shops can be great- or, the holy grail- a jumble sale, where stuff is even cheaper! Are you able to get to these kinds of places?

Haven’t read the whole thread, but I def agree that your local auction house is your friend! You’ll be able to get furniture and white good cheaply, only problem is getting them moved, so try to negotiate a price with someone with a van beforehand, so you know w hat you’re paying. There may even be a community group with transport who can help you

We have a local scrap store that helps people in need with furniture, white goods etc and delivers them for free. I’d be surprised if there isn’t a similar organisation locally.

How long until next lot of money coming in?

Can you post on Facebook in the local town/neighbourhood group, find out if there's any neighbourhood WhatsApp groups. I'm on one in London and people post all the time of stuff they're giving away and when there's been someone struggling (single parents/refugees) moving into a property that needs furnishing, then everyone has helped them to furnish their new home with what they can give away. I think it's worth asking.
Sounds like a stressful position to be in OP, I think like others have said it's best to focus on the essentials - you need somewhere to sleep so prioritise that.

🤔

Shrewsbury. Telford. Crewe. Chester. Etc. Etc.

Are you not able to buy mattresses on credit from a catalogue or Argos? You can save and buy bed frames at a later date.
See if there are any places that rent washing machines, local rental businesses are usually cheaper than the ones online.
Wilko has stick up paper blinds for £10 which will last untill you can afford curtains.

Also if the problem with freecycle/gumtree is picking stuff up, try posting on one of the neighbourhood WhatsApp groups if anyone can help to collect furniture/has a van and doesn't mind helping.

Not sure if this will be any use. But might be worth looking at?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/447VV8HQ1cM8h2Fh1yM1tvC/bed-poverty-resources

Also....you said all your kids are at secondary...can THEY work?! Washing cars, feeding cats, babysitting etc...Obviously teenagers normally do this for their own spending money, but in the case of an emergency surely they could all pull together to help make your home nice?

None of those places are easily accessible when i dont own a car. None of those places have items free or cheap that will delivery. Van estimates are coming in at £50+ to collect 1 item plus the costs of me traveling to see them and pay cash as i cant arrange a van to collect and pay remotely, no one will accept that, they want me there to pay cash on pick up. The small town i am near to, im on the group for, 3 times ive been let down, and not much gets posted on them. Im well aware of what towns are in the counties. But as a none driver its really not that simple.