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?

Freegle

Olio

Have a look at Wrekin Reviive, call them and explain your circumstances. They sell furniture and white goods but also support low income families access furniture.

Another place you might find free or low-cost items is on Next Door. You could even put out a similar appeal to the one you put in this thread and you might get offers and assistance. Next
Door has the advantage that, of its nature, it’s very local. I’m in a different area but I’ve seen this work for people.

You can rent appliances on short term like washing machine for £15 a month

Google rent a washing machine uk. Most deliver free and install and repairs are covered.

I'd take your duvets and do the best you can until pay day. Then blow up mattress

If you do not have access to fast money, speak with your children. E play to them that you will get furniture and everything will be lovely, but it will take a while until you have found what you want/ need. Then focus on the absolute essentials - air mattresses if you can’t get beds/ madnesses. Maybe borrow some from a friend?
you already have a microwave - get a kettle. If you cannot get a proper fridge - get a small one that can tie you over.
you can use sheets for blinds for now.
and then continue to look for free furniture and white goods, and buy things bit by bit.
best of luck

I've been in this situation OP and now I have more shit in this house than I thought would fit! It will get better.
DD and I shared an air bed when we moved in, she was 13 as well so not little, but it was better than the floor. We had a microwave and a kettle. And for the first two weeks I used a jar lid for a plug in the bath and sink because it didn't even have plug.

It was really basic but it's what you need to get through to get the security you don't have in private rent.

You said you work - my HA put me in touch with a charity that helps people in my job (guess from the un 🤣) and they paid for 3 carpets, a cooker and a bed. I cried when I opened the letter. I now donate a small amount a month back that I'm in a better place. I had to send payslips with my applications to prove I was in that industry and it did take a little while.

I think there's one for care workers and other jobs - ask your HA if there's anyone that they can put you in touch with like that in your area. Or Google your job + charity.

What about colleagues at work? A few gave me stuff when I moved in here, some rugs for the floor, curtains and one sold me a halogen oven - they're cheaper than big ovens but they're better than a microwave, though a microwave is better than nothing.

Can you get some drawing pins? You can tack sheets up at the windows for now and when I had a little money I bought a cheap plastic washing line, tacked that above the window and hung a blanket over so I could fold it up on itself during the day. Not pretty but did the job.

Good luck OP, this stressful bit is worth it when you start to get things in shape and you know you're secure.

We got basics from catalogue with stupid interest - mattresses, kettle. Rented washing machine and fridge. Made sure we made minimum payments so credit built up. It was an expensive way to do it but when you dont have options there isn't much choice.

What are you all currently sleeping on?

Apologies if this has been already been posted but BBC Children in Need fund emergency essentials for households with under 18s, but you need to be referred by a professional - https://www.familyfundservices.co.uk/emergency-essentials/

They can fund cookers, washing machines, beds etc so may be worth a look.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz presumably the furniture in her FURNISHED private rental that she's moving out of.

Sorry I misread the amount earned.

I don't know anything about this but genuinely shocked that anyone would advise a form a betting to someone who is clearly vulnerable at the current time.

Have a look on John Pye auctions website for cheap white goods and other bits of furniture. They have some higher end stuff but they also have stuff that had been reclaimed from repossessions etc that goes for a song.

Contact your local Church of England parish church: they will help you.