If you were about to be poor, what would you spend your money on now?

[TargetPractice11]

To make life easier when your income drops?

We have some savings that can be spent on things that will save money in the long run get term.

I've just bought a slow cooker, for example. And I'm thinking about getting our windows upgraded to save on bills.

Buy thermal/blackout curtains for all your windows - they are cheaper than you think. They do a good job of keeping the heat in.

RWG have a one-off payment of £45 for a year of unlimited calls & texts + 5gb data each month. I’ve got mine using the EE network. https://www.rwgmobile.wales/webshop/buy-forget/1-year-sim-unlimited-mins-unlimited-sms-5gb-data-every-month-for-12-months-one-off-charge/

I wouldn't spend anything but I'd save as much as possible in an account which has a rate locked in if possible (quickly before it drops as rates will be dropping now due to the recent BoE cut). You don't really know what you'll want or need. I'd wait and get things later when your money has earned interest, but you may be able to get things second hand if you take your time later.

Well this thread is infuriating… stop giving the OP advice about what to spend money on. A dehumidifier is the last of her problems.

In order of importance @TargetPractice11

1. You write a demand letter to your DH’s company.. today.
2. You put together a budget that preserves your savings
3. You make a list of actions he needs to take (do you have a gov’t labor board or similar that he can report them to? Contact a lawyer, etc apply to FT jobs, get another PT job to equal FT work)
4. You sit down with the letter, list, and your budget and tell DH he doesn’t get to bury his head in the sand. He can’t afford a PT job and he can’t afford not to pursue the money owed to him.
5. Don’t spend anything unnecessarily protect your savings
6. Prepare another list of things you have to do to protect yourself financially I suspect this isn’t going to end well for your marriage if he isn’t engaging and you are avoiding the tough conversations.

Good luck, this is a hard road.

Get your car serviced. Pay any insurances and rego up for 12 months. What’s the condition of the tyres? Driving licences? When are they due? The biggest problem is getting fined for these things not being up to date… just another expense.

get a good supply in of basic pantry staples. If you don’t already buy up on specials on products you already use, now’s the time to set aside a small budget to do so.

both of you head to a meeting with a free budgeting service. They will work with you on any allowances you might be entitled to.

both of you head to a meeting with a community based citizens advice bureau for advise on that money that is owed to you. I wouldn’t trust your husbands thinking right now, or that he actually knows what is correct as far as the assets of the people who owe you money.

start a vege garden at home (get your husband involved). I freeze my excess tomatoes which go into stews and soups later in the non growing season. Find a community garden.

Is there any reason why hubby cannot go and pack supermarkets shelves of a night time instead of you working 2 jobs? Cleaning companies quite often find it hard to retain night time staff for office cleaning etc.

re-education. Night time and/or on line mini courses. Hubby needs to rebrand himself.

finally, I’m also worried about you and your husbands ability to take care of the children while you work. He seems unsuccessful in managing his own adult world. Whether this be a temporary situation due to ill mental health or just incompetence I don’t know.

Maybe it’s time in enlist family and good friends.

can your oldest child/children look forward to spending a regular night with granny or their bestie?

Xx

I have solar and free of any financial partnership. For the outlay, in the current position you are in, I would not suggest such an outlay.
people who signed up with a provider supplying panels etc are not getting the returns forecast and in one case have had to buy out the plan.

Get a smart meter, switch suppliers to Octopus and stop tumble drying your cloth nappies!

Re chickens. If you feel you must get some, remember they go off the lay and you are still buying grain or layer pellets. I have 16 of mixed ages and it’s a running joke about my useless chickens…

I also have a home orchard and last autumn baked up a huge number of apple crumbles for the freezer. I wasn’t an op shopper prior to then but was amazed how many bake ware items I could buy for the price of 1 new one. Don’t overlook op shop shopping for your needs..

It sounds so hard but I think both the OP and her DH have to face up to what's going on.

is it a company that’s going to go through bankruptcy? I think you really need to make the debt known, officially, if that’s the case. You might not get the money but you’ll go on the list with everyone else.

I once knew a bunch of dudes that did this - had an ‘amazing’ idea that was going to make loadsa money. I got to watch it go to shit close up but unaffected and it was staggering to me, the people that they’d taken money off on the way down. It was obviously going to to be a mess quite early on but genuine smart people put money into it and I don’t think ever got anything back. The dudes moved on.

So I get it if your husband did this, and it must be horrible for him to realise he’s been had, but he can’t be taking a part time job. Wouldn’t it work better if he takes a ‘second’ job to come up to your hours?

( tongue in Cheek! )

Tattoos, eyelash extensions, eyebrow microblading, nail extensions , 60'' state of art TV, top of the range mobile phone etc . Then apply for UC!

Best advice on the thread. There is a lot of displacement going on here.

I'd fill up my freezer with meat, buy tins, stock up on stuff like loo rolls, toothpaste, washing powder, fabric softener, olive oil, foil etc so future food shopping would be a bit cheaper.

I used my chest freezer all the time. It's good to buy meat when it comes on special offer. I also grow things in my garden which is great but it often becomes ready for picking at the same time. Picking and freezing fruit like raspberries or cooking apples saves me money as I don't have to buy them out of season. At Xmas I order and buy a turkey crown to ensure I get one but I often buy an additional turkey or turkey crown if I see one for half price on Xmas Eve.

Agree, @saltinesandcoffeecups

Spending to hedge against low future income isn't a good strategy. Better to make do with what one has and save every penny.

If one isn't already a batch cook or what not, one isn't going to become one under duress. It'll just be more wasted money.

If I was about to be poor I wouldn’t be buying anything I’d hold on to the money I had saved incase I needed it for anything as things come up.

I’d pay for an appointment with a tough corporate lawyer and court fees to get you the money that you’re owed. Don’t spend savings on anything else at the moment.

Was thinking the same, as in a desperate need to spend cash. My initial response is premium bonds or a good savings account if this isn't the case. Xx

Hopefully your DH will get a better job, other employers who will see his worth. While you're working and he's PT there are benefits out there to make up to living wage? Having savings you will be of course be expected to use these first.

Best of luck.xxx

I've heard people say you just get dry patches near the rails and the rest stays damp. The advice was to get a dehumidifier. Make sure it is the correct size for the space it's operating in though.

Replacing Windows completely takes about 20 years to break even.

I am so so sorry for you. You are a resourceful person but you are punch drunk by all this and you are not thinking straight. I’m guessing this is very recent.
When a couple of weeks have passed, I think you will start to feel angry. When you do, I think you have to give this Man-child an ultimatum - he goes to a solicitor or he goes (he won’t want to leave your protective umbrella). The company is still trading and paying wages so it is solvent. You have said that the other employees are still there. You need him to put in a claim now. That company will have to pay his dues by raising funds via a loan or default on your claim, get a judgement against its name and a bailiff will go in to seize goods to the value of your claim.
Next thing, get yourself some financial independence from this guy. Open your own bank account and start lining up your little ducks. Maybe you will stay together, maybe you won’t but at the moment you have 3 children and only two of them need your support.
He can’t be given the luxury of a nervous breakdown or feeling sorry for himself. You can’t! Your anger will put a rocket up his arse. Nothing like being busy to perk him up.
Don’t spend any of your nest egg. Leave it there as your big safety net in case anything goes wrong/breaks down.
How old are your children?

I've pm'd you for a referral code x

Sell your tumble drier and replace it with a Meaco dehumidifier in preparation for a cold damp winter.
My damp clothes are put on an airer in the en-suite, dehumidifier is switched on, door shut and leave it do do it's job...
... dry clothes, no mould, no consensation and cheap to run. No brainer to save money in the winter.