To ask how people afford plumbers or new fridges?

[coldinside]

I need a plumber to look at a drain blockage in my bathroom (have already tried to clear it myself to no avail) and my fridge has broken so needs replaced. But I’m wondering how I can even afford these things. I earn £1979 per month and my bills are as follows:

Mortgage £620.48
Council tax £125
Income protection insurance £17.48
Car tax £16.62
Gas £20
Electricity £40
Broadband £23.99
Mobile phone £10.50
TV licence £29.08
Counselling £100
Petrol £150
Parking £80
Dentist £20
House management fee £20
Car insurance £45
Home insurance £43.25
Credit card £200

This leaves me with a total of £417 per month to feed myself and a dog, to buy clothes, shoes and toiletries. I can’t save any money each month and I have no idea how I will pay for a fridge (£530) and plumber. AIBU?

First 6 months direct debit for a TV license is high, then it drops.

Do you have a 0% interest credit card? https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/best-0-credit-cards/

Look on the same site to see if you can cut insurance, utility and phone bills.

It’s rubbish that anyone working full time is struggling but unfortunately, it’s the way it is in this country.
You either have to have more income or less expense.
is there any way you can increase your income?
more hours? New role? Get qualifications? Sometimes companies can offer or sponsor them depending on your line of work.
take on extra work temporarily?
Some people do some online work from home like surveys which pays very little but can add up.
You should always try to have some savings.
set up a direct debit into savings that you never touch unless it’s something urgent like this.
£25 a month will save you £300 a year and will be £1500 in 5 years.
Good luck op.

The people saying drop the counselling, I think this could be an essential item.

When ive been in this position I stripped back to essentials only. It wasnt easy but was worth it for the period of time that I set it for. From your lists my rent, council tax and utilities were similar. I didnt have car insurance, dentist, counselling, petrol, parking, income protection, tv licence or broadband. My home insirance was half of yours. Paying minimum fee to cc is a short term solution - when your zero % interest period ends you can transfer to a new provider - there's a balance to be struck as there is a fee with that.

I dont know if bus/walking is an option for a month or two (or however long you decide to cut costs for) to avoid petrol and parking costs.
Zero percent interest purchases from e.g currys are good.
2nd hand can be a good option.
Some good drain unblocker products out there. I was on verge of tears last year as couldn't afford a plumber. I was determined and managed to unblock both eventually. That turned to tears of joy. Good luck. You've got this.
Other thoughts, 2nd job for a spell? (plenty Christmas temp cover roles coming up across the country)

Get a snake for the clog, they do really work well. I'd look at cheaper fridges too. I find the cheapest make Beko work well, they're not beautiful looking but perfectly functional.

Get rid of a TV licence. It's not necessary. I stopped that nonsense years ago.

Getting into debt will cause more stress. I would cut the counselling for a while and get the debt down. OP can't afford private counselling.

Yes in the initial 6 months of a UC claim there is no help for mortgages- after that only interest will be paid not capital, if a claimant qualifies.

Find a cheaper fridge! I have found fridge freezers for less than that, and fridges for half that in a 30 second Google, and those were all new! If paying that much for a fridge is a worry for you, then it's worth the time to shop around!

It's necessary if you watch any BBC at all or any live TV on other channels. Having said that, I have a TV licence and spend far less than my friends who have subscriptions to various things. There's loads to watch without paying more than the basic licence.

I’m a single Mum with two at home, not a high income and zero maintenance, from your figures I would: check you can’t reduce payments on any of your present outgoings, including talking to debt advisor at your council/jobcentre, buy a much cheaper fridge, buy the drain snake people are mentioning as good to have for future even if it doesn’t solve this problem, and seriously think about extras like counselling for a while.

I live very rurally so no cheap supermarkets but I feed us frugally with lots of porridge/lentils/soups/beans/vegetarian meals…is there some wiggle room there that you could then start putting into savings? Can you bulk buy more? I only buy clothes secondhand, and don’t let clothes buying become habit. Toiletries are essentials only, that saves a lot. I don’t use makeup.

It can all feel very relentless, but sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees and I think you’ve been really sensible coming here and talking about it. I hope some answers can help.

There’s a thread on here called old fashioned vegetarian food that is very good.

The OP hasn’t got Netflix etc - perhaps she just wants to watch TV? It’s a completely reasonable thing to want to do.

More to the point OP is that you are whatever age you are now with no savings (but debts.)

This is something that has built up over many years which says you've never been great with budgeting.

The way most people buy things or services is either by having more income or savings.

Your dog will be an expensive outgoing (food, vet fees etc.)

You could live on the £400 a month you have left quite easily ( £60 ish for food for one person) and you don't need clothes every month.

Looking at your outgoings I'd say you could easily shave £200 off them, by dropping the amount of counselling, searching for cheaper insurances, ditching luxuries like dental insurance, maybe changing your car if it's guzzling fuel.

Is the parking for work? Are there any options there like parking further away in a different car park?

For a fridge- you don't need that amount of cash!
Look around on Facebook for a 2nd hand one or other sites like Freecycle, where people give things away.

Completely agree. I'm self employed. My income protection insurance gives me great peace of mind. You just never know what's around the corner. I have savings, so wouldn't be entitled to UC or anything either.

Both DH and I have used NHS psychotherapy services, on significantly higher incomes than OP, because we couldn’t justify spending £250ph on a private counsellor. I suggested she “look at” cancelling - if she is running short of cash and has credit card debt, now may not be the best time to do it.

Don't stop your counselling!! Wild that so many people have suggested it!

People get things second hand or on credit, that's how they manage. It does suck to be constantly worrying about money though x

But UC won’t pay the OPs mortgage, so your post also doesn’t really help in these circumstances…

Or, assuming it's helping her get by, she can't not afford counselling.

Can you walk to work or take a train or bus OP? Your car costs you £200+ a month?

Agree to get rid of TV licence, biggest scam ever, millions don't pay it. I unfortunately still have to because you can see right into my living room with the tele so they can check if they ever came to the door.
If your TV is out of sight from the front door and anyone ever came to check tell them they aren't coming in, end of.

I would also say and argos or currys card for the fridge and pay monthly.

TV licence £29.08

A BBC TV licence is £14.50 a month.

What else are you watching?

Are you paying for other types of TV?
That's a luxury if you're adding on Sky etc.

Are you suggesting she watches nothing?
Or are you suggesting she spends on Sky and Netflix etc?

Her TV licence can't cost that, as it's £174.50 a year which is not the monthly amount she quotes.

i got things from freecycle etc and learnt to do plastering and plumbing etc. YouTube is your friend for most DIY tasks.

Spend a day comparing all your utilities and insurance. If the credit card is gathering interest then find a 0% balance transfer deal. You might even find one with 0% purchases to buy the fridge with. Do some bank account switching for some extra cash.

Why does a fridge cost so much? I've been looking at a new fridge for £300. Also you could look on Marketplace and get a second hand fridge

You could ask your neighbours if any of them are 'handy' with DIY. They could take a look at your drains. You might not need to pay for a plumber

Definitely get rid of your TV licence. I don't have one and I don't miss it. And why is your TV licence more than £15/month?

Edit - I pay £4.90 a month for my sim only with Lebara