Breaking rules to pay the bills...

[wheresmymojo]

We've stuck to the rules all the way through however we're going to have to break the rules in this lockdown because the alternative is that we can't pay our mortgage/bills/for food.

Just wondering if anyone else is in the same position?

@nancy75

As a short time fix I think he’s be better looking for a short term job (online shopping delivery/supermarket they are run off their feet & recruiting in a lot of areas) I know it won’t earn millions but it’s a lot less risky

We've tried this - they are massively over subscribed in our area.

We have 2 friends who work at one and they had 200 applications for a role the other day and her manager said she's not looking at anyone now who looks as though they're only looking for 'stop gap' work.

Given 20 yrs experience as a PT it would be pretty obvious that he'll be off as soon as lockdown is over and he hasn't made it to interview stage yet.

No judgement. sorry you're in such a scary position. Do what you have to do for your kids. Maybe additional group Zoom training would have the advantage it might attract some people who would be embarrassed to come in person. Good luck with it all. x

My cousin is breaking rules - she had a high temp her dh still went to work as otherwise they couldn’t have got food.
Her test was negative but might not have been and she said they’d do it again if had to

@Greysparkles

I read an article earlier saying that you will be able to apply for 6 more months worth of mortgage holidays?

Only if you haven't had a mortgage holiday already. It's capped at six months total and we've already done that and started re-paying again last week.

@NeverForgetYourDreams
Exactly. The problem isn't that the OP and partner registered as limited companies but rather that they chose to play the tax system to pay themselves an artificially low wage (significantly below minimum wage if they are working anything like full time) and claim the rest of their earnings in lower taxed dividends. Those who were legitimately claiming their actual earnings through their own limited company have been able to furlough themselves and claim a liveable amount from the government but unsurprisingly this support doesn't extend to those who decided to involve themselves in tax avoidance which should serve as a reminder that while tax avoidance is legal it often ends up having unintended consequences.

We will have to see how my income goes - if I have a good month then we can live without DH's income.

If I don't then we need it...

Will speak to Citizens Advice or Step Change as we need to organise a debt management plan irrespective.

Any chance you can use the clients gardens?

But to be honest, I’d be looking at set work. I’m sorry, I’m self employed too and it’d be horrendous, but I think the risks are too great of either you being reported and fined, along with associated media coverage locally (if where you are is anything like round here!) or more likely, that a client will be injured.

I think I’d risk the council for doing PT outdoors instead of that, presuming his insurance would still be valid then. Is he sure he needs a bootcamp license? Around here they are only for two plus attendees, a single person being trained wouldn’t count.

Oh, I meant to say - I’m so sorry

What about money you earn op - is that linked to your husbands business or different? If you give an idea of the type of thing you’re doing maybe someone will have ideas of how you could make a bit more?
I know you might think I’m being judgy - I'm really not. I work for a sports coach/ provider & I know how people want to claim on insurance for very small injuries. We are insured to the hilt but it’s still stressful when it happens, even when you know you’re covered.

@StatisticalSense I hope you feel really proud of yourself coming onto a desperate woman's thread to stick the knife in.
You're an absolute disgrace.

Sorry if unhelpful. Trying to think of possibilities to tide him over.

Are care homes looking for temporary staff in your area? Or any healthcare assistant jobs? Teaching assistant roles? They might not mind if it's just a stop gap if they only need sickness cover.

I appreciate it's not necessarily suitable, i.e. if he's clinically vulnerable.

Have you seen the sticky message at the top of Active? Link to a group of charities trying to help people.

Look at the options there before you decide to break the rules.

No judgement from me

StatisticalSense

Yup. I have a friend in the same position. Moaning about only being able to claim a small amount as paid herself minimum wage. We were told about it by our accountant many years ago but it just didn't sit right with me. Glad I wasn't greedy enough to do that tax loophole.

Sorry, it’s in Money Matters. Not Active.

There is a huge difference between desperately needing to break the rules while still trying to be as safe as possible to provide for your family and people just blatantly not caring and breaking the rules because of their own sense of entitlement.

Do what it is you need to do for your family x

OP there might hopefully be some temporary Christmas hiring shortly if he can keep trying that. I know where I am they are short of people to do tye aforementioned delivery stuff now that we're in the Christmas run up but I appreciate that its not the same everywhere.

OP is there any fitness videos your DH could do? There's a platform called patreon where people can subscribe to it.

Has he got a client database?

Yes do it, money is linked with health, even if narrow minded idiots say people are more important than money....people need money.

@NeverForgetYourDreams how helpful. I'm sure the OP can pay her bills with your sanctimony.

@NeverForgetYourDreams how helpful. I'm sure the OP can pay her bills with your sanctimony.

Unfortunately threads like these always attract the utter morons - @NeverForgetYourDreams being a case in point

Good luck op. I think it is still worth talking to your mortgage lender. Even if you have already had 6 months holiday they may prefer to let you pay interest only for a while than default completely. You dont need to be specific or talk about any of this- just say with the new lockdown you are seriously going to struggle to eat and pay the repayments and is there anything they can do to restructure it.

No judgement.
Reality is your family comes first to you and you do what needs doing to support them
Id break many rules if it meant my kid had a home and food.

The whole idea that people should leave themselves destitute on a "what if or a maybe" for random strangers is crazy