Totally broke :(

[3plus2]

I'm literally £5 overdrawn and that's all I have to my name! I pay out £400 a month to run and pay for car, £300 rent that's all my maternity pay gone then I'm literally living off child benefit :( how do ppl do it ???

[TooMuchJD]

We have cut back as much as we can too but going have to find more savings somewhere. We only use the car for necessary journeys, have a fixed weekly budget for shopping, buy Asda own brand (as nice as the expensive stuff mostly), even trying their smartprice stuff now as its cheaper still but the quality is hit & miss. We use Home Bargains for biscuits/treats as they are much cheaper, got most of the Christmas presents there too.
I had 2DC in 2 yrs so was on maternity pay for sometime and ended up using credit to pay for necessities then its been a slippery slope from there.
I would certainly check out if you are entitled to housing/council tax benefit or speak to your local CAB if you can.
I would go back fulltime but wages here (Stoke) are crap and after childcare costs/reduction in tax credits we would be no better off than we are now but I would be away from the kids longer and get no bloody housework/washing etc.. done.

[JakeBullet]

Sorry you are having a crap time, I am as well.....car needed a new battery and a new radiator this month at a cost of £120. Nightmare of a time, have only managed it by sheer good fortune of having things I could sell to make it up. If anything else went wrong with it now though I'd be stuck.

Hope next year is better for you.

[cozietoesie]

You could try taking in a lodger for a fixed period (say 3 months) if there's that sort of demand where you live. See how it suits without being bound to a long term commitment.

Just be sure that you set the rent realistically given the services you'll be providing. From your previous posts, it sounds as if you'll end up giving them free bed and board!

[3plus2]

I'm a bit nervous if taking in a lodger tbh , we only have a tintsy room left , I spose it makes sense to but I'm not too sure , would have to be a lady as I've got 3 kids , mind you a make influence may time down some pink

[BitofSparklingPerry]

Bedroom tax is only in social housing. I thought it was private too, but then looked deeper into it. Private tenants already just get what thy are assessed as needing fr thir family. Social tenants do too, but the local housing rate overs much more in social housing, iyswim.

[BaldricksTurnip]

Really? From what I've read, private sector tenants are already assessed on the size of their household irrespective of property size, and paid accordingly. The idea behind the 'bedroom tax' is to mobilise social housing tenants who are occupying properties bigger than they technically need.

[Anifrangapani]

Claimant

[Anifrangapani]

The bedroom tax will apply to all housing benefit climants - it doesn't matter who owns the property.

[girliefriend]

If you have a spare bedroom how about having a lodger or a student using it? Might make you a couple of hundred quid a month.

Your car is costing you a lot £50 a month insurance sounds high, my insurance last year cost £240 and I don't understand how you can spend £50 a week on petrol. I use my car for work and don't spend that much!!!

[3plus2]

Like the soup idea :) and veg is still quite cheap , I will get some receipts from the Internet x

[3plus2]

Thank you ladies , I am in social housing, did a house swap as we were squished wish I didn't now me being a silly daft cow I bulk but nappies and soap powder from a cash and carry so works out say £20 for 2+ months worth of nappies and £15 for 4 months worth of soap powder :)

[Paintyourbox]

We get tesco online grocery deliveries and at the moment if you spend £40 or more you get a voucher for 10p off per litre of fuel.

Cheap asda nappies and wipes are great.

Make soups for lunches- more filling than cold sandwiches, you can bulk them up with pasta and they help keep you warm.

[BaldricksTurnip]

The bedroom tax only applies to social housing as far as I'm aware i.e council or housing association properties. If you rent privately then it's definitely worth applying. I didn't think they'd give us anything when my dh started his new job but they assessed us and are paying roughly a third of our rent and a bit of council tax.

[cozietoesie]

If none of them drive currently, they may not realize the cost these days - still living in 10 years ago probably. You're between a rock and a hard place now so you have to make them realize that you need a contribution. It may not be very pleasant but you'll have to steel yourself. The alternative is likely ending up in debt - and if you read the threads on this board, you'll see how bad that is and how many people have sleepless nights and stress because of it.

Try to do it at any rate - and best of luck.

[3plus2]

Thank you , yes I think I'm going to have to , we had an event to all go to a few weeks back and I decided to drive (it's a big car) so undertandably we were all going to the same place so made sense that everyone came in my car , but not one offered a penny and made me annoyed a bit as if we got cabs then they would have had to contribute but again if I'm going that way anyway it would be a bit cheeky.....

[cozietoesie]

Oh no - you just ask for a petrol contribution! If you feel 'cheeky' bringing it up for the first time, just turn it round and say something like 'I'd love to take you Great Aunt Ermintrude but I have to make this tank of petrol last until.....' Then, hopefully, the wallets will open.

Please try to stick to your guns on that because they're taking the mickey even if they don't realize it. I gave up my car 18 months ago (I did the sums) and while I walk a heck of a sight more, I also use taxis where necessary; and family if in real difficulty. If family oblige, I give them a very generous petrol donation because not only am I still saving a lot overall but petrol is a heck of a price nowadays, as you know. They might have refused laughingly 10 years ago. Nowadays, they don't.

Try online shopping as well (as mentioned above) if you have a supermarket that will do it for you. You're likely to find that you save money on that because you can be more careful about what you buy as well as saving petrol money and sheer harrassment.

Good luck



PS - well done for making it £20 on petrol last week.

[3plus2]

Spend rather

[3plus2]

Well our nearest asda is 7 miles away , school is about 2 miles , no one else in the family drives so it usually down to me to drive everywhere and I feel cheeky asking for petrol contribution , spec when it's family I managed to only sown £20 on petrol last week tho

[cozietoesie]

Check out the terms anyway. And do some investigation on the insurance at the same time.

As to the £200 a month petrol - I don't know your domestic commitments of course but that is a huge amount. If you're working for someone else, aren't you eligible for expenses for what you use extra when you go back to work? And how are you spending £50 a week on petrol without being at work at the moment?

[3plus2]

Our asda don't do petrol, the car is on finance ? Dnt think I can send it back?

[Oldladypillow]

If you are going to asda get petrol from there it's cheaper (well it is here).
If its a driving job can you know claim mileage?

[Viviennemary]

Why is your car costing you £400 a month. Can you not either do without a car or get a cheaper one. You simply cannot afford to pay this much money out for a car in your position.

[chickydoo]

eBay is brill
And the money from PayPal goes straight in to your bank account ( used to take a day or 2, now it's an hour or 2)
Sell things on eBay today, you will have money this evening.
This week I have made £73
Sold 2 old fashioned but good cond party dresses ( lots of beads)
2 scarfs ( one new)
A table lamp
A bundle of kids clothes
A bundle of make up I don't like or use.
A silver candle stick ( not real)

Give it a go, it is worth it!

[3plus2]

And we have food I just have enough to buy food I do that when the child benefit goes in so we have enough till next week! But it's silly things like if my shoe broke god know what I would do I wouldn't be able to her a new pair !

[3plus2]

Yes it's thought but I'm lucky I have a home , I'm warmish and my girls are so well behaved and lovely kids , we will get there in the end .....