In financial pickle while on maternity, advice and tips needed!

[AcaciaRoad]

I could really do with some help with sorting out my finances (even writing it down I expect will help).

I'd really appreciate any advice, or tips on how to make a bit of quick cash!

DP has recently graduated, been signing on for about 10 weeks now. He's been looking for the work he's qualified to do but very few jobs going at the moment. He's applied for everything he can find in his industry, including jobs with 3 hour commute each way. He's now widening his search to include any old job. Problem is the job he did before uni involved lifting (as well as highly skilled aspects). He has injured his back and so can't fall back on his old job anymore. Not sure what kind of work he can get really.

I get only child tax credit and child benefit, I am not entitled to any benefits. (I am an intermitting student atm, I get no grant nor benefits. I don't get any maternity pay: no SMP or maternity allowance.)

We have 2 DCs including a baby. I just realised I forgot to renew bloody CTC. I had a small baby at the time of renewal, I called to say she'd been born but totally forgot I needed to renew. CTC has just been stopped this week, I have reinstated but may not get anything till Sept 3rd. CTC had been covering credit card interest & some bills. Totally my fault but not sure what we're going to do without it!

These are my plans for dealing with it, so far:

• This week: start ebaying stuff. I can think of: stretchy sling, carrycot from buggy, evening dress.

• Send off old savings book (have about £150 in it).

• Help DP job hunt

• Longer term, I'll get a job too when DD is old enough. We'll be fine then, I'm very employable. Then pay off debts.

I should state categorically I'm not after offers of actual money, just advice please!

Also I am a regular but have NCed as plenty of people here know me in RL and I don't want them to worry about us.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Friend who's staying here has had a conversation with me about how she feels she's taking the piss by staying here and not paying anything. She feels very uncomfortable about not being able to chip in. I don't feel she's taking advantage as I understand her situation and I know her, she's conscientious and genuine. She's also a bit stuffed as not many other options! She's not here this week but when she's back we've agreed to have a chat. We need to find a way she can contribute while she can't work. Perhaps she can look after the kids for a bit while I ebay stuff (mine and hers)? I ebayed the dress today, took me ages to do while minding the kids too, I need help to do that.

Perhaps if we can work out what sells we can buy stuff from charity shops in town, just to get some extra pennies. Is this a pie in the sky idea? If it were that easy wouldn't everyone do it?

What else could she do to contribute in the short term I wonder, does anyone have any ideas?

I've started a budget, I have the main things in it but I'm sure there will be lots of small things I've forgotten that add up.

We've been really frugal for ages anyway, so nothing like Sky or the gym to cancel. No savings (I wish! The money we're spending is the bottom of the overdraft, the credit cards are maxed.) I haven't had a haircut for a couple of years as I've not been able to justify the expense. It's down to my bottom!

"also give yourself challenge to use up every single drop of soap, cleaning materials and washing powder before buying anything else" good idea, people often waste so much - but we already do this :) Bizarrely my ex said one of the things which made him realise we weren't suited was when he asked me if I had some soap for his bath and I handed him a tiny sliver! (It was a tiny sliver of a very nice soap I'll have you know ) He used to chuck all sorts away. I caught him binning a perfectly usable mobile phone once because he didn't need it any more. But I digress ...

If you have old textbooks or any books lying about, instead of selling them which is pita especially with posting heavy books, try the Amazon trade-in scheme. Like trading in old mobiles, but with books. You print off a freepost label and can opt to have the books returned to you for free if they deem them unacceptable. You get gift vouchers, not cold hard cash, but I often buy food from Amazon as they frequently have good deals on things like tinned toms, loo roll, flour etc.

This has got us through a few lean months now and I'm trawling the attic now to build a small balance for Christmas.

I hope things are on the up for you shortly.

In terms of things that sell well, perfume sells weirdly well on ebay ... Including half empty bottles. I have sold all types from lovely Chanel to cheap and cheerful and got much more than I expected every time. Also more expensive toiletries eg. fancy body lotion.

You've already spotted maternity stuff but I encourage you to go through your wardrobe and look for non mat wear that could be eg stretchy empire line tops etc. anything with mat on it sells well, I find.

Rather than getting your friend to babysit while you eBay, can't she take charge of the ebaying while you rest with your baby? And can she take on any small jobs even if she's ill, from doing ironing or cat sitting to freelance stuff related to her previous work? DH could presumably also take on these kind of jobs while you look. eBay is great, but it's generally easier and better for the long term to get more income than sell existing items...

Hi AcaciaRoad, could you post a link to your eBay page please? I might buy some things that we need for baby, I prefer to buy things from individuals/small businesses instead of the chain stores. Hope everything gets easier, my business was founded in 2010 when I found myself homeless after a work contract in India went wrong - totally different from your situation but I just wanted to say that it's in these kind of predicaments that your brain churns out your best entrepreneurial ideas - try a few of your ideas and run with the strongest one. You never know if something is a 'pie in the sky idea' unless you've tried it :) all the best, Kim x

Hi AR,
I can not remember a time in my life when I have been well off because every time we are earning a decent amount, we are spending out on repayments. However, this has meant that I have a few frugal tips up my sleeve. Every cloud and all that.
Try approvedfood.co.uk. It is about £5 delivery but there are so many bargains. A lot of the stuff is close to its best before date. I get my sister round and we shop together to split the delivery cost.
I've also heard of food handouts. It sounds like your back is against the wall and you need the help. I think these might be church related? Any other MNetters know more?
If your dp has just graduated, is there anything you or him could offer private tuition for? I do this and started off charging £15 p/hour until I was confident with what I was doing. I often find myself going straight from tutoring to the reduced section in co-op with the £15 in my paw.
Use Facebook selling sites (as others have mentioned), for bundles of baby clothes and stuff that won't post. Buyers will pay cash and you don't even have to wrap it or get to the post office. You won't lose money on ill estimated postage charges!
Are you creative at all? I'm not, but if you are, tap in to it!
Maybe not this month, but keep your eyes peeled for bargains that you can sell on.
Mystery shopper? Not great money, but if you're close to the shops or on town anyway...
It won't always be like this- just push through. This is the hardest time and one day you will look back and laugh and regale stories of hardship to your dgc!! That's what I tell myself anyway!!!

Is there anything you can do with the subject you're studying eg tutor A level students in it?

Would it be possible to remortgage your property? Wouldn't necessarily add much more to your monthly mortgage and it's tax-free money out of your own property. Obviously it depends on the equity in it etc.
Good luck x

Hi there

I logged on to this and am only getting offered surveys which enter me into prize draws. Can't seem to get on to the surveys offering cold, hard cash.
Any advice?
Thanks x

Gingas have you tried My Survey, You Gov and One Poll??

If you are very employable and your other half is a new graduate who cannot get a job and has a bad back surely the answer is you work full time and he minds the babies?

Free calpol and 'brufen MrsSpencerReid? I never knew…do you need a script or just ask nicely?

Not all chemists do it but if you get free prescriptions (ie kids/women on mat leave) you can get certain items for free.

Its called the Minor Ailments Scheme, you just fill in a passbook thing and take it with you every time you need some meds.

thanks stiff
I'll ask my local chemist about it and for the form.

Good luck OP

FWIW I have a relative who manages the bad times by borrowing £10 or £20 from a few different people, feels somehow less/easier than a bigger sum

Fatbrain.co.uk buy uni textbooks. They are less fussy about condition than amazon and usually pay slightly more.

Your DS old clothes will probably sell ok on ebay so long as they are the correct season - or try selling them on gumtree or netmums as postage is so high now.