I'm useless with money.

[OnlyGodKnowsWhy]

As the title states. Since last Christmas I've basically lived pay check to pay check, with a monthly payday loan of £200 that I pay £240 to clear then reborrow each month. Christmas this year is terrifying me.

Long story short, I have four children aged between 7 and 12. I've been a lone parent for 7 years though I have reconciled with DH (not kids dad) 2 months ago. He is currently job hunting.

I work as a manager of a shop, 4 week days, one day and weekends off. Monthly wage is roughly a grand. However we receive £300 of our wage half way through the month, the rest is given on pay day so £700.

Universal credit varies as my hours can vary slightly depending on holiday cover, staff sick etc, so I'd average it out at £900 monthly.

I also receive 61.00 child benefit weekly and £81 child maintenance weekly.

Summary monthly income:

Wage: 1000
UC: 900
CB: 244
CM: 324
Payday loan: 200
Total: 2668

Outgoings:

Rent: 360
Council tax: 75
Payday loan: 240
Mobile (three contracts) 66
Internet: 40
Debt: 50
School dinners: 160
Electric: 120
Gas: 20 a month (will increase to same as electric in winter due to gas heating, single glazing and highlands of Scotland!)
TV licence: 24
Spotify family: 14.99
Netflix: 7.99
Pet insurance: 25
Pocket money: 80
Ejuice/coils: 50
Xbox live: 5.99
Gardener: 40 (big gardens)
Window cleaner: 8.00
Food: I don't know. I'd say 450 a month?
Argos card: 100-150

Total: 1980.

I know this doesn't take into account haircuts, clothes, childcare when needed. Basically I don't really know my income and outgoings because it varies each month.

I need a budgeting for dummies guide, how to work out what's being spent where each month and any other advice. Please!

[jardy]

Happy New Year Only

[PollyShelbyLifeCoachServices]

I have really enjoyed reading your thread you have done great and because you took charge your feeling more confident to make decisions. Life is working out better for you which is great because that's what you deserve.

[NameChanger22]

Congratulations OP. Happy New Year.

Spotify is free, why is anyone paying for it? Many music albums can also be played from YouTube for free.

[Mossbystrand]

Sell the x boxes and put the money in an account for a rainy day.

Do you claim DLA for your dc with SEN?
Just dowload the form from here and get an advisor from mencap to help you or fill it in yourself. You can then use the money for any additional SEN related expenditure needed for your dc or save up for them.

[Mossbystrand]

Start saving for Christmas 2018 now. Here's some good ideas on this thread:
Christmas savings

[Ariela]

I'd second the Lakeland Heated Airer - my friend who lives on a very tight budget was struggling getting washing dry (and launderette is expensive to dry) so I bought her one for Christmas, she loves it and swears it costs (almost) nothing to run yet dries the washing really well.

[Fairylea]

Op have you applied for dla for your dc yet? I can’t stress enough how much difference this will make to your family. Use the cerebra guide to do the forms. If you are successful you can get a disability top up on your tax credits / uc that can be from £40-100 per week depending on how much dla you get, and that’s on top of the actual dla. I would make applying for dla a priority. Your children don’t have to have physical disabilities. My son is 5 and has autism and learning disabilities and he receives high rate care and low rate mobility.

[Dragongirl10]

Op tumble driers are horribly expensive on electric even the AAA rated ones, invest in a heated airer and a dehumidifier, and a pull down rail over the bath...it will pay dividends....oh and well done your thread is quite inspirational!

[DayDreamer99]

That switch that says water heater is an immersion heater uses electricity not had and very expensive. If you leave that on all the time I am not surprised you are spending 120+. Gas is much much cheaper

[beardymcbeardy]

Well done op. To the person that said that no one spends £150 a month on electricity, umm it all depends on the size of your house, your location, your heating system. My last property was a 2 bed flat and my gas/electric bill was never more than £70 a month, heating always on and used the tumble dryer all the time. Have sinced moved to a much larger terraced (and I assume with 4 children the op is not living in a 2 bed flat) and my utility bill is £275 a month, and the heating/hot water/tumble dryer are all used sparingly. Definitely apply for dla op, my youngest is asd and it has meant an extra £420 a month, and depending on how much you or your dp earns and what level dla, an extra £63 a week carers allowance.

[elsiesnewleaf]

This thread has been a real eye opener and am hoping @weemadkelpie has managed to keep this up and everything is much better now.