I honestly cannot afford to live

[Inkdrinker]

I work 40 hour weeks, yet I was paid 6 days ago and I'm already completely out of money. My rent is more than half of my pay, council tax is a further 250 pounds, my energy bills are ridiculous despite trying to cut down on using so much.

I have 3 kids to look after. How are people going survive this? This is by no means a ploy to ask others for money, I do not want anyone's money. I just want to know I'm not alone in this situation

This sums it up well:

“Economist explains why Britain is poor”
m.youtube.com/watch?v=ljVtYj-YSnk

Very sad situation indeed. It is estimated that the poorest 20% or so in the UK now are poorer than just about every other country in Europe. This is entirely down to the Tories 13 years of austerity and it still isn't enough for them. Also as mentioned, the lack of social housing is at least half of the problem an 40 years of all governments have responsibility for this. I doubt that since WW2 we have had such a callous, greedy, evil, corrupt and uncaring government as bad as this one is, and that includes Thatcher's lot.

Many need to move to an adult size 4/6 at this age as children's clothes keep getting wider as they get longer. A girls 14 in trousers is big on me as an adult woman.

We live in a large house and have only been paying the interest on the mortgage for past 15 years we just been told by our mortgage company we have to pay it off by October or sell and pay it back. So we have to downsize the problem is our 18 year old son has moved his girlfriend and 3 month old baby in and pays £20 a week rent but they buy their own food and our 27 year old moved back in last October on the pretence it was just for a few nights he doesn't really contribute the odd £20. I have told them both now they need to move out as we cant afford a house this size and we also need decorate and make house look nice for viewing, but they are just ignoring my plea’s to keep it tidy they just leave their washing up, washing pile, clothes everywhere my husband was trying get onto their ensuite bathroom to do some repairs but got told no as girlfriend said was inconvenient, we really need get it on the market though or going end up homeless and being made to feel terrible about and they say we just don't want them living with us anymore and making us feel terrible, The 28 year old just doesnt say anything and ignores fact and doesnt exactly tidy up behind himself but is nowhere near as bad as other 2. I just cant seem to get through to them

My 12 year old DD is 5'6 (only an inch shorter than me!) and wears a size 4 or 6. Clothes for her age are too short. Tell me why she needs medical intervention please?

I doubt that since WW2 we have had such a callous, greedy, evil, corrupt and uncaring government as bad as this one is, and that includes Thatcher's lot.
This.

Are you in Croydon? I was really shocked to hear about what is happening there twitter.com/gareth_davies09/status/1622690805151371274?s=46&t=TARmHftYe7HRu_Qjfw4ufQ

My 12 year old is 5'5" and wears a size 6/8. She has legs up to her ears practically. And she's gorgeous ❤️

Mine is exactly the same, but a little taller than that! Also gorgeous 😊

I wore adult size 10 aged 12. My 9 year old daughter has a few size 6 to 8 items from primark, it's not unusual

You should be asking your MP! Shell
announcing astronomical profits, thousands of undocumented men being put up in hotels with free bed/board/healthcare, expanded ULEZ, LTNs etc etc and yet hardworking low and middle income families are being squeezed into oblivion - the system is broken the whole Con/Lib/Lab government are all corrupt, self serving out of touch twits - I am scared for my families future when our mortgage term ends in October…

Where are sanitary products free?
Have you had a pip assessment recently? I have and it was all kinds of undignified hell
Do you even live in Scotland? 🤔

When I was a young single mum, I'd get paid my wages and my bank account showed £100 credit. By the end of the month I was £700 in debit. That's how tight the money was, and this was probably 40 years ago.

I completely agree - MPs are out of touch self serving twats - I've heard nothing from Labour by the way about how they can sort out the energy scandal - people are dying - they haven't got a clue - and they don't care enough to come up with any kind of plan - because they are happy to take a nice salary plus an obscene amount of expenses. Believe me - I've met enough of them - it's a game to them - in the same way it's just a game to most of the journalists who interview them

I am in a Band A two up two down and will be paying £120 a month when it goes up in April, and that is with the single person's 25% discount. I dread to think what Band D is where I live. There is desperate visible poverty where I live and I fear for where we are heading.

Hi all new here have been lurking reading threads about finances as this whole current situation is so scary.

SP here I work FT get small TC top up, CM from XP and I'm so vigilant with finances but it's like a losing battle at times!

I used to work in an area that signposted people for additional help my advice for anyone who may want it is -

Council tax will 100% reduce repayments if requested they would rather have some paid back over nothing.

Councils all have emergency funds to help with essential food and power. DO NOT tell them you need money for bills, stress its for food and power (they cover prepayment meters only but nobody checks if you do or don't have these).

Get yourself to a food bank if needed no shame and it'll tide you over with essentials to give you some breathing space.

If you could get an emergcy payment from your council and food bank it could be stretched for a week or 2 meaning you might not need use a credit card or borrow which causes issues later on.
UC deducts carers allowance from your amount SHOCKING my advice is claim carers element only its money in your pocket.

Anyone not wanting claim UC as said in other posts its a doorway to other benefits such as school meals or uniform grant.

Slow earners but I've been using Shoppix to scan every receipt I can find to get amazon vouchers. Attapoll for surveys to make even the minimum £3 a week cash out. Also using biscuit its an app that tracks you walking your dog (or walking anywhere) and cashes out vouchers. I got a £10 yesco one last week and used it for essentials.

I've cut back everything no hair, nails, new clothes, nights out (introvert so easy for me) I work from home all day with no heating so I can turn it on when son is home. We have sherpa hoodie, Teddy fleece bedding and I've taken to having him do his gaming in living room so we can sit inmone room with a blanket.

I'm rambling but hopefully someone gets some use from this info.

@itsbloomincold Sorry if I wasn’t clear. When we had to sell our lovely home I thought we would never get over it financially but we did. When we eventually were able to buy a new house it wasn’t as big or expensive as our previous house but it was ours (and the banks). When my DH was taken to court for a lot of money I thought we were ruined again but 18 months later and it got sorted. Then some really serious and sad family things happened which resulted in us moving away and starting again and that was heartbreaking but the heartbreak has lessened with the passage of time. That’s what I mean by ‘it passes’.

It's really rubbish. My rent is £146 a week. My income is £228.66 a week. I've got to buy food, gas and electric with the leftover money. Plus, somehow, I have to find £145 a month for the car (children go to school 8 miles away, 1 has additional needs and can't move schools as he's settled and nowhere else offers what he requires as he's fairly complex)

Life is so tough and if I didn't have children then I'd have no reason to continue with life. That's how depressed I am.

I'm so sorry 💐

council tax prices are also ridiculous and pushing people over the edge. are you entitled to any benefits that you arent currently claiming?

My daughter (single) adopted two children two years ago and is having to leave a job she likes to find one that pays more to make ends meet. She gets extra childcare support but her nursery has just put the fees up by £200 per month, with virtually no notice. Obviously in a new job she'll have less security for a while so it is risky to move. She has a pretty well paid job so heaven knows how other single parents are managing if they earn less.

its awful having no money and I feel for all those on this thread in that position.

We have been there on many an occasion and its dire having to count every penny.

I hope things look up soon for all those struggling

@squidgybits you do still need to pay for sanitary products but in schools/college you can get these for free in the toilets (directly from the school/college, not from a shop). Possibly what the PP meant?

Is the father contributing ?