Page 17 | I honestly cannot afford to live

Inkdrinker · 2023-02-06T15:24:15+00:00

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

RosaGallica · 07/02/2023 21:42

Beggars belief that these energy companies are declaring huge profits on the back of our suffering

It is private companies and the strange belief in their benevolence that have wrecked this country. Decent countries provide public infrastructure for necessities.

Babyroobs · 07/02/2023 21:47

Daughtersandbristolian · 07/02/2023 21:41

Dear OP go on the council website and do a discretionary housing payment for your council tax due to low income - it’s worth a go, they usually either have money to waste before April or have ran out - you have nothing to lose and you’ll have to show your outgoings but it’s usually an online application. Also do a benefit check at entitled2 or turn to us as may qualify for UC of so you may get help with mortgage interest SMI - it’s all worth checking - or go to local CAB for a benefit check.

Op cannot currently get help with mortgage interest support as she is working and on UC if you have any earnings however low you cannot claim SMI although when mortgage interest rates started to rocket recently there was talk of this maybe changing but I really don't think it has yet ? Also I think you have to already be in receipt of council tax support to claim discretionary help with council tax.

Godlovesall26 · 07/02/2023 21:50

letsallmeetupinthehyear2000 · 07/02/2023 18:16

I can’t afford to live either. I’m freezing cold my dc has given up full time education a few weeks ago so I’ve lost all my working tax credit. She’s gone to live with her dad - I can’t afford to buy food. I work full time in an admin job - I don’t want to go on universal credit I don’t want to go to a food bank. I can’t pay my energy bill next week. I don’t want “ debt” advice ! It’s bloody depressing - I don’t live I just exist. I have nothing.

I’m so sorry about your situation but please do claim what you can, it is not your fault.
For food a lot of filling things (thick bread for ex) are cheaper cooked from scratch. Big packs of lentils and those (not very nice tasting beans). Then you complement with the food bank and hope there’s a couple of extras in there. It sucks, but it’s survival

Godlovesall26 · 07/02/2023 21:53

Godlovesall26 · 07/02/2023 21:50

I’m so sorry about your situation but please do claim what you can, it is not your fault.
For food a lot of filling things (thick bread for ex) are cheaper cooked from scratch. Big packs of lentils and those (not very nice tasting beans). Then you complement with the food bank and hope there’s a couple of extras in there. It sucks, but it’s survival

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I’ve been there. Except I added milk and that kind of essentials for a growing 9yo, eggs for protein, big bags of frozen cheapest vegetables. It sucked like hell.
For me it was only the above though. And large packs of the cheapest coffee.

theworldhas · 07/02/2023 21:58

@Milkandhoneybees

amazing stat that though: the typical British household right now would require a massive extra £8,800 income per year to be on a par with living standards in countries such as France/Germany/Netherlands/Canada/Australia (our previous rough economic equivalents). How we have fallen.

Godlovesall26 · 07/02/2023 22:04

Lisabrogden84 · 07/02/2023 19:50

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

Why is the 27yo not contributing ? The sale is going through whether they like it or not, tell them in no uncertain words that if they’re not happy they’re free to choose homelessness.
At least the one with the baby sounds a bit more reasonable.
At one point we had to rent a tiny 1bed for 3. They’re taking a lot for granted.
And don’t worry it won’t be forever, you can make savings on utilities and rent, then hopefully move up to bigger. Whoever isn’t happy can leave and of course if you can you keep the baby but register as his primary carer (again, doesn’t have to be long term)

Godlovesall26 · 07/02/2023 22:08

CassieMc · 07/02/2023 18:52

@dylansss How do you dry your clothes? I'm just curious as I'm finding myself with no choice so I can dry washing.

On hangers literally everywhere possible windows, above doors. They can be on top of each other although do try to color code a bit in case

Godlovesall26 · 07/02/2023 22:15

SaturdayGiraffe · 07/02/2023 21:03

@Lisabrogden84 This is worth you starting a thread.

You're supporting 4 adult children and a baby while facing repossession?
Turn the wifi off. Hide the TV remotes and the games consoles. Stop doing any of their chores. They need to know you're serious.

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This.
They seem so out of touch with reality it’s ridiculous.
I’d also encourage you if you’re comfortable to start your own thread
They are way old enough to understand and the 18yo sounds like the one who’s actually making the most efforts

Godlovesall26 · 07/02/2023 22:23

theworldhas · 07/02/2023 21:58

@Milkandhoneybees

amazing stat that though: the typical British household right now would require a massive extra £8,800 income per year to be on a par with living standards in countries such as France/Germany/Netherlands/Canada/Australia (our previous rough economic equivalents). How we have fallen.

Tbf we’re not immune for the crisis, but you do seem worse, sorry.
We only have the heating on at 19 (and I have tons of layers) in my room (2bed flat) because I was in ICU for dreadful pneumonia so I can’t afford a respiratory virus.
Otherwise I’m becoming allergic to the sight of pasta (sorry, I know it’s not the worst situation), bread and as much as possible are cooked from scratch, lighting never on, showers strictly monitored.

Oh and while I think of it do you have versions of those economic lightbulbs. The lighting is a bit of an ugly yellow but it does work.

I don’t mean to be insensitive, I just meant it’s not just you, and same, it’s the poorer ones hit, food banks are horrendously running out, although yes it does seem harder, I’ve noticed since I’ve been here the rise of what used to be my ‘cheap stuff’ : baked beans, pasta. We do have those raises though, I don’t have any stats.

tash7779 · 07/02/2023 22:27

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Godlovesall26 · 07/02/2023 22:29

Godlovesall26 · 07/02/2023 22:23

Tbf we’re not immune for the crisis, but you do seem worse, sorry.
We only have the heating on at 19 (and I have tons of layers) in my room (2bed flat) because I was in ICU for dreadful pneumonia so I can’t afford a respiratory virus.
Otherwise I’m becoming allergic to the sight of pasta (sorry, I know it’s not the worst situation), bread and as much as possible are cooked from scratch, lighting never on, showers strictly monitored.

Oh and while I think of it do you have versions of those economic lightbulbs. The lighting is a bit of an ugly yellow but it does work.

I don’t mean to be insensitive, I just meant it’s not just you, and same, it’s the poorer ones hit, food banks are horrendously running out, although yes it does seem harder, I’ve noticed since I’ve been here the rise of what used to be my ‘cheap stuff’ : baked beans, pasta. We do have those raises though, I don’t have any stats.

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I know my mum’s mortgage rate hasn’t changed though, I don’t know if that’s true for everyone. She has her head completely in the sand about the fact that she’ll never be able to pay it off though, but she’s not at the point of risking homelessness thankfully she would be, but basically all the money goes into it, then there’s not much left.
They definitely have risen for new buyers.
Sorry, I hope this didn’t sound insensitive, I just realized someone above did post stats.
Just if it reassures you a little we’re not doing great either

Lifeomars · 07/02/2023 22:33

Ifeelsuchafool · 07/02/2023 21:26

Sorry, I should have made it clear that I pay over 12 months, not 10, so £2640 pa and live with my 27 year old DD who works full time and shares expenses and so we have no reductions.
I was presuming that OP is a single adult and has 25% discount as she doesn't refer to a current partner but I admit I could be wrong there.
I was under the impression that we lived in an expensive area for CT but, having read other posts, am going to retire now and count my blessings!

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Just checked and Band D in my city will be £2850 in April this year. I think council tax is an appallingly unfair tax, as a single person in a Band A I pay more than someone sharing a Band C. I am retired now and have my state pension and small NHS pension and am really going to struggle with the next round of price increases. I really think that single people should get 50% off their Council Tax. I also think that the whole system of funding local authorities need to be reformed. The city I live in is no 11 on the indices of deprivation yet has the second highest council tax in the country. There must be loads of people who are in serious arrears and that is even before the next increases.

PerfectYear321 · 07/02/2023 22:42

Milkandhoneybees · 07/02/2023 19:44

This sums it up well:

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

Very interesting!

Sadly we don't have a government who cares, so I think Torsten's optimism is misplaced

Tessabelle74 · 07/02/2023 22:50

@Babyroobs didn't realise that about free school meals but she's eligible for single person council tax discount

JadeSeahorse · 07/02/2023 22:52

@5128gap spot on!

Also, if you were working class, in the majority of cases when you got engaged your next step would be to go to the council and put your name on the Housing List for social housing. Most then got married once they had been offered secure accommodation. Never had to wait too long. (Don't know if London was different but this was certainly the case in northern cities.)
We didn't as we preferred to save and buy but most of my younger relatives did.

This must sound unbelievable now to people waiting 10 years or more, having to bid for places which are often rundown - they very rarely were in those days - and having to pay astronomical private rents for pigeon holes. I thought life was supposed to have improved? 🤬🤬🤬

PerfectYear321 · 07/02/2023 22:57

Lifeomars · 07/02/2023 22:33

Just checked and Band D in my city will be £2850 in April this year. I think council tax is an appallingly unfair tax, as a single person in a Band A I pay more than someone sharing a Band C. I am retired now and have my state pension and small NHS pension and am really going to struggle with the next round of price increases. I really think that single people should get 50% off their Council Tax. I also think that the whole system of funding local authorities need to be reformed. The city I live in is no 11 on the indices of deprivation yet has the second highest council tax in the country. There must be loads of people who are in serious arrears and that is even before the next increases.

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Yes, why is single person discount 25% and not 50%?🙄🤔

PerfectYear321 · 07/02/2023 22:57

theworldhas · 07/02/2023 21:58

@Milkandhoneybees

amazing stat that though: the typical British household right now would require a massive extra £8,800 income per year to be on a par with living standards in countries such as France/Germany/Netherlands/Canada/Australia (our previous rough economic equivalents). How we have fallen.

That was an astonishing stat. How far we've fallen indeed.

SkyHippoOnACloud · 07/02/2023 23:14

PerfectYear321 · 07/02/2023 22:57

Yes, why is single person discount 25% and not 50%?🙄🤔

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Probably because it's not Poll Tax, which was per person. Council Tax is based on the size (and location?) of the property. However many people live there, the size (and location, if applicable) doesn't alter. So the 25% discount is a recognition of both the unchanged status of the building and the fact only one adult person lives there. I believe Poll Tax was worse because you couldn't lower it by moving to a different home with a different banding or sharing the home with other adults to split the bill. I was a child at the time but there were riots over it. I believe Poll Tax was a fixed cost, unlike Income Tax and National Insurance, which also existed at the time and which were/are dependent on your earnings.

caringcarer · 07/02/2023 23:29

Have you got any supermarket points you could use?

Could you change bank accounts. I think some pay £150 if you change over to them and they sort out all your direct debits etc.

Any money on Top Cashback you could cash out?

Any vouchers you have not spent?

Could you sell a few bits on eBay or vinted?

Sorry you are having such a tough time.

Willyoujustbequiet · 07/02/2023 23:38

itsbloomincold · 07/02/2023 20:59

And the opposition are so shit - can you outline Labour's plans for us please?

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Lets face it toddlers could do a better job of running country than the tories have for the last decade.

Only the delusional would defend them at this point.

Everyonehasavoice · 07/02/2023 23:49

TheChosenTwo · 06/02/2023 17:05

Sorry, got one at uni at the moment and it’s currently costing us over a grand a month to keep her there! Plus 2 others who are much more expensive now but then I didn’t work when they were tiny so no childcare fees, hadn’t factored that in!
Now it’s all school trips, football boots constantly outgrown, see also coats, clothes in general just cost more, equipment for hobbies etc.
Anyway, I did say that MY kids cost me more now that they’re older, wasn’t speaking for everyone else. Just an observation that I have not found it to be true that they’re cheaper when they get older, although one day maybe!!

Why is uni for dd costing you £1000 amonth
Fees paid through loan everyone can get , not means tested
£4000 approx ( more in London ) basic maintenance loan available to everyone which is not means tested
Parents top up if they earn more than min on means testing or students also top up through work

Has your dd changed courses or doing a second degree or something.

Shauny098 · 08/02/2023 00:01

EmptyPlaces · 07/02/2023 21:31

@Shauny098 having said that, nursing degree requires shift work; how do you plan to juggle that?

Thankyou. I have my mum to help me who doesn’t work and lives nearby. Is it nursing that your DD does? Are the shifts overnight? Weekends? All through the year? Can you request certain days/times or do they just tell you to do and you have to go?

PerfectYear321 · 08/02/2023 00:02

SkyHippoOnACloud · 07/02/2023 23:14

Probably because it's not Poll Tax, which was per person. Council Tax is based on the size (and location?) of the property. However many people live there, the size (and location, if applicable) doesn't alter. So the 25% discount is a recognition of both the unchanged status of the building and the fact only one adult person lives there. I believe Poll Tax was worse because you couldn't lower it by moving to a different home with a different banding or sharing the home with other adults to split the bill. I was a child at the time but there were riots over it. I believe Poll Tax was a fixed cost, unlike Income Tax and National Insurance, which also existed at the time and which were/are dependent on your earnings.

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I'm old enough to remember the pill tax riots but it still doesn't make sense why the single person discount is 25% rather than 50%

This country is set up to fuck over single parents (usually women). No wonder inequality is so stark.

We can start there and also start making sure men that abandon kids have to pay for them.

PerfectYear321 · 08/02/2023 00:03

Everyonehasavoice · 07/02/2023 23:49

Why is uni for dd costing you £1000 amonth
Fees paid through loan everyone can get , not means tested
£4000 approx ( more in London ) basic maintenance loan available to everyone which is not means tested
Parents top up if they earn more than min on means testing or students also top up through work

Has your dd changed courses or doing a second degree or something.

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Maybe they're in London. London prices are ridiculous and students are seen as cash cows

Everyonehasavoice · 08/02/2023 00:04

@Lifeomars
Areas of deprivation seem to often have high council taxes
Its ( partly) because there are more people not required to pay Council tax, pushing up the bill for others.