Can anyone offer any advise?

[Tinkywinkeyshat]

Currently up the creek without a paddle, my savings and left over income have Gone on repairing my car, which I need for work, I get paid at the end of next week so all is not lost however, I contacted my utility provider and they gave me an additional voucher for my PAYG gas and electricity,I'm now on the emergancy and panicking about what happens when it runs out as I have 0 available in the bank

I spoke my my local council and they said because I work and do not fit their crisis criteria they can't help and I'm now worried about how we will eat/wash clothes etc with no electricity

Does anyone have any suggestions of what I can try? I dOnt have anything to sell either 😪

There's a charity that I see often on Twitter called Depher, perhaps try them? I hope you get sorted and I hope others can help point you in the right direction.

Speak to Citizens Advice, in my area they could do a foodbank referral for a fuel voucher

Can you get away with not washing until after you have been paid ?
Keeping yourself fed and warm is the priority.
Can you try a food bank if needed ?

Hopefully you have family or friends who can lend you some money until you get paid.

Start minimizing electricity use now. Do you have relatives close by where you could shower. I know it's not ideal but the evenings are lighter now and you can just handwash essential stuff, use a dry shampoo if you have one to cut down shower time. Sorry not great suggestions, it sounds shit op. Maybe try a foodbank so that you can prioritise any cash on electricity? Or sometimes food banks can give fuel vouchers I think?

Can you ration the gas/electric? I assume the heating is off? Prioritise clothes to wash that most need washing and you don't have spares of so you can make it until payday.

Foodbank or community food banks for food.

Heating is off - I have been rationing electricity usage but toddler is running out of clothes faster than I can hand wash and dry (it's very wet weather where I am currently and without the heating it's taking forever to dry) thanks for suggestion of food bank, do you know how I can apply to use a food bank? Sorry to ask I've never been in this situation before and no friends or family who can help 😪 I'm so embarrassed I'm in this situation, even asked my work today if would be possible for a small advance and got told no 😪

Do you get any UC at all?
Have you checked recently as earnings threshold changed last year.
Do an entitled to calculation to check. If you think you might be put in a claim for UC this evening. Once you've had your id verified etc apply for an advance.

Already in receipt of UC - unable to apply for a budgeting advance because I earn too much 😪

Quickly sell something on marketplace?

If you are on UC ask your work coach for a food bank referral. If you don't have a regular coach, call the service centre number and ask them to send a message for you so it gets seen. Otherwise health visitors can probably do them.

Thanks, I will post a message on my journel for now and call them tommorow, good call with ringing the health visitor also! Will ring her tommorow!

Who looks after the toddler while you are at work? Is there any chance they could bung some of his/her clothes in the wash for you? You could offer to pay the costs when you get paid? Tell them your washing machine is broken or something.

Have you looked if you have a community fridge in your area where you can get some free food, our local co op will help anyone with food who goes there, no questions asked.

Toddler is with a childminder, also have 2 older DC age 7 and 8 who are at holiday club all of whom require packed lunch3s for the rest of the week and I've been racking my brains with what I cam make for them to take , will ask the childminder but feel so cheeky and embarrassed 😪

Not heard if a community fridge, will look into this also, thankyou!

Sorry you’re in this situation OP it’s shit. Do you have anything you can sell on marketplace for a bit of cash? Echo pp suggestions for a food bank, I though the GP could refer this? Any chance you can get a small overdraft to tide you over? I think that Iceland does buy now pay later on groceries.

It is, but I keep reminding myself it could be much worse 🤦‍♀️ I'm looking around the house currently to see if anything I can sell! Unfortunately my credit rating is not the best (thanks ex dp but that's a whole other thread) as I applied for one earlier but got declined 😪

Can you get a payday loan? Better to be in debt than no food/electricity.

How do u top up Ur meter? Tell me exactly how and I'll pop £20 on for u right now

May l ask where in the country you live? Perhaps someone on here very local to you can do a few laundry bits for you, and perhaps help out with food bits? Are you on the Nextdoor app? These will be people in your street and surrounding roads. I would certainly have a look through my food cupboards/fridge if someone posted a crisis such as yours and lived in my local community.
There is also an app you can download which works a bit like a foodbank, it is called 'too good to go' where you buy stuff heavily reduced.
Good luck OP.

I would really try and avoid a payday loan if you can OP. You might be able to pay it back but they do linger on your credit file. I would rather sell something I needed to buy back than take out a payday loan!! I know friends that have literally sold sofas or tables to avoid this.

Hello everyone

We've had a number of reports from people concerned about this thread so, as we usually do in these circs, we're putting our heads round the door with some important reminders.

We always ask users to remember that not everyone on the internet is who they say they are – and remind folk not to give more to another poster, either financially (in cash or gifts) or emotionally (in time or care and support) than they'd be prepared to lose if things went wrong. We strongly advise against parting with any cash or giving away your personal details, and if you receive a PM which makes you uneasy - report it to us and we’ll take a look.

Sorry to hijack your thread briefly there, OP – we really hope you get it all sorted soon. We've compiled some useful links posted by Mumsnetters into a financial issues webguide, so that people experiencing difficulties can find all the relevant information in one place - we hope that it's useful for you.

Yep to Iceland
https://www.fairforyou.co.uk/food-club-card

Oh goodness me, I'm sorry for anyone who is concerned, I'm not a troll have been a member for years (Penis beaker anyone) am genuinely grateful for the advice am not looking for money or anything I promise 🙈