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Cost of living

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Original poster

Outgoings more then wages

32 replies

Choochose · 11/07/2023 20:44

Hello
i am looking for some advice please

I earn after deductions 2700, I currently live with family (left ex husband and former home) and I’m a single mum to 2 young children who live with me.

I work full time and my youngest goes to nursery that is around 800pcm. I have found a house to rent that is also 800pcm I’m really desperate to move but I did a rough budget and I don’t understand how I can afford to.

Other bills are 360 on loan payments, estimated household bills of 625 inc council tax, internet, food etc (which may be a conservative estimate with electricity prices) and petrol. My older child wraparound care is around 60. Credit accounts 55 (I know these are unhelpful debt to have but we are where we are now). Fuel 200 pcm.

thats pretty much my wages. I can’t get universal credit as classed as having equity and my wages in the former home- complex situation but it won’t be sold anytime soon. I appreciate my wages are more then a lot of peoples and hope this doesn’t seem greedy with money but I am really worrying- I can’t stay here much longer and the debt I have I can’t get rid of now. I also have no furniture etc (literally nothing). Regarding doing extra hours at work- it’s difficult to with the kids and I already work long hours as it’s a demanding job often working in evenings anyway.

I have had (lots) of legal advice and for now the situation is what it is- i have kept it a little vague on purpose re the old house. What makes it more worrying re finances too is my solicitor bills are adding up and I don’t want to take out more debt to pay them but will have no wriggle room

any advice? I don’t really know why I’m posting but don’t really have anyone I can speak to in real life.

OP posts:

Bromptotoo · 11/07/2023 20:49

Apart from the matrimonial home you left do have other assets >£16,000?

Apprenticenomore · 11/07/2023 20:51

Can you stay out for a while and work on eliminating your debts first?

Arewehumanorarewecupboards · 11/07/2023 20:53

I appreciate my wages are more then a lot of peoples

You have one wage coming in. It’s not greedy.

Overthebow · 11/07/2023 20:53

Are you saving any money now? If you don’t have the £800 rent whilst living with family you should be able to save a decent chunk each month. Can you put that towards your debt payments and try to clear them before you move?

Chewbecca · 11/07/2023 20:55

You might need to get those debts paid off before you can afford it. Are they for long?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 11/07/2023 20:58

Are you able to stay put til the former home situation js resolved?

ThreeFeetTall · 11/07/2023 20:59

Have you had debt advice re your debts? Eg step change?

Original poster

Choochose · 11/07/2023 21:23

Thanks all.

the 360 for the loan was a for a loan for a car and I extended it by 6k to pay court/ solicitor fees. I literally had no choice.
there’s about 650 pounds on next which I regret but could clear really quickly

I have up into this month been paying 1/2 mortgage so I can from now save that money positively but I do owe my family quite a bit of money although they say they don’t want it back right now I do feel I should give them some. I have been paying my mum rent too so it’s not completely free living here and meant I haven’t been able to save anything.

apart from the house I don’t have any other savings but universal credit discarded it for 3 months only

OP posts:

Jongleterre · 11/07/2023 21:26

Is interest accruing on the loan?

Original poster

Choochose · 11/07/2023 21:28

Just to add I know I don’t need to explain myself but I left the former family home with absolutely nothing with no exaggeration- I had to get credit accounts for clothes etc for me and the kids. I have paid quite a bit off it already

OP posts:

literalviolence · 11/07/2023 21:46

You should be getting about £145 every 4 weeks child benefit. Are you claiming that? How long till you start to get some funding for your youngest at nursery?

TeaKitten · 11/07/2023 22:47

Do you get child maintenance?

Original poster

Choochose · 11/07/2023 23:00

I don’t get child maintenance
i do get child benefit- I forgot about that

OP posts:

literalviolence · 11/07/2023 23:09

You can check 'entitledto.co.uk' to see whether you can claim anything else. It looks like you are around £50 short a month even without buying clothes, shoes for the kids. Are you buying childcare vouchers? That might help. Any way of getting any maintenance? How long till you start to get childcare funded? That might be when your situation starts to ease a bit. Can you negotiate lower payments on the loans?

TeaKitten · 11/07/2023 23:15

Choochose · 11/07/2023 23:00

I don’t get child maintenance
i do get child benefit- I forgot about that

Can you put in a claim for maintenance?

User63847484848 · 11/07/2023 23:36

Are you getting the tax free childcare?

it sounds very tough but the sums don’t add up because you can’t get universal credit because they’re taking into account your equity in the old house. Therefore you have to try and get your equity out of it (presumably that’s what the solicitors fees are to do with). If you’re being blocked from getting that equity it seems really unfair you can’t get help from universal credit in the meantime. Can citizens advise help? I wonder if there’s any discretion. I admit I thought (from here) it was 6 months rather than 3 that they disregarded it.

do the kids go to their dad? Can you get a second job?

MrsMoastyToasty · 12/07/2023 00:11

Are you getting single adult discount on your council tax?

Original poster

Choochose · 12/07/2023 07:54

yes I get tax free childcare

ive been to citizens advice and even involved my MP in asking for a review so I don’t know what else I could do re universal credit. Likewise there is nothing else regarding the equity I can do that is going to be solved imminently- It’s in court already.

the children see there dad limited time (a morning) on a Saturday- I already do extra hours in these times but it’s limited what I can do. They’ve had so much upheaval and stress I try and be present for them as much as I can so I may need to work a full shift but it’ll be tricky with childcare and also I won’t be there with them so hard all round

I think I’m just going to have to stay here until I get the money from the house although it won’t make a massive difference as I won’t be able to afford a mortgage bjt it will mean I’m not minus every month for some time and then my youngest will be at school so I won’t get the childcare bill

i know no body owes me anything but it does seem all a bit unfair as I live in 1 room in my families house with 2 children and entitled to nothing

OP posts:

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 12/07/2023 08:08

Why aren't you getting CMS?

Bromptotoo · 12/07/2023 10:49

Choochose · 11/07/2023 21:23

Thanks all.

apart from the house I don’t have any other savings but universal credit discarded it for 3 months only

The disregards for a former home in UC generally apply for 3 months but can be extended my a Decision Maker if there are good reasons.

There are several including things like needing to take legal action to force sale. That would apply if, for example, an ex was refusing to leave. The're set out in Sch 10 to the UC Regs

Also it's the market value of the property that counts. MArket value with a resident owner squatting and refusing to leave is a lot less than with vacant possession.

HAve you spoken to an adviser such as Citizens Advice or Shelter?

TeaKitten · 12/07/2023 13:05

You say nobody owes you anything, but the dad does actually owe you child maintenance…

Blackbyrd · 12/07/2023 13:38

Beware advice from people who don't know what they're talking about. You are securely housed and have an asset which hopefully you will be able to realise. Unless you don't have all the dependent children in the relationship living with you, then you are legally entitled to occupy the house. Obviously you cannot divulge the reasons as to why that isn't the case. I would make an application for Collect and Pay maintenance via the CMS if the father has an income

BLT24 · 12/07/2023 21:48

Free childcare rules change in April 2024, 15 hours free from 2 years old. Sep 2024 15 hours from 9 months old. Sep 2025 30 hours free from 9 months old.

If you still own the house can you switch the mortgage to interest only under the new government mortgage charter starting this week? Basically you can switch to interest only for six months without any adverse effect on credit file. You could then save the difference.

Could you extend the term of the loans you have to make the monthly payments cheaper?

How much can you save a month now if you are living with family? Whatever you save now could buy you the essential things you need to move into a new place or could give you extra income each month if you spread out your savings.

Could you get a job on a Saturday and ask family to have kids? You could do a single shift in hospitality, care work etc

Abigboxoftime1000 · 13/07/2023 01:41

If you eventually move to a rented place, would it be easier to move to a furnished place

Then no expenses required for furniture or white goods too

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 13/07/2023 01:51

Sounds tough. I'm surprised your mum is charging you.

Just one thing: please consider that you needn't always buy new. Your kids could be outfitted from charity shops rather than you going into debt for their clothing.
Or Freecycle.

Same for furniture. There is plenty of serviceable used furniture out there.

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