Failing

[CrouchedTiger]

Hi 👋
Does anyone know of legit survey sites where I could make some extra money in the UK?
My OH & I work full time, Budget our money for food etc (£400 p/month for 3 of us) but we have zero left straight after we get paid. I WFH which saves us money as I can have lunch etc at home but we’re moving back into the office & my train ticket (no option for bus) is £85 per month & I don’t have that left at the end of the month so basically I can’t afford to get to my work. Our washing machine has just broke too ( I’m prepared for hand washing for however long for) we have debt which will be paid off next year (🎉) & we have a 3 year old too dress and feed. We don’t buy clothes for ourselves, we stay in (OH works night shifts and shifts cover weekend too) , don’t go out for dinner , I don’t have nails etc done so we basically living the bare minimum when it comes to spending.

thanks!

Can you post your income and expenditure for the month? £400 per month for food for 3 people - one a 3 year old - sounds on the high side for example.

Sorry - just see the £400 is not just for food. But maybe list your outgoing

I don’t know any sites, but honestly I don’t think there’s much in the way of free money.
can you upskill? Survey sites woudlnt be a long term solution anyway. What do you currently do?

I don't think surveys is the solution tbh. It will take a lot of time to get any meaningful extra money.

You'd be better off having a really good review of your budget to see if you can increase your income at all, reduce all your expenses, being honest about needs vs wants and whether there is anything you can reduce the cost of or cancel (broadband, TV services etc).

Are you paying a lot for childcare? Do you get the free hours, checked if you're entitled to UC towards the cost etc? Has your mortgage gone up?

Have a look at:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/money-help/

You say you have debts. Look at the advice MSE give on this. You need to pay your essential expenditure before you pay your debts. This includes travel to work and replacing broken washing machines. If you don't have enough to pay your debts after paying for essentials, then that's a trigger to get further help. No-one expects you to hand wash, especially when you both work full time.

But without seeing any numbers, it's impossible to say what your best course of action is.

You could be unable to cover basic expenses, so you might need to try and get a second job, and/or start a formal debt management solution as you're at risk of your debt spiraling out of control.

Or you could have loads of slack in your budget because you're mistaking discretionary items for essentials, although your OP suggests this is not the case.

I've just started using two sites/apps called Eureka and Curious Cat but if you're looking to make a good chunk of money, these are time intensive for small amounts. Having said that, I did actually make a tenner yesterday but I don't think that's an ordinary day. But as others have said you may be able to save a load on cutting back/budgeting.

If you want to try surveys, here's my referral links:

eurekasurveys.page.link/ntsxQFRUK1pdVEf36

app.adjust.com/ibhpx21?label=18825103-4450-48e4-bdc5-3d331a40aff2

i don’t have any helpful advice re additional work or budgeting but wanted ask if you’d heard of the app ‘TooGoodToGo’? It lists food places (supermarkets, bakeries, cafes etc) local to you that post that they have food bags or hot meals which can be bought for £2-4. You reserve on the app (usually evening before or same day) and then collect between specific times, often late afternoon / evening. It is stuff that is near expiry and you can’t predict what’s in there but it’s usually a lot and may help support with keeping food costs low. Listed near me today is:

Asda groceries £3.30 (worth £10)
Breakfast bag from local cafe £5 (worth £15)
Hot cooked meal from local cafe £8 (worth £24)
as well as stuff from bakeries, Morrisons etc

Have you spoken to your boss about a payrise? Or are you on a set rate with a lot of other people? Could you explain that you are struggling and need some short term support? Would work offer you an interest free season ticket loan?

I think listing your expenses is useful. Phones, broadband and insurance can often be found cheaper with a bit of research. Have you cancelled all subscriptions.

Have you checked freecycle for a washing machine. Handwashing is hard work, and more expensive in the long run.

On commuting, can either of you cycle or car share?

You could self-refer to a food bank. Check out local community pantries.

Have you considered looking for another job, closer to home, or better paid?

If you both work full time, even putting you both on nmw, you should be able to live with that combined income in one household. Not extravagantly, but you shouldn't have zero left the day after you get paid.

I am an accountant, and I advise people often, on benefits and budgeting. The frequent solution, which they never want to hear, is actually the money coming in is sufficient, it's just not sufficient for how they want to live. There will be holidays, or presents they had to buy for their DC, cars on credit, because "why should I/DC be denied those things?" Well... because you don't earn enough to live like that. Buy those things, sure, but you'll be selling them in a year's time, complaining that you've got no money because of COL. And before anyone gets in a twist, of course COL rises are impacting people, but it's disingenuous to know your energy bill has doubled, but get a child a new iPhone, then state you can't afford to live because of COL. People don't like to take accountability for the element of their own poor choices adding to their financial situation, and it's not until they do and look at how to change that, that they can see a marked improvement. I had one woman I was advising who simply couldn't afford her rent. Because she didn't want to work any more than she did, didn't have any skills, so was on low pay, yet wanted to live in a fancy apartment in a flash part of town because "Oh, I don't deserve a nice house then?" FFS, you can't afford this "nice" house, whether you think you deserve it is irrelevant.

What are your outgoings? If you don't go out, don't buy clothes, don't ever treat yourselves, only spend £400 on "food etc" where on earth is all your money going?

So all my money is going on other household bills, our food bill (including cleaning products etc) is £400 a month.
we don’t live beyond our means at all, we have a home that is £165K and is a three bedroom for us to live and for me to WFH.
I can’t cycle as it’s a city I work in and unfortunately can’t car share as I work 12 hour shifts and most people finish at 5. I’m condensed hours for child care purposes as we have just been granted the free hours.
we don’t have up to date phones, my LO doesn’t have anything because they’re 3. We don’t go on holidays (haven’t been for 5 years!) we try to do things for free but if not it’s fine as I have money aside for occasions like that.
I have never heard of free cycle but will definitely check it out as well as too good to go (thanks for the tips!)
I can’t ask for a pay rise as I’m on a set amount like everyone else, I know I’m not the only one struggling and I appreciate that but when you’re doing everything you can to keep costs down it’s just a piss take. I’m borderline ranting now but thanks everyone 😊

Is your debt from credit cards? If you're paying interest on that could you shift it to a 0% interest card. At least then every penny you pay is paying off your debt.

How much do you owe and how much are your debt payments.

I know you say that it’s not your outgoings but I think it might be your outgoings.

We’re a family of 5 (3 adults, 1 teen 1 child), our food shop is less than yours, our house is the same as yours, we run a car and we only have one wage coming in. We live comfortably enough (though I do often look for ways to reduce costs).

If you're both on NMW you both take home about £1500 p/mth.

£3k p/mth. £400 on groceries/cleaning.

£2600 left to pay mortgage, utilities, and other bills. Can you list these things and how much they cost.

I know you're using 30 free hours childcare, are you also using tax free childcare?

We had to get our roof fully renewed which added 9K to the debt, so we pay a massive amount to debt to try and clear as quickly as possible, moved to zero interest credit cards. Most of the debt is my OH so unsure of the full amount ( I would say roughly £12k going by our last conversation)
Tax free childcare? I will need to look into this as 100% sure we don’t utilise everything as we should.
Our mortgage has went up to £900 odd now a month as we recently had our fixed rate end (I know, I’m gutted) so:
£400 - shopping
£900 - mortgage
£270 - council tax
gas / electric - unsure as partner pays this
£200 - car payment (ends this year 🎉)
rest is debt repayments
we have little over £3K a month. (PSA - this is estimate as don’t have exact figures)

If we need anything I’m on vinted to see if there is anything decent too.

If your debt is on 0% and you can afford the minimum payments, there's no need to do without a washing machine of worry about affording commuting to over pay your debts, that's silly.

Look at your budget and make sure it includes commuting costs, savings for an emergency fund of, say £1000, (or space on a 0% credit card, keep getting new offers if need be) so you can replace a washing machine, fix the car etc when necessary.

Once you've addressed the above, then's the time to overpay to pay off as soon as possible.

Your fixed rated has ended. Have you looked a other fixed rates to see if they are cheaper than the variable? If you stay with same provider they don't do all the affordability checks etc or at least reduced them. Definitely use the tax free childcare PLUS free hours - you can use both.

When does the car end? You say this year but is it a couple of months? You'll soon have £200 extra a month so that should help

Tax free childcare means the govt will pay 20% of your childcare bill. It's really user friendly to understand/set up/use. Just Google and you'll be away.

Car, you shouldn't have one on finance, but that's nearly done now, so irrelevant.

Have you ever put your details into a benefits calculator to see if you qualify for anything at all? Humour me, and just check again if you have.

I do yougov surveys. Here’s the link (I don’t get money for it just points if you fill in half a dozen surveys).
It’s not a huge money spinner though. Probably a tenner a month if you’re lucky.
https://account.yougov.com/gb-en/join?referral=5dA6letfZz-107QEB0JSzw

There's another called swagbucks but I never got on with it. You might have better luck.
I hope things get better soon.

How much has your mortage gone up to?
Ours is currently £858 and going upto £1240 in jan.
Do you receive child benefit? Think that's worth around £100 for 1 these days as rise in April.
You should get free 15 hours childcare term after 3rd birthday.

Are you entitled to universal credit if you low wage.
Our energy is £250 a month currently.
Our council tax is lower than yours and we pay over 10months but we band b are you paying over 10 or 12?
As extending to 12 maybe free up a little extra.

Any subscription to cancel

The MSE debt free board is good.

Do you have a food pantry/ club near you where you pay a low set amount for a bag of food or so many items.
Don't forget the free food app olio get even more if uou become a champion and pick up food from tesco and give away 90% keep 10.
I shop around for groceries only way can keep budget down use mix of value lines/ reductions and what's on offer when meal planning.
Do you work in social care as you could get a blue light card that offers some discounts.

Use cashback site any purchase online
Make sure you have all the supermarket loyalty cards.
Finding poundland/ farmfoods and home bargains quite cheap for food bits.
Meal plan. Write list. Batch cook and freeze om days off helps.

Do you have any carboots/ jumble good charity shops near you as if you know what you looking for ie branded kids clothes can sell on really well for a little profit maybe aim sell 10 items per week.

What concerns me is you don't know how much debt you have.
9k for roof sounds loads.
What's your partner built up debts on?

You both need to sit down and work it all out.

Income and dates paid so his +yours+ any benefits+ realistic extra income estimate.

So fixed
List every fixed expense and what date due out.

Mortgage
Council tax
Energy
Phone/ Internet
TVlicence / sky
Car tax
Car insurance
Home and life insurance
Water
Breakdown cover
I would add in £85 travel to this as its set cost.
Childcare costs
Mobile phones
Netflix/ amazon

Variable

Food £400 see if can lower this to free up some more
Petrol
Clothing or kids budget its unrealistic not to set anything.
Even of low figure like 20 to 30 per month.
Any kids activities we used to do toddler group 2 quid a week.
Misc/ emergency category you own a home so things come up
Low personal spend £10 each maybe
I actually add my childcare to variable as amount changes as school age depends how many weeks in a month and food any school holidays.

Debts is big one
List total amount debts smallest to largest.
Also List dates due. Minimum payment amount/ interest rate and estimated end date.
If its a loan there's a end date example we have 0% 2 years on boiler £117 per month that we took out in November so we have another 13 months.
No rush to pay it off because its 0%.
We have 2k left on credit card 1 that's over 20% that's our priority.
Credit card 2 has 5.5k but another year 0%so just paying the minimum.
Once 1 is clear we will pay much more to clear it.

We are also saving despite being in debt as want a 1k emergency fund.
When our washing machine broke we got new one very 6months % and paid off within 6months.
We also paid man to repair before that can equal £70 call out fee plus parts and labour.
Also brought 2nd hand machine off market place and ebay many times in the past we can't live without a washer..

You both need to be honest.
Why are you in debt
What's 0% for longest and try focus on higher interest debt.
I know you both probably want it gone ASAP but you have to be realistic if some things due to end soon. Also some help with childcare have a realistic livable budget.
We had hoped clear credit card 1 by now but due to other costs
Dental work
Large vets bill
School holidays no trips away but a few day trips
2 birthday coming up.
Now want it cleared by Nov
Maybe decreasing some debts as long as pay minimum on 0% free up some extra money to live and save.

Good luck