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Made redundant, husband stressed about money. Feeling guilty

33 replies

Jidemummu199 · 29/02/2024 19:05

So I was made redundant in December. I've signed on to Jobseekers and universal credit. Have not had much luck finding a full time job. An ex colleague referred me for a job vacancy and I'm currently freelancing there roughly 2 days a week. I also interviewed for a permanent position at said company part time as this is the first interview I've had in three months! Not ideal but better than nothing. Husband works fulltime but doesn't earn much (I was earning more before redundancy). I'm still applying for full time work non stop but still not having much luck. It's been almost three months. I have helped out with rent using my redundancy pay but now I really need to earn more. And we found out that our rent will increase by £100 in April so he's started to panic even more. Before he was confident that I will find find something by now. It just makes me feel so guilty. I'm trying my best. His stress is making me even more stressed than I already am. His mum has asked if I found work yet and he told her about the potential part time position. She seemed deflated for me...not really a question to ask per se, I just feel very shitty at the moment.

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 29/02/2024 19:08

If you are claiming Universal credit then you will be getting a rent element and these will likely go up in April as the local housing allowance rates are rising. There will also be a significant increase in the whole Uc rates in April.

Jidemummu199 · 29/02/2024 19:15

Yes, luckily that should help, but OH is still worried.

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 29/02/2024 19:20

I know it might not be what you want to do in an ideal world but could you find something, anything, full time for now? To tide you over while you’re still looking for your next “career/dream” job? My BIL was in your position and applying for jobs in his industry not hearing much back, he changed tactic completely and literally applied for ANY full time role, call centre jobs, supermarkets, restaurant and pub jobs, retail jobs, fast food restaurants… after nearly 4 months of knock backs he then ended up in the space of 3 days with 3 full time job offers, kitchen at Mcdonalds, customer service on the floor at Tesco and EE sales call centre job. He decided on Tesco and started the next week, it wasn’t his favourite job, he was stacking shelves and working on the till, but it meant he got paid a full months wage which was significantly more than UC had been. He kept applying for jobs in his previous industry and after 6 months at Tesco he got a job offer back in his field. It’s really not worth being choosy about what you apply for when you need the money, so if you haven’t already, apply for absolutely anything. It’s easier to get a job when you’ve got a job and takes the pressure off financially

DesignForLife01 · 29/02/2024 19:22

Can you sign up with some agencies? I find they are a good way back into work as long as you are prepared to do something temporary or not exactly what you might be looking for.

Jidemummu199 · 29/02/2024 19:36

Registered for some this week so hopefully should hear back soon! I'll see if there are any more. My plan was that I will look for retail positions if I don't find anything in my field. So I'll have to start tweaking my CV this weekend.

OP posts:
Jidemummu199 · 29/02/2024 19:39

That's amazing - hats off to your BIL. Yes, will definitely need to switch gears. Anything is better than nothing at this rate.

OP posts:
TwistedAdmin · 29/02/2024 19:43

Oh i find myself out of work quite a bit and will be straight down the local warehouse while the recruiters do their thing - have you spoken to any recruiters?

coxesorangepippin · 29/02/2024 19:51

Are you on LinkedIn?

Jidemummu199 · 29/02/2024 19:53

TwistedAdmin, I've had some recruiting connections on LinkedIn. They said they would give me a shout if they have anything in my field. Regarding recruiters outside of my field, I haven't so I will start to reach out to some. Thank you for suggesting!

OP posts:
Jidemummu199 · 29/02/2024 19:55

I am on LinkedIn...I apply through there. I tend to see 100s of applications per job post. It's scary. So reaching out to my connections more.

OP posts:
Jidemummu199 · 29/02/2024 19:58

Thanks so much all foor the suggestions! Key takeaway is it's time to start applying for literally anything I'm capable of doing now!

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 29/02/2024 19:59

I definitely think in the interim just spend an hour now tonight putting applications in at supermarkets, retail, fast food etc. A job is a job, you can continue to look for your perfect job/in your field once you have a steady wage coming in again each month. It is crazy the amount of applications per post for some jobs, my workplace recruited again last month and for 1 available post we had 297 applications, the initial sift is crazy

Pebbles16 · 29/02/2024 20:09

@Jidemummu199 I feel your pain.
I have been out of work for a couple of months and DH is seriously panicking (without reason I might add).
When people say 'look for any job', employers frequently don't want someone who they know is taking it out of desperation. I was trying, tweaking CV etc, but ultimately employers are - mostly - looking for realiabilty rather than a bum on seat/body in place

Aquamarine1029 · 29/02/2024 20:15

What is your husband doing to secure a higher income? Why is he such a a low earner?

MrsMoastyToasty · 03/03/2024 22:36

I recommend temping. It's a bit like "Try before you buy ". I did everything from data entry, school secretary, insurance clerk. One assignment was supposed to be temporary and I ended up getting taken on permanently and was with the company for 7 years.

workoholic · 03/03/2024 22:48

Jidemummu199 · 29/02/2024 19:58

Thanks so much all foor the suggestions! Key takeaway is it's time to start applying for literally anything I'm capable of doing now!

Maybe consider delivering for takeaways and stuff like that, because you can do it around your freelance job then x

DistingusedSocialCommentator · 03/03/2024 22:49

OP

do you and you OH not have any savings?

workoholic · 03/03/2024 22:50

Aquamarine1029 · 29/02/2024 20:15

What is your husband doing to secure a higher income? Why is he such a a low earner?

I am thinking the same, if he is a "low earner", can't he fix that and become a "high earner"? Then it will be OK for you to be a low earner.

Northernsouloldies · 06/03/2024 02:02

Yes because becoming a higher earner is soooo easy. FFS who would fulfill the lower paid work if everyone was a higher earner.

MariaVT65 · 06/03/2024 03:12

Your DH doesn’t sound very supportive, sorry op. You should be made to feel guilty.

I got made redundant 2 years ago and then nearly got made redundant again last year. It really stressed me out but my DH was really supportive, helped with financial calculations and said it was still ok for me just to get any old job if needed.

I would also recommend signing up with recruiters. Good luck :)

Timspam · 06/03/2024 06:03

I was made redundant last year, I'm
over 50 and it was very difficult, I applied for hundreds of jobs and mostly heard nothing at all. I think I had 6 jobs over the year, one lasted 1 day, it was an awful time BUT I've final found a job at a good caring company on my money than my original job I had before I was made redundant. The point being keep going, you may have to take some jobs you don't particularly like at first but don't give in.

TwylaSands · 06/03/2024 06:06

Are there also any online courses you can be doing in the meantime?

TwylaSands · 06/03/2024 06:08

DistingusedSocialCommentator · 03/03/2024 22:49

OP

do you and you OH not have any savings?

How is this helpful? Her dh is a low earner and they rent.

Timspam · 06/03/2024 06:09

Northernsouloldies · 06/03/2024 02:02

Yes because becoming a higher earner is soooo easy. FFS who would fulfill the lower paid work if everyone was a higher earner.

Totally agree with this, didn't a stupid Politician say something about this recently, if you're struggling financially get a better job. Yeah right if it was so easy we'd all do it but then society needs cleaners, porters, drivers, factory workers etc or it wouldn't function, you'd go to the supermarket and there would be no cornflakes because nobody was working in the cornflake factory they'd all left to be Lawyers lol

veryangrymot · 06/03/2024 06:18

Before you apply for any retail job, tweak your CV, as most CVs are read by AI and will not be selected if there are less than 5 key words in your CV.