Losing 1k pm income

[Threeinyellow]

As the title goes, it looks likely that I may become unemployed and lose 1k in income. Owe approx 11k debt. Possibly housing too.

Total income £3290 (incl UC with housing benefit element and £70pw CM for 2DC)

Total debt
Loan 9650 excl interest
Credit card 780
Store cards 185

Outgoings
Rent 900
Council tax 111
Water 39
British Gas 105
Mobile 64
Broadband 20
Dental 22.50
Dc sports fees 10
Pet insurance 6
Vet 12.50
Tv licence 13.50
Union 10
Contents ins 8
Help to save 50
FOOD 550
Child ISA 10
Driving lessons 280
Tesco subs 7

Any advice or signposting very much appreciated.

Jeeze, is it any wonder so many people are 'economically inactive' when you can get paid so much not to work?!

I feel you OP! Have you ever tried batch cooking? If im making chilli, spab bol, curry I make double what we need in a big pot. Doesnt take much more time, just thw chopping. Pop in fridge or freezer in small portion tupperware. Then when you've got driving lessons/your knackered you've got something ready to go. Also can teenagers cook now when you're tired?

I would assume part of what the OP gets is disability benefits for her DC with additional needs.

@Threeinyellow Does the child that possibly needs to be home schooled qualify for DLA?
Thus may also mean you qualify for carers?

Yes fair enough. I don't know a massive amount about how benefits are comprised to be honest. The figures just seem staggeringly high on the face of it.

Can you apply for pip?
Also, your food bill is crazy. Anything stopping your teens cookong instead of ready meals and takeaways if you are too tired?

definitely can do better mobile: try different gaff, 10 pounds per month, more data than you can use, buy a goody bag not just credit.

If you voluntarily gave up your job to blag benefits you'd get nothing for 3 months and then the basic UC equivalent of job seekers allowance, which is pittance.

If you have a diagnosis and can EVIDENCE (which includes demeaning and degrading assessments by the DWP) that you CANNOT work, you would get extra support like OP is, which is as it should be. I've been there. It's no joke and far from easy IME. I am thankfully back to full health and working full-time again now.

Giff gaff phone company sorry for typo, tired. Food bill could be actioned, no processed ready stuff go for multi deals 3 for ten three for eight etc. Money goes further if you cook. Buy budget ranges. Register with community fridges n food banks in your area.

How much longer will driving lessons be required? You're paying for a 2 x hour slot once a week - I would honestly expect someone to be able to take a driving test after a couple of months at most. It's a good skill to have, important, but 16 hours of lessons should be more than enough.

All the rest - meal plan, batch cook, drop the takeaways, change phone plans, you're doing. Good luck and I hope things work out for you and your family.

Is the £70 maintenance through CMS? Has that been reviewed recently..thats a pitiful contribution to the costs of teens...

Ignore the jealousy op, your teens will be adults soon and the pp’s on here will be getting their monthly wage when your benefits are greatly reduced.
It’s the absent fathers that need chastising.

Keep your dental plan. There’s nothing worse than toothache.

OP looking at your current income and expenditure even inc your loan payment you should still have £500 excess each month currently, more if you food plan better, I spend less than that for a family off 4 a month inc nappies

you should for the next few months pay use that to clear the credit card as your interest will continue to grow even if making the minimum payment and the store card, that could be cleared in 3months max

could you reduce your driving lessons to every other week or just an hour instead of 2 hour lessons each time as that would halve that bill but still help with learning to drive

There are obvious savings that can be made which people have already pointed out but it all comes down to the fact that she says she is going to have to give up work to home school the child and her own MH. Given that dc has been in school up to teen years, are there no options to keep them there, either at their current school or a different facility?
Re your MH, again does that really mean you can’t work again for several years.

I can see that it’s easier to just not work and cut down on the takeaways and driving lessons but thinking long term, you make yourself a more employable option in the future if you keep your hand in.

What are your income amounts?

Struggling to see how you qualify for UC. But saying that you do, so if you can get the housing benefit element, are you able to get council tax benefit? If you are become unemployed, I don't think you will need to pay council tax so there is one reduction.

You pay pet insurance and vet?

Driving lessons, is this for you or an older child?

If its the child you can teach them yourself. If its yourself do you have a family member willing to add you to insurance and take you out.

Food, if you meal plan and get creative and cooking from scratch, batch cook for the week etc you could probably shave £150 off that a month.

Help to save - how much do you have in this scheme already?

I work full time and have children, I come out with 2400 and that's a good wage - not entitled to any help, you really do have a lot of money coming in

Is that food budget for a large family?
Can you reduce mobile costs?
Can you stop savings (if it's a short teem income reduction)?
What are your debt repayments?
Can you negotiate payment holiday for anything (if it's a short term income reduction)?
Can you put driving lessons on hold?

Make double meals some nights. Freeze and reheat when you're tired.
Saves so many ready meals/takeaways.

Where do you shop for food? Switch to Aldi or Lidl if you can.

Why do you have three outstanding phone? Is it because of the kids ?

I would contact all these companies (union, loan, cc etc and tell them your income has stopped and you can’t afford to pay, ask them for help). My union reduced my subs to 20pence a month until i was back in work, credit cards may be able to freeze interest so you don’t get deeper into debt, there may be social tariffs for utilities if you’re signed off with mental health.

But also look into whether you need to stop work for that long, I have friends that homeschool, kids have additional needs, they work - they aren’t teaching 40 hours per week, and some of their kid’s work as teens is online or with local homeschool groups. Could you get signed off work while you set this up and get your mental health back on track, then judge how many hours you could do?

@Threeinyellow You do have an option not to homeschool. You can tell the LA and the school that you are both unable (due to need to earn) and unwilling to do so and by law they must find a suitable place.
Is your DC school refusing? You may find help on the Not Fine In School facebook group

There is no point paying off handsets. Just let the contract run till the end and then change to sim only. I pay £20 for unlimited data for 2 phones so I don't even have to pay for WiFi. We just hotspot the TV and laptop etc.

Doesn't your child with special needs get DLA?. Since you won't be working, you will have more energy to source cheaper ingredients and cook from scratch so that you can spend a lot less on food shop. I'm sure you can get it down to £300. Since you won't be working definitely cancel the driving lessons till you go back to work. You can live on that amount, you just have to be very frugal.

EXACTLY!. she should definitely be able to get carers allowance

You say that you are hoping not to have to give up work and have your income drop by £1,000 pm.

It would be a good idea to pretend that it has already happened and start to live on the lower amount. Your list of outgoings suggests you can, although you will need to make savings where possible (i.e. takeaways) to afford things you've forgotten about - clothes, birthday presents, days out etc.

With the extra £1,000 pm you can pay off the credit card and store card in a month. Then after that you can start to build up a buffer which will help you keep servicing the loan if you do have to give up work as I don't think you've included the repayment in your current outgoings.

With the driving lessons I'd say you need to consider how close you are to passing your test. If you're nearly there then it could be a false economy to stop right now. But if you're nowhere near then that saving would help a lot.

Sorry for you current difficulties. How old is the dc that might not be able to be at school? If you have to stay home to support them would you be available to work evenings/weekends?

The only way out of debt is to earn more and you were on the right track with driving lessons/savings etc (which is such a good role model for your children)

Is there any chance you can stay in work? Perhaps take a few months off?