Money

[ForWorthyViewer]

Does anyone get used to having no money?
I get paid once a month..pay all my bills etc then have £100 spare for a "top up" shop.
No money for days out with kids.
I live off toast so I'm not eating the food in the house for the kids.
I now have to wait 3 weeks to be paid.

Are you claiming all the benefits you might be entitled to?

Please apply for universal credits if you are on low income it may well be very much to your advantage. Dwp retired

Post incomings and outgoings including all benefits and people might be able to help

Are you working full time? Claiming everything you're entitled to? Looked into reducing bills?

How many hours are you working each week? Do you have any longstanding debts?

Why are you broke. Properly look at that question.

Not "because everything is expensive", why specifically are you broke. There was a thread a while back with a woman insisting it was impossible to live, whilst spending £2k of her £3k income on a vair naice flat that it was "impossible" for her to consider leaving.

Not saying that's your scenario of course, but if you have DC, and claim everything you're entitled to, plus your full time wages, you shouldn't be broke unless your expenses aren't reasonable.

(I run a charity that specifically deals with low income households)

Absolutely this! When you say bills is that EVERYTHING including food? Why are you not eating the same dinners as the dc?

Sorry to hear you are eating very frugally so your children eat .
If you have a partner , I hope they are doing the same . By that terrible you are eating just toast , but shame on them if they are getting to eat same as your kids , as they should be eating as you are or at the very least taking turns for a meal .

Sounds tough. As others said have you checked to see if getting the right benefits

Everyone keeps posting about what they have left over for food but what about for things like clothes or shoes (when they wear out) or a book. or do you literally have nothing spare for that

What everyone else said. Plus if you're short of money because you're paying off debt, you need to stop paying, ask for 'breathing space' which is an industry scheme to pause your debts to give you chance to seek advice. Then ask for proper help.

No debts just general bills etc

Helloz I make sure my kids have everything they need clothes,shoes,books,food out of 1 wage and I have no debt whatsoever

I have no debt

Hello, I'm a single parent of 3 x

Everything!!! My kids have everything they need

I've been hard up in the past and it's no fun at all. Been able to afford to eat and pay bills just about but any extras were not often possible. And a repair bill was a cause for panic.

Are you working full time? Are you getting all the benefits you are entitled to?

I think, given the choice, I'd work more hours and buy better quality food for myself than leave things as they are and live on toast which isn't really healthy or nutritious on a long term basis. You matter too, you're important too, not just the kids.

ForworthyViewer ....please you should not be broke .please apply for child allowance,universal credit , council tax relief rent relief and so much more it's there to support you and your 3 lovely children it does not matter what salary you are on or if you are there not working the support is there to support you

Maybe she can't?

Well, you can apply for all those things but it’s not guaranteed that OP will be eligible . She hasn’t provided any details about her financial circumstances so it’s a bit misleading for you to imply she’d get something. Although I do agree with the approach of “if you dont apply you cant get”

It might help if you answered the question, OP.

That’s amazing, but it’s not good you’re neglecting yourself to do it I recommend going to a food bank type of place not for a food parcel if you don’t need it but they have staff that can give you advice

The other obvious question is are you receiving the child maintenance you're entitled to?

Unless the children's father is deceased or in prison, he should be contributing, although I realise that is sometimes easier said than done, but definitely worth fighting for.

Also, you say your DC 'have everything they need' but I wouldn't be spending money on books or eg lots of expensive fresh fruit and meat, if it leaves you existing on toast.

There's endless ways of getting children's books for free and I would be serving low cost basic food like eggs and pulse based meals for everyone, to make your money go further. Plus bananas instead of blueberries.