Fed up of struggling financially

[povertymum]

Anyone else in the same boat? I am on my knees struggling, I am single mother of 1 and I have absolutely no help at all. Me and my son’s father split up 4 months ago and we haven’t seen him since , I had to leave my job due to no childcare options. I’ve just put my child to bed and now I’m sat worrying , really anxious about upcoming bills and how I’m going to put food into his mouth. It’s an absolute awful feeling. I have £9 in the bank and £0 cash this is supposed to last me one week. I need electric and food. I have no family I can ask, I am not eligible for loans etc. it’s just rubbish.

anyone else severely struggling? I don’t know how I’m struggling so much I buy absolutely nothing for myself.

Absolutely not, you are too kind ❤️ I have popped you a message though to say thanks for the offer, you need to go on mumsnet online to see dms, not the app.

Thanks everyone for your replies, I am reassure you all that I am not sort of scammer looking for money. I’m a real mum who is genuinely struggling financially and it’s now taken a toll on my mental health , I just feel so guilty and like a failure. It’s an awful situation to be in but I’m sure I will get there.

@povertymum , do you feel able to say which county / area of the country you are in as it may help other posters make suggestions re immediate help for you .

The thing is some of us have been on here for a very long time and at this time of year there’s always been threads just like yours, hence Mumsnet having the standard warning.

No one actually says Oh hi I’m a scammer please send me money do they? Anyway hopefully you can get in a better place financially soon.

Start a childminding business?

You shouldn’t feel guilty OP and you are not a failure. Young children don’t notice much about Christmas so try not to worry about that.

These don't really exist anymore and a lot of the local authority household support funds have closed. Go to citizens advice who will see if there is any current support available, will be able to refer to food bank and double check benefits are correct though OP says they are.

Super helpful comment.

I would totally second the option of registering as a childminder, if you enjoy being around kids.
If there's really no childcare options near, there might be a dire need for childminders.

Try local fb group for toys and books and kids clothes. My area always has tons of people gifting lightly-used toys and clothes since kids of that ages grow so fast.

Why do people instantly assume that's an easy option??

You need a large house, preferably owned. It needs a lot of space downstairs- I imagine all safety features need to be in optimal condition for the registration.

You have (I think) to be registered both by OFSTED AND the local council. I have heard that the council licensing process is incredibly difficult, and it has been cited by people in our village who have looked into it as a reason they didn't continue.

Some people would rather lie naked in the middle of the road than look after a bunch of toddlers. I count myself among their number.

Ok....well it was a suggestion? I assume that OP can at least tolerate toddlers since she has one?

I probably know a bit more about childminding than you because you definitely do not need a big house. My dc went to a cm in a two up, two down terrace. There were 3 kids in that setting. It was a completely normal looking family house.

So did mine. But that's still pretty big to me! And possibly bigger than something a single mum with financial problems is renting.

And even when I had toddlers, dear God I didn't want to spend any time with other ones 😬

Ok fine, I withdraw my suggestion. Hopefully the op finds a way to secure childcare and finds a job soon.

CMS
Child benefit loan from your local credit union
food banks
food pantrys

Where about in the UK are you op if you don’t mind me asking?

I mentioned this in another thread, but I think it wouldn't be out of place here either...

Last week, on the way home from work, I filled up my wee car with petrol. £45 it came to. This was two days before my wife got paid, and three days before I did. By the time I got home, I had a text message from the bank stating we were overdrawn. It really shouldn't be like this for hardworking people. We've already cut everything back to the bone, and we're still struggling like f#ck. My wife's registered disabled, but still works full time because we can't get by otherwise. Most nights, she can hardly walk for the pain, and I'm in effect her free nighttime carer. We're feeling pretty f#ckin pissed off right now.

Can she get / does she get pip ?

Yes, she does.

Dya have any old unwanted unneeded things you could sell via ebay or vinted?

Do you consider olio app
Or too good to go app
For free or reduced food?

Dya have a community fridge or community larder near you ?

Hope things are easier soon

Foodbanks are really good these days with their quality and variety. Much better than the word conjures up. Sometimes we even go there instead of M&S. No, really.

Look into local charities for toys. We are donating at work to a local charity who distribute the gifts.

I would ask your doctor and citizens advice about food banks.

in saying that for 75p you can fill your basket with veg at Lidl, so rice for curries, and kidney beans for stews and chunky soup too

there is soup mix in morrissons to for 35p, just add an onion, carrot and stock cube

i hope and pray 2026 will be easier for u

I don’t think getting CMS affects benefits. Both are payable, independently, if she can get them. I don’t know why though. 🙄

Fuck me! I thought this was a place a Mum could get support but clearly not judging by what some of you nasty pieces of work are posting.

Yes OP …get back to work, your 2yr old will be fine at home with an iPad and a tin opener

or move house because £9 will get you all the help you need.

Some of you have had a serious empathy bypass…in fact you’re just plain nasty.

Thank goodness for the majority posting helpful information.

I agree I don’t post much anymore as there are some real nasty people on here, I was genuinely really upset this morning by what they were messaging to me, and I don’t even know them.

Don’t know why what? If referring to CMS and benefits it’s because a lot of the parents claiming were often left without or the maintenance was not reliable.

Rightly so it should be disregarded, maybe if we had stricter laws around dead beat parents who fail to support their children it could change but I highly doubt it.