Honestly, what is the point? (just a moan really)

[HappyShittyNewYear]

I have just worked out my budget for the year (having gone back to work February this year after being on IS). By the end of this month I am over £150 in the red, by July I will be nearly £2000 after paying bills, childcare and basics. I do have some debts that I am paying off which include previous joint tax credit overpayment plus debts I had to take out when ex kicked me and kids out leaving me to start from scratch with housing and furniture, but I never seriously struggled with anything before going back to work (was not rolling in it but still managed some treats such as Christmas/birthdays, even stretching to a cheap caravan holiday). I know, I'm giving kids "a good work ethic" etc. and many are worse off, just feeling like such a major fuck up and having a moan at being made to feel like I am as I should be rolling in it now I'm working apparently.

Urgh, what is the issue - travel to work costs, childcare costs - both?

Childcare costs the main issue Random, was managing okay but the summer holidays depleted any savings I managed to save up plus I had to pay £450 to look after kids myself for two weeks at Christmas. Term time is not too bad at £60 a week for 2 after school, however holidays is £225 per week for the rest of the year apart from two weeks in the Summer at Christmas regardless of whether myself or childminder on holiday. However, I know the childminder just making a living herself. Not much I can do about it, hence my big fat self-indulgent moan.

*in the summer, delete -at Christmas-

is it worth looking into different childcare options? A childminder that has a different set up for charging ie term time only and then use a playscheme in the summer? How old are the dc?

They are 7 and 9. I think I am going to have to look into other childcare options and also how to cut back majorly this year. I love my job but it does make you feel a bit crappy when you spend all your time telling the DC's that you're doing all this to make a better life for you all and you end up struggling even more . I didn't want to have to reply on my mum but it looks like I may have to for holidays now.

I was also thinking as they get older you could get away with doing more playdate swapping for the holidays?

Can you work fewer hours and then only do 4 days in the holidays or something? The good news is that they are getting to the point where childcare costs will start to diminish!

I had a childminder who you didn't have to pay when she was on holiday/unable to work so you just ensured you took your hols when she took hers - much more affordable for our situation.

Do you get child care vouchers through work? I get them (you can get up to £276 ish and it is tax and NI free) I take £200 per month and after school club is £150 a month so I am saving up £50 per month which pays for the summer holidays. Also food shopping you can save a lot on by buying essentials in bulk and shopping when food is reduced. I have a tight budget and that is how I make it work (only just sometimes mind you!)

If you are entitled to the childcare element of CTC then that is financially better than child care vouchers to save on taxable income.

Thanks Random and gilmore, I do claim the childcare element of WTC, unfortunately when my childcare arrangements changed to include holidays I had also received a small increase in salary (an extra £10 per month wages resulted in a decrease of £10 per week childcare element). I have just spoken to my mum and she has agreed to have girls for holidays from now on as long as I provide for food/spending money which will be a lot cheaper. Any links to some budget shopping threads would be appreciated - the girls are on school dinners so I can make sure they are having a hot dinner each day and we can have a lighter cheaper tea in the evening.

If you can face it I would think it is cheaper to make a packed lunch and you give them a hot dinner in the evening. £2 per day for such small school lunches is expensive IMHO.

To save money on food it's all about menu planning and preparing in advance - the slow cooker is your friend, small portions of meat.

You are right, they still come home starving anyway! Time to dust off the slow cooker then. Thanks for the great advice (and making me feel less crappy too). Hope you have a happy new year and one of these too just because we are big Dr. Who fans and I spotted one and wanted one.

I would agree re slow cooker . i can get two dinners each out of one batch of stew. mine have hot dinners on days I have meetings etc or they have clubs as it helps time wise that's all. mine love Mac an' cheese and so easy and quick to do and again can do two meals. homemade pasta sauce another easy one that easy to freeze and goes a long way too.

can you sell any bits on e bay or via Facebook pages of dc's old clothing/toys etc. might help?

and although it must be tough now you are showing the right example to your dcs by working. its crazy that its harder financially for you now. just so not how it should be and very disheartening.

Agree Minime, totally disheartening but even so I know that, if not financially, emotionally I am a much better person being back at work.

Will definitely be making more use of the slow cooker. With regards to DC's old clothing etc, luckily I have two girls so the little one gets the use of her sister's hand-me-downs and I have younger nieces I pass anything useable down to but I am going to start having a look round the charity shops for bits and pieces from now on as we are surrounded by some more "affluent" areas so you never know what bargains I may pick up.

It's funny really, I was just thinking, I grew up as a kid in the early 80's on hand-me-downs and jumble/car boot sales - no ipads or gadgets for us - and I survived sort of. Why the heck do we put this pressure on ourselves ?

How are you servicing your debt? Do you have a mortgage?

Can you renegotiate with tax credits to repay the debt over longer? Presumably they will go up again in April?

Don't feel pressurised into paying for all the school stuff - be honest with the school and tell them you aren't in a position to make all these "voluntary" contributions - explain that working has made you worse off for now.

~Anything else you can cut back on - sky, switch utilities that kind of thing?

It sounds to me as if you are doing brilliantly. Enjoy your moan.

I am contacting virgin and vodafone tomorrow to try and arrange cutbacks - those are my main outgoings apart from pre-agreed debt repayments. I, luckily I guess, do not have any tangible assets such as a car or a mortgage/house, privately renting with a very good landlady. Utilities are a good price at the moment, £93 for dual fuel in 2 bed flat (pay monthly by DD so will wait to see what Jan bill is like as currently £400+ in credit as my usage is obviously down due to no longer being in during day). I have certainly learnt a lesson this year that I should have prepared for years ago (and as a child of a single parent family should have known better but I think my mum protected us too much from the hardships).

Thank you nfk, nothing like a good moooaaan n' groaaaannn

nkf sorry - children rabbiting in my ears

Second cutting back on school dinners. I have also been able to use dome friends Dds for babysitting during school holidays which works out a bit cheaper. I was also able to reduce my tax credits monthly repayment when things got tough.

That doesn't sound that cheap for dual fuel tbh...just reduced mine to £80pm for 3 bed semi. Also, if you're in credit by that much, send them a meter reading now and collect at least half of that credit back...no point them earning interest on your money

I make sandwiches for the week, then freeze them in sandwich bags and pop them in lunchbags while I make my cup of tea in the morning...hate making pack ups first thing in the morning and they keep the other things cool in lunch box.

We have a small 3 bed mid terrace and our dual fuel is £61 per month so it does seem a bit high tbh, although we have a newish combi boiler.

Also agree re school lunches. I do packed lunches for both of us fAR cheaper than school or my work. Again bulk buy items used like if see drubbed on for £1 I just buy tons and freeze same with 10p loaves of bread, half price cheese ham etc. plus use left overs for lunches. Also buy wide neck thermos and do soup or pasta in winter. Nevertheless how food out. Ever!
My utilities are extortionate gas and electric £120 a month for 2 bed flat so does not sound too bad to me. I only pay for broadband and phone, not TV package. I do lots of gumtree tree and clothing sales for stuff we do not use. Made quite a lot before Christmas last year. Use local authority pool etc plus cinemas have cheap deals in mornings of hols - films cost £1.75