How will we afford to live?

[Supercherry]

I've just calculated my monthly outgoings for food (£50 per week inc. nappies/wipes) and bills (2 bed terrace) and deducted this from what I think I should be entitled to in benefits and I will be left with exactly £0 per week. Woohoo.

I won't be able to run my car so that will have to go.

What worries me is that I wont have any money to pop to a baby group, or soft play, or take DS out for lunch, or even grab a coffee after supermarket shopping.

I am 6mths pregnant so starting a job now isn't really feasible is it?

Even if I did get a job, the benefits would be reduced so I would still be as bad off financially and not get to bring up my children, DS1, 17mths and DS2 due in October.

XP, on the other hand, will be better off, how is that fair?

Not really sure what I'm asking really, just wanted to have a moan.

How do all you single mums and dads manage?

mostly twig they prob have debts I should think, or their cost of living is less, they might get maintenance.

I know when I was on 100% benefits I couldn't afford to go out every week shopping etc. well I did for food but nothing else.

it's only now i'm working PT I can do - but then I feel guilty about DS being shoved here there n everywhere with his grandparents me or nursery so can't win either way.

I have 2 DC's that I'm bringing up alone. We eat quite well and shop at Lidl (the meat, fruit & veg, dairy etc - good standard). I also shop at Netto and Aldi (for their non-bio wash pods as I call them).

I have a slow cooker which is invaluable. Yesterday I made a chicken casserole in it which will feed us 3 meals each. I have a £50 pw shopping budget too.

Oh my goodness is this my future as a lone parent on benefits?

Is the beginning the worst bit?

Cripes - going to go and eat tea and biscuits under the duvet and pretend this isn't happening to me.

steak, once everything is set up and you know what you have in it's fine - well hard but OK, it's just the first few weeks of getting it all sorted out.

just make sure u have everything you're entitled to.