When they say "income"....

[WhyAyeButterPie]

I'm looking at credit card deals. When they say "income", do they mean just my income from my self employment, mine and DHs added together (he has a "proper job") or me, DH and tax credits? Because each option gives us completly different offers!

If the credit card is to be in your name that it is all of your income from any source, not DH's income.

So I can include tax credits and benefits in my name?

Many lenders... mortgage companies, loan companies, credit cards... define 'income' as 'earned income'. The best way to check is to call the company you're interested in and ask them directly.

I'm self employed, so I don't think I'll get anything...might have to get DH to apply.

We just want something as a fallback on weeks when all the bills are high for whatever reason or something. About £100 would do it.

Unless you're intending to pay the credit card bill off every month it is an expensive way to borrow money. An overdraft is a much better option if it's just a way to manage cashflow.

Thanks, I'll look into that. Credit card just seems easier, and we are less likely to "accidentally" spend it, if that makes sense.

It really is our emergency cash, so that if the bills all come in higher than normal and clear us out, we know we always have bus fare etc.

We really should save, but that is easier said than done.

Take a good look at your outgoings and see if you could make different choices that would save you even as little as £5 or £10 a week. Pay your savings account first each month and manage your budget around what's left. You won't miss it as much that way. Once you've got the savings put away and building slowly you'd have peace of mind and not be reliant on a CC or an overdraft. What starts out as something to dip into 'only for emergencies' can often get unmanageable once interest starts to accrue.