Please help, I am at the end of my tether with my finances and I'm going to lose it all...

[serotoninbutterfly]

Sorry to post such a horrendous thing - I know we are all in the same boat with the cuts but I really need some help/advice.

Every single month we are behind on something... Rent, council tax, electric etc.

I have just received the letter about TC stopping come April.

What on earth am I doing wrong? Why can't I be like normal people and not be in this ridiculous situation?

This month we have £20 left. To last the month. I only got paid yesterday. And have done no food shopping...

What the hell am I meant to do?

Hi Serotoninbutterfly,

Good to see you have made a start, it does make you feel better. It helps to share, too. You haven't been a dick, or if you have, so have 99% of us.

Not sure where you were with your water, but if you are metred, put a water-saving device in your toilet cistern, if possible, fit your shower with a water-limiting device (ask your water board about these two). Never take a bath, keep your showers brief, or even have a 'flannel wash', i.e. use a small basin of water, a flannel and some soap! This is certainly fine for children. Don't keep the tap running when you're cleaning your teeth either. I'm such a water miser that I keep a watering can in my bath, so that any excess shower water goes in there, for watering plants etc.

Take the no-telly challenge! You don't need a licence unless you are watching live telly, or playing it again on a pc - just don't do that! Give it a try for 6 months, it won't be bad at all in the lighter evenings which are coming!

Keep us posted.

Hi S
just wanted to second Michaela's recommendation of CAPUK - they are a great organisation who have seen it all before and have earned a great reputation in the finance industry. Yes, it's a charity, but they're very professional and know how to stop debt in its tracks and change family situations around. I think they work through local churches in order to help keep their costs down so they can help folk for free.
If you're lucky enough to be in the area of one of their centres, it's a great way to go. My husband and I have just followed their advice on running our finances before our situation gets any worse and I'm SO glad we have!
Hope it helps
N