I don't seem to be able to live on less than 500 per month

[TheLittleWhiteRabbit]

I don't seem to be able to live on less than 500 per month and this is toooooo much due to my low income. With rent, bills and council tax this is equal to or more than my monthly wage.

I get CTC and also CB.

Any tips for saving money as I seem unsucessful in getting a better paid job.

I spend about £90 every quarter on my landline
£30+ per month on my mobile
£12 tv licence monthly
£40 thames water monthly
£25 on childcare weekly
£80 - £100 on travel monthly
Food seems like I am spending a lot £50 per week sometimes

You're spending £60+ a month on your phone. You can get a much better deal than £30 monthly. Check you're landline too as it sounds expensive.

Your phone packages should definitely be changed! Our landline is with Sky, it is £17.25 a month (direct debit) and that covers all land line calls. I don't call mobiles from it and i use www.saynoto0870.com to find out the land line version of 0870 and 0845 numbers so i don't pay for those either. If you switched to this it would save you almost £40 a quarter. Your mobile sounds expensive too, is this contract or pay as you go?

Is the travel costs going to and from work? Are you using public transport or is this on fuel?

How many people is £50 a week on food for?

If you do switch your phone to sky then go through www.topcashback.co.uk/home. I use them for everything I do online, I claim the cashback in Amazon vouchers and it pays for my Christmas presents each year (or a good chunk anyway).

Also, this is a great tool for showing how tiny daily cut backs can bring big savings.

I would get your water bill checked. For a three-bed semi occupied by two people that use washing machine, dishwasher and showers daily, my water bill is only £17/month. Do you have a meter?

Your phone bill is massive - why is your landline so expensive? We pay only a little more than that for BT's fastest unlimited internet package including landline and phone calls.

Also agree about your water bill. We are in a 3-bed detached, there are 4 of us and I have the washing machine and dishwasher on daily, we take lots of showers and baths and our bill is only £18 per month.

Our water is £22 a month, that is with Severn Trent and is not on a metre. Three bed terrace.

Why are you not claiming housing and council tax benefit??

I don't think I earn below the level required to be eligible for housing benefit and council tax i think i'm right on the threshold.
Is it worth trying to get the landline cancelled then or wont they refuse?

You can't cancel your landline if you get internet through them unless you get a prepaid dongle for the internet.

Can you get a cheaper travel card? Have you checked all ways of getting to work ?

Your childcare costs will reduce the threshold

Interesting, have just checked and although previously i was not eligible for housing benefit, it looks like I am now... How confusing.

For your mobile check out giffgaff they have the cheapest mobile tariff i know of.

I recently ended a mobile contract and kept my old phone and moved to a SIM only deal with GiffGaff (owned by 02). My bill used to be £35-40 and now it is £10 a month (unlimited data, 250 mins per day, unlimited texts - I mainly use phone for online so not bothered about mins). Saving £30pm will put a huge dent in our Xmas bill I'm so glad I did it.

I would... but those companies don't let you cancel contracts do they?

I think they do but they charge for the priviledge so probably not worth it. I did have to wait till my deal was up to change, but it's worth putting in the calendar.

My DP cycles to work now and saves £6 per day in travel costs would that be an option for you? Also takes lunches in - that saves £5 per day as he only seemed to be able to go to EAT at lunchtimes !

We went through all our regular bills and got savings on utilities and phone (moved BT to SKy and pleaded poverty with them to get a cheaper deal - threatened to go elsewhere). It is hard though, most of the bills you mention you can't get much cheaper (tv for example).

I have to take the bus to take DS to school, I can't get rid of the weekly bus pass. It's more like £70 - 90 actually depending on whether it's a 4 or 5 week month.

Thank you for your help.

Would a monthly pass be better value? They are usually available direct from bus companies, you'd need a photo card though.