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Original poster

Dire financial straits - can anyone help? :-(

30 replies

QE2 · 20/03/2006 19:23

Our finances are getting more and more bleak every month. I keep having to dip into my savings account to bail out the current account and making ends meet is a real struggle. I now have less than £400 in savings when once I had a very healthy £3,000 only a year ago. Sad

I've already cut back on my tesco spend, dh has upped his allowance by £80 per month but it's still looking grim. Sky will have to go that's for sure.

Am currently sahm but with dh's odd working hours it is unlikely to get anyone to employ me to fit round his odd shift pattern. Receive child tax credits. dh's income is around £20,000. Can't afford a childminder. Have 5 kids, 2 of them under 4.

Any money saving ideas would be more than welcome. Any ideas for part time employment I could do also welcome.

Anyone?

OP posts:
fastasleep · 20/03/2006 19:27

I hate to say this but seriously, I'm doing a sexline thing because it's dire here too... work when you want (+) have to talk to perves (-) (then again, just signing into msn is bad enough for you!)

Haven't got forms yet though so still skiiiiint

SenoraPostrophe · 20/03/2006 19:29

try searching on money saving tips in the archive - there've been a few threads like this. my top tips:

  • plan your meals for the week before you go shopping and make ingredients do more than 1 meal (eg roast chicken one night, chicken, chips and peas the next).
  • cook from scratch as much as you can. I know that's hard with 2 under 4 but you can cook in bulk and freeze, and also cook simple recipes.
  • buy veg at the market.
  • keep an eye on everything you spend for a month and make a list. You will usually find a couple of obvious places to cut back.
  • I don't know how much you save electricity currently, but make sure light switches get turned off, only put as much water as you need in the kettle and only ever run the washing machine with a full load. It all adds up.
Original poster
QE2 · 20/03/2006 19:40

fa - knew I could rely on you for tips like that! Sex lines just would not be my thing at all though Smile

sp - thank you, I already do most meals from scratch but with 7 of us at the table every night, there are no leftovers! So quite economical already on that front.

I have been keeping an eye for about 3 months now on outgoings/ingoings. First thing that will go is Sky as I already said.

dh is going to work 4 lots of overtime in the month in the hope that will bring us up a little. Makes me Angry though - we don't smoke, drink or go out very often - everything we spend is for the kids, we come last. I wouldn't want it any other way really but this is hitting me in particularly hard as I used to earn £2,000 clear every month before I met dh. It's not a profession I am able to return to so I can say goodbye to that kind of money again, but this situation now is getting ridiculously depressing.

OP posts:
niceglasses · 20/03/2006 19:41

There was a fabulous thread a while ago on exactly this. I need to look at it myself! We have zero savings and just seem to spend more each month. Hope you find it. No real tips as not so good myself, but I'm going to try the meal planning bit as our grocery bill far too high.

fastasleep · 20/03/2006 19:41

It wasn't meant to be kinky... it just... well it depends how dire is dire iykwim!

mumofabby · 20/03/2006 19:44

Hi QE2, really sorry to hear of your dire financial circumstances and know exactly how you feel, there's more going out than coming in, which is usually the case in our house. Have you ever thought about working as a care assistant in a home for the elderly. It might sound a bit bizzar but that is what I do and the hours fit in just find around the children because the hours are flexible. Before I had children I did office work and just couldn't find a job with flexible enough hours and decent money when I wanted to go back to work. You could do part-time, the money is not brilliant but the hours are usually very flexible. Some homes don't require experience as there is training on the job. I really hope things get better for you. Good Luck Smile.

SenoraPostrophe · 20/03/2006 19:45

cloth nappies? I must say, I spend next to nothing on my two, but I think i am naturally frugal (or naturally tight, depending on how you look at it!) most clothes are either hand me downs or from charity shops too.

scotchlass · 20/03/2006 19:52

QE2, soryy to hear that you are struggling. I can't really think of any major saving ips but things like cutting back on mobiles, trying to walk instead of taking the car and maybe selling some things that you don't need any more. Sorry I can't think of a miracle cure but if you think of one let me know!

NannyL · 20/03/2006 19:55

Give up on baby wipes..... go and by one fleece throw (had them in asda last week for less than £3).... cut it into squares and use these instead dipped in water... (also at meal times if you use wipes then as well!) you can 'keep' used ones in the washing machine and wash them with anything!

Original poster
QE2 · 20/03/2006 20:31

Ooooh nappies could be a good one to think about - both my 2 little ones are in them although they only have 2-3 per day each. But even that adds up I guess.

OP posts:
NannyL · 20/03/2006 20:33

only 2 nappies per day Shock

how do you manage that!!!! Smile

Original poster
QE2 · 20/03/2006 20:35

dd gets new clothes as she's the only girl. ds1 gets new then hands down to ds2. ds3 and ds4 get clothes that come back from my sil after ds1 and 2 have finished.

I loosely meal plan but guess I could tighten up even more on that with a bit more effort.

OP posts:
Original poster
QE2 · 20/03/2006 20:36

Ok nannyL, 3 then. One in the morning, one at night and one after their nap at lunchtime. tsk, such extravagance! Grin

OP posts:
Flossam · 20/03/2006 20:39

DS has the same 2-3 nappies a day. Smile

One thing that stood out for me is that you can't afford a C/M now, but what if you had some earnings? You may well be able to then. Probably obv and you have thought of it but just thought I would say. I am a little C/m obsessive atm! Grin

Gillian76 · 20/03/2006 20:41

I work for a home care agency and you can literally pick your hours to fit round family commitments. From 1 to 40 hours a week if you are a sessional worker.

Original poster
QE2 · 20/03/2006 20:42

flossam, have thought but wouldn't my earnings get eaten up by the fees? I could only earn just under £6 per hour and a minder would be at least £4 where I am - I don't consider this worth my while tbh or am I being too optimistic with what I expect to take home?

Gotta go now but will catch up with this if there are any more replies later, thanks so far to all who have taken time out to respond! Smile

OP posts:
Kidstrack2 · 20/03/2006 20:44

cancel sky
switch gas/elec to same supplier
check any deals with phone/broadband
transfer credit cards to save on 6m interest free
do a meal planner weekly(only buy the foods you need for that week inc snacks)
any things/toys/clutter that no longer get used(maybe lurking in cupboards) that you have in house sort through and if you have enough go to a car boot sale, i'll try to think of some more

busybusybee · 20/03/2006 20:47

My tip - Buy stuff from charity shops - Beautiful clothes for girls are easy to find, boys trickier. Also yourself if you are not too picky. Loads of our toys and other bits and bobs are also from charity shops - I often find brand new with tags stuff - Its definitely worth a look

Flossam · 20/03/2006 20:52

I don't know where you are qE2. But where I am, rates varied between 3-4 per/hr. The one we liked best just happened to be the cheapest (at £3, but may put prices up as of 1st April). I think I earn quite a bit more per hour than you though. I think it is worth working out how many hours you would need to have c/m, would it be for every hour you were working for example? I'll be doing 12 hr shifts but only putting DS into C/m for 8 - 8.5 hrs for example. Just sit down and try and work it out. You might be pleasantly surprised. Smile

KathH · 20/03/2006 21:13

we're in a similar situation to you - dh works dire shift patterns & have 4 kids. Our WFTC covers childminding fees.

Original poster
QE2 · 20/03/2006 22:29

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Does anyone know if I worked, would I get WFTC and if I paid childcare would I get a percentage of it paid? Also does the CTC get taken off pound for pound that I earn?

Sorry lots of questions I know, but you guys are the best source of ideas.

OP posts:
Kidstrack2 · 21/03/2006 08:25

i'm not sure, but a friends dp earns 18k salary, and they have four kids, friend works 16hrs pt and she says they receive CTC and it covers 70% childcare, she says they are better off now than when she was a stay at home mum, as far as i'm aware the inland rev plan to up this to cover to cover 80% childcare

Uwila · 21/03/2006 09:01

Could you do something like childminding so you wouldn't need to put your kids in care?

Original poster
QE2 · 21/03/2006 09:53

Would love to childmind but dh works nights and sleeps days so not practical. Did think about it at one time. I guess the only realistic way is to get a minder for part of the day.

OP posts:
Uwila · 21/03/2006 09:54

He could get ear plugs. Grin