I have inherited around £21,000
I would like to hear people's views on what they think is the best way to use it. I'm worried that if I ask for professional financial advice I am going to be talked into investments or something I know nothing about, I am terrible with money matters.
I would also like to add that I have been to hell and back in recent years as both a lone parent and partner of a DV relationship, I have reached almost suicidal lows and am emotionally traumatised to the extent I am barely functioning theses days, I am robotic in action, emotions, everything really. I feel as if I'm walking the planet as a ghost of my former self.
I am a lone parent age nearly 46 with a 5 and 7 year old. I left a DV relationship with the children's father. He contributes £2.50 a week per child deducted from his unemployment allowance. He does have a cash in hand job but doesn't declare it.
I rent privately and have been here 2 years.
I have however lived at 43 addresses since birth, mostly from my 20s, moving around for jobs, change of scenery, so on. I've moved 4 times since having children already.
I am currently not working. Not for want of trying. I am desperate to work. I am taking training courses, volunteering, and so on. I have also just begun driving lessons.
I realise that once the inheritance is available (currently in last stage of DWP potential overpayment of the deceased's pension credit investigation), it will deplete very quickly, as I lose all benefits and will pay my own rent (£525 month) and everything else. I know there's a benefits savings threshold but it's like trying to get blood from a stone calculating how that affects me, and I've asked every avenue, welfare rights advisors to Jobcentre lone parent advisors to the DWP themselves. Nobody can give me a straight answer.
Obviously although it's my dream, I'll never afford a permanent home for myself and the children, even though they can be bought for as little as £85k do-er uppers. But what's the best thing to do with this money? I've never had loans or credit cards (unusual I know) and have always worked in jobs where I'm living hand to mouth really, so never been extravagant. I have a small amount of debt all from utility arrears, a couple of thousand I should think.
I have thought I should buy a car once I've learnt to drive as that would assist my job hunt, but even that feels like a waste of money as myself amd the children are used to walking everywhere or using public transport.
The children will inherit their father's house and belongings in the future (which are quite valuable antiques and specialist electronic equipment) so I am comforted that they have a future nest egg.
After paying off debts, do I invest in ISAs, premium bonds, etc? Do I blow it on a car and holidays and several pairs of Clarks school shoes for the kids currently in Shoezone-disintegratables? Do I share it out with my stepsiblings? (This is my paternal grandmother who died. She is not blood related to my siblings, and only one of the siblings has ever met her). Do I give some to charity? Do I keep it in my bank savings account?
Any opinions are warmly welcomed. The money should be available very soon and I am scared of it - at my lowest debt point I was pinching loo rolls from the customer loos in stores-and to suddenly see it trickling away and to be back at square one again no job, on benefits, no savings, is awful.
I want to make the best use of it. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I want to 'earn it'. I want to feel deserving of money that my grandparents worked for. I spent every weekend with my Gran and she was an alcoholic and physically and mentally abusive to me (and her whole family) but it's still important to me that I use the money wisely. I afraid I might fritter it, because I'm bad at budgeting, or will be talked into investments, and so on.
I hope someone can help me see clearly what is the right thing to do.