Am I missing something?

[Zaphodsotherhead]

Okay, sorry if this is long, but...
I'm single, my kids are older and two are still at Uni. I live in privately rented accommodation, and I work MW job on a 16 hour contract, plus a self-employed job which is craft-like though not exactly, and pays me twice a year.
My earnings pay the bills but there is literally nothing left over. My twice yearly payments barely clear my overdraft, which I live on month to month (the payments are variable, I cannot rely on how much I'm going to get). I cannot afford heating (oil fired, which also runs the hot water) and can only afford to use electricity sparingly, so it's going to be a cold winter.
Because I have no children under 18 I'm not entitled to ANY financial help. The nature of my job means I cannot get a second job (I have to be available to work shifts) which is why I do the crafty thing. But my second job earnings have been getting less and less (despite me doing the job whenever I can).
Am I missing something? Or do I sit here and starve quietly/miss payments/rack up my credit card debt? Is there ANYTHING else I can do? I can't downsize - I still need the space for the Uni returnees and I've lived here so long my rent is minimal (plus absolutely no savings for deposits or anything), so moving wouldn't make living any cheaper....
Ideas?

love, thank you, I shall check out the money saving expert site - that's precisely what I need, to find out how to save money, cut bills etc!

I teach my crafty subject, not any GCSE related topics, sadly, otherwise I'd try to pick up a teaching job. Really, moving is NOT an option, not because of keeping the kids' rooms, but because I can't afford a bond, moving expenses etc, and my rent here is much cheaper than I'd have to pay anywhere else.

I've just checked on the online calculator, 30hrs per week, on minimum wage, you can get about £15 a week in Working Tax Credits. Not a vast amount, but still. Free dental, prescriptions and eye care.

Any market for cleaning/taking in ironing round your way? Or if you're a teacher, could you do tutoring even if not in your crafty subject?

Subletting and taking in a lodger are often regarded by landlords as two different things - although I appreciate that you won't want to disturb, or raise the profile of, your current tenancy agreement.

How well do you get on with your LL?

toast...that's probably why all contracts round here are 16 hours. We might work more, but the 16 hours is what is counted, which is why there's no benefits.

cozie...also the house is a bit of a slum. Another reason why it's cheap. I get on well with the Landlord, but that's because I don't hassle for them fixing stuff/insulating house/mending roof etc. I put up with it, because I can't afford for them to fix everything and then say 'ah, now it's all fixed we're upping your rent'. Nobody would want to live here. Honestly.

Do you get housing benefit?
You could get your loft insulated for free at least, LL wouldn't know you'd done that. Do they inspect the property very often.

That's what I meant by 'raising the profile' - these situations occur.

Forgive me if you've mentioned this already but do you give the DCs any funds to help with uni costs?

No, I get no benefits at all, I'm not entitled to any.

And I occasionally have to 'bail out' the students, if their rent comes due before loans come in, but I don't pay towards their studies, Student Finance has assessed me as not earning enough. They both get bursaries as well as their loans because I earn so little. They both work as well as study, and live near their respective universities most of the time.

How much (roughly) have you spent in, say, the last two years to 'bail them out' ?

PS - and have they paid you back the funds?

You can have lodgers - that's not subletting

Maybe even Monday to Friday lodgers if the city close to you has plenty of work for contractors

Or student lodgers - who go home in holidays

Can you give us an idea of Your income and outgoings? Hard to know what you could possibly do without knowing more about the second job. People might have ideas of how to make some passive income from it.

I'd be applying for every local full time post you can until something comes up, you sound very close to being in trouble. One big unexpected bill or prolonged illness and things won't be great at all.

Laurie...I live more than 30 miles from the nearest 'big city'. No student or contractor would want to live so far out - with rural roads it's 1.5 hours to get in.
cozie I've probably lent out around £800 in the last two years. And yes, they pay it back once their loans come in. They know how hard up I am. Was ok until May, because DD1 lived at home and worked, so paid half the bills. She's now moved out into her own place closer to her work. Hence why I am asking the question now...
whatabout...am off to work now, but will look at exp v earnings and try to get it down. But on a long shift tonight, so will be later!