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Original poster

Help please, I cant see a solution

50 replies

Ohwhattodo1440 · 10/08/2018 15:35

Hi everyone, Wonder if anyone can give me any tip/advice please.

So, I work part time I earn a couple of quid above minimum wage, and come out with just under a grand a month.I am also a single parent, i get TC weekly, and a tiny amount of HB. I have never really had money, but would have a little left every month, however, lately, im finding im literally scraping every penny i can just to get by. Bills have increased, Gas, Electric, I have the basic tv package that covers broadband, food I buy as and when I need it, as I cant afford to do a weekley shop as sometimes I might have £20 for food 1 week, the next maybe £40. petrol has gone up, I work 12 miles away from home so need the car, My council Tax has gone up £30 a month. I just cant see a solution. I havent even thought about school uniforms yet as i genuinely dont know how im going to afford them, and im hoping Christmas is cancelled this year. Realistically what can I do? With rent and council tax Im paying £800, That leaves me £150 out of my wages and my weekly TC to pay bills, food, petrol, clothes for the kids etc, I just dont know what to do?

OP posts:

AnneLovesGilbert · 10/08/2018 15:39

Can you increase your hours?

Original poster

Ohwhattodo1440 · 10/08/2018 15:46

I did think of this, however, i work school hours monday to friday, the kids would have to go into afterschool clubs and that would obviously cost extra, so i would be working for nothing.

OP posts:

MagicFajita · 10/08/2018 15:49

Obviously you don't have to post this information but do write down every penny of your outgoings to see if there's any room for change. You don't mention mobile phones , any debts and whether you're a smoker or not. These make a massive difference imo.

The cost of food has gone up though, we're having to increase our food budget from next month.

ilovewelshrarebit123 · 10/08/2018 16:00

I earn the same as you and with council tax and rent pay out £800 then utilities on top.

I have very little money but do get CM from my ex. Do you get that?

Have you applied for council tax benefit? You must also get child benefit to.

I feel for you as it is a struggle and I don't have any other advice I'm sorry.

Original poster

Ohwhattodo1440 · 10/08/2018 16:00

@Magicfajita, The only thing I pay that isnt regular household bills is a loan, its quite high, its £160 a month. I don't smoke, don't drink, don't go out, no hobbies. I have a mobile, £30 a month, so not excessive. Ive cancelled a few dd that i would pay every month to charities, they totalled £20 a month, wasnt a lot, but thought better for me then them at the moment. I write down my ins and out every week, as i find it better to budget weekly as thats when i get my TC. My Gas and Electric is due to go up around £20 a month because my fixed tarrif is due to end, however, all energy companies are around the same.

OP posts:

AdoraBell · 10/08/2018 16:03

Are you certain you are on the best deals for TV/broadband and utilities? Also, do you have the single adult discount on council tax?

As suggested, write down everything to the penny.

MagicFajita · 10/08/2018 16:04

You can't afford those loan repayments op. Phone stepchange debt charity and get a dmp in place. It'll make a huge difference.

AdoraBell · 10/08/2018 16:04

Sorry, cross post.

Original poster

Ohwhattodo1440 · 10/08/2018 16:05

@ilovewelshrarebit123 Oh, yes, of course, i do receive CB, forgot that one, I get mine weekly so its £20 a week. DS dad does pay CM, he doesnt work so you can imagine how much he pays. My eldest DS is at uni so i dont receive any CM or CB for him. I have applied for CT benefit but not entitled to any as I am on a "high wage" I do get the single person discount though. I was out of work for a year after i was made redundant a few years back, and i think I was actually better off then!!

OP posts:

Carolwithane · 10/08/2018 16:05

Do you get 25% single person discount on your CTax?

As you qualify for a small amt of HB you maybe eligible for a school clothing grant. This varies by LA but my areas is £100 I think - check your local authority website

Also maybe consider changing utility suppliers and do it via Topcashback.

It's not easy! Good luck

MagicFajita · 10/08/2018 16:05

Oh and fwiw £30 is rather a lot for your mobile. How long have you got left on that contract?

Hamiltoes · 10/08/2018 16:05

You'd probably still be better increasing your hours and paying the childcare, as your WTC will increase week on week.

If this isn't an option is there anything you could do for yourself to make some more £? Ironing in the evenings? Does your wage right now cover all your monthly bills?

Original poster

Ohwhattodo1440 · 10/08/2018 16:06

@Magicfajita Unfortunately, someone got the loan for me and I pay them the monthly payment. Regret it now, but it did get me out of a hole at the time

OP posts:

MagicFajita · 10/08/2018 16:09

How much do you owe on the loan?

AnneLovesGilbert · 10/08/2018 16:09

Your phone bill is high. I pay £7 a month and it all makes a difference. Can you switch to a sim only?

Your loan repayment is also very high.

Can you get second hand school uniform? Lots of schools have a second hand shop for branded bits.

Original poster

Ohwhattodo1440 · 10/08/2018 16:10

@Magicfajita It was the best deal I could find, i upgraded in May, went from £48 to £29 a month, thought that was quite a good deal?I dont have a land line so need minutes on my phone, basic data (1gb) and texts. Maybe thats why I never have any money lol

OP posts:

MagicFajita · 10/08/2018 16:12

That's not a very good deal. Is it an expensive handset?

stressedtiredbuthappy · 10/08/2018 16:14

The loan repayments are ridiculous. Offer them a pound a month they have to take it. Do not pay £160 per month when you're struggling like this.

Cornishclio · 10/08/2018 16:16

Go on to MSE website which gives you ideas on how to make money through doing surveys etc at home. How old are your kids? Is one of them old enough to be left with the other so you can work a few extra hours? The loan is disproportionately high for your wage so that along with price increases is probably why you are struggling. When is it paid off? Was it for your car?

bellsbuss · 10/08/2018 16:17

Someone took the loan out for her so she has to pay it

Original poster

Ohwhattodo1440 · 10/08/2018 16:18

@Magicfajita, It was literally the best deal I could find. My phone had broke a few weeks before or i wouldve just got a sim only plan. Believe me, I shopped around for ages before I decided which one to get. Its not an expensive phone, all the samsung galaxy's and iphone plans were so much dearer, Ive got a huawei. If i couldve found a better/cheaper deal I wouldve took it. How do people pay £7 a month for a mobile? Is it Sim only? I was looking at cheap phone deals for my youngest DS and the cheapest I could find was around £12 and that was with a really, really basic phone. I didnt get him one in the end though.

OP posts:

Cornishclio · 10/08/2018 16:19

Stressed

Someone took the loan out for the OP. If she doesnt pay they will be the ones who will have to pay or get defaults on their record. This is why people should never take loans out for other people and probably why OP could not get one in her own name.

Notreallyhappy · 10/08/2018 16:20

The loan is in someone else's name so would need to default on The relationship

Original poster

Ohwhattodo1440 · 10/08/2018 16:21

@Cornishclio It was for my car, and the deposit on my rented house. I had come out of a relationship last year with literally nothing, Ive had it a year, ive another 3 to go.

OP posts:

Cornishclio · 10/08/2018 16:22

Is getting a job closer to home a possibility? I expect the car takes a lot of your income once you take insurance fuel and maintenance into account

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