Help please, I cant see a solution

[Ohwhattodo1440]

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?

Are you in a contract for your phone? Who is it with?

I was with EE paying £34.99 a month and when my contract ended I called to get my PAC number to move to ID network. When EE heard I was leaving they offered me a 1GB SIM with an Extra 5GB free for £5 a month if I also took their broadband deal at £21.50 a month. This suited me perfectly as I had just cancelled my sky internet to go to talk talk for £20/ a month.

I don’t have a landline either so I pay £26.50 per month for 6GB of data, texts and calls (not sure how much of each tbh- I don’t use loads- use WhatsApp mostly) and broadband.

This is why people should never take loans out for other people and probably why OP could not get one in her own name

@Cornishclio Ive never defaulted on anything, i couldnt get a lone for that amount as on paper i didnt earn enough, In hindsight, i probably dont, however, i needed a roof over my head and my childrens and a car to get to work, someone offered to help me out so I took up their offer. I have never missed a payment, nor will I ever miss a payment. Its one of the things I make sure I pay, before other stuff

If you get a phone from three mobile you can shave a tenner off of your monthly bill , and probably get a better handset. I know that's not something you can do now but for your next contract.

If you've got 3 years left on your loan then there's very little you can do but pay it off.

@SisterNotCisTerf I needed a new phone as mine broke a few weeks before the upgrade was due, I was planning on just going SIM only, but, of course, as my phone broke, i wouldve had to buy a new one. Thought ot would be better to do it this way.

You can get a far cheaper deal on the phone. Try giffgaff.

I got my gas and electricity right down with a company called Octopus.

A weekly shop will be more economical than buying food as and when.

Can the person who loaned you the money extend the term for you to reduce the monthly repayments?

It's unfortunate about the phone as you could have chosen a more basic phone/package but it's done now.

Can your eldest babysit or do they live away term time - was thinking evening work in a pub or similar.

How much longer will you be paying the debt for? Once it's cleared things should get easier. In the mean time try asking the school if they have a discretionary fund for uniform.

Also worth checking all your bills on a price comparison website, in case you can switch to a better tariff. How long to your phone contract runs out? If you keep the same phone and get a sim only deal, you could save quite a bit.

How is your credit rating? Can you get a loan now to repay your friend in total and make the payments smaller, a 0% credit card perhaps?

@RandomMess Hmmmm, maybe, I could ask them i suppose. I would rather avoid doing that if I can find another way to make ends meet as it is only another 3 years, I would rather pay it off quicker than having it hang around for longer. My eldest DS is away term time, hes home at the moment, which is good as he has younger DS for me while I work, Have no idea what I would do If I had to put him in holiday clubs, I had to put him in for a couple of days last week as eldest was visiting his dad, It was a tenner a day, How do people who have to do that all the time afford it? Especially if they have more than one child to pay for.

Are you able to perhaps work at the weekend in a second job? Only if you have someone to look after your dc though. Agency work can be flexible, so you pick when you work and the hours you want. Even if it was a few hours every other week it'd help.
Don't cancel your phone if you've only just taken it out. That'll cost you.
Can you car share or offer to give someone a lift...is there a scheme in your area.
Sell some stuff on eBay it gumtree like jewellery or old dc clothes/toys. Buy clothes on eBay, usually plenty of good deals for buying things like winter coats.
Visit CAB to see if you're entitled to anything else?
Sign up for the mumsnet surverys and also do the sponsored threads.

It's no fun having no extra money, unless you have had to live like that I don't think people realise how restrictive and all consuming it is. Don't let it get on top of you too much, easier said than done but one day things will be easier for you.

@Justturned50 My rating is ok I imagine, There would be no reason for it not to be, I'm not "in debt" so to speak, Im not in arrears with bills etc, so I would think it would be good. Ive never been refused anythng due to bad credit. Although, the only thing Ive had a credit check for is my phone, and when I moved into my house last year. (and when I was going to get the loan in my name but didnt earn enough)

Hi OP, you mentioned not being worried about school uniform. I work at a secondary school as head of year and those who I know are struggling, I organise uniform and shoes for them through the school budget for new clothes or through spares we have and there is always so much, I’m sure your school will be the same. Please let the school know, I’m positive they will be able to help you.

@Star8181 Surely the help that schools would provide in that way are for people who really need it? Like, literally cant feed themselves due to lack of money? I get by, but only just?

You would fail lending criteria on affordability grounds. Presumably the person who took the loan out for you got a reasonable interest rate. It sounds like you are being as frugal as possible but lack of income is your problem. Part of that no doubt is lack of CM. Surveys etc may help you bridge the gap until the loan is gone and you are able to work longer hours. Ideally you would be saving too for the car, rental deposits but presumably that is too difficult at the moment.

Actually if you've never had credit it's likely to be very poor.
Can you sell the car? I got rid of mine and bike everywhere it's saved a fortune. Even getting the odd indulgent taxi I'm still quids in!!

Maybe it’s different in different schools but if any parent asked me for help, I’d ask the finance department and we’d either use pupil premium money (if they are registered). Or at the end of the year there are stacks and stacks of uniform and coats, lost property, of which most are pristine - we try to return to their owner by sending messages to parents to come and check; we also leave racks of uniform out at parents evening for them to check. We keep all the jumpers, trousers etc, but all the coats go to the charity shop anyway, as the next year we’d accumulate again. So I always phone round families i know of. Always worth an ask if needs be.

I'm so sorry you find yourself in this position OP.

PPs have already covered a lot of things.

Just wondering, you say you're on the most basic TV abd broadband package. Does this mean you pay for TV? Like Sky/Cable etc? If you do then would a basic broadband package be cheaper and give up paid TV?

What else do you need the car for? Would public transport be feasible and cheaper?

Could you maybe get a job during the weekend and maybe have family or friends look after your youngest?

Have you looked at USwitch to see what cheaper energy deals are available?

Definitely visit the CAB.

Hope you can find some way of releasing some funds.

• @Cornishclio Ive never defaulted on anything, i couldnt get a lone for that amount as on paper i didnt earn enough, In hindsight, i probably dont, however, i needed a roof over my head and my childrens and a car to get to work, someone offered to help me out so I took up their offer. I have never missed a payment, nor will I ever miss a payment. Its one of the things I make sure I pay, before other stuff*

I understand why you felt you had no option but to do this but you have now reached the point where the other stuff is pretty essential like food and fuel and bills. Usually when you cannot get borrowing through the usual channels there is a good reason like being over committed. If you are really struggling then asking the person who took the loan out to restructure may have to be the next move.

Apply for child maitainence ??

So sorry for you OP.

I think the expensive loan payment is an issue. Appreciate you don't want it dragging out but if you are not getting by you don't have a choice. I would look at applying to reduce that. Was it a family member who took it out for you? Sorry if I've missed that.

Also a big weekly shop at a cheap store (Aldi etc) is much cheaper than buying as and when. Make soups etc.

Agree re applying to school for help with uniforms. If you can't afford it then I'm sure they will help.

Not sure about this, but if your child went to after school clubs , wouldn't that be classed as childcare and therefore you'd get 70% paid by tax credits. Therefore you wouldn't be working extra hours for nothing .

Council tax. Some will allow you to pay over 12 months instead of the usual 10 if there are no arrears. Are you getting the 25% discount for single adults?
Water. Are you on a meter? See if it might be cheaper.

Only thing I can see is to increase your hours.

It's definitely worth looking on the MSE website. Try the debt free diaries etc. Lots of good ideas on how to earn small amounts of extra money and save money.

@Babyroobs DSdad doesnt work so what I get isnt even worth having.

@Lovingit81, I do shop in Aldi, and I understand its best to do a weekly shop then bits at a time but I dont alwyas have a chunk to do a weekly shop with, sometimes I can have about £12 to get a few bits of shopping with as my bills are spread out through the month so I have to keep money back etc. Im definately going to look into applying for a uniform grant, didnt know this was a thing.

@The4teddybears Becasue the school club isnt a "registered" child care facility, you dont get help with the cost via Tax credits

@Moastytoasty Theres a thought, I never thought of asking for the 12 month payment on council tax, Ill be ringing them first thing Monday

Thank you everyone, some ideas ill certainly look into