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Universal credit... Struggling!

63 replies

bumblebee39 · 19/10/2018 20:15

I am finding it really hard to get used to UC. My income has dropped a lot recently and so I feel like normal for a couple of weeks, and then am poor the rest of the month. Paying off the advance is a struggle too. It was easier getting tax credits etc. Weekly and then I covered everything else monthly but had my food shop money each week.

OP posts:
Happypuppy · 21/10/2018 11:00

You’re having another baby on top of an already precarious financial position? What’s happening with the father contributing?

Just cos things may have been easier for your parents doesn’t mean you should expect to sit back and let everyone else fund your poor life choices.

MessySurfaces · 21/10/2018 12:29

Tut tut, these women just abandoning their abusive partners willy nilly and expecting handouts while they indulge themselves studying and having babies... 

bumblebee39 · 21/10/2018 12:30

I will contact UC and see about that but I doubt it and have found getting hold of them by phone very tricky, as they want everything online and journaled etc. Now.

I'm not getting into my pregnancy etc. It's a more complicated situation than I'm willing to get into here but was ultimately a very difficult choice.

Ex partner also very complicated but I'm not going to take responsibility for the things he did to me and the situation I'm in because ultimately I am not responsible for someone else abusing me and I left as soon as I could.

Yes I understand that "people make choices" etc. But ultimately people also end up in situations through circumstances beyond their control also and I am doing everything within my control to get back on top of things etc.

I had a lady tell me yesterday when I spoke to her for some advice that people like me are the reason she pays her taxes. Because some people need temporary assistance.

As I said, I have the privilege not right to use the welfare state as someone who has paid into and who's family has paid into that system for people to use when and if they really needed to.

I think before you right me off as feeling entitled (which I don't I feel privileged) you should check yourself. You don't know what and where other people come from, some of us have had to overcome more obstacles than others.
Some of us have to climb mountains on a daily basis just to have a peak at the foothills of the mountains others start at the top at and look down at us from.

Don't assume we are all dealt the same cards. Some of us are starting off with hand up while others are dealing with a hand of crap. 🙄

OP posts:
MessySurfaces · 21/10/2018 12:31

Oops sorry Op toddler sent that before I could add the line making clear that's aimed at the PPs above. You have been dealt a tough hand. Sure, everyone makes choices, but not everyone gets shat on.

bumblebee39 · 21/10/2018 12:33

I know messysurfaces I just think every day what a selfish and indulged person I am... Pampered princess me 🙈

OP posts:
bumblebee39 · 21/10/2018 12:37

I'm not getting into the shirkers and workers thing because I'm not an idle ant or a worker ant or an ant of any kind.

Im a Phoenix rising from the ashes but still dealing with the odd flame licking me 😂

OP posts:
MessySurfaces · 21/10/2018 12:52


Hmm that's the closest I could get to a more power to you roar! Glitter ball roar?!?

bumblebee39 · 21/10/2018 12:57

The Katy Perry glitter ball roar theme tune I'm a survivor roar?

Idk

Lol 😂

OP posts:
MessySurfaces · 21/10/2018 12:58

That'll do nicely 

bumblebee39 · 21/10/2018 13:05

😂 yeah I have a playlist in my head now it's dreadful gonna be listening to YouTube female anthems the rest of the day!

OP posts:
bumblebee39 · 22/10/2018 12:09

So I've made a very strict budget and am in the midst of chasing up the uni/student finance to have that resolved.
I think that this has been a particularly expensive month, and I am hoping that things will improve as they certainly should and also setting myself a much stricter budget in future to avoid "rich weeks, poor weeks." I think the mistake I made was with the 4 weekly/calendar monthly switch particularly so have made a budget for a calendar month NOT a week/2week/4week month.
I am normally very good at budgeting but do think that my current in and out goings are incredibly tight which does not leave space for unexpected purchases/ kids growing overnight.

I am confident that I can improve the situation from here on in I think it's just an adjustment, and paying off the advance doesn't help at all. Nor does student finance/uni mucking around when term started over a month ago now.

Thanks for any helpful advice and roars 🦁🐯

OP posts:
MaverickSnoopy · 22/10/2018 16:00

In terms of clothes for the children, have you looked on local Facebook selling pages? If you're not on it then it's worth signing up for that alone. We often have people in our area giving away whole bags of children's clothes for free. Equally people often ask "for a friend in need" if anyone has some clothes they can have. Just a thought.

MessySurfaces · 23/10/2018 08:54

That sounds brilliant bumble!

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