Money making advice

[LondonMummy1987]

Hi,

After recently separating from my husband, I have sat down and worked out all of my incomings and outgoings. I'm horrified to discover that after all of the essential bills, I have £57.58 a month to pay for petrol to work and food for myself and my two children. This is completely unrealistic, and I have made sure that all of my outgoings are essential, there are no treats or luxuries. My outgoings are household bills, utility bills, childcare for both of my children (nursery and after school clubs) and lunches for my son at school.

Does anyone have any idea on what I could do to earn a bit more money? I work in admin in a school, 8am-4pm, Mon-Fri, term time only, and have my children with me the rest of the time!

My husband pays the rent on the property, which is more than he should be paying towards child maintenance etc, and I'm not entitled to any benefits. I have searched for cheaper providers for household utilities and not really having much luck at finding anything cheaper.

Any suggestions of work I can do in my spare time once the children are asleep? I have preciously been unsuccesssful with MLM companies (Avon, Usborne etc).

Sorry for the essay.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Why are you not entitled to benefits?

@LondonMummy1987 join us over on the earn £10 a day thread loads of good ideas that work around the kids.

Surely you must be able to claim the childcare tax credits if you earn that little?

Definitely don’t do MLM!
When do you children go to their dad? Could you do extra work while they are with him? (That’s what I do)

The only thing you can do is to increase your earnings which means that you may have to look for another job. I understand that a termtime job suits you with childcare, but if you aren't earning enough, then it's not suitable for you. Of course it all depends on childcare costs too, if you have to find care for them for 13 weeks of the year, I do appreciate that.

I had to go from part time to full time when XH left.

Why aren't you entitled to tax credits, as your income must be quite low?

Don't do MLM, you will lose money, not make it.

Things to look at: (if applicable to you)

Cut off all paid for TV, Netflix, Amazon, Sky etc
Stop any bought lunches and takeaway coffees
Reduce all utilities bills where possible, even small savings all add up
Look at your mobile package, can you switch to a cheaper SIM only if you are on contract?
Look at your phone and broadband costs, some companies don't charge for landlines now, Vodafone is one
Ask your council for the 25% discount on council tax, although hopefully you have already done this, and then ask them to spread the payments over 12 months not 10 from April onwards. It makes the monthly payment cheaper
Cut back on branded shopping and buy from Lidl, Aldi, Asda etc. Get your shopping delivered so you are less tempted to impulse buy

Double check your benefit entitlement especially if your ex is paying rent but you still can't afford anything.
Entitled to. Com

Also don't pay for school lunches, packed lunch is cheaper or see if you will get free school meals.

Something is seriously wrong if your income is that low and you are not paying rent and you have £58 per month left.

Hope you get it sorted op.

Now you are separated and seem like a low earner you must be entitled to child tax credits? Ring them up and ask.

If you’re no longer together shouldn’t he pay half the rent (as that’s a place for his kids to live) plus maintenance for the two kids would that be more than just the rent? my exh paid half the mortgage, maintenance for our son and half the nursery fee, I worked 21 hours but had help with the nursery fee along with working tax and child tax credits, only way I could get by.

Do you have anything you can sell on eBay/Facebook/gumtree? Kids clothes toys your clothes etc?