I have £0 and I cannot be in this position again.

[PlainJane74]

Hey. I am a working lone parent to2 children. I am the walking definition of on the breadline right now.
I officially have no money to my name as I type and because nursery needs to be paid out of my next tax credits payment due on Saturday, I have no money until the following Saturday.
I’m going to be okay (just) as I went food shopping on Monday. I have dinnersand just enough for a lunchbox for oldest DC tomorrow. I can do tinned and frozen food for the kids over the weekend.
I’m writing this post because I need help and guidance to not be in this position again. I get what I think is a decent amount of money to live on but here I am for the 5th month scraping by, credit cards maxed out and scavenging for change.
Please help if you can, I am completely ready to overhaul my finances. Thank u

What might be helpful is something I've seen on Moneysaving Expert, where people list their incomings and outgoings and other people make suggestions as to how you can spend less. Would you find that useful?

I think if you look through your bank statement you might see things, eg if I go through mine I see far too many visits to the supermarket, whereas if I do an online shop it's much, much cheaper.

What is your income ?
And what are your outgoings?
Do you know to the last penny where your money goes ?

Yes I would, that would be great, do you have a link?
I’m so sick of this sinking feeling when I receive a reminder about another company or organisation wanting payment or anything to do with my shocking finances. It’s really bad.

Get yourself down to your local CAB for some financial advice.

My friend's husband works for a charity (I think it's a Christian charity but can't remember the name - can find out if you like) and he goes through people's accounts, usually because they are worried about going bankrupt or have loans they can't afford to repay. That might be useful for you.

Trouble is with Moneysaving Expert is that some of those who post are like those on AIBU here who think that a chicken will feed a family for a week.

Why not post things here? It's anonymous and this is a great section, with people who can help and won't criticise.

List everything - money coming in and where it comes from (tax credits, salary etc) and money going out regularly - so mortgage/rent, council tax, gas, electricity, water, credit card bills - say how much you owe and how much you pay per month, nursery fees etc.

It's hard confronting it but you'll feel so much better.

My income is £300 tax credits per week.
My wage is £700 per month.
My child maintenance is £700 per month.
Housing benefit I receive £200 per month.
My outgoings are £2400 per month including £300 credit card repayments.
I can’t say I do, but I know it goes on food or petrol or clothes for children. I must admit my house always has food in so maybe could cut back there (I justify because I shop at Aldi but end up spending about £70 a week which I believe to be a lot for the three of us)
I also take the children to the sweet shop after school 3 days a week.
I just need a plan.

Hoe much is the debt on credit cards? Could u get help with sorting them or pay interest

First step is write it all down so you know what is due when. Are you claiming child benefit, maintainance, housing benefit etc.
Settle debts first, if you can't then look at making payment plans (cab or stepchange, stepwise help with this) credit cards cut up.
Cut spending right back to essentials, read Alvin hall or see Martin Lewis moneysaving website
open a separate bank account for bills, pay enough in to cover regular costs, what's left is to spend or save. (Or pay everything into it and transfer spending money out.). When you are breaking even open savings account, put a little in every month for a rainy day or treats.
Expenditure more than income is misery, Income more than expenditure is happiness. If you can't find ways of spending less you need to earn more.

So you are netting £2900 per month. Is the £300 credit card expense on top of the £2400?

What on earth are you spending £2400 on? Is a big chunk of that childcare fees?

I was expecting this to be one of those threads where it would be a struggle to trim the fat but you have a decent income. We just need to see where it is going.

£70 a week on an Aldi shop is loads for just 3 of you considering that 2 are little kids!
Do you menu plan? I certainly don’t believe a chicken can feed you all for a week but it could do 2 dinners!!
Have you changed your gas and electric recently? Do you pay for Netflix or sky? Could you change that? Mobile bill?
Taking the kids to the sweet shop 3 times a week can go down to just once and you can get them a selection of sweets in Aldi and divide them up into little bags.
Your outgoings each month seem very high. Can you break them down for us?

Do your outgoings include food and petrol? Because if not, I'm working out that you've only got £400 a month for those which is why you're skint. That's not very much.

Child care can’t be that high, for a take home pay of £700 a mth surley

I read income as £1900. Expenditure as £2400.

Tax credits is 300 a week not mth

I think it adds up to £1900, not £2900.

Get interest stopped on credit cards that's a huge part of your problem. Make an an agreement to pay a small amount each month, increase when you can. Better to be a bit broke every week than boom and bust. Cut the sweet shop, go to the park or make simple buns with kids at weekend. Food shop not too bad, cut all extras until you spend less than your income. Good luck.

700 plus 700 plus 200 plus ((300*52)/12 is £2900.

Did you mean to say £300 per week tax credits/uc?

Also wouldn't you get child benefit on top of that?

Obviously you need to spend less, it is simple really considering you seem to have a lot of money coming in.

Just be aware when you switch utilities they send a final bill which can be big, so time that carefully or it will cause a cash flow crisis.

Sorry I didn't notice the 'per week'

That is a large monthly income to have absolutely nothing left at the end of each month.
Many people have much less income and qualify for no benefits.
You need to provide a detailed breakdown of what you are spending. What are you putting on credit cards?

I myself use Aldi and for 6 of us I spend around £50-60 per week. So I think if you meal plan you would be able to cut that to save some money. Buy some sweets from Aldi and take them to school for the children rather than go to the shop. That could potentially save you around £80-100 per month.
Get your energy bills checked I reckon you could save there too.

Hope you manage to sort it out

Have you thought about contacting a debt charity like step change?
They are free and will do a budget plan with you and give guidance on your own personal case.

The debt is £1800 and £2900 on two credit cards. I have store card of £500. I pay £100 on each, every month, regardless. But interest on credit card 1 is 60 odd pound and £75 on the other. I can’t negotiTe for 0% or similar as I have 300 credit rating.
I’m worried about stepchange and the payment plans. I know my credit score is in the shit but I can’t lose it completely, that’s gonna make everything worse?
I love the plan of opening up new bank account and transferring to it. I hadn’t thought of that so thank you, that’s action number 1.
No, £2400 includes the £300.

Rent - 1000
Nursery - 700
Tracey - 200
Council tax - 110
EE - 60
Water - £30
Virgin - £30
Tv licence - £20
Car insurance - £50
Credir cards - £300

Who's Tracey?
Are you living in an extremely expensive part of the country? £1000pcm rent is huge!
Our mortgage is £650pcm for a four bed house (first time buyers no equity)

Would moving somewhere more affordable be an option?