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

Did I read your car insurance is £600 per annum? What on earth are you driving?

It sounds like with your phone, cut and store cards that you like your luxuries. As we all do, but these clearly need reining in!

Cut back on the phone, iPad, change your cards to interest free and cut back on the clothes expenditure.

£600 pa isn't particularly high for car insurance, it's around average and probably in the right ball park if the OP is under about 35 and/or lives in or near a city.

I dont think the £700 wages is for full time?

I must be missing something but i work a 50 hour week and bring home £1800 after tax. You get as much as me even though your salary is much less. Something is wrong in the world :(

You really need to learn to budget

Hello everyone

We've had a number of reports from people concerned about this thread so, as we usually do in these circs, we're putting our heads round the door with some important reminders.

Right now we can't see any evidence to indicate that the OP isn't above board – if we did, we'd remove the thread straight away. But the truth is that, sadly, we at MNHQ can't know with 100% certainty that any poster is genuine, no matter who they are or how long they have been here. As frustrating as it is, we're not able to vouch for anyone here.

So we always ask everyone to remember that not everyone on the internet is who they say they are – and remind folk not to give more to another poster, either financially (in cash or gifts) or emotionally (in time or care and support) than they'd be prepared to lose if things went wrong.

Sorry to hijack your thread briefly there, OP – we really hope you get it all sorted soon.

I’m under 35 and live in a city, my car insurance is nearer £300.

@peegree
Wow impressive calculations

I've just renewed my EE contract and pay less than half of what you pay. I'm guessing you have a top of the range phone. Obviously too late now you're in a contract but an iPhone 5 or equivalent on unlimited contract costs over 50% less than you're paying. Next time you renew your contract ask yourself if you really need the latest gadget.

I agree with others about Virgin versus Netflix. Also not sure why you pay nursery and childminder - could you cut costs here?

". Also not sure why you pay nursery and childminder - could you cut costs here?"

She should only pay 30% of the cost after tax credits, so it's not the savings it seems

My advice would be to change your council tax to 12 monthly payments if you're currently paying it over 10 months, meal plan and shop with list.....be strict with yourself and before you go to the checkout walk back around the store and put back anything that's crept into the trolley. With the cards, rather than pay the same on all of them, pick the one with the highest interest rate and aim to clear that first. So fix payments on the others at just over the minimum repayment and chuck everything you can at the other one until it's gone, and repeat until they're all paid off. Good luck, I know how much of a stress money worries can be

In use a spreadsheet. I have a monthly grid that I update as the month goes on. Each grid lists my direct debits, with dates they leave the account, on one side. On the other are all my bills that might vary like petrol and food. I estimate them and as the month goes on I edit the amount to check I'm on track. For example, I estimate I spend £240 a month on food but some weeks I spend less/more and I keep track of this.

Also, when I need to knuckle down, I withdraw any spare money and split it into 4 envelopes. It is more sobering to see the amount of money physically going down. Basically I try to finish each week with something still in the envelope and I try to finish the month with some spare.

Wow at the mumsnet intervention
Reports about what exactly?
I’ve created a schedule of action for next week, a phone call/letter or two each day.
Thank you for your ongoing support with this

Can you do a balance transfer?
Ive seen 0% for 29 months.

Also, join government scheme help to save.

As PP suggested, go on money saving expert website.

OP sometimes people start discussions like this and then start asking for money.....

I think you need to switch your gas and electric! Our electric is £50 per month and that’s 4 of us in a 4 bed house!

Utilities, insurance - ALWAYS switch every year - or get switch quotes then threaten to leave.

£2,900 pcm is the equivilant of a take home pay of £47,000.
The average UK salary is £26,000.
I think OP just needs to stop with the store cards. I’m astounded you can come out with that much money,m and be struggling!

There are some really good tips on here - some of which I will be using!

Hollowtalk: were you referring to Christians Against Poverty? https://capuk.org//_

Sent

Why are people saying OP's rent is high? You do realise housing costs vary hugely across the country? Saying your rent or mortgage for your four bed house is only 600 a month is completely irrelevant.

On that note, dp and I have both only been driving a few years and dp drives a ridiculous big exec car and our insurance is only 400 each for the year.

Sorry peegreen, you are right about tv liscence

Yeah just stop with the credit and you'll be fine.

Why are people saying OP's rent is high? You do realise housing costs vary hugely across the country? Saying your rent or mortgage for your four bed house is only 600 a month is completely irrelevant.

Agree.
Also- if the OP and children are settled in their home then she should stay there. We can all see that the money coming in is a good amount it's just OP has to rethink her spending. No reasons for her to think of downgrading her house yet, she has other options to explore first

Just to add- I used to work in car insurance and again, comparing the OPs insurance to our own is pointless. It is rated on so many different things! That said OP def needs to do come insurance comparisons.

Same with gas/electric although the last few times I have compared, there difference is negligible between companies. Like £50 a year. I save more money by doing meter reads every month and seeing what I'm spending. Kicks me up the arse and makes me turn the heating down etc.

I get 36 per month csa for my 4children
.....

£2900 a month. Holy shit, we get less than that with two of us working.

I'm 47, I've just renewed my car insurance on my 4 yr old CMAX for £180 for the year which would have been £15 pcm. £50pcm is very expensive!
Giffgaff mobile for £7.50 pcm plus no contract compared to your EE £60 pcm!