Struggling with money

[Firstimpressionsofearth]

Just been to the hospital for the 4th time in 2 weeks and spent another £7 in parking!

Money has been very tight since I had to give up work to be a full time carer to DS.

My only income is carers allowence and DS DLA. That just covers groceries and running my car. I used to have some left after buying the basics but since having DD and the cost of food going up I have nothing left at the end of each week.

After these recent trips to hospital I'm back spending on my credit card.

I don't know what I can do to keep in the black.

I need to save money and make money and I'm at a loss how too.

I already do all the shopping at aldi and buy the kids clothes from eBay. I paid off my credit card with a 0% card and am paying that off monthly but I'm creeping back into my other credit card again. I cancelled my son's swimming membership and we only go to free groups (which is limited due to DS disabilities).

I'm trying to sell stuff on eBay but not getting many takers or good prices. I'm thinking about starting some matched betting. I've been reading up on it.

What else can I do. I can't work out the house and my kids are such high maintenance I don't think I can manage to do much in the house. I never seem to sit down as it is.

I don't know how a carer is expected to survive on such a small amount. I wish I could work but my DS needs me. I'm so stressed about money it's all I can think about and I'm counting ever penny. I was so depressed after ds was born but I've finally started to come to terms with his condition and feel happy, but now I'm starting to feel weighed down again by my financial struggles.

Hi OP - that's really tough.

Are you a single parent? What is your household income and are you claiming everything you are entitled to? Have you had it reassessed at all since having your DD?

Would posting an SOA (a list of all your income and outgoings) help?

go to charity shops for kids clothes.

find jobs that allow you to work from home, my SIL did remote admin for a few months whilst she was at home between jobs.

have a serious look through all your outgoings. Cancel any TV subscriptions... check mobile contracts... internet/phone... give up alcohol... cut down on meat... check to see where you might be able to walk instead of drive.... meal plan/cook in bulk...

nothing will change if nothing changes.

Have you checked that you aren’t entitled to any other benefits esp if you don’t work? Cut back everything non essential (this may take time as you may only be able to cancel at end of tied in periods). Also how old is your son? Does he go to nursery? That would give you some time to work from home possibly? Are you aware that many places will allow free admittance for carers so you may be able to have cheap days out too. if you want to post everything on here we can advise further I’m sure x

You should be getting income support and enhanced tax credits (or Universal Credit) as well if you don't have a partner earning over the threshold. Child maintenance if single?

How old is your DD and DS - do you not get any maintenance from their father.
You should also be getting CB for both children.
Do you rent or or have a mortgage ? Depending may be entitled to housing / council tax benefit.
As PP said it would be helpful if you posted a bit more detail and people may be able to offer more appropriate advice.

Sorry I’ve assumed you’re a single parent - apologies if I’m wrong.

@NoSquirrels

Hi, I actually used to work in financial management so I've done income and expenses, and it's fine for the day to day, but as soon as something new comes up I'm short. I've got no surplus left.

I'm married, dh wage covers bills, mortgage, his travel expenses and CSA. He has nothing left after his outgoing either but his wage is just above the threshold for us to be able to get any means tested financial support.

@00100001

That's a good idea but wouldn't I need a computer to do that? Our outgoings are at a minimum. We only have freeview and £15 per month phone contracts.

walk instead of drive

Not really an option with a 6 month old and profoundly disabled toddler.

I'm sure the threshold for tax credits is different if there's a disabled child. It's definitely worth applying.

You can also get help with travel fees. They can be claimed back

Have you done a universal credit benefit check on entitled to website as the benefit threshold for you will be higher than average as you have a child on DLA?

I've done income and expenses, and it's fine for the day to day, but as soon as something new comes up I'm short. I've got no surplus left.

If your day-to-day isn't also including irregular expenses then it's not really fine, I would say. You need to budget monthly for the irregular stuff too.

Do you budget together as a family? Or do you keep separate finances?

It's really disgraceful that you have to pay for parking to take a profoundly disabled toddler to hospital. Can you get the equivalent of the blue badge so that you can park in a disabled space?

My son has just started nursery so I was hoping to do some work. But due to his disabilities we could only find one nursery that would take him and they only allow children on the 15 hour a week funded placements to attend 2 hour and 45 minute sessions at a time. An hour is spent taking him there and pick him up so it doesn't really leave much time to go to a job. Work from home is an option but I'm at a loss as to what.

I"m pretty good at sewing as was thinking of making stuff to sell online. But I'm apprehensive to get myself into more debt to start incase it doesn't plan out.

@Firstimpressionsofearth
There is quite a bit of information on the Disability Rights website regarding money & benefits. (that's if you haven't looked at it already)

www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how-we-can-help/benefits-information/factsheets

Sorry - previous message sounded terse, and I didn't mean it to!

I think people get used to thinking of monthly expenses vs monthly income, and not looking at the bigger picture of the things you have to spend on that happen irregularly (like needing new tyres for the car, or a new fridge, or clothes for the kids) or indeed underestimating things like parking charges, or the true cost of other stuff like that, and that's where it falls down.

So your SOA needs to include all those irregular expenses, and ideally you need to budget as a family, for everything that the family costs, and that will give you a clearer picture of what/where/how you can either decrease costs or whether you need to increase income (and that could be a second job for your DH, or a PT job for you when your DH can do childcare etc.)

In terms of sewing, your initial outlay doesn't have to be high depending on what you already have.

So you could sell a service where you turn people old baby clothes into keepsake bears/cushions/quilts

You can turn old kids duvet covers into cute character dresses/bags/ floor mats

Once you've sold a few, pricing competitively but to make a profit you can then start buying materials to extend your range.

Could you take in ironing and do alterations? Would any dry cleaners etc near you need someone to do something like that on an ad hoc basis?

If you're involved with brownies, swimming classes, schools with blazers you could even sell badge sewing on services to fellow parents. Not ever going to be big money but it might bring in a few quid to help.

If you are good at sewing, have you thought about doing clothing repairs and alterations at home? If you're on Carers Allowance you can earn just above £100 per week before it effects your entitlement.
I knew a school mum who did this and got quite a lot of work through word of mouth and by advertising in the local post office, dry cleaners and on the local CO-OP community information board etc. She used to work a few hours during the day and an hour or so in the evening once the kids were in bed.

Do you not get child benefit?
As others have said, check your claiming everything you’re entitled to. I assume your DH has other children he’s also having to support ie CSA payments which makes things harder on you. Does your sons disability’s get taken into account when they assess the payments as obviously there are more costs involved such as numerous hospital appointments.
I can’t imagine how hard it is when your child is severely disabled, and I’m sure he’s gaining far more from having you look after 100% than can be measured in monetary terms. ( I know that doesn’t pay bills though! )

Sewing is a great skill. I have bought a lot of things of Etsy which essentially are really simple girls skirts and dresses but paid £40 - £60 for, so it's could be something to consider. Perhaps ask around on Facebook before making things, thinks like weighted blankets cost a fortune so if it's something you could do I am sure you could find lots people willing to pay for one (I know I would).

@TracyBeakerSoYeah

Thanks I'll have a look through. We did have help from a charity about what we are entitled to claim. We're getting all we're entitled too according to them.

@NoSquirrels second job is not an option for dh, he's already out the house from 6am-730pm and often works away. So it's me the needs to find the extra money, just need to work out where from.

@Lwmommy that's exactly the sort of stuff I was thinking of doing. I've done a few teddy's from DS stuff but I'm worried they don't look professional enough. My sewing machine is not the best.

Where do you think would be the best place to sell stuff like that.