Not a begging post- need advice.

[user83638]

Please note before I start. This is not a post for financial help. Or for sympathy. Just needing advice.

I am absolutely skint right now. Due to various reasons such as my ex has stopped paying maintenance for no apparent reason, a few hefty unexpected bills.

I work full time, I've cancelled Netflix/virgin packages etc.

But I cannot afford to put the heating on right now. What are your tips for keeping the children warm? (They are 4 and 6) we all sleep in onsies and slippers in the same bed to keep warm at night. It's the early morning which are almost unbearable !

I cannot tell my family as I am so embarrassed that I can't provide for my children. Any money saving tips / ways to keep warm and cheap food ideas are really welcome.

Thank you for reading.

Hot water bottles.

Tell your parents.

And also your ex parents in law.

First of all I suggest you all go to bed as soon as you have eaten. That really is the warmest place and you do not have to go to sleep, read, play games and snuggle all together.
I do this most evenings and not just to save on the heating, but I have done in the past. I live on my own and in the Winter months look forward to lying in bed, with a bottle of course, reading and watching tv.

Hi OP.
Something I have done this year is to use 2 quilts together. I have a 13.5 tog and a 4.5 tog, I have safety pinned them together and put them into the cover as usual. This has made a big difference at night.

I can't thank you all enough for you really kind words and suggestions.

I have just spoken to my dad and explained the situation. He has given me some money to see me through until the end of the month. He has gone to Tesco to do a food shop for me also.

I have just put my heating on !

I really can't express enough how helpful all your suggestions have been. I will get the slow cooker out tomorrow and batch cook a few meals with the shopping.

Thank you all ❤️

Get some hot water bottles next time you're in Home Bargain, they are only 99p and make the bed toasty warm

So glad your dad's helping you out. I'd hate to think my DC were ever too embarrassed to tell me they were struggling.

Well done for asking your dad but for anybody else in a similar position sleep in a woolly hat . I used to work nights in a very draughty hospital and sometimes in the middle of winter we would wrap blankets round the heads of the elderly patients overnight and it really made a difference .

www.npower.com/about-npower/fuel-bank/

If you are with Npower, your local Foodbank May be able to help
They can give a £30 fuel voucher for pre payment meters - you need to b3 referred in the usual way

A fan heater is useful for a quick blast of warm air while getting dressed in a cold room.

You can generally pick up a basic hot water bottle that you fill from the kettle for just a few quid.

I saw some on sale for £2 last week as they had fleecy Christmasy covers on them.

I'm glad your dad is helping you. That's such good news. Being strapped for cash is a horrible worry. If you can manage to put a tiny bit aside each week evern a pound or two could help with the heating bill or another bill in future. Good luck and I hope you get some money from ex soon.

Well done for telling your Dad, and bloody good on him for helping you. Enjoy the heating and food.

I am so pleased your dad has been able to help. No harm in following some of the advice on here anyway to try and save/stretch the money.

There is a brilliant thread about making £10 a,day which has massively helped me. It is absolutely your exs responsibility so I am not implying you aren't doing enough at all, but if you did want to earn any extra money it has been a life saver for me.