Please look at my budget

[Savingsspree]

I'm a single mother with two young children. I work full time and earn around 35k I'm a joint tenant with my ex partner and we own the home outright.
Due to DV I am no longer communicative with expartner.
Recently, I found out that WTC had been overpaying and they have removed all support. My monthly income is 2k. After bills, I'm struggling to keep my head above water.
If I sell, I'd need his consent and probably need to get a mortgage. I have bad credit
My biggest outgoings are childcare totalling around 800pcm
my car 300 pm
Gas and elec 120
Petrol 100
Car iinsurance45
Gymnastics for the kids 60
Tv license 14
Rd tax 20
Car insurance 44
Broadband 50
Phone 20
Water 40
cCouncil ttax
250
2 credit cards 500pcm

Thre credit cards have a total of 7k debt

I'm all over the place. I'm a mess and yet in a much better position than most.gt

Should have composed myself before posting.
That's the long and short of it.
No savings, and I need my car.
Credit card debt is just a spiral of debt, enabling yo make food shop, but right back to square one.
If anyone can give me an idea of what to do I'd be grateful.
If I get the opportunity to sell, I couldntbafford to live here. My kids attend great schools and I work close by. I just don't know what to do!

You have car insurance in twice OP

Anyway, you need to get rid of that debt. That should be your first aim. Literally throw anything you can at it. Cancel what you don't need and focus on 4 walls (house costs) and car costs.

I know it's harsh but could you stop the kids gymnastics for a while a pay extra off the cards? Have you tried to reduce your broadband and phone?

Thanks for the reply Wally
I've cut the gym membership out and taken kids out of drama classes already. Gymnastics could go, after some tears I guess.
I've gone down on my phone bill from 50 pcm and unfortunately, being in a Virgin Media area I've cut off the TV and the best they could do was 55 pcm.
Not sure how I can cut out my credit debt, if after a fortnight in I'm already needing it to pay off bills.

Release come equity in your property

Can you move the debt to a 0% credit card? Also, can you sell your car and buy a cheap run around? It's the most obvious cost you can cut quickly

Also, if your kids are in school why is your childcare bill so high? Can you look at changes there?

Speak to step change about your credit cards.

Are you using tax free childcare or childcare voucher scheme?

Are you getting single person discount on your Council tax ?

I hope your ex is paying child maintenance? CMS are pretty hopeless I understand but they might get something out of him.

very best of luck.

@Fluffandbubbles

Are you getting single person discount on your Council tax ?

ooh good call.

also as PP said- stepchange might be able to assist. I have heard some good things about them.

Are you getting 25% discount on your council tax for being the only adult in the property?
Are you on water meter? Does the water bill include sewerage?

Thanks for all the replies
Id love to release some equity, however all the schemes are aged 50 and upwards
Kids attend wrap around care so I can work. This totals up to £42 per day. 2 kids breakfast club and after school.
The car is a hire purchase, I don't have cash to buy a runaround. This would have been my go to if possible.
Currently, I can't get anymore credit cards, poor credit I guess.

You say that you are in a 'virgin media area' - does that mean you can't get the likes of NowTV? I've just got off the phone to them and despite already being with them, they've offered me superfast broadband and anytime calls for £22 (I was paying £43 for the same, with them!).

For a start I concentrate on
the car 300 and cc 500

I’m presuming car is on personal contract ?
If so for £300 it must be pretty descent, get rid cheaper on £99 mth

CC. as said look for NO fee 0% transfer, on 7k you must be paying at least £100-150 interest alone ?

Don't use equity release, just remortgage - borrowing enough to clear your debts. Repayments on the mortgage would be less than the debt payments.

So your income after childcare is £1200. Do you earn minimum wage or more than that? 30 hours on minimum wage is around £1200 but you wouldn't need much childcare and if you were to work locally, you'd cut your petrol costs.

Can you get a cheaper HP car? I have one that is a few years old which is lovely but only £150 a month.

The credit cards are the biggest issue - anything you can sell to bring down the balance? And look to switch to 0% if possible.

How old are the children? Is there any scope to reduce childcare a bit by doing an after school play date swap with another parent one night a week?

I own the home outright. No mortgage. That's why it's a pretty pathetic situation. All the money is in the home.
Ex doesn't pay anything, but I figured the fact that hr just leaves me and the kids is a pretty good deal.
I've taken on a lodger. 450 pcm Council tax went up as I lost the discount. I'm not seeing the gains though.
I'll look into now tv, not sure how long VM have got me tied in now. There's no TV it's just broadband
I think with the hire purchase my monthly payments are high because of bad credit. I'm not sure I can just give the car up. Will call them tomorrow and see what they can do. I need a car, will go smaller if this means cheaper.

@Savingsspree

Thanks for all the replies Id love to release some equity, however all the schemes are aged 50 and upwards Kids attend wrap around care so I can work. This totals up to £42 per day. 2 kids breakfast club and after school. The car is a hire purchase, I don't have cash to buy a runaround. This would have been my go to if possible. Currently, I can't get anymore credit cards, poor credit I guess.

Your after school care is extortionate

£10.50 per child for breakfast
£10.50 per child for after care

Is this correct?

I will ask again incase you missed it are you on a tax free childcare scheme or childcare vouchers?

How have you come to own the property outright?

Etc don’t remove all benefits

They take off an amount

You can call to say what you think is affordable

Net income of £2k pm
11k on paye and NI pa

That doesn't sound right.
£800pcm on childcare doesn't either. Can't you claim for tax free child credits?

It may help you to 'compartmentalise' the money from the lodger, i.e. saying to yourself "Their £450/m pays for the car HP (and perhaps the insurance?) and their increase in council tax" so that you know where it actually goes.

Im in a not dissimilar situation but DO NOT buy a cheap old car they cost more in the long run.
Before I saw you had a lodger I was wondering if you got council tax benefit it is separate to any other benefits.
Try to get out of the broadband contract and go for a really really cheap one. I had now tv at 18 per month, talk talk is also cheap. Get rid of the TV for a bit.
Talk to the water company as they may reduce your payments, gas and electric can also do this