I've reached my breaking point

[Debtshame]

Ex husband left me at the end of last year, he's eloped to somewhere abroad but thats a whole other thread 🙈

I am struggling to make my mortgage repayments after childcare, even with universal credit and DLA I always seem to have too much month and not enough money

My car, which I had on finance (wouldn't make that mistake again) was taken last week and I had a bailiff visit for unpaid council tax from 2013 last week- he came into my home without permission and listed the television and tumble dryer as controlled goods agreement (despite getting the tumble dryer via the family fund )

I am on my knees financially and don't know where to go for help, I'm at risk of losing the house, and my job is in financial services so potentially my job as well

I am suffering from stress related alopecia now and barely eating or sleeping because I live in fear of the next nock at the door, today I recieved an email from the same bailiffs who are recovering the council tax with regards to an unpaid parking ticket and this feels like the final straw

Thankyou for reading

Also is there any scope in switching childcare providers? I saved a small fortune swapping mine at the free hours stage as every nursery had a different approach to how they implemented it and what they charged for ( but this was when it first came in).

Apologies, I've got three children, the youngest of which is with a childminder full time and the bigger two go to breakfast/after school club

My recent flexible working request was declined on the basis not enough staff at present so it wouldn't work for the business 😢

I can't get how council tax reduction works, and I work in welfare rights!

Some councils would disregard more of the UC when someone has disabled children, but some just take the overall figure into account. (I think - my "patch" includes 7 district councils and a city, and they all seem to do it differently.)

Re flexible working request; don't they have to allow you to change hours if you're a carer?

These are 10 x better than oodies! We have 6 in our family from teens to grannys and we all absolutely love them. They vary in price but I like the Dreamland brand - cheap ones can be unsafe with the electrical parts.

This one is the one we have bought over and over again in our family - it's currently being massively discounted for a while
at Boots - I've not seen it for under £100 until now.
https://www.boots.com/dreamland-intelliheat-faux-fur-warming-throw-10324331

I was going to say - do you claim your childcare on UC??

I had a friend who was receiving a paltry amount and paying a fortune in childcare just to try and hold onto her job and she didn't realize she had to claim the childcare element each month by declaring her costs and submitting the childcare invoices to her journal. Are you doing this????

They pay up to 85% of childcare from registered providers. You can use this along with your funded hours.

Ref saving money have a look at the Olio app where people go to supermarkets to fetch food with best by / b4 date & then redistribute it (all free to collect). I know probably some of the timings might not be ideal but collections on a Sunday should be ok. Also too good to go app.

Ref the mortgage, have a talk to your bank about extending it.

How long is it until your youngest start school?
Sending you big hugs. Another thing I would recommend is to have a look at the make £10 a day on here...have a look at prolific...for surveys...payments are from 10 the first time then £6.

You're doing really great so far working through it all OP. In the background I'd be looking for another job that allows you some flexibility on hours or some working from home.

Are UC not paying a portion of your childcare costs. I think you upload tour invoices on it monthly or something. Apologies if you're already doing this.

You sound like an amazing mum. I hope you get some help soon.