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I can’t afford to live

76 replies

Meeemeee88 · 10/02/2025 22:01

Just that really . I’m feeling extremely depressed over it and I can’t see anyway my life is going to get better . Basically I spend 14 years bringing up my 3 kids for my relationship to then break down . I did a degree and had kids straight away so always did low paid minimum wage jobs so my partner could get a career basically ( I was the main childcare provider) my degree is useless as it’s an art degree and where I live I can’t get anything in the field plus I have 3 kids youngest one is a toddler and primary school ages kids . Ex kept the house and bought me out but half my money went on personal debt plus he kept all the contents so I had to buy everything new again (even tho I had no extra money for this ? Just half the equity) and I’ve almost spend the other half just to get by every month for the last couple years . I live in a council house , I have no family as parents passed away so no support network really . I’m limited to what I can work as I have to pick up kids three days a week from school as well as take them to school 4 days a week as he can’t do it due to his job so I’m really tied . I have them half and half with him so only have every other weekend off but even on weekends off I have to take one child to rugby on Saturdays and one to football Sundays etc as the both play the same time at different places . I’m so down about the fact I’m almost 40 with a shitty minimum wage job ( I can only work a couple days due to child commitments) I’m more upset how rubbish my future looks , I have no career, no house etc and I feel like it will just get worse . I spoke to citizens advice as I can’t even afford to heat my home anymore …and I’m more upset again as she worked out just to cover my basics for living compared to my income etc I’m actually £80 under every month 😣 I’m worried now as all my savings will be gone soon and then what ? No xmas gifts , no birthdays , no days out ( hardly doing that anyway ) but what a shit sad life . I just feel hopeless . I want to study to do nursing or something but it seems impossible due to no funding or time or support with children. How do I commit to anything

OP posts:
TatteredAndTorn · 29/05/2025 22:56

Meeemeee88 · 10/02/2025 22:14

Really ? Oh I had no idea . I spoke to a lady from the job centre and she said I wouldn’t get anything . Thank you , I’ll try phoning about to find out properly

Job centre staff know very little about anything (including benefits) but seem quite happy to give people incorrect advice constantly. Get your advice from elsewhere.

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