Help with bills?

[somethinghasaquestion]

Have plugged into the benefits checker sites already but the one I used was pretty vague..

I have a mortgage, work 4 days, take home wage is 2200pm. Partner has just walked out and I’m trying to do the maths.. I can JUST scrape by and pay all bills. The issue is nursery fees which are coming in about £300 mark pm. I cannot afford this on top of everything else (high mortgage, fixed for another 4 years takes well over half my wage!!) Son is in nursery for 2 more years, ideally I would actually up his hours as I’m going to struggle for childcare for 2 days a week as things stand..

I am assuming that partner will pay eff all maintenance as he doesn’t work so that is no help..

Is there anywhere I can turn to for support with this? Am worried I don’t quality for universal credit as my earnings are too high? .. but I can’t afford to pay for everything! My bills are as minimal as possible, no subscriptions or anything..
How do people survive? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Anybody?

Can you list out everything?

@BudgetqueryThankyou. What do you mean, as in every bill and amount on here? I have done that at home. As it stands, without nursery fees I take home 2200 and pay out 2350 - but add in 100 child benefit to that. So in 2300, out 2350. If that makes sense? so I am pretty much covered, it’s just the nursery fees …
Feeling v stressed!!

Contact your local authority to get the single person council tax discount. That’s the only thing I can think of.

Is ex contributing towards dc? You might just get uc and childcare help.

25% single adult discount on council tax.
If you're not on a water meter then see if your bill would be lower with one. Your water company should have a calculator on their website.

sometimes it helps to list them all like
mortgage 1200
council tax 120
electric 100
and so on…

it just gives people the ability to see areas where you could save, fresh eyes on the numbers sometimes helps

Do you have savings, or do your children have savings that you have access to?
Apply for UC ASAP. Worst case they say no, but at least you know. Best case you may be able to get something.
Apply for single person discount on council tax.
Cancel amazon prime/disney/netflix if appropriate.
Is there the option to compress your hours to reduce your childcare bill? Or if you worked an extra day would that increase your income by more than your outgoings?

Universal credit is how you get help with childcare fees, if you’re eligible. Increasing the childcare hours / fees may actually be what tips you into eligibility for UC, so worth plugging in the numbers for increased hours too, and seeing what happens.

also apply for council tax discount and child benefit if you don’t already

This is quite a good checking tool:

https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk
as is https://www.entitledto.co.uk

If he doesn't work then why will you be any worse off? Or did he contribute his benefits?

If you are loosing the unemployed man won’t you be better off?

Do you have any savings that could affect UC?

Thanks all. I’m not home tonight but have written out all expenses, will post when I’m home tomorrow.
Amazon and Disney etc have all been cancelled but good shout on the 25% council tax drop, hadn’t remembered that.
Partner has historically worked. Lost job and was contributing towards the household before the split using savings. I’m not holding out expectation of maintenance from him and need to plan without it really.
Just realised I pay for both our phone bills so that can be halved too.
Jesus I’m frightened to be in this situation, we worked so hard to get a mortgage and a home and be stable, now I’m just not sure how to make ends meet. I can’t be the only one like this?

Also minimal savings, technically they are joint so once split I’m probably left with about 3k.

The way I managed was to massively slash my grocery bill, as well as doing everything on moneysavingexpert to cut bills.
I'm not sure if you already have a bare bones approach to groceries but you could look at this if not.
Toiletries from home bargains.
Cheap rice from wherever is stocking cheap rice.
Topping up the freezer with chicken and mince when it's half price. And so on.

You can ask to pay your council tax over 12 months, rather than 10. This may help a little with budgeting. Do apply for UC asap. You have childcare costs, so it’s definitely worth applying to see if there’s any help available.

I am assuming that partner will pay eff all maintenance as he doesn’t work so that is no help..

How come he "doesn't work"??

Has it always been like this?

I'd be getting down to Citizens Advice.

So sorry you are going through this. Utter shit, I know, I had the same. Just got into work to pay bills and take care of my kids.

Never rely on maintenance.

Second the Moneysavingexpert budgeting review. There's so much range in 'normal' expenditure that most people have scope to cut costs often without noticeable reduction in lifestyle. A few quid here and there can really add up to a noticeable saving.

For example, unless you're still in a contract, your mobile bill could go down to less than £10 a month on SIM only, so loads cheaper than a contract with a new phone every 2 years.