Anyone else live on this?

[pinenuts75]

My rent has just increased,I’m single live alone I’ve worked out after I’ve paid rent, bills, and food I’m left with £175 for the month, does anyone else live on this?

Not where I currently work

Do you work in the day time or evenings and weekends?

Could you get an evening part time job?If you worked an extra 7 hours a week it would increase your income by net £370 a months around £295 a month

I could I might have to at this rate

I’m not currently in this situation but I was and it’s really tough so I do empathise with you x

Mornings and Saturdays

How old are you OP? I’ve had 2 jobs when I’ve been really hard up.

It’s there because businesses aren’t paying a living wage. Please don’t fall for the shame discourse.

Now that's its August a lot of places will soon be taking on Christmas temps. Keep an eye out for supermarkets, Argos, big stores etc

Hope things get better for you ❤️

All these suggestions about full time jobs - if you don't have the experience or qualifications, you're at the end of the queue. It's really not that easy. Cooking for oneself isn't as economical as for two either.

Think of your skills - is there anything you can do from home or from Internet? Freelance on a website, kind of thing?

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It sounds really tough - tbh I’d look around for a room in a shared house, you might find someone not too bad to share with, and have that bit extra.

you’ve really only got two options here - increase hours, or cut billls and sharing the rent is all I can see that’s a quick win.

I’d probably do both to have a bigger buffer to enjoy life a bit more and have savings.

i work in the warehousing area and I’d really recommend it for opportunities, a lot of the people I work with started out with basic jobs and moved up.

It isn't really, it's because OP isn't working FT.

Working PT on NMW simply isn't enough to cover the costs of living in a property alone.

It's not really for taxpayers to cover the OP to work PT, why would anyone bother to work FT if you just got topped up?

Okay so what are the barriers that stop you applying for the jobs you see advertised? Are you rural and transport is a problem? Do you not have the stomach for carework/cleaning? Is shelf stacking/warehouse no good re the times you are available etc? What Im getting at is its not a case of “theres no jobs” and you need to be sure that you are not putting unnecessary barriers in your own way.

Don’t really have skills, only ever worked in a shop, don’t cook much either, it’s my own fault I’m in this situation I should have thought about my future when my kids were small, you never think what happens when child tax credits, child benefit stops but I didn’t and kind of regret not training for a better job.

Is there a community pantry/larder where you are? That might help cut your food bill a little and free up a few quid.

https://share.google/5z5vDHoUEGAXVJOvr

To add I’ve worked since my child was 5 he’s 24 now so I’ve paid my way in taxes

McDonald's? They are open late/early/24 hours so could find shifts which fit, well paid as well and you could work full.time

Might even just be able to get Sundays

They all want experience

Don't blame yourself. The demand for homes has pushed up rental costs way beyond what's really feasible. My son has two degrees, works in London, yes 40 hours and sometimes another job on Saturdays, but will never be able to save or do anything with his life. I feel so sad about that, but independence is a life skill.

Evening work - baby sitting, childcare, dog walking, cafe work (cleaning) - I know not much, but everything helps.

Family member registered with an agency that provides carers for children (the council pays the agency) - that’s worth looking at. She did have to do a few weeks of training and they did a test on medical equipment some of the kids need but it’s worked for her - she was in a similar situation to you @pinenuts75 and about the same age.

she said it’s a little tricky because some weeks she’s got lots of hours and some weeks are lighter but if you would like that, worth checking out.

You can check if you’re likely to get any UC without making an application. Anyway, the application is easy enough, all done on line. Nothing to lose by giving it a go. You’d not have to attend regularly as you’re in work.

Thank you

Do you earn more than £25K - £26K? I don't think UC is payable on this kind of wage.

Can you claim universal credit top ups?

That’s a good shout. Our local McDonald’s has lots of older workers. I’d say the young ones are nearly in the minority now.