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?

I would love to do this, but how do you go about it? Don’t you have to be registered?

Yes I might do this

Have you tried this calculator, OP? https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Netflix with ads is not bad at all, they're not many at all.

Agree with PP about hotspotting. What about bar work one or two evenings a week? 5 hours a week would bring in an extra £200pm. £200 x 12 = £2400 extra pa.

Council tax rates are an absolute joke for the services/quality of service we receive.

@pinenuts75i had a quick check for you on the government benefit calculator (obviously a few details I didn’t know like address but shouldn’t make a difference) and it said you should be entitled to £110 per month. So definitely worth applying.

No not really. We just have to put it on credit cards or miss a bill each month.

And also agree the adverts on Netflix are fine barely any!

That's horrendous @ninjahamster There has to be some way you can improve your position.

Sorry to hear this that’s awful

You don't need to be registered if you are an after school nanny as nannies are exempt. Nor do you need any qualifications to be a nanny - I would recommend a paediatric first aid course though if you can - there are a number of free options including St John's.

There might be a babysitting or childcare agency - if not you could try eg a church newsletter etc. If you have friends/neighbours with primary aged children you could ask them if they could put it about on their networks.

Tell me about it! My son moved out 2 months ago they still haven’t properly sorted out single person discount, I called them and they are behind apparently, I was advised to change the amount myself.

I am very curious on how you survive with food costs at 100£ per month? That's 25£ a week so around 3,60£ per day. How do you plan breakfast, lunch and supper for 3,60£?

Like others have said, maybe you need to apply for another similar job where you can work full time? Maybe babysit? Since you have got children you have got experience.

You live so frugally (especially foodwise!) that I can't give you any suggestions. It would be me asking you for suggestions on how to meal plan because I surely could not do a whole day worth of meals on 3,60£!

I will look into this thank you

Hi Op

Just wanted to say I'm in the same boat as you. Im 54, live on my own in a rental, no children, work full time and have barely anything left at the end of the month. A few years ago I was coping ok, but now with all the increases in food, fuel, utilities etc, I'm just working to pay the bills. No savings or pension provision and really worry about the future.

I think single people (especially those on a low income) should have a 50% discount on the council tax. That would help enormously.

I hope things get better for you x

I was going to suggest this too OP. It used to be called a “Mother’s Help” when my children were small, usually a lady who’s already brought up her own children. You sound as though you’d be great for this, and it’s likely that lots of parents would appreciate your experience. I’ve looked it up and you’d need a DBS check, references and first aid training.

I don’t eat much really, don’t really like meat and it’s to expensive anyway, I have scrambled eggs on toast or beans on toast I make Bolognese sauce with veg or lentils, bulk cook it too. I only shop at aldi.

Get a second job.

Yes I agree totally it should be 50% I worry too about the future, been trying to find a man to maybe make things better but it’s not going to well 😂

What’s it called and where do I apply please?

Your outgoings listed are pretty much exactly mine although I have gym, critical illness and credit card payment on top. Save for upping income could you reduce food bill by getting craftier in the kitchen. Keep Netflix if you enjoy although you can get it for 5.99 I think with ads which I switched to and barely notice the ads or sometimes there are none. You could look at mystery shop or surveys, if I am lucky I might get a 40 payment every other month

Only trying to help on 12500ish a month you could be entitled to Universal credit and rent and council tax relief which would help the dwp may want to know your savings . William dwp

If you only work mornings look into helping in after school clubs at local schools.

Other posters have given excellent suggestions already.

I would also add that it doesn't sound as though you get many vegetables. Can you buy vegetables when reduced and make soup to batch freeze?

Otherwise I can only say that I have been where you are even when working full-time, and it was gruelling and frustrating. Even now, I managed but because I live alone I can't afford to go for social meals out and so on, or go on holiday anymore like some of my friends do, and like I could do at pre-pandemic prices.

It looks as though you can claim UC on 30 hours a week so I would do that but obviously it's not as much as a salary so try to find something to top your hours up...either a full time job or an extra part time job.

Focus on your transferable skills, rather than direct experience. Eg for retail it could be teamwork, customer service, accuracy, working quickly, engaging with customers, understanding their queries and helping them find what they need, noticing and responding to communication challenges eg facing someone if you see they wear hearing aids so they can see your face and hear you better. All of that would translate into other jobs, so when they ask you about your actual experience you say you haven't done that specifically but you have done something using similar skills and this is how you would apply it in the new job.

Good luck!

Advice from ChatGPT on the role of Mother’s Help below:

1. Understand the Role
Might include: playing with children, school runs, preparing meals, tidying up, laundry, shopping, light cleaning.
Less formal than a nanny role – you’re an extra pair of hands.
Hours can be part-time, flexible, or live-in/live-out, depending on the family.

2. Check Requirements
No formal qualifications are legally required, but:
DBS check (criminal record check) is usually essential.
First aid training (especially paediatric first aid) is a big plus.
References from previous jobs (childcare, care work, teaching, or even raising your own children) are highly valued.

3. Find Work
Agencies: Some nanny/childcare agencies place mother’s helps. Examples include Tinies, Nannyjob, and Care.com.
Websites: Gumtree, Childcare.co.uk, and local Facebook community groups often have adverts.
Word of mouth: Ask friends, neighbours, local schools, or nurseries if they know families looking for help.

4. Highlight Your Strengths as a mature Lady
Experience with children or grandchildren.
Reliability and steadiness.
Practical life skills (cooking, organisation, housekeeping).
Maturity and patience, which many families value over formal childcare training.

5. Practical Steps to Start

1. Apply for an enhanced DBS check (around £50–£60 if you get it yourself).
2. Take a short paediatric first aid course (1–2 days, often ~£100).
3. Prepare a simple CV highlighting childcare, family care, or community work you’ve done.
4. Register on Childcare.co.uk and similar platforms, making a friendly, approachable profile.
5. Start applying to local roles – many families prefer someone nearby.

Thank you I will look into all this, I have more options than I realise I think.