Oh fark I have no money... what can I do?

[TheMoistWorldOfSeptimusQuench]

Every month, I seem to have less and less, and run out earlier in the month.

I got paid my monthly salary on Friday. Paid my rent, council tax, TV licence etc, big supermarket shop, and Boots for other essentials. And because I had to borrow various dribs and drabs of cash to see us through last month, and paid it all back over the weekend, I now have £50 left in my account.

Phoned the bank - they will not allow me an overdraft. However they have put £104 worth of charges in the last month, so I'll write to them asking for it back. Am also due child benefit (£70 ish) & £50 from ex partner.

But I still haven't paid the after school club (£135), phone bill (£40ish) or travel (£50).

Have maybe £50 worth to sell on Ebay, which I'll put on this afternoon. Also have a £50 voucher for Office shoes which I could get rid of somehow.

Any other ideas?

I hate this

Oh, forgot to mention have just received my Tax Credits notification for this year. Apparently they overpaid me (god knows how, I was only getting £36 a month), so I am awaiting a grand total of £3.79 which I will receive on 3rd December. So things will be looking up for Christmas then

Whats boots for other essentials?
Stamp that out and get on the cheap conditioner, you have done the supermarket shop, now eat everything from the cvupboards till they are empty.
Including back of the freezer.
Tell the school you are skint. Ebay the voucher and the ebayable stuff.
Is there anyone you can borrow from to pay the other bits?
No, no, no spending on anything at all you dont need.

Which supermarket do you use? Swap to Lidl/Aldi and stop going to Boots (get stuff from Lidl/Aldi).

Work out a budget and stick to it.

Yes, claim for your bank charges (for the whole of the last 6 years if you have had any).
Is it remotely feasible for you to do something evenings/weekends like Avon or Bettaware?(not Kleeneze as the startup costs are a bit steep and it's harder to make it work) for a bit of extra cash?

You can appeal your tax credits if the repayment takes you below a certain level. Would be worth ringing.

Are you entitled to housing benefit or council tax.

Boots isn't the cheapest place to buy things.

Sort out old clothes and sell them too.

I hear you re. Boots

No Lidl or Aldi anywhere near here, and I don't drive

Got back 6 years of bank charges last year.

Would love to find something I could do a couple of evenings a week for more cash. But would have to be at home, as no one else to look after DD & paying a baby sitter would defeat the object. What is Bettaware? And does Avon still involve going out knocking on doors flogging stuff? (apologies for ignorance)

could you offer babysitting (at your house) to friends?

Get your fruit & veg from the market. I've started doing this, there is only me and dd I'm currently spending £3-£4.50 a week that's for all my fruit & veg. Varies depnding on what I buy

If you have a car try and limit the amount you use it.. I'm trying to reduce mine down to 1 take of petrol a fortnight.

Use any boots points you've collected to buy essential toiletries

Is the after school club essential? is their maybe a friend you could ask to have the children instead perhaps offer a small amount of money?

Why is your ex only paying £50 a month? (I'm presuming you're talking about child mtce). How many dc do you have and what's your ex's net salary? Are the CSA involved?

Thanks everyone

No, no car. We get the bus or walk, but I can't afford to buy my monthly bus ticket now!

Babysitting's a nice idea, but I can't see that anyone would want to leave their 5 - 6 year olds with me for an evening and then pick them up later (DD is 5 & we only really know other kids from her class). Our house is seriously tiny so couldn't really do overnight stays. Also, I work full time and am knackered in the evenings. Given the choice (and yes, I know I'm not in a position to be picky...) I'd be better doing something mindless where I didn't have to interact with people.

Re. the ex. Yes, £50 is shit, but he is also paying off my share of a loan we took out together, so technically he's paying me about £200. We have just the one child.

Really appreciate all this good advice

Fruit and veg from the market definitely a goer.

Do you already get your single adult rebate on the council tax ?

I know it's not much help for this month, but to solve problem for future months, have you tried www.moneysasvingexpert.com? Sorry if I'm preaching to the converted...

Offer to do friends' ironing in the evenings.

Can't Sleep's idea is an excellent one!

I appreciate you'll have your hands full with working f/t, but even if you just did ironing for a couple of months it might help you to keep in the black.

don't you need insurance to take in ironing?

Ironing idea is brilliant (but seriously depressing at the same time, iyswim ).
Does anyone know about the insurance issue?

you could even do avon on the side...i know its not fantastic money but the discount alone would be fab for putting away gifts for xmas and birthdays etc etc

I don't think you need insurance, but obviously if you burnt a hole in one of your friend's tops you would have to come to some arrangement wrt replacing it. My advice is don't burn any holes .

whilst i can't think of any more things than the others have said. I really know where you are coming from, there seems to have been less ans less money to go round, esp over the last 6 months. Its all added up, the extra on everything, and I have no idea how we are supposed to manage.

So, does Avon still mean going out knocking on doors?

My neighbour does Avon. She pushes a catalogue through peoples door (I think you have to pay for the catalogues) and gives a date when she will collect catalogue/order (I leave it outside in a bag). She calls round 4wks later with the stuff (cash on delivery) and next catalogue. I think she has regular clients now (like me ). You earn £50 for every £200 you sell.

A friend used to do it at work and just leave 1 catalogue in the ladies changing room and we'd all fill in our orders. If you have friends at work or school you might get orders that way.

I love Avon stuff - tis great.

I think that ironing is the way to go. I usually send out dh's shirts but I have a couple of friends who offer to do it whenever they are feeling skint. No holes so far .

If you are a LP then look at whether there are any language colleges where you could offer to be a hostess. One of my friend's lived in a 2 bedflat, took her dd in with her into her bedroom and rented the other room out to a foreign student. She had to supply breakfast and an evening meal but got paid £450 a month. Even a "normal" lodger for a short while can be a help.