Single mum of two how to live off £500 a month not including bills

[SonK]

Someone please give me a reality check - is this doable?
£1500 rent, will be left with roughly £500-£600 a month to pay for bills, food, everything.

Looking forward to views / advice x

Is something changing to put you in this position?

I’m afraid to say that I don’t think it’s doable.

Even with these underestimates, your won’t have enough:

council tax : £120
food : £280
gas and electric : £100
phone/tv/insurances : £30
car/travel : £70

thats £600 already. No contingencies, no clothes, shoes or bday presents etc

I hope for your sake that someone is in a similar boat and can tell you how it’s done. Could/would you get benefits on top of this?

You’ll get universal credit

How big is the property? That effects everything from the council tax to how much heating/electricity/water you use.
Do you drive so also have fuel, tax, insurance to pay for?
My DD bills are almost £500 pm for two, but that includes Broad band, phones (sim only), Netflix, cat insurance etc and our council tax is extortionate.

However, it doesn’t include diesel, road tax or food.

Sounds like you'll really struggle. Does this include any UC and is the issue that it doesn't adequately help you with the cost of rent? Does your child/ren's father pay maintenance? Could you live somewhere cheaper? Could you earn more - you could be entitled to more help with the cost of childcare if this is more expensive.

But for the rest it really depends. How much your essential travel to school/work/childcare is. How many DC you have - food and clothes for one 5 YO who only needs wraparound care will be a fraction to the cost of feeding and clothing three teenagers who all need bus fares to get to school.

£280 on food? How are you doing this? I spend circa £500 a month on myself, an 8 year old and a toddler.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Thank you x
Yes I am getting away from domestic abuse.
I don't think I will be entitled to Universal Credit.

The property is a flat, so quite small.
Yes there is a lot to take into consideration

What makes you think this? If you rent and have DC, especially if you pay for childcare, its payable up to quite a high salary.

The inadequate amount you have left after your rent is a strong indicator that you will be entitled to UC unless you're renting in an above average cost property in the area you live, eg you could get something suitable in your town for £800 but you're choosing to live in a larger property than you need, in the the expensive side of town.

Yes its possible for a short term, but long term i don’t think so. Why do you think you would not be entitled to UC? Have you tried an online calculator like entitled to? If you contact womens aid they can put you in contact with a local domestic abuse charity who can help with legal matters and money. Sending love

I have (what I consider to be) a pretty good salary, well above minimum wage, and when I put my credentials and outgoings into the entitledto website, I was surprised to see that even I would be entitled to UC, despite my income.

You can fill in the website yourself to check. It’ll give you an idea of what you’d be entitled to.

I will check if I am entitled to anything, I think a poster sent a link which I have seen.
Yes rent is too much in my area but my children are both under 3 and my only support is in this area. I really can't move far from this person who can help me in an emergency; I don't know anyone else

I would say it’s not doable OP, it will be too tight unless you are eligible for UC to help with rent etc.

You would bet the lha for your area, probably the 2 bed rate, unless you have savings or another property then you would probably be entitled to UC. If your immigration status doesn’t allow , or of you do have a property which your having to leave then please reach out to womens aid for legal advice there is options available for both scenarios.

OP so your earning about 30k gross a year? You'll definitely be entitled to some kind of benefits as a single parent as that's quite a low income

Thank you for the advice everyone x
For more context, I did go to the council for help and a charity, I have been put into refuge for now where I have a bedroom and shared facilities but the space is not baby proofed, too far from work and with two under three I need to get out a find a a better space for my children.
The lady I spoke to is doing everything she can to help me but the reality is rent is too expensive, even more so as a single mum and after financial abuse as well I don't have enough savings

I am also paying rent and service charge at the refuge accommodation provided, so it is also expensive which is why I may as well rent my own place which I don't have to share with others

OP, you are automatically in priority need for housing as you have escaped domestic abuse and have dependent children.Please make sure this is highlighted.
If you have a crime reference number, make sure you use it in any communication with housing, universal credit etc.
Please use a benefit calculator-if you are awarded universal credit you can ask for an advance payment to set you up in a flat/buy white goods/beds etc and they take it off your UC every month, I had to do this twice and they were incredibly supportive.
Does your bank have a dedicated support team? I was given a large overdraft to help me find housing and get away fromm abuse including financial abuse.
Also, being on UC allows you to ask for social tariffs on things like landline/internet/water etc.
You will also get the warm home discount of £150 on your utility bills, and council tax discount.
If your income takes you above the UC eligibility, would you consider dropping to reduced hours in order to qualify for UC?
You have suffered an enormous life event, and there is no shame in giving yourself and your little ones time to adjust, rest and heal.

Are you working? If not you should get housing benefit to pay the crazy high ref costs?

Unfortunately women in employment are screwed as there's no point in law for them to receive anything towards it which often means they can't go into refuge? It's a crappy situation

Are you claiming any housing benefit/council tax reduction/universal credit? Citizen's advice or online turn to us should be able to help with any financial advice.

No this is not enough. I think you are overestimating the need to live close to someone who can help. You will build up your own network of support around you wherever you move to and with more money in your pocket you can pay for local teens to do some baby sitting for you. I would find somewhere cheaper to rent and take a proper look into benefits support.

Those aren’t figures from my budget, they are random underestimates to illustrate that the OP’s situation is sadly untenable.

Why did you think you wouldn’t get UC? Are there any people who can help you at the refuge? 💐