Somebody please tell me what to do

[nutcracker]

I cannot cope with this anymore.
I have been up since 4am trying to figure out how we are going to pay all our bills, buy birthday and xmas pressies and afford to eat this month and i just can't see a way out of it.

So far the only things i have though of is to

a) Sell the computer (would only raise about 100 though)

b) sell the car (would raise enough, but dp uses it to get to work)

c) Not pay the rent which would raise a bit but put the house at risk.

If anyone has any ideas at all i would love to hear them.
I have tried and failed to get a job and just feel so sick about the whole thing now that i wish i could just dissapear off the face of the earth.

Nutcracker - I've no idea how old you are/what your work experience is, but for shop work, could you, ermmm....tell a white lie??! Did you do any shop work as a teenager - or even a paper round? You could then say you had retail experience..! (I am the all round queen of the white lies...). Like you say, once you're in there you'll be fine - it's just getting in - and frankly, you need the money, so just go for it and put 'retail experience' on the forms..!

I did bar work when I was a student and that was cash paid weekly, I assume it's still the same. Stick a card up in the local shop window saying that you will do babysitting or cleaning and see if anything comes from that. Agree with the others, make paying your rent and the bills a priority and definitely cut right back on children's presents for xmas and birthday. Good luck, I hope things improve soon

Nutty, you might try reading through the "dealing with debt" and "living below your means" chat boards on the motley fool website. They can be really helpful with ideas, and if you want them to pinpoint where you could save money you can post a statement of affairs (SOA) and will get loads of suggestions. The website is www.fool.co.uk and you just have to click on discussion boards. They are especially good about reducing bills!

sorry me again - but it's a subject close to my heart...! Just to say, make sure you have some luxuries in life though - even if they're really small. For instance, we've gone over to buying 'own brand' stuff from Tesco's (and we used to buy the 'finest' stuff...sigh...). But dp loves her Kellogs Special K and hates the own brand K, so she gets Kellogs! It's a tiny treat, but you've got to be happy or there's not much point to it all really...

Nutcracker, just a thought, don't know how feasible this would be. If you need 'cash in hand' what about house cleaning? I would gladly pay someone £6.50 an hour to clean my house but I can't get a reliable person. I even said that they could come at a time that suits them and bring a child with them but still could not get a cleaner.

You could put up a notice in a local newsagent to advertise.

i pay someone cash in hand £10 to clean my house for 2 hrs a week. not much but helps them and me.

Also, for xmas have a look back through old threads, I remember one from last year on xmas traditions, I'm definitely going to . Do things with the children this year that you might not usually do, take them off into the woods to collect fircones, then take them home and spray them for decorations, look around and see what's on round where you live them take them to some of the free events that are on like the turning on of the xmas lights, singing carols round the tree - all things that don't really cost anything but will be what your children remember about Christmas when they are older. Get them baking biscuits that they can give to people as presents etc.

How old are your children Nutty - I forget. I think you should definitely economise on presents rather than not pay the rent - that's not optional. Don't buy presents for anyone except your own children = tell everyone that this is your policy this year and they mustn't buy presents for you. Have you done a budget looking at all your outgoings and seen where you can make cuts? Horrible I know, and depressing. Also, are you claiming every penny of benefits you are due? Others will know better than I do how to make sure you are.

Did you get anywhere with Woollies, I didn't have any 'experience' in shop work, also the other day a Kleeneze (sp ?) book came through the door asking for people, that would be quite a good one as it wouldn't interferre (sp?) with the kids, they could go with you whilst you post.

Sorry not much help, but I would say, if you can do without the car then I would consider letting that go.

Haven't you bought bikes and a dolls house for dd's, thats plenty IMO, I'm sure they will be delighted with those.

Do go to the CAB - really, and never assume you can't get a better loan rate elsewhere. Keep trying - the CAB will help you. Look for solutions! Also, put that card advertising cleaning/babysitting in a shop window TODAY! And go around shops seeing if anyone wants evening staff - I did this after graduating when completely skint and got a job instantly with no experience.

Just an idea and maybe this isnt what nutcracker would want but couldn't a few of us who could manage help out with the xmas gifts? Don't want to embarrass nutcracker at all but would be very happy to have helped improve someone's xmas - what do you think?

If thw worse comes to the very worst would you be able to get a hardship loan from Social Security. I think these are interest free and you can make minimal weekly repayments.

Good luck

Hello, back again.
Got the local paper and nothing for now but an ad for Tescos local, it think they are building one not far from here and so i've rung for an application form. Also rung about another job but need to go to open day, will have to see if my mom can babysit.
Anyway i think both of those would be starting after xmas but better than nowt obviously.

I would do cleaning yeah if i could fnd anyone willing to let me take Ds along. Not sure how much i'd get done with him there though.

Namealtered - That is very kind but not nessercary honest. Like others have said my kids will just have to have alot less this year. They will still be getting presies from uncles and grandparents so they won't miss out.

Gold- I was too late for the woolies by me, all the evening shifts had gone. They have kept me on file though, maybe i should ring them and see if they have anything yet.

Am going to check the website for the local hospital now.

Oh sorry mumtochloe (me too ), we can;'t get a hardship loan/grant because we don't get income support or job seekers.

I will check our entitlements again but i don't think we can get any more help tbh.

Thanks again, sorry if i missed anyone out.

Just found an exceelant job.

It's for a special foods assistant at brum childrens hospital. Basically making up special feeds, cleaning equiptment and showing parents how to make feeds up too.

It says food handeling experiance is desirable which unless you count handling our food i haven't got.

Does anywhere do short food handling courese ??

It is 23 hours a week and would be great work experiance should i ever decide to go back to college to do my access course.

Experience "desirable" but not essential. Here's a
food hygiene website
Study that and fib a bit - say you've done an online course! Cooking for a family counts as food handling experience in my book.
It sounds perfect, good luck

Sounds promising Nutty, even without formal experience. Did you learn anything about diet or nutrition on your previous course, if so make sure you gen up and mention it on your application. They would probably want to send you on a basic Food Hygiene course anyway but it is only a few sessions.

Don't rely on it though and make sure you get help from CAB etc in the meantime.