reality is hitting me and Im scared

[littlemisslost]

I made my mind up to separate almost 2 months ago now,its something I have felt I wanted to do for a long time now and I came on here and chatted about my reasons at the time and general consensus was it was the right thing to do, my friends feel its the right thing to do... and about time! and my family are very sad and just say that they will support me if I have made what I believe is the right decision for me.
I am starting to get really scared!!!!!! the reality is hitting me of where will I live, I cant hardly afford anything on my own (regards property) Its always been very tight financially together so on my own how will I manage, I have no idea what I will get benefit/support wise as a single parent IM alreayd wondering whether opther people are equally (possibly more) unhappy than me and just stay put because they/we are trapped!

You need to sort out;
Child benefit comes to you 20.30 per week
child tax credit (you get these even on income support) 55.64 per week on a sliding scale - speak to lone parent advisor at local job centre
work tax credits if working
income support if your children are under 7 and you're not working approx 66 per week - you need to check this
jsa if your children are over 7 and you're looking for work
housing benefit if you are renting - speak to local housing association (council run)
child maintenance from ex - but don't count on this as a guaranteed income

My rent is 715 per month, and I manage on a very low income with a number of these additional benefits.

Better to be skint but in control of your life than unhappy but financially comfortable. The difference is freedom and the option to live your daily routine in a happy, calm way.

I will be working taking home around £1250 a month after tax. I have one child age 7 and will have a mortgage repayments around £500 a month.
Childcare, council tax, running a car, all the utility bills,a dog, 2 cats...shift work......

well we are still living together at the moment as we have the house to sell. I cant afford it on my own and he we need th equity to move on. we are getting it slowly sorted to put it on the market and aim is to be out by end of summer. Gives us both time to sort stuff out. He is begging me to reconsider but I know, for the moment at least, that I need to separate because Im so frustrated with him, I need some real space and have been attracted to other people which to me means I have had enough.

I tried to do the 'entitield to' website calculator buts its not right as I cant put income for last year as I was a student for most of it and didnt really earn anything

I need some inspiring stories and examples of women who have left and are doing okay.... on a very average wage. I am scared I will end up on my own desperate for a man in my 40's-50's likle I have seen so many women. I also would have loved aother child and I am 36 so already starting to accept that might never happen :-(

Ooo Ouch at your last posting
I'm 47,and have been single since Christmas.. and i'm not desperate that's for sure,it would be nice to have a partner, but it's certainly not essential to my happiness, and i'd rather be single then in a crap relationship!

You're only 36, don't panic you've got plenty of time to have another child, just concentrate on sorting out what needs to be sorted now on a practical level.. Who knows what the future holds..