How do you cope without pay for a month

[daniellewilson1987]

Hi. Im currently working for an agency so pay is every friday. I start a new job soon although waiting for the start date it is likely to be the week after half term (18th+) i will have enough holiday pay from my old job to cover this week and next but after that i will have no pay until the 27th if march as i believe i will have missed the cut of date for the new job?
My partner is pretty much a full time dad although he is self employed and works whilst im not working but with me working full time he will have no spare time to work.
How did people cope? It seems such a long time without money and i dont currently receive any benefits other then cb
Thanks

I think it's a long term thing.

From the day I left uni & started my first before minimum wage existed job I aimed to have at least a months worth (preferably 2-3 months worth) of wages saved.

Try to get some agency work in the evenings / weekends or talk to your new employer about getting an advance wage payment.

Sadly i have no savings. Left uni in june, dtarted the job in july but as its agency some weeks i have 20 hours some i have 40+ but with 2 children its been impossible to save

A lot of employers will help with an interim pay run mid month. Ask if they do anything like that.

Credit card, but only for absolute essentials like food, transport to work, etc. If you have any loan payments or similar, ask if you can differ a month. Sell stuff, and basically live on basics for a couple of weeks.

Is there anything else you can put off paying for a month?

We pay monthly and if a new employee starts just after the cut off date we normally offer to sub them 1 or 2 weeks pay which we then take off their wages when they get paid on the correct pay date.

When I've had to do it - savings and running up the credit card a bit.

Its for the local council so im hoping something may be set up for a mid month payment. No credit card and im desperate not to get into debt as im already paying of a littlewoods account and an argos card. I plan on extending my overdraft by enough to cover my direct debits (virgin media and mobile and water bills). I plan on getting rid of my virgin tv and just keeping the internet but even then im not sure that will help with this month. Its just so stressful but i know when this month and the next is over and done with we should hopefully be ok

tax credits/universal credit?

Similar situation here, left agency job (weekly pay) to a monthly job, luckily they do advances (so just got a week to ride me over) and I was owed holiday pay from agency, but looking forward to the end of Feb, it's hard but will be worth it in the long run. Just having to be very frugal and crossing the days out on the calendar to pay day.😅

There is a great support thread on MN called Frugaleers. Really good ideas for saving money and keeping things going when things are tight.

Why not join that OP, they are good for moral support. Sorry you are having it tough, things will get better once your wages start coming in!

Have you or DP got a y family members who are in a position to lend you a few hundred pounds? I'd normally not advocate lending and borrowing within families, but under these circumstances it could be wise. Congratulations on the new job!

Here is the latest Frugaleers thread, for February:-

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/2841810-Fantabulous-February-with-the-Friendly-Frugaleers

Thanks everyone will try the other thread for help. No family really in the position for lending money out to us. I know we will cope its just the fear if the unknown and attempting not add extra debt to future outgoings as much as possible. Thanks for the advice

Interest free credit card in the days before I had savings. Always paid it off before the interest kicked in