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partner made redundant- at wits end...
samantham06
Posts: 255 Forumite
Hi,
My partner was made redundant 4 weeks ago due to lack of work, and since then we have had a huge lot of bad luck..
Basically I had my son 3 months ago so am still on maternity leave, so I cant go back to work, my partner has been looking for and applying for jobs every day non stop since he was made redundant but just hasnt had any luck..
Our only income at the moment is £110.00 a week from tax credits and £112.00 a week from my maternity pay.
We have just found out that my partner is not entitled to jobseekers allowance as he hasnt paid enough NI contributions in 2006?! and we are not entitled to any help with the rent or council tax as apparently we have enough to live on.
Our outgoing per month are...
£300 rent
£120 Council Tax
£90 for both lots of insurance
£15 child trust fund
£20 sky
£50 BT
£55 Debt repayments
£40 gas
£22 Electric
£20 tv license
£60ish catalouge
.... plus food and petrol, nappies milk ect..
As you can see it just doesnt add up!!
And to top it all today my partner got a £200 fine and six points on his license for driving with no insurance... He was driving my car (which I have insured) and thought that because he had fully comp insurance on his own car that would cover him to drive other veichles (it usually does!!) But apparently not- We honestly did not know that otherwise of course he wouldnt have driven!
Thing is aswell is that he is a mechanic so with points on his license its going to be almost impossible to get a job!!!
So we really just do not have the money for the fine, or anything!
Anyone have any advice on what bills I could get away with not paying, or any advice wuld be much appreciated....
Sorry to go on but just had enogh and needed to let it all out :mad:
My partner was made redundant 4 weeks ago due to lack of work, and since then we have had a huge lot of bad luck..
Basically I had my son 3 months ago so am still on maternity leave, so I cant go back to work, my partner has been looking for and applying for jobs every day non stop since he was made redundant but just hasnt had any luck..
Our only income at the moment is £110.00 a week from tax credits and £112.00 a week from my maternity pay.
We have just found out that my partner is not entitled to jobseekers allowance as he hasnt paid enough NI contributions in 2006?! and we are not entitled to any help with the rent or council tax as apparently we have enough to live on.
Our outgoing per month are...
£300 rent
£120 Council Tax
£90 for both lots of insurance
£15 child trust fund
£20 sky
£50 BT
£55 Debt repayments
£40 gas
£22 Electric
£20 tv license
£60ish catalouge
.... plus food and petrol, nappies milk ect..
As you can see it just doesnt add up!!
And to top it all today my partner got a £200 fine and six points on his license for driving with no insurance... He was driving my car (which I have insured) and thought that because he had fully comp insurance on his own car that would cover him to drive other veichles (it usually does!!) But apparently not- We honestly did not know that otherwise of course he wouldnt have driven!
Thing is aswell is that he is a mechanic so with points on his license its going to be almost impossible to get a job!!!
So we really just do not have the money for the fine, or anything!
Anyone have any advice on what bills I could get away with not paying, or any advice wuld be much appreciated....
Sorry to go on but just had enogh and needed to let it all out :mad:
0
Comments
-
samantham06 wrote: »Hi,
My partner was made redundant 4 weeks ago due to lack of work, and since then we have had a huge lot of bad luck..
Basically I had my son 3 months ago so am still on maternity leave, so I cant go back to work, my partner has been looking for and applying for jobs every day non stop since he was made redundant but just hasnt had any luck..
Our only income at the moment is £110.00 a week from tax credits and £112.00 a week from my maternity pay.
We have just found out that my partner is not entitled to jobseekers allowance as he hasnt paid enough NI contributions in 2006?! and we are not entitled to any help with the rent or council tax as apparently we have enough to live on.
Our outgoing per month are...
£300 rent
£120 Council Tax
£90 for both lots of insurance
£15 child trust fund
£20 sky
£50 BT
£55 Debt repayments
£40 gas
£22 Electric
£20 tv license
£60ish catalouge
.... plus food and petrol, nappies milk ect..
As you can see it just doesnt add up!!
And to top it all today my partner got a £200 fine and six points on his license for driving with no insurance... He was driving my car (which I have insured) and thought that because he had fully comp insurance on his own car that would cover him to drive other veichles (it usually does!!) But apparently not- We honestly did not know that otherwise of course he wouldnt have driven!
Thing is aswell is that he is a mechanic so with points on his license its going to be almost impossible to get a job!!!
So we really just do not have the money for the fine, or anything!
Anyone have any advice on what bills I could get away with not paying, or any advice wuld be much appreciated....
Sorry to go on but just had enogh and needed to let it all out :mad:
Hi Samantha
I would recommend posting this on the debt free wannabe board as well, they are a great bunch of posters who have lots of ideas on how to cope in these situations.
Good luck
Sou0 -
You might want to look in on the Debt-Free Wannabe board as well for advice on trimming down your outgoings.
But a few thoughts to start you off:
This is a luxury not an essential. You could cancel£20 sky
What is this exactly?£60ish catalouge
Is that 10 monthly payments per year or 12?£120 Council Tax
If it's 10 payments of £120 you could speak to them and change to 12 payments of £100.
Can you break this down for us? What exactly does that represent?£90 for both lots of insurance
Again, is this for phone + broadband? Seems a bit steep to me.£50 BT0 -
I don't think he can be picky about his next job. He needs a job...any job...and soon...and not necessarily as a mechanic, so I wouldn't get hung up on that.samantham06 wrote: »Thing is aswell is that he is a mechanic so with points on his license its going to be almost impossible to get a job!!!0 -
Hi Samantham 06
Main recommended sources of help:- Consumer Credit Counselling Service - Website: CCCS Telephone: 0800 138 1111
- National Debtline - Website: National Debtline Telephone: 0808 808 4000
- Citizens Advice Bureau - Website: Citizens Advice or visit your local CAB centre (find nearest)
The above organisations will help you to prioritise your bills. You may be eligible for help with rent and council tax. As you say it's unusual not to be able to drive another vehicle if you have fully comp insurance, it may be because he's in the motor trade. No chance he was still covered under his firms policy is there? In your circumstances if your partner doesn't qualify for JSA you may qualify for income support - the above orgs. will know.
HTH0 -
In addition to talana's comments:
£15 child trust fund - have you signed up to an account where you have to pay in monthly or suffer a penalty? If not, food today is more important.
£55 debt repayments - are any of these negotiable? If they were agreed with creditors when employment situation was different, you may have leeway there.0 -
hi,
The £90 for insurance is for mine and my partners insurance- both on differnt cars and my life insurance.
The£20 sky I would cancel but am really worried about being charged a cancellation fee??
The £120 council tax is ten monthly payments, so yes I could possibly bring that down by £20.00 a month.
The catalouge I owe £700, as I used this to buy items for my new house, the payments on this can go up and down each month but the minimum repayment is usually roughly £60.00.
And my partner isn;t being too fussy about applying for a job, hes applied for everything from cleaning, management to working in a chip shop- but because he only has experience as a mechanic he just cant get any of them- loads of interviews but they never amount to a job...
Thankyou.0 -
transer your landline to sky this covers line rental and calls with sky, free on a night and weekend and free broadband as well.make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
and we will never, ever return.0 -
If you don't spend any more on that, the amount will vary only because of the number of weeks in the month, and may reduce if there is an element of interest in there too. If there is interest, then the sooner it is paid off, the better.samantham06 wrote: »hi,
The catalouge I owe £700, as I used this to buy items for my new house, the payments on this can go up and down each month but the minimum repayment is usually roughly £60.00.0 -
The £90 for insurance is for mine and my partners insurance- both on differnt cars and my life insurance.
Although having a car each may be ideal, in your current financial position it's not realistic. Sell one of the cars (I think you said he was driving yours anyway :rolleyes:) and you'll save on the insurance too.
When your partner is working again, then you can have a rethink.0 -
Have you contacted the benefits office - although your husband might not be eligible for JSA, if you have no other household income apart from your maternity pay, you may be able to get help towards council tax. Speak to your council & see what they can do.
If your husband can't find work, have you considered going back & leaving your husband at home to look after your child?0
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