How to make up the difference between benefits and bills

Worked till in my 50's (just) no debts, no mortgage, and as yet no job.

No emergency savings?

The difficulty is when you suddenly find yourself on such a limited income, especially when you've been used for years to an income that meant you didn't need to pay that close attention to your budget is that you suddenly find yourself having to deal with the fact that every single pound counts and you need to plan everything to the penny.

Keeping £5 for some petrol or bus fare so you can go to an interview should be a priority, anything that can help in getting a job and getting out of that situation. That is the whole point of the low JSA.

The problem is deciding whether to get rid of the higher costs on the basis of whether the lack of job is going to be short term, in which case, getting rid of the car, downsizing to a small property etc... are going to incur more costs than gain, along the fact that it is hard to get rid of things you've worked hard to get, against accepting that a job might not be forthcoming in the near future and reducing outgoings becomes a priority.

I also always wonder why many people seem to have lost all support from friends and family in this situation? I would certainly hope that if I suddenly found myself without a job (and husband!), I would be able to rely on friends/family to loan me £5 if it meant being able to to go an interview.

some disjointed thoughts

If your wife is receiving standard rate care PIP it seems unlikley that she needs so mcuh care that you're not able to work? (I know that's a leap of faith in teh system but standard rate PIP daily living doesn't equate to needing full time daily care).

The issue of pets is a difficult one, they are part of the family and have many benefits to the family, but they do undeniably cost money. I don't claim income related benefits only PIP but woudln't get rid of my dogs if I did, I would though need to fund their keep by not spending on things for myself, as I do now when it's money that I've earned.

with regard pets and renting, although most adverts don't say that they allow pets, or explicitly say no pets, which appears the default position, you'll lkely find that if you discuss with the landlord most will allow pets provided you as the tenant take responsibility for htem. My landlord of five years says he's more concerned about the houses he rents to folk with children than dogs.

a sixth former in college 4 days a week has plenty of time to work even if just an evening a week - many university students on intensive full time courses work, I paid my way through uni working every weekend. It's a good start to having a strong work ethic.

It would do your older son a favour really if you asked him to contribute a sensible amount to the family budget, only askign for a token amount means that he will be used to having the majority of his wages to spend as he wishes, rather than needing to budget for rent, food, utilities. Which will make it very hard to move on to independence. A conversation with one of our departmental apprentices comes to mind, she was saving all but £10 of her (low) wages each week, had accumulated a reasonable deposit for a house, and couldn't understand why I couldn't do the same ... she paid no rent, no utilities, her parents fed her, she ran her mum's car and her boyfriend paid for all nights out, it came as a rude awakening when she tried to use the deposit she'd saved to get a mortgage.

rockingbilly wrote: »

Seriously you would feel nothing by asking?

I know I wouldn't, in fact I have never asked anybody for anything in my life. And believe me I have been skint when I was a lot younger. It was because I have been there that I worked twice as hard to get away from it and never experience it again. The fewer people that know about my problems if I had any the better it would be. Maybe I have self respect?

Feel what? Embarrassed? Well even if I was, I would still rather feel embarrassed but able to go to a job interview than giving up a chance of a job, being able to get off benefits, and being able to repay the £5 and invite my friend for dinner to say thank you after I have the job. That's much evidence of self-respect and respect to the friend than feeling sorry for yourself for not being able to go to an interview and remaining on benefits even longer.