Fed up and skint!

reeceem08

Hey all
I dont have a job and i got my cavity walls and my loft insulated for free but that does not mean i am a lazy so and so it means that i get carers allowance because i have a 6 year old son with a disability and i gave up a well paid job to care for him and my husband works damn hard to pay our 650 mortgage every month( he earns 17k )and i would give anything and i mean anything for my son not to have his disability!
Some people are quick to criticise but they should realise how fortunate they really are!

Horace

Damian_Evans wrote: »

I have a lot less than that a week Bonnie! I bet your outgoings are not what mine are? You must get the roof over your head paid for by the state, or live with mummy and daddy! Also, which bit of the country do you live in? I am in the south, it's expensive. If you live in the North, then your cost of living is less than mine anyway.

Perhaps you would be better posting on the Debt Free Wannabe board instead of this one which is purely about benefits.

As you are new there is no need to be rude about people claiming benefits or living with their parents. For information its expensive everywhere - Birmingham is just as expensive as London - I know because I go to London regularly.

You obviously have a problem with making your money stretch which is why I suggested the DFW board and perhaps the Moneysaving Oldstyle will be of assistance too.

Try getting JSA at £60.50 per week and getting £372 in Housing Benefit towards a rent of £525 a month plus all bills - it doesnt leave you with a lot. No I don't live with my parents, I am not married, I do not have a cat, I do not have expensive holidays and I do live within my means.

So go over to the DFW board and post your Statement of Affairs otherwise known as an SOA https://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html - then you can see what your real debt is and how much you owe. The good people on there may even suggest ways of cutting corners and trimming your debts and helping you to live within your means.

Please don't troll - its not nice and its not necessary.

Damian_Evans

trogen3 wrote: »

Hi just to let you know its not all milk and honey living on benefits. I live on £60 a week job seekers and I may get my rent paid and my council tax but I still have to feed my pre pay meters pay other commitments and pay my water bill no help with that hopefully going back to work soon benfits stops no run on benefits not out of work 26 weeks dont know how I am going to cope for the first month wont have money for bus fares. I am going back to work earning less then you and I am surporting my son at universty no help from my ex husband I get no money for my son no tax credits . I carry what little shopping I can afford home never had a car you can live with out one.
We are not all idle scroungers living on beniefits. I worked full time at my local hospital caring for people with cancer my take home pay was £800 a month I was the wage earner unitl I became ill you need to look at your udget.

Hi.

Sorry if it sounded like I was tarring all people on the dole with the same brush. I just find it unacceptable that I and millions of others have to WORK for our money, and everything else. Anyway, I have shopped around for EVERYTHING, and saved waht I can. My budget is trimmed as much as poss. The thing is, when there is no more movement, when bills go up it's not like you can shop around for a better deal if you currently HAVE the best deal.

I do applaud you for what you have done, and are trying to do.

judy2357

I think you need to focus on how you can make things a little easier on yourself and not worry about how other people manage. I know from experience lack of finances can make you stressed but there are always people worse off so forget about everyone else and concentrate on improving things for you and your family. I have been in a similar situation as you for many years while my children were growing up. Maybe when the baby is born your wife could consider working a few hours in the evening while you look after the children. This was how we managed, I was an office cleaner in the evenings for a couple of hours and a registered childminder during the day. Its hard but better than losing your home.

However in the meantime you will have to look at your finances and people here on this website will be able to make suggestions to help. Just a suggestion but could you extend your mortgage to lower the payments a little?

bonnie_2

I do live an hour from london and my rent is £91 a week and yes we pay for it ourselves. My hubby is losing his job in october, so think yourself lucky that you have one.
I also have 3 kids to support one who is disabled.
Life is about paying bills, its not supposed to be a spending fest and going out all the time.
Welcome to life.

judy2357

Sorry didnt mean to post twice

Damian_Evans

subsoniccoyote wrote: »

No need to be sarcastic. If it's cheaper to live in the north why not move?

Why not try going on the the other boards for advice on saving money on your outgoings rather than moan about those receiving benefits. This is not the reason for the boards being here.

Not being sarcastic, just stating the truth.

And do you know how much it costs to move??

Horace wrote:

Perhaps you would be better posting on the Debt Free Wannabe board instead of this one which is purely about benefits.

As you are new there is no need to be rude about people claiming benefits or living with their parents. For information its expensive everywhere - Birmingham is just as expensive as London - I know because I go to London regularly.

You obviously have a problem with making your money stretch which is why I suggested the DFW board and perhaps the Moneysaving Oldstyle will be of assistance too.

Try getting JSA at £60.50 per week and getting £372 in Housing Benefit towards a rent of £525 a month plus all bills - it doesnt leave you with a lot. No I don't live with my parents, I am not married, I do not have a cat, I do not have expensive holidays and I do live within my means.

So go over to the DFW board and post your Statement of Affairs otherwise known as an SOA www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html - then you can see what your real debt is and how much you owe. The good people on there may even suggest ways of cutting corners and trimming your debts and helping you to live within your means.

Please don't troll - its not nice and its not necessary.

I posted on this board for advice. Debt free would be great, but realistically, not possible. I have saved as much as possible by shopping around, believe me! I don't have loans or credit card debts, except a cash back card that I use for food and petrol, which I pay off straight away.

reeceem08

Everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment i am permanently looking for ways to save money where i can!

bonnie_2

Post your soa and we'll tell you where your going wrong and what to change.

Damian_Evans

bonnie wrote: »

I do live an hour from london and my rent is £91 a week and yes we pay for it ourselves. My hubby is losing his job in october, so think yourself lucky that you have one.
I also have 3 kids to support one who is disabled.
Life is about paying bills, its not supposed to be a spending fest and going out all the time.
Welcome to life.

Sorry to hear your hubby is losing his job.

I am fully aware that life is not a spending fest....I cannot remember the last time I bought anything for myself or our house! And it is supposed to be people spending money on th high street that keep the economy going....

Judy2357 wrote:

Maybe when the baby is born your wife could consider working a few hours in the evening while you look after the children. This was how we managed, I was an office cleaner in the evenings for a couple of hours and a registered childminder during the day.

Hi Judy,

As previously said, whatever extra is earnt, either by me or my wife, affects the child tax credit we get. By the time the income tax and NI is taken off, then child tax credit adjusted the following year due to the increased gross income, having a cleaning job at minimum wage is virtually worthless.