Job seekers RANT!! (new here)

beccam

SuziQ wrote: »

The amount payable to single people isn't topped up with tax credits though-so the system isn't quite as you are seeing it. Since being out of work I have had to live on far less than you whilst supporting 3 children-1 at Uni-and pay half my £680 per month mortgage,so it can be done. By doing the grocery challenge I have halved my grocery shopping bill.

I understand, its tough on everyone, like I said at the start, its a rant that is me letting off steam about the situation!

What is the grocery challenge and how can I find out about it? These are the sort of helpful posts I need!! Thank you!

To the others who feel the need to belittle my problems and the issues I raise....whatever! Put yourself in my situation then talk about it.

beccam

KimYeovil wrote: »

speechless

Not sure why but not complaining.

Oldernotwiser

beccam wrote: »

Also I don't know what your circumstances are as you have neglected to say but how many people do you know who are 1st time home owners, parents paying for nursery and on ocassion child care (so we can work!) !!

But if your husband's not working, or only working in the evenings, why do you need nursery fees and childcare? If he got 3 months' income as a redundancy payment, wouldn't it have been better to spread this over a longer period rather than to spend it as if he were still working?

beccam

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

But if your husband's not working, or only working in the evenings, why do you need nursery fees and childcare? If he got 3 months' income as a redundancy payment, wouldn't it have been better to spread this over a longer period rather than to spend it as if he were still working?

Nursery is pre-school, works out about £12/week, childminder is on hold unless hub is doing interviews/odd jobs while I'm at work. His redundancy is spread as far as it can go, we never had spare income before as his wage was just over minimum wage to begin with. We've done a few things like going down a brand on shopping (well more like 2 really) and I've started doing meal planner etc and going to different places for shopping rather than just do it all in Tesco to try and get better deals.
His P/T job hasn't started yet so still no extra income.

foxxymynx

*rolls eyes*

If you're moaning about around about a grand a month when your OH can work just has trouble finding a job atm, I also appriciate that you're on sick, but you wanna try being a first time home owner with just your SSP to pay for everything and £20 from IS, because neither person can work. Alot harder - because there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Been there and done that, it as a very hard time.

JSA isn't supposed to be a decent amount of money, if it was people wouldn't want to get a job once they ended up on it.

Have a look around the main site and the forum, see how you can cut back your outgoings to make things easier - at least for a short while. Little things like what you eat, it's "soup season" now, a big pan of broth can last a couple of days and costs a couple of quid to make.

Good luck to your OH in finding a job and I hope that you're feeling better soon.

*edit - sorry - I could have sworn that in your 1st post you said you were off sick atm, my fault - reading it wrong*

beccam

Yeah, I'm off sick at the mo, half pay for me! (just what we need now...not) more so as I don't know when I will be able to return to work so can't budget accordingly.

I've been doing some snopping round the site for tips, some are great, some I have always done...never considered them money saving!! LOL

2 more jobs advertised today that he can apply for, I may be starting another rant soon regarding people never replying to job applications, it surely can't be that hard to set up a standard 'your application has been recieved' email when applying on line??

Thinking I have anger issues.......

Oldernotwiser

beccam wrote: »

Nursery is pre-school, works out about £12/week, childminder is on hold unless hub is doing interviews/odd jobs while I'm at work. His redundancy is spread as far as it can go, we never had spare income before as his wage was just over minimum wage to begin with. We've done a few things like going down a brand on shopping (well more like 2 really) and I've started doing meal planner etc and going to different places for shopping rather than just do it all in Tesco to try and get better deals.
His P/T job hasn't started yet so still no extra income.

£12 isn't insignificant when things are tight and spending redundancy money at the same rate as normal earnings seems like madness to me!

beccam

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

£12 isn't insignificant when things are tight and spending redundancy money at the same rate as normal earnings seems like madness to me!

I know its not insignificant?! Its also compulsory here if shes to get into primary school! (Northern Ireland schooling system)
Like I've said, we're making cuts where we can and have taken on a few other hints and tips I've found here (glad I found this site ) the fact its being spent at (nearly) the same rate is because there was so little excess to begin with!

Oldernotwiser

beccam wrote: »

I know its not insignificant?! Its also compulsory here if shes to get into primary school! (Northern Ireland schooling system)
Like I've said, we're making cuts where we can and have taken on a few other hints and tips I've found here (glad I found this site ) the fact its being spent at (nearly) the same rate is because there was so little excess to begin with!

I think that when you start to live on JSA you'll find out how much spare there really was!

SmileyHappyBeing

beccam wrote: »

But the problem is he is available for work, the job is 15hr/week as a church caretaker, he can do the hours whenever he wants (3hrs/day or 7hrs in one day) it is also only a temporary measure as he will still be actively seeking full time employment. (i.e jobseeking!)

We get £10.45/week in child tax credits and have already rung tax credits people to see if we are now eligible for more, they say they cannot adjust tax credits until he has got his 1st payment from JSA, which we are still waiting on!!

I'm not able to increase my hours although I may have to do some agency work if needs be, at the minute I'm actually off work sick but thats a whole other story and just an extra worry (half pay for me).

I just get very frustrated by the whole system and the fact that £60/week is the same for everyone, a 17yr old living at home with no bills or a father/husband homeowner etc etc.

Sorry I did say it was a rant....no one can reason with me right now!!! (joke)

A 17 year old does not get the same amount, I think 16-18 is one amount, then 18-24 another and then when your 25 it goes up again...

You cant really compare age or situations, as some 17 year olds may have a family/child and not be eligible for the same amount as a 25 year old but have all the same bills etc to pay...