Ok, so hubbys hours are cut to half by employer and we have 100 month for food!

Mumolulu

I really need some guidance here please folks.

My husband doesn't earn a brilliant wage for what he does. Works in the furniture trade: recession = customers skint = not buying furniture = no orders for company = hours cut down etc......

So basically his wage has been cut in half. I'm not sure if they can legally do this but thats another thread.

We have sat down tonight, and realised that after all our bills are paid, and money put aside for petrol (to and from our works) we have £100 approximately per month for everything else, food for 4 of us, cleaning stuff, nappies, and the dreaded remaining xmas presents we have left to get.

How on earth are we supposed to live on £25 per week for all the above? My usual shopping bill is approx £60, some weeks I've done it cheaper, one week I managed £30 something, but seriously now, I need some suggestions please.

We are in a bit of a mess now, luckily we have no debt, we run just one car and I have done a lot of xmas shopping already, boys are done apart from a present for our eldest, and my family are all having very cheap presents anyway.

We never go out, especially not now, we don't have treats etc so apart from our 'free broadband' :rolleyes: , there is no other way we can actually cut down our outgoings.

I have a piano I can sell and have a lot of stuff that I can put on ebay, but seriously, has anyone got any suggestions as to how on earth we can live.

Oh, and employer has said this will be till at least January, so perfect timing of course. :mad:

Oh, and tax credits, well, what a effing waste of time, apparantley our money will go down.

£25 per week on food and everything else for 4 of us.
Suggestions gratefully received

AnnieM_3

Just a thought...

Will your husband still have to work the same number of days, just with shorter hours? Can he bunch his hours into less days to save on petrol?

McKneff

I'm sure you should be able to claim some benefits especially income support
i dont know much about the subject but i just didnt want to read and run.
Someone with far more knowledge than me will be along soon to point you in the right direction.

You sound pretty focused and on top of things so dont worry too much

Good luck and best wishes to you.

Mumolulu

AnnieM wrote: »

Just a thought...

Will your husband still have to work the same number of days, just with shorter hours? Can he bunch his hours into less days to save on petrol?

Thanks, I should have explained myself, instead of working 5 days, they are now working 2.5, so monday to weds.

Thanks for your response though.
:beer:

SDH

could he not get a 2nd part time job - royal mail always want extra staff etc in the run up to christmas?

Lillibet_2

So a temporary Christmas job would appear to be the immediate short term solution? Many shops are looking right NOW! and also offer staff discount & incentives, so think where you spend the most money & start making enquiries.
Other than that, get over to the old style baord for lots of food shopping help.

Good luck;)

southernscouser

Check out www.entitledto.co.uk

It's not concrete but it should give you some indication to what you might be able to get.

daveyjp

Rather than mess about with tax credits and benefits better to get hubby into another job. Supermarkets always need staff.

shirlgirl2004

I 2nd that a part-time job might be part of the solution.

How old is the child in nappies? Is it possible to start potty training now? It's amazing how early they can pick it up if encouraged. Alternatively could you put a request on Freecycle for some cloth nappies?

I'm sure you know you don't really need lots of cleaning products we just get sucked into buying them.

£25 a week for 4 isn't a lot but I'm sure it could be doable. You also sound as though you've got ideas to pull together some money.

I hope you manage to get through this without too much pain.

Shirl

ems2

Just wondering what he does "in the furniture trade" if he makes it, could he make things @ home and sell at markets or ebay? Birdhouses, stools, tv cabinets etc things that might not need much space to make. Good Luck!

Mumolulu

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

I 2nd that a part-time job might be part of the solution.

How old is the child in nappies? Is it possible to start potty training now? It's amazing how early they can pick it up if encouraged. Alternatively could you put a request on Freecycle for some cloth nappies?

I'm sure you know you don't really need lots of cleaning products we just get sucked into buying them.

£25 a week for 4 isn't a lot but I'm sure it could be doable. You also sound as though you've got ideas to pull together some money.

I hope you manage to get through this without too much pain.

Shirl

freecycle suggestion is actually very good, not thought of that, bubba is 18mths, so we still need them as he really isn't ready yet. The only cleaning products I buy are:
fairy liquid
toothpaste
toilet roll
bin bags
shampoo etc
soap
bleach
cloths/sponges for pots

As far as I can recall that is it!!! Odd cleaner for the bathroom on top but I am not a spray happy mummy etc, I don't buy kitchen roll either, as come on, what the HELL is the point in that lol!!!

I agree it can certainly be 'doable' to a certain extent, but not to hubbys satisfaction as he won't really eat potatoes:mad: ( he thinks....)
Just on the old style board reading the meals for 50p.......:rotfl: