It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

rosieben

Calley, not sure that I can offer any useful advice but just wanted to send <<hugs>> and positive thoughts that things will turn round for you. I'm sure others will be along with advice (I suspect most OS'ers are sleeping at the moment!) but in the meantime don't despair, you've come to exactly the right place for advice.

ceridwen

Calley

Just one point to make - you are NOT - I repeat NOT a "failure to my daughter" - forget that point. You are doing your best for her - stuff has happened that is outwith your control - that does not make YOU a failure. Being a failure means a person who ISNT trying - and you ARE trying.

Right....now we have that little point sorted.:D ...we'll wait for someone to come along who knows better than I do on the financial side and can make suggestions on that front...

Icemaiden

I'm sure that income support isn't right Carly I thought it was about £60 ish a week, I may be wrong check on www.entitledto.co.uk to make sure you are getting the benefits your entitled to, just put your details in and it will tell you. Have you informed tax credits about losing your job?, they seem to be quite good at paying out quickly. What about a crisis loan, I know you have to pay it back but only a small amount from your benefits weekly. I've just seen that your Ex pays you £235 per month, this may be why your not getting very much money from Income support, does he give you this money? It may be worth him paying this direct to the mortgage company so in therory isn't paying it to you, IYKWIM...;)
I'd also post your questions on the benefits board, as the folks over there know loads about this sort of thing:D I'm currently in the same position as you(recently seperated) and its a mine field out there but luckly I still have my job.

Good Luck

Ice
x

ceridwen

Carly

Echo the thought re the benefits board - thats the one specifically for queries like yours.

NB; I have sent a P.M. to a poster who may have more knowledge re this than me - to draw their attention to it.

ceridwen

On a "preparation" front - in case of job troubles or whatever - I think we do need to reiterate the mantra about having enough in savings to live on for 3-6 months if need be. Many people arent in a position to put much - if anything - to one side for savings. But - for those who are - then do do so NOW. The cashflow thing has to be considered if the source of your income swops from one job to another or from a job to benefit money - there may be a break in income flow whilst waiting for things to sort themselves out. When it comes to benefit - there is this initial 3 day period to get through of not receiving any benefit at all. Also mortgage interest doesnt start being paid for some weeks and there are other restrictions that never used to apply back in my time. Regarding your job - work out how much notice you would be entitled to if you lost that job/whether the employer has no option whatsoever but to pay you what you are owed - or whether they are the sort of firm that might go bankrupt owing the staff money/what redundancy money you would be due for if you did lose your job.

Then balance all these factors out to see just what money you would have to hand if the job went. You may have a long notice period/long service in the job and an employer that wont be able to avoid paying you your dues on the one hand - or short notice period/insecure firm/etc. Bear all these factors in mind to work out what savings you need - and see if its at all possible to put some money by for savings.

Another consideration is this ridiculously low figure of capital allowed by the D.W.P. if you have to go onto benefit - £6,000 only - MUCH less than it used to be. Literally decades ago it was £3,000 - and should be a lot more than £6,000 now to have kept pace with inflation - ie its been cut a lot. If you are due for/and will get more redundancy money than that if the job goes - then "spend to save" - i.e. get stocked up with food and other essentials/do essential spending on your home/etc with that money that you would have saved if it hadnt been for that "capital limit".

Different peoples circumstances differ - but do try if you possibly can to have savings - in money form or as money "spent to save".

And....get growing.....all food possible....whenever and wherever you can....

bellaquidsin

Very sound advice ceridwen but unfortunately for many on here it would be locking the stable door when the horse has bolted.

My heart has gone out to those of you in difficulties this past week, elizabunny, Reverbe and Carley to name but some. I do hope you are all able to find your way through your particular minefield.

There are lots of tips on this site to help you, although I'm sure for some of you they must seem like a drop in an ocean. But every little does help, it really does and whatever little bit you can do it will help to make you feel that you are still in control.

For those of you who still have jobs and money coming in during these very uncertain times, please heed ceridwen's advice.

Bella.

the_cat

Carly

Sorry you have lost your job.

The thing that jumps out at me is the situation with your ex OH. It is grossly unfair that he does not contribute to the upkeep of your daughter and whilst I understand completely wanting to keep arrangements civil, getting a fair maintainance sorted out must be your top priority.

If I were you I would copy your post into it's own thread either on the benefits board as suggested or on the Debt Free Wannabee board. More people who are expert in these areas will see it and you will get more help and ideas

mummysaver

Carly, what a horrid situation to land in through no fault of your own. The only thing I can think of on the jobs front is some kind of part time temp Christmas job, I know our local Argos and Boots still have posters up advertising for staff, but obviously things will depend on where you live and what's available.

I would speak to your ex about maintenance for your dd, even if only for a temp period, if the worst came to the worst and the house was repossessed then he'd end up with nothing, so it may be in his interests to pay the whole mortgage for a while.

The IS figure you've been given seems awfully low, should you be able to claim anything else as well? Worth asking on the benefits board, I'm sure that someone there will have far more experience and advice.

Good luck and keep posting and let us know how you and your little girl are getting on. x

mardatha

I seem to recall it isn't where you think it will be.
**********
That will be why I can't find the bl**dy stuff anywhere then eh ! I cant get approvedfoods, worse luck -they take £7,95 delivery to here:eek:
Thanks to all who replied. Not sure how much to get, just felt that if you're going to have a store then milk is one of the first things you should have in it. The cartons of UHT take up a lot of room and dont have an indefinite shelf life, I thought maybe dried would store for longer.
The weather up here is north pole stuff today & I'm in arctic survival mode. just need to go and find a penguin for dinner... :rolleyes:

mummysaver

Mardatha - dried milk in our little tesco used to be near the milkshake mixes, don't know if this will help you locate it! Unsurprisingly I have dried milk in my stores lol! I have 8 litres of UHT (constantly used and replenished cos I make a LOT of yoghurt), and a big tub of powdered milk plus 2 packs of it that I got the other day from AF.

I was chatting to my friend the other day and she said if we have power cuts she's moving in with me, I have an almost full tank of gas, enough food to face Armageddon, candles and I've just found my wind up radio!

Oh and before I forget, yesterday I got Maxwell House small jars of coffee for 50p and anchor butter for 50p in Mr T's. Given the current competition between shops, I'm surprised I haven't seen ads for these items, though I might have missed them! Then again I work for Mr T and still hadn't noticed!