Not Quite Rock bottom

Travelqueen

You could try looking on gumtree.com for work in your local area, there is often stuff on there

As you are a student you should be able to claim back any tax you get on income as well

Can you offer your skills out to someone, tutoring for example?

I would also suggest you go in and talk to the bank about your situation and see if they won't be a bit more flexible

good luck!

redsquirrel80

sammy115 wrote: »

£60 is NOT enough for food

For one person? I'm assuming it's for one person unless I've missed something.. and if it is, then it is perfectly do-able. A spending diary is a great idea though as it is easy to underestimate and miss out all those little bits and pieces that you pick up outside the weekly shop.

Good luck Mupeteer, you will get through this x

happydavid

Hi,

Have you checked to see if you can obtain a hardship grant from your college? Most educational establishments have them to help struggling students.

Hope this is a bit of help.

David

RAS

Mupeteer

Couple of queries

1. if you are on a course, what year are you in? How long to go before you finish?

2. have you spoken to your student welfare advisor, student's Union advisor about your situation.

3. are you one or two bedroom? Could you get someone as a lodger, preferably another student?

doodledo_2

I think from your SOA and your situation you really need to talk to one of the free debt charities and see what options are available.

Hope you get something sorted soon.

Mupeteer

Thanks everyone. Let me try to answer a few points that have been made:

The £60 for food is just for me and I tend to make large batches of things like chilli and then freeze them so I reckon it is about right.

I have started my spending diary again just to be sure of my exact expenditure (and to scare me into not spending on daft stuff).

I am looking for a job just now, constantly checking with recruitment agencies, job centre etc.

I'm in my 3rd year of my course and have a year and a half to go. As it's teaching I'm thankfully guaranteed a year of work after graduation.

I only have a one bedroom flat so no lodger possible.

I will look out all my paperwork tomorrow and check how much things like my car repairs and insurance are costing so I'll update my SOA then.

I've just sent an email to my uni asking for an appointment this week with the student finance advisor so hopefully I'll get a response from there soon.

I'm now off to read up on reclaiming bank charges under the hardship rules.

In some ways this may have been the best thing to happen to me as it's made me face up to what a total state I'm in and I'm already feeling a bit better about it because I'm taking steps to improve it.

angryand_worried

Mupeteer,

I am new to this forum, found through a link whilst trying to find out information about a situation I find myself in. I have found the kindness and thoughts of others on the board today to be most helpful and supportive, whilst I can't advise you on your problem, I just want to offer you my hope that things may get better soon for you.

Mupeteer

angryand_worried wrote: »

Mupeteer,

I am new to this forum, found through a link whilst trying to find out information about a situation I find myself in. I have found the kindness and thoughts of others on the board today to be most helpful and supportive, whilst I can't advise you on your problem, I just want to offer you my hope that things may get better soon for you.

:A

Thanks for that. If we can be of any help to you we will. Whatever your situation is, good luck.

RAS

Mupeteer wrote: »

I am looking for a job just now, constantly checking with recruitment agencies, job centre etc.

Great. Also see if there are any shifts in places like supermarkets and pubs over Christmas

I'm in my 3rd year of my course and have a year and a half to go. As it's teaching I'm thankfully guaranteed a year of work after graduation.

if the worst came to the worst, could you take a year out at the end of this year to sort your finances a bit and then go back the following September?

I only have a one bedroom flat so no lodger possible.

Rats

I've just sent an email to my uni asking for an appointment this week with the student finance advisor so hopefully I'll get a response from there soon.

Really glad. Are you north or south of the border? There should be hardship funds and also loans. They generally require you to have taken your full student loan entitlement before they will help.

I'm now off to read up on reclaiming bank charges under the hardship rules.

In addtions to the bank charges, any late charges on credit cards, loans? They are not halted by the class action. And any PPI on anything?
Remember you can reclaim on old acoutns going back 6 years, even if they are closed.

other thoughts.

if you do to stay local in the summer, can you let out your house? Can you houseswap for a holiday?

gettingsorted

Hi
Seeing as you are in your third year of your teaching degree you are now allowed to work as a supply teacher. It would be worth looking into this as you can earn £80 p/d.
Good luck x