SKY HIGH BILLS !! i CANT AFFORD

dreamz

IVE BEEN BANKRUPT FOR OVER 3 YEARS NOW BECAUSE OF GAS AND ELECTRIE BILLS

this month i got a bill of 231.pounds for gas n electri only covered 4 weeks :mad:
i am on benifits my husband is unemployed so am i been ages handing my c.vs out everywhere for a job cant get one so hard
i cant afford to pay for the bills i keep going overdraft and have to keep paying a overdraft fee which is 25 pound for each overdraft .
i my total income from benifts is only
j.s.a 47 pounds
child benfit 20 pounds
child tax credit 50 pounds

now work it out how can i afford to pay bills like that along with house shopping and other bills
and i got a to buy nappies n food for my baby boy
why is it so hard
sometimes i wish i was dead

sporedude

You should register with employment agencies for jobs, sometimes they may find you temp work

chivers1977

don't want to sound preachy but maybe now is the time to start looking at your usage. Is that an estimated bill or actual readings? If it is estimated, it could be incorrect.... if actual, what has been using so much energy in your household?

KimYeovil

Easy. Stop using so much energy.

You say you have an income of more than £500 per month. Even if your bill was £231 that still leaves you with more than £200 to feed yourself (and nappies) (allowing £70 for tv licence, telephone, and water.)

But you should not be wasting £231 on fuel. Especially not this month. What is it you are wasting all the energy on? Your bill should be under £100.

Instead of wasting your income paying bank charges, stop, think, start acting sanely. Your income of £500 is more than enough to live on. Grow up and stop being wasteful.

adprob

Hi

Contact your energy supplier and ask them about their Social Tariff. For customers who spend in excess of 10% of their income on energy (gas and elec) they can get 20% off their Energy bills. It might not sound like a lot given the increases over the last few years but payin £800 pa instead of £1000 pa is pretty good.

Hope this helps you

dreamz

KimYeovil wrote: »

Easy. Stop using so much energy.

You say you have an income of more than £500 per month. Even if your bill was £231 that still leaves you with more than £200 to feed yourself (and nappies) (allowing £70 for tv licence, telephone, and water.)

But you should not be wasting £231 on fuel. Especially not this month. What is it you are wasting all the energy on? Your bill should be under £100.

Instead of wasting your income paying bank charges, stop, think, start acting sanely. Your income of £500 is more than enough to live on. Grow up and stop being wasteful.

its really hurtful when people dont know the ruff times im going through firstly my heating wasnt working and i froze to death so i had to use an electric heater plus i dont keep the heater on constanly its just so sad that i got a skigh high bill which i dont understand.and ive been searching for jobs like made and im going through stress.

dmg24

Why is your JSA so low - are you both young? Is the JSA claim for both of you, or do you have income from another benefit?

viktory

dreamz wrote: »

its really hurtful when people dont know the ruff times im going through firstly my heating wasnt working and i froze to death so i had to use an electric heater plus i dont keep the heater on constanly its just so sad that i got a skigh high bill which i dont understand.and ive been searching for jobs like made and im going through stress.

Wow, a message from beyond the grave!

dmg24

adprob wrote: »

Hi

Contact your energy supplier and ask them about their Social Tariff. For customers who spend in excess of 10% of their income on energy (gas and elec) they can get 20% off their Energy bills. It might not sound like a lot given the increases over the last few years but payin £800 pa instead of £1000 pa is pretty good.

Hope this helps you

Not all suppliers offer this. It may help the OP if you specify which supplier you refer to (although they may not be allowed to move with outstanding debt).

Magentasue

dreamz: I suggest you contact CAB or similar (check out the Debt Free Wannabe board for suggestions) for advice on how to deal with your finances. You do not have to pay for this advice. Treat this as a matter of urgency and contact your energy supplier telling them that you are doing this.

Ask your supplier if you can set up a payment plan. Do not offer or agree to pay more than you can afford. If you cannot afford to settle this bill, accept their offer of a prepayment meter. I think these are to be avoided when possible, but you're not coping and they would stop you getting into further debt.

Draw up a budget (CAB will help) and stick to it. Put money aside for winter fuel and do not touch it. You'll need it. Look at the Old Style board for advice on how to cut shopping bills. Don't panic but don't give up either - take control and get yourself out of this mess - there is help to do this.

DON79

dreamz wrote: »

IVE BEEN BANKRUPT FOR OVER 3 YEARS NOW BECAUSE OF GAS AND ELECTRIE BILLS

this month i got a bill of 231.pounds for gas n electri only covered 4 weeks :mad:
i am on benifits my husband is unemployed so am i been ages handing my c.vs out everywhere for a job cant get one so hard
i cant afford to pay for the bills i keep going overdraft and have to keep paying a overdraft fee which is 25 pound for each overdraft .
i my total income from benifts is only
j.s.a 47 pounds
child benfit 20 pounds
child tax credit 50 pounds

now work it out how can i afford to pay bills like that along with house shopping and other bills
and i got a to buy nappies n food for my baby boy
why is it so hard
sometimes i wish i was dead

Hi dreamz, just wanted to offer a little support, just keep your chin up and follow the constructive advice from Magentasue who has at least been non judgemental and helpful unlike the some of the other replies!

I too have been on the receiving end of some of the people here who just like to rub salt into the wound when all you are seeking is helpful advice so please ignore them. I suggest if you are looking for help, try popping over to the Bankruptcy board too because at least we can understand what you are going through better and we won't judge or criticise you.

If you are getting lots of charges on your bank account because of an overdraft, I suggest you open a new basic bank account and switch all income and essential bills to that account, then you will be able to make a repayment arrangement for your overdraft at an amount you can afford rather than building up charges and losing more money each month.

You do need to contact your energy supplier to arrange repayments and if they won't budge on the amount, then a prepayment meter will at least let you control how much you put into it and the company will take a little extra back to clear your arrears each time you top it up.

I have two little boys and I know it's not easy worrying about running out of the essentials. If you haven't already, switch to cheaper brands of nappies and wipes etc - I used to use Pampers, then switched to Asda brand and now use Aldi's Mamia brand. Of all three, the mamia have been the most reliable and are good quality, you get a bigger pack too for less money than Pampers/Asda.

Please don't wish that you were dead, your little boy needs you and this situation will get better, just give it time.

Take care. Donna