May benefit challenge - not going to make it

Emmzi

Folks,

inspired by Sammy 115's amazing ability to live on very little, I'm going to give the 'benefits' challenge a go for May.

If I were on JSA I'd get £52 a week, of which...

BT £35 (inc. broadband)
Leccy and gas £45
Insurance £27

= £107 per month.

52 x 4 = 228

So I'd have £121 for groceries, travel, going out...

(I'm ignoring rent/ mortgage and council tax, assuming council and housing tax benefit here. That might be a bit lenient but it's only month one!)

So before the start of May, I need to work out my budget.

Help!! This is gooing to be tough. But *if* it works, *and* I can do it for 4 months, *and* my new contract til end of August comes through, I could pay off my car loan 4 months early.. gotta be worth a go!!

Already though I need to include £8 site fees for camping weekend. That's 2 whole days money!

Is it cheating to live out of the store cupboard for a week?? And empty the piggy bank? Yes.. probably.

tina68

Hi Emmzi
I get £57.65 on jsa so allow yourself a little bit more
Tina x

Emmzi

Thanks Tina - was looking at an old web page! So I get £141 for the month. Good thing I have a Lidl in walking distance. Bad thing I'm addicted to their choccy biccies.

jesster_2

I reckon you can do it Emmzi. I allow myself £120 a month for food, fun and petrol. I'm lucky that i don't have to use my car much, obviously! But you can do it.

And don't worry about whether it's cheating to empty the piggy bank. If i'm short I shake out the sofa cushions. You'd be surprised

fizzel81

goodluck with the challenge keep us updated on how you are getting on with it

earwig

hi good luck with it but you have to rember that out of your 141 you would have to pay water rates as well as benifits dont cover this but you would get free scripts eye test and dental care so if you need any of this in your months challange dont take it from your 141

r.mac_2

there is a thread on old style which discusses eating on an allowance of £12.50 per person per week and i have to say that it is do-able. plan your meals and use your store cupboard. there is also a thread on OS called the Store cupboard challenge where you try and live out of your storecupboard with minimal extra shopping. it's not cheating at all.

I think you can do it with careful planning. Keep up updated with your progress x

Emmzi

Well if I'm allowed to use my storecupboard we I might be ok :-) My mother always kept her stuffed in case of rationing and I'm a bit of a hoarder myself as a result!

However I won't cheat and do a huge shop this weekend, that'd just be taking the mickey.

Thanks for the support!

Rikki

earwig wrote:

hi good luck with it but you have to rember that out of your 141 you would have to pay water rates as well as benifits dont cover this but you would get free scripts eye test and dental care so if you need any of this in your months challange dont take it from your 141

I believe you can still get free eye tests on IS, but unless you are registered or can register with a NHS dentist you will have to pay for private treatment.

Emmzi

Luckily no problem getting NHS dentist up here! Seems to be a regular influx of just-quaifieds at my local centre... all new and bouncy, but well capable of prodding my teeth with the spikey thing to see if I need fillings!

r.mac_2

Rikki wrote:

I believe you can still get free eye tests on IS, but unless you are registered or can register with a NHS dentist you will have to pay for private treatment.

I believe that if you live in scotland everyone is now entitled to a free eye test regardless of financial circumstance or age.

HTH