At my wits end and don't know what to do

brokemedic

Also you might be entitled to some money from the hardship fund that most uni's have once you become a student - if you decide to proceed. They demand to see a lot of financial information but I think the hard work is worth it.. Think you can claim up to £3000 but am not sure how they figure it all out.

Might be some more info on the student thread on here..

Good luck!!

cherrypie556

Thanks medic I didn't know that!

I know I need to speak to the financial advisor at uni but it's the same old situation, no car to get there and no money for the train. What a mess. Does anyone know where we stand on getting job seekers allowance? Will we be able to claim it until dh gets a 'proper' job?

whitewing

Why can't you go in DH's van?

cherrypie556

no one to have the kids and they won't fit in. Plus it's running on fumes lol

moneymakestheworldgoround

Hi cherrypie

There seems to be several problems all mixed up here, so lets try to break them down.

1) Immediate problem of lack of food, petrol, services etc...
2) Short term cash flow
3) Long term cash flow and sporadic income from DH
4) Au Pair
5) Getting all the right benefits/ bursaries/ financial help

Think thats it

So, first things first - number 1. Can you list what you have in the cupboards and freezer and people can advise you how many meals you can make? Do you have any vouchers etc.. you can redeem? Any friends or family you could borrow food from? Any allotments nearby you could try and get some veg etc from in return for helping them? Any wonderful MSers who live nearby who could offer you surplus food items ?

Number 2 - what does your DH do? How long has he been doing it? Why lack of work? etc.....

Number 3 - do you work from home at all, surveys, mystery shopping, avon, body shop, etc.. Have you looked through the up your income forum for inspiration? Have you posted up your SOA so people can see if you can cut back spending in some areas?

Number 4 - can you definitely definitely definitely pay your au pair? It isnt fair to still bring them on board if you cannot pay wages. I think you will also have to move upstairs in the meantime - put your excuses aside and bite the bullet !

Number 5 - this may take the longest, but it will be the most productive. Search the internet and this site and the online calculators etc.. and see exactly what you are entitled too. I would assume your DH could get JSA but if you dont work then the WTC would stop. I think you need to sit down with a huge scribble pad and a pencil and make notes !

Good luck with the course - I think you can see light at the end of this long tunnel, so stick with it and it will get easier !

welshgirl78

I have no advice but want to say that was a fabulous post moneymakestheworldgoround - Please listen cherrypie, break it down, and know that everyone is here to support you x

moneymakestheworldgoround

Thank you welshgirl.

Now, if I could only take my own advice ......

slummymummyof3

Child tax credits - whether you are using an au pair or a different form of childcare is irrelevent, I don't think you are entitled to childcare help as you will be a student and not effectively working 16 hours or more in order to claim the benefit (even though you will be doing a work based placement - this does not count.) Once you start at the hospital on placement, you might be able to get some shifts as a bank HCA.

Be careful with regards to the loft conversion and building regs!!!!

Look on the notice boards at uni to buy the text books second hand from previous students.

Notify council tax that you are a student to get 25% reduction.

Look at getting a student bank account - generally tend to give you £50 as a sweetner and interest free overdraft during your training.

Ames

Would the CT discount still apply if there's an au pair living there?

cherrypie556

moneymakestheworldgoround wrote: »

Hi cherrypie

There seems to be several problems all mixed up here, so lets try to break them down.

1) Immediate problem of lack of food, petrol, services etc...
2) Short term cash flow
3) Long term cash flow and sporadic income from DH
4) Au Pair
5) Getting all the right benefits/ bursaries/ financial help

Think thats it

So, first things first - number 1. Can you list what you have in the cupboards and freezer and people can advise you how many meals you can make? Do you have any vouchers etc.. you can redeem? Any friends or family you could borrow food from? Any allotments nearby you could try and get some veg etc from in return for helping them? Any wonderful MSers who live nearby who could offer you surplus food items ?

Number 2 - what does your DH do? How long has he been doing it? Why lack of work? etc.....

Number 3 - do you work from home at all, surveys, mystery shopping, avon, body shop, etc.. Have you looked through the up your income forum for inspiration? Have you posted up your SOA so people can see if you can cut back spending in some areas?

Number 4 - can you definitely definitely definitely pay your au pair? It isnt fair to still bring them on board if you cannot pay wages. I think you will also have to move upstairs in the meantime - put your excuses aside and bite the bullet !

Number 5 - this may take the longest, but it will be the most productive. Search the internet and this site and the online calculators etc.. and see exactly what you are entitled too. I would assume your DH could get JSA but if you dont work then the WTC would stop. I think you need to sit down with a huge scribble pad and a pencil and make notes !

Good luck with the course - I think you can see light at the end of this long tunnel, so stick with it and it will get easier !

Thanks. We have enough food to keep us going for now i think, will just have to stop the kids grazing so much during the day. I used to do the bodyshop at home but stopped due to not getting any parties and i do all the survey sites i can and use cashback sites when i can. DH is a handyman, he goes through stages of having too much work to having daft little jobs that only pay £20 or so. As regards to the au-pair we will have to find the money from some where as have no other choice as no one else to have the kids and there is no way on this earth i am not going to uni, i might never get another chance at midwiferey as it is one of the most competitive and hardest courses to get onto, something which most don't realise. As for moving upstairs, if we have to we have to. DH is plastering the loft this weekend. There is no bed and no carpets, carpets can live without for now but don't know about a bed for her. I have been asking weekly on freecycle for the past 5 weeks to no avail!


As to the other poster that asked about childcare costs, I cannot get any help off tax credits as like you say i would need to be working 16hrs or more but the bursary you get through uni does have a childcare element included which we would qualify for but it is up to a maximum of £182 a week, for 2 or more children. I could have 10 kids but that is the most we would get. Nursery is £522 a week so even with the £182 deducted still a huge amount to find. Have looked at childminders but there aren't any local that have spaces. it would mean having to go to 3 different childminders which i physically cannot do, plus they charge £20-25 a day per kid, so in the hols its still going to be a min of £80 a day. The au-pair is £70 a week. Due to the nature of my course, i do not get school hols off so need childcare for them, also i will be working 12 hr shifts and have up to 4 assignments ata atime to complete so going on the bank system probs isn't viable. TBH