Am I mad to want to be a Debt Free Wannabe whilst on income support?

dangers

Once you have recovered from your op, would you consider going back to childminding? If you fill all your places, then as you will be aware, you can earn some serious money. Or do you think it would affect your son too much? I am also a registered c/minder and can earn a decent amount, and I only work before and after school. I also work in a pre-school and my hourly rate there is less than I could earn as a c/minder. Of course, the drawback is if you suddenly 'lose' a child/family and then your hourly rate decreases somewhat.
Good luck with the future.

Kay.Samuels

Thanks everyone for the encouragement, yes my monthly income is actually pretty good (this is due mainly to my son being disabled, I receive DLA and carer's for him, plus extra CTC the 'disability element' so these bump up my benefits somewhat compared to a single mum of one with a child with no health problems - silver lining I suppose) :rolleyes: . This is such a relief as I am literally starting from scratch (I moved on 13th November with clothes and toys only into an empty house) so am buying something for the house each fortnight too a bit at a time and I am slowly getting there. I will get my debts paid off and my house nice and be very proud of myself - these are my new year's resolutions. :T

I would never go back to childminding for a multitude of reasons. :rotfl:I LOVE working with children but would never childmind again (too many reasons to list). Also anyone reading please bear in mind childminding rates vary wildly depending on area and where I live cms rate are VERY low, so not a great earner for me in my neighbourhood.

I do intend on going back to work though , and to working with children, but it won't be to childminding.

Kay.Samuels

Just updating my thread, as I have today paid off the total of my HFC debt (for a laptop I got on credit ages ago - final settlement miles more than orginal cost obviously).

Felt brilliant knowing it is a huge chunk paid off my debt - I feel very proud.

When my debts are all gone I will be trying to never get into debt ever again. Seeing money accumulate in my bank account is so satisfying - I have never got the saving bug before and I am so relieved to feel my outlook on my finances changing.

loulou0327

Well done for paying off some debts Kay, I am also on income support at the moment and trying to clear my debts. The only thing i find difficult is being home all day (used to working and both kids are now at school) but i set myself little challenges to keep me occupied. This month I'm doing the make 10 pound a day challenge so ebaying, mystery shopping and filling in surveys it fills up my day and earns me extra cash too.
About payment meters we are with ebico and we pay less on a meter than when we paid monthly direct debit, there is something about watching the money go down on the meter that makes you go round turning everything off, lol.

Kay.Samuels

Yes I have quite embraced having prepay meters, I am an axious person and in the past have always dreaded the gas and leccy bill, I am on the best prepay tariff and like knowing where I stand. Even my son is getting the energy saving bug, turning lights off as he leaves rooms and turning tv off at the wall.

I find it very boring and empty not working too, especially at the moment while I can't do much physically (still recovering from operation). I have done a lot of decorating, reading, etc. My son takes up time when he is at school even as I have forms to fill in, pushing various authorities and agencies to step up and provide support, etc getting referrals and reports and so on. My house also has never been so clean and tidy! :rotfl:

Kay.Samuels

loulou what survey sites and mystery shopping agencies are you using, I am with grass roots mystery shopping and pinecone research but not done anything with them for ages, had too much else on my mind.

Do you need to declare incomings from these?

carrieon

Hi Kay, I'm a bit late to be posting on here probably, but only just found you.
Yes you can get out of debt while on IS. I have been on JSA for a while now along with my partner we also have a DD age 15.
We get a total of £618 88p a month but we do get our rent and council tax paid. I havn't been in astonomical debt for a very very long time but i have managed to pay off almost all of the debt i did have whilst on JSA.
Its very hard but i sold almost everytying i could do without, clothes i no longer wore, car even a tumble dryer everything that would make me money and if it saved me money in the progress all the better. I did a lot of the challenges here and now only have a debt of £130. So i am very p[leased. Its taken a lot of hard work but its been good and a n awful lot of people on here have given and i've taken a lot of good advice.
So good luck on your personel journey. I will be watching and sending good wishes and hugs to you.

Kay.Samuels

Hi Carrieon thanks for sharing your story with me, you have done brilliantly to pay off so much debt on such a low income! :T

How did your teenager take to it? My son is only 5 and I am looking to the future, wanting my finances a bit more steady, and thankfully as he is young he is easily pleased.

I sold a lot of my belongings to build up a secret stash of money before I left my ex, so don't have a great deal I can sell, but do plan on having a look for things to put on ebay.

I should join a few challenges really, I am new to the forums on MSE and find them a bit daunting!

jennihen

Hi kay - I looked back on your SOA and there was no mention of any chuild support - is that worth pursuing?

Kay.Samuels

Oh yes, maintenance! - I didn't have an agreement in place when wrote my SOA but now receive £10 a week from son's Dad so have £10 more weekly income than my SOA states.