How can we survive on benefits????

seven-day-weekend

If you have room, a lodger can really help.

Fran

Lovaabargain wrote:

it's just that things like mortgage ( we don't have mortgage protection), council tax, water rates, gas, electric, loans (from dh's business) are well in excess of £239 & that's before allowing for food & other essentials for the children.

I'm just hoping that the house sells quickly so that we can pay everything we owe!

It sounds like the loans (and other debt?) are taking a lot of your money, perhaps you need to seek advice from CAB or Debt help centres.

Can't_Get_Straight

If your husband gets JSA (which I am surprised at, as you are working and usually it should be wages + working tax credit, not JSA) you should get Council Tax relief, so you will just have to economise for your mortgage and your bills, groceries etc.

Check that you are on the right benefit sooner rather than later, or they will make you pay it back.

Can you not arrange a freeze on your mortgage temporarily or a break as they call it ?

peter999

Don't make any rash decisions, as they could cost more in the end.

When you sell house, where are you going to live ??
Costs of moving/setting up home elsewhere can add up.

You soon realise you can't spend £10 here, £50-£100 there, on things you took for granted if you have no income to replace.

Look at non essentials immediately, as you don't want to realise things are getting out of control when large credit card bills start appearing in 1-2 months.

I'm sure Martin Lewis must have some good advice on this website about steps to take.

Lovaabargain

I currently only work 8 hours per week in a school, I am increasing this in September as ds4 will be in full time school.

We plan to move to the north of England, initially staying with my parents while we sort ourselves out.

Am hoping that the bank will freeze the mortgage & 2 of the co. loans until we can sell up & pay them back- we should get a decision next week.

I have cancelled all the non-essential direct debits i.e. charity donations, life insurance policies etc. Our sky will be cancelled in Oct - can't cancel it before as it's less than 12 months since we took out the contract & when I spoke to them they said they would still bill us until the 12 mth period is up.

Black Saturn I had a look at your thread - thanks for posting that but I can see some differences as liney pointed out, there are 6 of us & I have a mortgage of over £1700 per month my council tax is £189 per month & all my utilities are higher, although I spend the same on groceries as you.

Can't take in a lodger as we don't have the extra space - good idea though!

I have phoned the EMA again & they will not make any allowances for our current situation- we will have to wait & re-apply next year.


I don't smoke, dh does but he is using tobacco that a friend brought him back from his holiday once it's gone he won't be smoking either!

We are doing a car boot tomorrow, hopefully the weather will be good & we will get lots sold - ideal time to de-clutter the house!

Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions & comments, I really appreciate all the advice.

Becles

Have a look at the Old Style board to reduce your food and cleaning costs.

Go to uswitch.com and make sure you are on the cheapest utilities.

Stop any luxuries like Sky TV, take-away meals, drinking etc.

Contact all the people who you owe money too. Send a letter detailing your income and outgoings, showing that you cannot afford the current repayments, but you will repay them when the house sells. They may freeze interest or allow reduced payments. If they know they money will be coming shortly, they may be more flexible.

Clean like you've never cleaned before! Make the house is spotlessly clean. Even if they don't like your taste in decor, buyers are very impressed with cleanliness. My old house was in a hard to sell area, but one of the reasons it was picked out of 3 others the buyer was looking at, was because it was absolutely spotless inside.

Good luck!

black-saturn

Lovaabargain wrote:

Black Saturn I had a look at your thread - thanks for posting that but I can see some differences as liney pointed out, there are 6 of us & I have a mortgage of over £1700 per month my council tax is £189 per month & all my utilities are higher, although I spend the same on groceries as you.

You might have to forget the mortgage for a bit by ringing the bank and explaining whats happened. See if they will give you a payment break or agree to pay more once your husband is back in work.

I see that there are 6 of you but the benefits office will take that into account.

Spendless

Lovaabargain wrote:

I currently only work 8 hours per week in a school, I am increasing this in September as ds4 will be in full time school.

We plan to move to the north of England, initially staying with my parents while we sort ourselves out.

I have a mortgage of over £1700 per month my council tax is £189 per month &
I don't smoke, dh does but he is using tobacco that a friend brought him back from his holiday once it's gone he won't be smoking either!

I couldn't work out yesterday whether you were going onto IS or WTC but with only one of you working less than 16 hours I think it must be IS. Have a play about with figures on this site www.entitledto.co.uk I'd also suggest taking a trip to somewhere like CAB and ask if you would be better off taking a job 16 hours plus a week and claiming WTC. Normally I would say grit your teeth and manage for a month and hang on for the school job, especially since you have 4 kids, but since you are selling up and moving away you will eventually be leaving the job anyway. £1700 a month on a mortgage:eek: . No wonder you are struggling. Have you talked to mortgage company about current circs to see if they will allow you to pay a nominal amount or take a 'mortgage break' whilst you try to sell.

mishkanorman

Your mortgage is enormous !! :eek:

unfortunately they dont take into account outgoings when they calculate benefit support, only what is deemed enough to prevent poverty, my family could survive on the figure you gave.

My husband earns less than the amount you would receive monthly from a full time job, i dont work at the moment, and we only have 2 children (+ 4 cats that eat like they havent been fed all week !! ) but we are lucky to have one mortage and one loan, so although we wont ever be rich we can cope !

Good luck with the house sale,


mishka

xmaslolly76

[
I have cancelled all the non-essential direct debits i.e. charity donations, life insurance policies etc. Our sky will be cancelled in Oct - can't cancel it before as it's less than 12 months since we took out the contract & when I spoke to them they said they would still bill us until the 12 mth period is up.



IQUOTE]

Try calling sky again my inlaws managed to get there account frozen for 12 months they had to reinstate after this length of time or pay for the box but it will give you some more breathing space if they will allow you to do it? hope it all works out for you :-)