We need some advice!

MirjamL

I didn't know where to post this exactly, so if this is the wrong place...sorry...
Anyway. I am crying my eyes out because i just realized that we are so screwed (sorry for the expression). But few months ago, my partner had to take advance from his employer, which means he get less now for few months. So we could move into our own rented flat. Luckily we don't have any kids, just the two of us. Here's what's troubling me. Next month (to be exact, next friday), income 700. And outgoing money: rent- 600; council- 115 or something like that; tv license - 30; water/gas/electricity about 100; phones/internet/tv - 60; transport to work for him - 70. I am unemployed (looking for a job). So outgoing money clearly over the income. and i don't know what to do. we don't have even money for food... i can't get benefits, because we are relatively new to uk and i haven't worked here, so they propably won't give me any benefits. i am just crying here and don't know what to do.... how to survive.... i am not going to even talk about loans we should be paying back to friends and family... they can wait. can someone please help?i don't know what to do any more :S

bottleofred

Hi Mirjam and sorry to hear about your trouble,

I think you should contact your local citizens advice and see what they can advise. You should also consider posting your statement of affairs so we can have a look at it http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html
I'm not sure what else to suggest, but hope someone will come along with more advice/suggestions soon and that you get sorted.

eyeopener2

Have you asked about benefits or are you just assuming you won't get any? Isn't it worth finding out for sure?

HappyMJ

Probably not entitled does not mean not entitled. So apply for Housing Benefit for the Rent, Council Tax Benefit for the Council Tax, switch the TV licence to quarterly in advance it's only £37.63 every 3 months rather than £30 per month. Skip a month on the elec/gas payments if possible. Don't pay the water bill for the moment. Don't pay the mobile/internet or TV subscriptions and you'll have your money for food. Once the pay packet resumes it's normal amount then you can start paying them all again.

eyeopener2

Good point that Happy MJ.

Cancel the internet ,TV, phone , direct debit. You dont need it but you need to eat. Don't pay your tv licence until your sorted and if necessary get rid of your tv until your back on your feet. You need to eat.

cyclura

As the others have said you can live without the luxuries, we are proof of that, I have no TV here or sky etc our only luxury is the internet and that is only because it is part of my business.

Don't pay the non essentials this month, they will only send you reds next month and you can catch up next pay day, we have been there.

Most importantly do not let it stress you, its no good for your health.

Do you have anything you can sell on ebay or carboot?

MirjamL

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household.........
Number of cars owned....................

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 754
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 754

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 600
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 125 (usually ~80 but we moved in middle of year so has been calculated accordingly)
Electricity............................. 0
Gas..................................... 30
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 35
TV Licence.............................. 30 (usually ~12 but started from august so higher)
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 30 (landline, tv and broadband package, broadband required for work)
Groceries etc. ......................... 100 (includes food and other essentials)
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 10
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 960


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 150 (don't own much)
Total Assets............................ 150

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Estate agent...................270.......135.......0 (agent's fee spread over two months)
Total unsecured debts..........270.......135.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 754
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 960
Available for debt repayments........... -206
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 135
Amount short for making debt repayments. -341

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 150
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -270
Net Assets.............................. -120

Thing is that the next month will be the same amount of income. And so how can we not pay council tax, tv licence and other bills. they will pile up, send notices to pay and then start interest? don't they? We don't have much to sell. Maybe some old clothes, one pair of shoes, printer, tv (old and big and used one). Haven't gathered any assets to sell, since we are relatively new to UK.
Ofcourse we should eat, but we also can't afford not paying the bills and facing even more sums in few months time :S

chevalier

Like others have said, try not to panic.

You can check your entitlement on www.entitledto.co.uk. If you are from the european union i thought you could get basic benefits here?

Also you could ask the salvation army for a food package, or local churches sometimes run food banks.

Are your cupboards c ompletely bare? It may mean that there is a lot less meat in your diet this week, but you could do rice with onion and a tin of tomatoes. or baked potato with beans, beans on toast, scambled egg etc. If you look on the money savinging oldstyle board there are loads or really cheap recipes on there.

good luck
chev

dizzybuff

chevalier wrote: »

Like others have said, try not to panic.

You can check your entitlement on www.entitledto.co.uk. If you are from the european union i thought you could get basic benefits here?

Also you could ask the salvation army for a food package, or local churches sometimes run food banks.

Are your cupboards c ompletely bare? It may mean that there is a lot less meat in your diet this week, but you could do rice with onion and a tin of tomatoes. or baked potato with beans, beans on toast, scambled egg etc. If you look on the money savinging oldstyle board there are loads or really cheap recipes on there.

good luck
chev

600 a month rent , Im a bit astounded :eek: are you in the south of the UK as thats quite steep can you not downgrade to a bedsit ????

HappyMJ

MirjamL wrote: »

Thing is that the next month will be the same amount of income. And so how can we not pay council tax, tv licence and other bills. they will pile up, send notices to pay and then start interest? don't they? We don't have much to sell. Maybe some old clothes, one pair of shoes, printer, tv (old and big and used one). Haven't gathered any assets to sell, since we are relatively new to UK.
Ofcourse we should eat, but we also can't afford not paying the bills and facing even more sums in few months time :S

They will send you a red letter. It's nothing to worry about. TV Licence really doesn't matter. Not paying any of those bills will not incur interest as they cannot charge interest as they are not credit agreements. The water company send red letters and that's all they do. The gas and electric companies send red letters for about 6 months before installing a prepayment meter where you can then pay the debt over the next 12 months but as this income drop is only for a few months you can enter into a payment arrangement before then. The council will eventually get a liability order where you can then make proper arrangements to pay over a reasonable period of time. The rent not paid for 2 months won't affect you. Only once you get 8 weeks in arrears then eviction proceedings will start.

If watching the subscription channels on SKY TV, browsing the internet and talking on the phone is more important than eating then go ahead and pay the bills.

bunny999

You might be entitled to working tax credits.