anyone able to give me some help/advice?

chloo

hello!

i really need some advice please if can be given! i apoligise in advance for the spelling i am dyslixic.

i am in my frist year of university full time i get max loan and grant (£6,500) per year.

i am moving in to a flat with my partner due to having out grown the family home.

are we able to claim any benefits/grants anything?

he earns £650pcm after tax working (35hrs per week)

i am a student i work 14.5 hours a week at two jobs i bring home £400 per month
(there is talk of laying off staff at one job which will mean that my wages will be cut to £295 per month as a causal working whos been there for 4 years seems im not intiteled to anything but thats another story!!!! )

we will be spend £900 each pcm split down the middle

rent £530
c tax £77 (after student discount)
bills £70
internet £30
food £200 (toiletrys ect we dont eat a ton!!)

we both run cars as well we each need a car as we work in different areas and public transport is a nightmare and v expensive too!!

so per month the upkeep of my car i would call £130 (tax mot petrol insurence)


do you know anyway we can get any benefits or grants?

moving into our first place will be great but cripplying i think!!!



any advice/info would be massivly welcombed!

thank you in advanced

Oldernotwiser

I can't think of anything that you could claim for, I'm afraid.

By your own reckoning, you'll have £600 pcm left over after bills or about £350 after paying for your cars, so I can't really see why you think that you'll be financially crippled; even if one of your jobs packs up, you'll still have more than £50 per week spare income.

MrsManda

You will have almost £1500 a month in income even with your wage being cut to £245 a month so like ONW I don't see why you'll be struggling.
(245+650+ (6500/12))

You could probably cut down on your spending if you need to - £30 for the internet each month seem a huge amount, do you really need two cars?

Your partner may be able to claim Working Tax Credit if he's over 25

Lokolo

£200 a month for 2 of you is also a lot, you should be able to cut this down to around £150.

chloo

thanks for the replies

we really do need to two cars unfortunatly as its so hard for me to get from uni to my place of work in 30 mins on the bus

yeah i do understand there will be a lot ''left over'' but i will end up with a staggering amount of debt if all of my student loan used hence why asking if we would qualify for council tax benefit or such would really help us!

yeah the internet nightmare we are renting on a 6 month basis and all the deals are for 12 and if you pay monthy it is staggering!

he is 20 unfortunatly

thanks for your replies

dawyldthing

get a mobile dongle and use wifi at mcds or wethers for the internet? (no contract)
could you rent cheaper/house share? (usually cheaper and more people to share the bills between)
could you shop around more for your motor insurance and add each other on your insurances (i believe it brings the cost down, but i don't drive)
pay your bills by direct debit to save more?
shop around for your groceries and cook in more (£50 a week on food for 2 seems alot)

melancholly

£200 a month on food seems massive and an easy place to start. have a look over on the old style board for food budgeting ideas and cheap recipes. it's also worth looking at the debt free wannabe board to see how some people budget and make savings.

Indie_Kid

chloo wrote: »

yeah i do understand there will be a lot ''left over'' but i will end up with a staggering amount of debt if all of my student loan used hence why asking if we would qualify for council tax benefit or such would really help us!

Your student loan is taken into account even if you don't take it.

You need to look on the utilities board and see what deals you can get.

Oldernotwiser

chloo wrote: »

thanks for the replies

we really do need to two cars unfortunatly as its so hard for me to get from uni to my place of work in 30 mins on the bus

yeah i do understand there will be a lot ''left over'' but i will end up with a staggering amount of debt if all of my student loan used hence why asking if we would qualify for council tax benefit or such would really help us!

yeah the internet nightmare we are renting on a 6 month basis and all the deals are for 12 and if you pay monthy it is staggering!

he is 20 unfortunatly

thanks for your replies

You really can't expect the benefit system to help you out just so you don't have to take out/use your student loan! As long as you don't borrow on commercial loans/credit cards you'll end up with no more debt than any other student.

Angely

you earned a lot than i did in uni.lol

Indie_Kid

chloo wrote: »

yeah the internet nightmare we are renting on a 6 month basis and all the deals are for 12 and if you pay monthy it is staggering!

Plusnet are doing a 12 month contract for £6.49 per month.