Sister has moved out unexpectedly - what financial help can I get?

stargirl90

I currently rent a flat with my sister and have done for nearly 2 years.

Some personal circumstances have happened this week (would prefer not too go into too much detail), and my sister moved out last night, with no prior warning. This is not just a heated argument or a little strop - she's definitely not coming back.

I'm in a bit of a panic financially as I obviously never budgeted for this happening. We split all the bills, and as it stands now, I face paying the full electric bill (£80), Council Tax bill (£135) and rent bill (£330) for this month on my own. We also share a car on finance, so I've got that to pay (£233), plus the car insurance (£90). Basically my outgoings have just almost doubled. Everything comes out of my bank account, as the older sister. (lucky for her, eh?)

On top of this, she owes me money which I'll never see now.

I'll admit my own stupidity as I have no money saved to cover me in case of situations like this. I work 35 hours a week, and receive DLA and WTC, but having sat and worked out my finances over and over again I'll be lucky to have enough just to cover bills this month, never mind getting by.

Is there anything I can claim or do practically to help me? Any advice or help is hugely appreciated. My head's in a scramble at the moment as I have the emotional turmoil as well as the finiancial one!

Soubrette

Contact council as soon as possible to get 25% single person reduction.

Contact car insurance - will it be cheaper to remove her from the insurance?

Can you get a lodger?

Post a statement of affairs on the debt free wannabe board - they've usually got some good ideas.

Post a list of what's in your cupboards on the old style boards to see if you can cut down on your food bill this month using store cupboard ingredients and try and cut down in future using the tips there.

Look at the up your income part of the board - can you do surveys, click through, pigsback etc to cover things like christmas?

Oldernotwiser

After claiming the 25% discount, the first thing to do is to advertise for someone to flat share. this should put you back in exactly the same situation as before your sister left.

Edit: What's the situation with your flat, is it a joint tenancy?

Jowo_2

Download the budget planner from the MSE website which will give you a clear picture of your income and expenses so you can identify where to make savings and changes.

You've identified around £830 per month in basic expenses, excluding food and petrol (I knocked off 25% council tax) so you will spend approx £1000 on household expenses if you are frugal. Are there any other debts you've not mentioned as I would have thought that a full time job, with DLA and tax credits, would be close to this figure, albeit not particularly comfortable to run a self-contained household on a single wage?

You can double check your entitlements on the Entitled To website

stargirl90

Soubrette wrote: »

Contact council as soon as possible to get 25% single person reduction.

Contact car insurance - will it be cheaper to remove her from the insurance?

Can you get a lodger?

Post a statement of affairs on the debt free wannabe board - they've usually got some good ideas.

Post a list of what's in your cupboards on the old style boards to see if you can cut down on your food bill this month using store cupboard ingredients and try and cut down in future using the tips there.

Look at the up your income part of the board - can you do surveys, click through, pigsback etc to cover things like christmas?

Hi, thanks for your reply.

Just applied for 25% discount on my local council's website, and will also visit their offices on Monday.

Have phoned and removed her from car insurance - £28 saved there.

Will advertise for a lodger ASAP - will ask around friends/family first if they know anyone looking for a place, and then expand my search.

Thanks for your other practical tips as well. Will definitely have to do a store cupboard inventory! I've got a few high-ish value items to put on eBay as well - I can probably get around £200 from them.

Thanks again

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

After claiming the 25% discount, the first thing to do is to advertise for someone to flat share. this should put you back in exactly the same situation as before your sister left.

Edit: What's the situation with your flat, is it a joint tenancy?

Yes it's a joint tenancy, we rent it from a family relative - I've been in contact with them and her walking out has breached her part of the contract so she's forfeited her deposit. That was a bit of good news as well they also mentioned lowering the rent for me while I'm living alone, which is something they're doing out of the kindness of their heart. I wouldn't have been so lucky with other landlords!

Jowo wrote: »

Download the budget planner from the MSE website which will give you a clear picture of your income and expenses so you can identify where to make savings and changes.

You've identified around £830 per month in basic expenses, excluding food and petrol (I knocked off 25% council tax) so you will spend approx £1000 on household expenses if you are frugal. Are there any other debts you've not mentioned as I would have thought that a full time job, with DLA and tax credits, would be close to this figure, albeit not particularly comfortable to run a self-contained household on a single wage?

You can double check your entitlements on the Entitled To website

There's other small debts I didn't mention - mobile phone (£35), home phone and broadband (£25-30), TV license, bits and pieces like that.

My monthly income covers all outgoings, but not particularly comfortable as you say. As it currently stands I'm left with about £10 a week to live on! I'm particularly stuck this month thanks to the sudden unbudgeted change of circumstances and debts she owes me from December's bills.

Thanks for your reply