Pregnant married with 2 kids and only £5 till end of month

whichwhydoIturn

On the food front, what about looking into to supercook.com OP? You list evrything that you have in your cupboard/freezer and it generates a recipe for you. Maybe but some flour, make some jam tarts with basic range jam, maybe buy bread mix, make your own pizza base & bread.Thats on the food front.On the money side, maybe a quick return( no postage) take unused /unwanted cds/games kitchen gadgets to a cash convertor. xx

2011_will_be_debt_free

sugarpants wrote: »

Went on deposit for new car we needed! Its the only nice thing we 'own'

Is that the 11k car?

If so (maybe isnt?) then that is actually quite insulting to many who really do live off a measly wage!

I thought his work paid for his car?

I'm sure your kids think food in their belly and a second hand fiesta is 'nice' enough (thats the ones who are lucky enough to be in a family that can afford a car)

I dont want to offend you but as I said, to some these comments are insulting to think that someone classes 26K and a 11k car as skint, then getting CB, CTC on top of this? whilst living off a few hundred a month (to pay everything)
Or am I missing something?

themull1

savingcaz wrote: »

Hi sorry Blobby8 was so rude, wish people would remember that this board is for help not judgement!

Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 2 How old?
Number of cars owned.................... 1
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 1680
Benefits................................ 181
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1861
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 234
Rent.................................... 875 - Obviously not an immediate help but any chance you can move into a council / housing association home? I notice you are saving for a deposit most housing associations do rent/buy options
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 149
Electricity............................. 40
Gas..................................... 30
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 30
Telephone (land line)................... 15
Mobile phone............................ 10
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 350 - Any chance you can cut this down, we aim for £200 for 2 adults and 1 2 year old including nappies, wipes etc (albeit she isn't in many now as almost toilet trained)
Clothing................................ 20 - is this necessary at the moment
Petrol/diesel........................... 60 - Does hubby get this back if it's a company car?
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).... 0
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.................. 1825

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 0

Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly.. .APR
Mortgage...................... 0........(0)........0
Hire Purchase (HP) debt ...... 10995....(234)......0 - how long left on this one?
Total secured & HP debts...... 10995.....-.........-
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly.. .APR
Visa Nationwide................1200......35........0
Total unsecured debts..........1200......35........-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,861
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,825
Available for debt repayments........... 36
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 35
Amount left after debt repayments....... 1
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -10,995
Total Unsecured debt.................... -1,200
Net Assets.............................. -12,195

Is it just this month due to Christmas that you are struggling or is it a similar situation each month? when is the £5 to last you too?

I dont think Blobby8 was rude as such, just asking when someone can't afford to live with the family they've got, why have another child. Maybe a bit direct, but it was probably a question that a lot of people thought.!!

honeybear68

My husband is on less wage than your hubby we dont get TC or CTB and are he is the bread winner in our family I have 2 teenagers one of which is still at school and the other works part-time as this is all he could get our income per month is slightly more than our outgoings and our debts are twice as much, however we do manage we have not taken any more than we already have and are currently speaking to CAB regarding another, our rent is half my hubbys wage but we manage each month including the running cost of his car per month,we don't have much to our name but we do manage. I have been concentrating on where to save money and have managed since yesterday to save £600 per year which is an average saving of £55 per month, Please have a look on these boards take advice and look at idea's there are plenty on hear, also look at lower priced items in the supermarket it does make a difference to the grocery bill I do believe that taking on a new car for 11k is a bit excessive when it could have been used else where, food and rent is more important consider moving to a cheaper premises and save some rent I know will will have an impact on schooling but consider the savings in the long run it would be more beneficial in the long run for you health and for the family.

Please I don't mean to afend in any way but there are other options avaliable that will be best looked at.

MummyBigBum

i totally can sympathise with op. We have been in the same boat as you many times and as i'm on maternity leave and with xmas we are pretty much skint too. I had to sell our coffee table today via ebay cash on collection just to tide us over. Don't have a quick fix or a solution for you, just wanted you to know your not alone.

universalady_2

Just another thought on the food side of things, are you able to shop just before your local supermarket shuts most days? I go most nights just to buy what ever is reduced, and anything that is freezable and cheap is bought (as long as I can afford it) and used as and when. I think you said Sainsburys was your local store, mine is too, and they are quite good with reductions to pennies at the end of the night for veg', as long as it's used the next day, I find it ok, plus we have lots of casseroles and stews (in the slow cooker) which uses them and it tastes great!

Don't forget you can also batch bake, and if you make a stew/casserole, you can also put some in a packed lunch for hubby

saterkey

A few suggestions that may help/thought of:

you mention your parents, they may not know you are that low on funds that you are short on food for the next few months. Try both sets of parents for a small sum to tide you over the next couple of months in the short term, which you will pay back. You get nothing if you dont ask. Explain the situation, listen to what they have to say. A lot of people do not offer and wait for you to ask for help, thats just the way it is. I cant see many parents not helping out their children when they are really struggling, i know i wouldnt.

Try the idea that you can do some jobs for them, cleaning, car cleaning, secretarial work, accounts, sit and have a good chat with them, realise your pregnant but your kids or hubby could help depending on how old they are.

Enter loads of freebies off the internet,

Enter for loads of competitions, maybe just dvds, cds small stuff you could sell in the first instance, or bigger item like a tv. Takes time to enter lots of internet ones but could pay off.

When you do get a bit of money from somewhere, put something away for a rainy day. Stock up your cupboards with lots of pasta, soups, rice, dried milk, flour etc so if desperate you can make stuff. £5 for food is not nice in anyones book. Think ahead is the key.

Ask your midwife health visitor for links for freebies for nappies or if there is any help available. Make sure you take lots with you from the hospital when you leave to last you a couple of days if thats possible. Breastfeeding is very cheap if you can. Get lots of terry towelling nappies, saves a fortune, only use nappies if you go out to cut them down, can wash your own towelling ones if need be, use towels and water and not wipes.

Kids can make do with water, milk is more impt than squash. They will have to be less fussy for awhile.

If you dont already know, contraception is free from the doctors, you dont need to add that to your grocery bill once youve had bab.

Ask for a supermarket gift cards as presents for the baby if anyone asks what you want, im sure you have most material stuff already.

See whats in the loft that you can sell.

Get your cv sorted so your ready to do a few hours as soon as babys born if you can. Maybe you can do some childminding if you know of someone who is in the same position as you.

Do you have a car park space, i have heard of people renting out their spaces to people for money?

cant think of anything else right now, but wishing you luck this month and hope you can get by.

sp1987

2011_will_be_debt_free wrote: »

Is that the 11k car?

If so (maybe isnt?) then that is actually quite insulting to many who really do live off a measly wage!

I thought his work paid for his car?

I'm sure your kids think food in their belly and a second hand fiesta is 'nice' enough (thats the ones who are lucky enough to be in a family that can afford a car)

I dont want to offend you but as I said, to some these comments are insulting to think that someone classes 26K and a 11k car as skint, then getting CB, CTC on top of this? whilst living off a few hundred a month (to pay everything)
Or am I missing something?

I agree.

To be honest it is prioritising that has got the OP into this predicament, not shortage of income. £234 on a car per month not including any running costs yet £5 for food? That £5 is even prioritising squash over actual food stuffs. I know people do get into difficulties especially after Christmas, but blaming the wrong reasons e.g. the level of income or parents lack of contributions (???) when she is a married woman with children herself is wasting energy that could be redirected at addressing the problems. She needs to spend more of the perfectly reasonable family income there is on the neccessities. I don't think it would make much difference if the OP had more money coming in as she is spending more than she has. I knew a lady once whos income often rocketed between values and she was always short on cash. This was purely because she would spend £10 more than she had available. She could have won the lottery and been short on cash because she couldn't manage money.

Some people on here post up with tiny incomes and still their tiny expenses exceed them, you can't say much to help because the expenses are pretty stripped back as it is. Those people may be absolutely great with budgeting and looking for value but their incomings are just too low.

kittiej

:wave: Hello sugarpants

Whenever I see posts like yours I always go to the amount spent on groceries. I'm afraid to say that £350 is huge - I could do 2 months for that and we are 2 adults and 2 children.

You have to see shopping as a challenge - it will soon become addictive and there is a grocery shopping challenge on the Old Style board. Meal planning is another way to help yourself.

In the mean time I would visit the OS board anyway with an inventory of your cupboards, fridge and freezer to see what meals you can make with what you already have.

Please tell your hubby that he needs to carry on. I know work can be a real drag sometimes but having that regular wage beats having to sign on.

please come over to the OS board for a look. Everyone is helpful and friendly and they've really helped me out with the good ideas on there.

For the longer term there are really good people on this board too who really know their stuff so do come back and take a look every day.

Penny-Pincher!!

OP, you need to quit making excuses about kids being fussy with squash etc....tough....water is fine and you all need to eat!

The car could be sold if you're in such dire need.

Look for a cheaper property.

Sell anything of value not needed.

Make a list of all you have in and make meals based on those ingrediants.

If you've worked for the past 5 years even PT, you should be entitled to SSP of some kind.

Does anyone owe you any money that you could ask for back now?

Put an add on Freecycle asking for cupboard items or tinned food if that desperate.

You are spending way too much on food. £200-£250 should be more than enough.

Are you qualified in anything to offer your services for cash?

Can you iron for anyone?

Sorry if some of the above seems blunt, but you need to prioritise things. Even a cheap bottle of squash could pay for a tin of beans or value rice etc.

PP