paid tax all my life now pregnant and redundant!

melorablack

Well now you're redundant you won't be paying to get to work anymore so that's some money saved.

WhatDidIDoToDeserveThis?

Would you care to explain how I've been rude? I've been called a "troll" and told off like a naughty child! I'm nearly thirty years old! Of course I'm not calm, I'm in a complete state, that's why I'm here!

thriftymanc

WhatDidIDoToDeserveThis? wrote: »

Rent 675, Council tax 180, Gas 50, Electric 50, Water 40, Mobiles 20 for both, Tv licence 13, Car insurance 55, Official Receiver 120, Travel to and from work,him train, me driving and parking 360minimum, BT 50.

Hi OP, I know you've said you can't do anything about the rent so don't focus on that for now. But for your other bills you should definitely look at price comparison websites to get them down. If it's just you and your partner, £80 per month for both gas and electric is quite high. Have a look and see if you can change to anyone cheaper, and make sure you're not doing anything like leaving lights on etc. Definitely have a look at your insurance and landline/internet too. Don't forget to go through cashback sites if you do switch to get a bit of extra money. Also your mobiles, are you on contracts that you can get out of? Might be worth switching to cheap PAYG for the meantime while you get yourselves sorted out. As has been pointed out, you won't be paying for your petrol and parking if you're not working so take that off your total to make it a bit less scary. Does your partner use a season ticket or anything to get to work? Can he book in advance to save money? If you can just get each outgoing down by a small amount it'll add up - and when you get your benefits sorted you should be fine with his income too

Deep_In_Debt

It may be worth you posting on the DFW board as another poster suggested, they are brilliant at finding ways to save money - you'll be surprised at the things they will come up with.

Have you shopped around for better deals on things? Your car insurance seems high for example and your BT phone. Are you on PAYG mobiles? Can you spread your CT over 12 months instead of 10 - that might help a bit on a monthly basis.

EDIT: Should type faster - the above poster got there first!

WhatDidIDoToDeserveThis?

Thanks guys- I will defintely see if I can get car insurance and gas and electric down- it does seem high when we are only there in the evenings, heatings on a very low setting for a couple of hours a day (I sit with a blanket round me!) And it wouldn't be the first time southern electric have overcharged us. Our mobs are PAYG. The boyf does get the cheapest season ticket for his train but I will look into everything else. Thankyou- I feel a bit more positive now. Also going to look at cheaper houses to rent as just found out we were discharged from bankrupty.....in december!

Deep_In_Debt

WhatDidIDoToDeserveThis? wrote: »

Thanks guys- I will defintely see if I can get car insurance and gas and electric down- it does seem high when we are only there in the evenings, heatings on a very low setting for a couple of hours a day (I sit with a blanket round me!) And it wouldn't be the first time southern electric have overcharged us. Our mobs are PAYG. The boyf does get the cheapest season ticket for his train but I will look into everything else. Thankyou- I feel a bit more positive now. Also going to look at cheaper houses to rent as just found out we were discharged from bankrupty.....in december!

Use a cash back site such as USwitch for changing suppliers etc as you will get cash back if you go through them. Every little helps!

Indie_Kid

wit5h PAYG, you can buy bolt ons - do you have these?

thriftymanc

WhatDidIDoToDeserveThis? wrote: »

Thanks guys- I will defintely see if I can get car insurance and gas and electric down- it does seem high when we are only there in the evenings, heatings on a very low setting for a couple of hours a day (I sit with a blanket round me!) And it wouldn't be the first time southern electric have overcharged us. Our mobs are PAYG. The boyf does get the cheapest season ticket for his train but I will look into everything else. Thankyou- I feel a bit more positive now. Also going to look at cheaper houses to rent as just found out we were discharged from bankrupty.....in december!

Great news Hope you manage to find somewhere cheaper.

Re: mobiles, definitely see if there's a cheaper network you could switch to. I use Asda mobile as it's dirt cheap! Also, if I'm at home and want to text a friend who's got an iPhone or similar, I'll send them a Facebook message from my laptop instead - free, and they get a notification instantly so just like receiving a text at their end and can message me straight back. I do this quite a bit so it means I top up less. May not be useful for you depending on what you use your phone for but thought I'd mention it anyway!

Also have you thought about doing survey/daily click type sites? Last time I was out of work, I sort of made it my 'job' to sit down every morning and go through my routine - and I still do it now. It won't rake in piles of cash instantly but it's better than nothing, some of the sites pay in vouchers rather than cash but every little helps even if it's just to treat yourself to something that you wouldn't want to spend money on otherwise

dane-katie

Now you are being made redundant, i would try and find out in more detail how much you are entitled to.
Then do a new SOA.
Travel can be cut down due to you not travelling to work etc.
Speak to your official receiver, explain your new circumstances and ask for your monthly payment to be reduced to what you can manage or they MAY(!) stop it all together if your income in too low compared to your expenditure.
I know it will be hard, but speak to your local council or CAB or someone who can help your with claiming the benefits you are entitled to.
Good luck x

WhatDidIDoToDeserveThis?

Thanks again- im getting a lot of good advice here, i will write A List Of Things To Do and get cracking! THANKYOU X