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New home, new life, new income..JSA ooh err!!!

I was advised on the Old Style Board to post on here and get some ideas of how cope living on single persons JSA... my story so far.

After enduring a good few years of domestic violence I contacted the local domestic violence peeps long story short they were appalled at my injuries took me to the hospital and when I recovered they found me a place 250 miles away in a lovley place where I feel calm and hopeful of a new start. Im currentley in a hostel for women and have been lucky enough to find a Landlord that takes unemployed people as tenants.
My new home isa 2 bed detached house with a garden, it sounds posh but its quite small and thats how I like it its secure and Im the only one in it.
My problem is how does one manage on such a small amount of fixed money per fortnight, I dont have any debts, and only about £300 to my name,and this has to fund my furniture and house moving costs, its doable, my wants are small, bed to sleep in, chair to sit in and some basic kitchen utensils the rest will accumulate over time. Its the budgeting/priorities that faze me, the ex husband held on to the money and did the shopping ( yes a 100% control freak) so Im now happily free from all that but in this credit crunch/high food prices/leccie bills sky high how do you all manage?? My worst fear is getting into debt and making a right muck up of my fresh start any hints tips avoidances would be most gratefully absorbed, this is my rebirth time and \I want to get it right from the very start...so dont hold back let the tips roll

Many many thanks
CBHM:D
This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.
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Comments

  • bluebag
    bluebag Posts: 2,450 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Welcome to your new future, your shiny new life. I have had to manage on a very tiny budget in the past ( things a bit easier now). It might help to break your budget into sections, food, gas, electric, water, savings, clothes and spends, that way you know if you can afford the coffee and the magazine. ( on jsa that's probably a very big no, sadly)

    Same with the house move thing, how much to pay for a bed, kitchen things and a chair. Have a look on e-bay, charity shops and adverts in the supermarkets to give you and idea of price.
  • Kohoutek
    Kohoutek Posts: 2,861 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    There are some charities (usually locally based) that help people in your situation or similar ones buy furniture and appliances for a new home.

    It's just a matter of searching to see if you can find any in your area. The local CAB might know of them too. I'm sure given that you have been the victim of domestic violence in the past you would be just the kind of person they would like to help.
  • Just wanted to wish you all the best in your brand new life and home, it's a brave step you're taking to a whole new life. :) As for stuff to furnish your new place, do check out Freecycle online as well as the suggestions already given, look to see if there is a group local to you. Good luck
  • Tixy
    Tixy Posts: 31,455 Forumite
    Hi and welcome

    And well done for making that big step and hopefully moving on with your life. Regarding furniture etc its worth signing up to your local freeview/freegle site as you would be suprised at what people give away on there.

    Some areas have furniture projects that can also help with basic furniture - there is a link here http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/furniture_projects but you may need to ask local places to see if they know of one in your area. Perhaps the hostel would know? or Women's aid or Refuge charities?

    As you are on JSA you could probably get a budgeting loan to help with any essentials that you do have to buy - but obviously still keep the costs as low as you can. I assume that you don't have family or friends round your new area yet? I think that can make things so much harder for people - I know that this isn't the place for this advice but perhaps try to find some ways to meet new people in your new area - perhaps see if there are some free classes or something you could join that are free to jobseekers that could help you meet new people.

    As for budgeting its probably hard to estimate how much things will cost to start - I would suggest keeping a spending diary so you can write down everything you are spending as you go along. Do you know if the property has prepayment meters for gas & elec? Try to pay bills monthly where you can as you usually get a discount for paying monthly rather than waiting for a quarterly bill. Try not to sign up for long contracts for things until you know whether you can afford or not (things like landlines & internet etc).

    I'm guessing the oldstyle board will have given you some tips on keeping food costs down - or pointed you to some good threads on this - if you can and are near a supermarket try shopping just before the shops close to find bargains.

    I really wish you good luck in your new life - and if you find you are struggling with finances - or anything really - this forum nearly always has some advice or at the very least friendly faces to talk to.
    A smile enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give
    or "It costs nowt to be nice"
  • gizmo111
    gizmo111 Posts: 2,663 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Have you applied for a community care grant to help with furniture?
    Wil you be returning to work?

    Good Luck on starting afresh - you have done a very brave thing - everything else will fall into place. have you any children? As you are in a 2 bed place is your rent covered fully?
    Mama read so much about the dangers of drinking alcohol and eating chocolate that she immediately gave up reading.
  • sp1987
    sp1987 Posts: 907 Forumite
    Tesco do value ranges of kitchen stuff, large ranges in their extra stores. I was a student once and I still have some of the bits left over now working fine 5 years on, lol. I think you could get like a packet of forks for 75p or similar. Amazing.

    I think ikea still do the really cheap bowls and plates if you are near. Circa 30p each. They are a beige colour (they used to be off white) and I still have my 2 or 3 left. http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80133124 here we are it is called a lugn. Plate for 31p too http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/00133123 Cutlery for 1.62 (admittedly not as cheap as the bowl and plate!).

    Tesco do value saucepans for like £2 ish. Plastic utensils for cheap too.

    What else do you need? I'm sure someone will have a google for you or will have bought some bargain items.
  • Hi Good morning and thank you all for your kind and helpful imput...

    Now to answer some of the above questions..

    I am on my own, no children for which Im thankful as I would have hated to have had to take a child through my journey to peace and quiet these past few months.

    I used to be a nurse and worked with children with birth defects and fully intend to return to work if possible in a few weeks time, I just need to find my bearings and put my frazzled self back together then when Ive done that I will feel like a butterfly able to open my wings and fly fly, I intend to be a survivor of all of this not a victim.

    I asked about Community Care Grants and the social worker lady at this refuge filled the form in for me last night, and she is submitting it for me today.

    I have been lucky in that the previous tenant of the cottage has left all the carpets, curtain rails and all the lampshades and there was a bag of curtains donated to the refuge on Saturday which I was allowed to raid couldnt believe it when I found some Laura Ashley Pelham Stripe curtains and a large door curtain (an old LA design I had wanted for years) so asked for them and was given them. I will re sew cut down remodel to make them fit...

    My rent is covered by the Local Housing Allowance, my Landlord is a Lay Preacher in the local church and they own some small houses and flats and let them out to folk in need...and the tenancies are long term which is a blessing as I dont think I could move every 6 months, stability is important to me now.

    Local Freecycle, never heard of it till I googled it, my goodness that was an eyeopener, what a wonderful thing it is..I missed the more recent offers but these included tvs, beds,a cooker!! :jand someone who had changed there bedroom decor was giving away a quilt cover pillowcases fitted sheets etc curtains I made a request for that so fingers crossed that I might be considered for them.

    I have joined the local library and got some books out on frugal spending, recipes and have :jdiscovered the whole immense wealth of information, hints tips etc on here its amazing :D the sites on here have helped me see that Im not alone, and there is a whole community who have lived through good bad times and are sharing there experiences with those on the begining of there own personal journey..real life experiences beat some of the idealistic twaddle that is spouted these days, they see it as it is, have lived it, come through it and stand there still standing fighting living and this is a real wake up call for me, in that I cant and wont wallow in self pity Im a survivor not a victim..long may MSE forums exist:T:T:T

    I have found the local IKEA its about 5 miles away so will treat myself to an all day ticket later and go introduce myself to the IKEA experience and all the local Charity Shops if I can scout them out,and tommorow its into the cottage and get started..many thanks for your kind replies

    An ever hopeful and smiling CBHM:)
    This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.
  • ...Congratulations...you will be fine...where we live there are a lot of doorstep lenders..these are the people to avoid...see if there is a credit union in your area..you can save as little as £2.00 a week and usually have a very cheap loan after 13 weeks...
    Also, see if there is a domestic abuse charity in your area...they will support you and can provide grants for furniture etc.
  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 34,453 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hi

    Alos check out www.freegle.co.uk, which has replaced freecycle in many areas.

    And the furniture recycling network, for which you may need a referal from your social worker http://www.frn.org.uk/ . Some providers sell stuff at low prices, some provide basic stuff at little or no cost to people in difficult circumstances.
    If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing
  • GeorgieFTB
    GeorgieFTB Posts: 437 Forumite
    Hi CBHM

    welcome, and enjoy your new start!

    My only advice is to try not to get credit, and if you do need it, figure out how much it will cost and how you are going to pay it back before you take it out.

    As you are on your own, if you mess up on your budget, for example you think you're on supermarket sweep when you get to IKEA (I have done this), the worst that will happen is you will have to eat pasta for a few weeks!

    Find out if there are any german supermarkets near you, Aldi/Lidl, these have good food cheap. Start a veggie patch, or grow some herbs.

    Although the biggest piece of advice I think you need is not financial... take things one step at a time, heal in your own time... From your tone I'm sure you will come through this a better, stronger person but take things at your own speed, by that I mean don't just jump back into a life that you think you should have. I don't know how long you have been out of work but maybe look at volunteering for a while to build back up to working, that sort of thing.

    Good luck
    Gx
    Mortgage at 08/10/10: 110k:eek:
    Current Mortgage:... £109,200 :eek:
    OPs 2011: 100.50/4000
    Current MFD: 02/10/45 :shocked: (will be 63!!!)

    Make a payment a week challenge TW 100/123.79
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