Ideas please :)

lauren123

Hi, Ive just had my hours cut from 40hrs a week to 16 My 16hrs a week just about pays for my phone contract, car incurance and am paying CCCS each month too. My partners wage pays for the rent and all household bills, food and his car and outgoings. Leaving us with no money left at the end of the month. We are only entitled to £11 pw child tax credits. Ive always paid my way and helped my OH with the bills etc and had money to buy our daughter nappies, clothes etc. Now my partner has the worry of having to pay for everything. Im after some Ideas to make a little extra on the side?? another 16hrs job would be good, if I had childcare, which we had but now have taken her out as cant afford it. Worrying times.

Jacka87

ok so heres my thoughts, you have probably already thought of them so my apologies if they seem patronising;

1. Live within your means, if you have had a drop in income you need to make sure that you are budgeting to live within it. Cut out and reduce spend where possible. I know you will be thinking that you already hae but do you need a mobile phone maybe get rid if possible. I would start by doing a thorough budget and just make sure your getting the most from everything. im sure Matin calls it a money makeover so prob the best place to start. Martin claims its a 25% payrise jst by cutting cost of bills and getting most from savings etc. Defo first place to start I think.

2. Use your savings pot (rainy day money) wisely to get you by just now, dont be using it all up straight away in teh first month.

3. Try getting another job. You have already mentioned this and I can tell you despite all the doom and gloom jobs do exist out there. I know somebody who has just increased hours in her job, started another and got an interview for a third. All in teh space of a few weeks. Requires hard work and sometiomes taking a job you wouldnt normally consider but a step back can be a step forward or could just be the lifeline you need.

4. If your at home looking after children then maybe try some of the stuff on this thread regarding polls and questionaires etc. All stuff you can do at home. Ok you wont earn much but any earnings are earnings and if your just doing something on computer when the kids are sleaping or something then why not.

good luck.