19 Yr Old Apprentice Needing Advice!

p00ni

Hello,
I am a 19 year old apprentice and I live on my own independently and have done for some time.

I earn around £120 a week as an apprentice per 39 Hours works out around £2.90ish an hour

I am living in a house as a lodger for £260 a month on a commercial basis.
Because of my age and male my car and insurance needed for work is around £1000 a year,
I try to keep my food budget down to £20 a week.

Money is extremely tight and i have no other financial support other than my income,
I used to work 2 jobs but found it put to much strain on focussing on my training for my apprenticeship

I used to benifits calculator on-line on direct gov and was told i wasn't entitled to any housing benfits etc whatsoever. Im a uk male living here all my life.

I tried EMA (Education maintenance allowance) But the Goverment have cut that now. I Tried ALG (Adult learning Grant) but that does not apply to apprentices.

I was after some direction or help of where i can go next or the best action to take i am currently not in any debt and i don't want to go down that route. It seems i have lost hope and there is no-one out there to help really.
I do love what im learning and my work but the money situation is putting a strain on me
Many Thanks,
p00ni

soupdragon10

How far through your apprenticeship are you? If it's over a year then at 19 it might be worth checking with DWP if you are entitled to more than this as an hourly rate. Do you belong to a union? If so this might be a question for them.

McKneff

Could you not get another job with les hours than your last one, or one that is somehow connected with what you are learning.

What is your apprenticeship doing.

p00ni

i work as a apprentice paint sprayer in a garage pretty in a garage pretty niche im afraid =/

i don't belong to a union

theoretica

Unfortunately I don't know of anything for which you are eligible.

To be paid that low you must be in the first year of your apprenticeship- how long do you have to go until the 2nd year, when you will get a considerable pay rise (according to the national minimum wages)? There is an end in sight. How are you budgeting the £90 a month you have left after the outgoings you mention?

p00ni

I Have just finished my Level 1 At college and passed, however i joined half-way through that year college year onto the course. I do not know what qualifies as 2nd year. either 2nd year in my programme at college/training OR my 2nd year with the company?? Then as you say i believe my wages go up to minimum wages which is a substantial increase

The other money is budgeted on things like phone bill, and other essentials even though i am young as you can understand i really do not through my money away and i can't afford to go out with my mates and stuff much

Oldernotwiser

I think you need to look for another job for a couple of evenings a week. A level 1 course (even if now level 2) shouldn't need that much concentration. People doing a degree work part time!

McKneff

What are you classing as other 'essentials'
A phone really isnt an 'essential' neither is a car so your idea of essential and ours may widely

DCFC79

Would a saturday job be suitable, you would have sunday free to do what you want plus you could do overtime if and when you needed the extra cash

Oldernotwiser

McKneff wrote: »

What are you classing as other 'essentials'
A phone really isnt an 'essential' neither is a car so your idea of essential and ours may widely

And many people wouldn't consider £20 pw for food for one person to be a particularly low amount.

p00ni

I need a car to get to work simple as thats an essential.

I need a phone incase i have any problems to notify work, things like college, arranging things appointments.

I think i could look at my food budget a bit better and try and save a few pennies at the supermarket.

it may seem i need a second job again.
It is tough though working early morning manual labour job all day then going to work and evening shift doing the same again the next day
also i found before
the advantages were not huge due to hitting the tax threshold limit!