How can I survive this please?

CH27

Whereabouts do you live OP?
google foodbanks in your area.

skintandscared_2

When I was "ultra" skint (as opposed to just plain skint) I would literally use any spare 50p to buy an extra bag of value pasta or sauce and put it in a storage box in the spare room. That box saved my life on more than one occasion!! Value stock cubes are about 9p and can make pasta palatable enough to eat without sauce, JUST! If you have ANY spare coins for a few weeks just buy an extra pack or tin of something with a long shelf life.

Anyway, best of luck OP. :beer:

NeverEnough

pink_princess wrote: »

It is illegal to post date a cheque, it can be banked anytime after it has been signed.

Its not illegal, it just doesn't stop the cheque from being presented prior to the signed date and being put through by the bank.

j.e.j.

Hi there OP
Try not to go to Payday loans companies, as their interest rates must be extortionate and so may well make your financial situation worse.

I just wanted to let you know that if the worst comes to the worst there are organisations that do food and grocery parcels for people. There are many, many people who are struggling financially and who make use of these. The Trussell Trust apparently have a network of places up and down the country where people can go to get food packages. I don't know much about them but I heard them mentioned on the radio. There may also be churches and similar organisations who could help?
Good luck with things.

JOFFSTICK

j.e.j. wrote: »

Hi there OP
Try not to go to Payday loans companies, as their interest rates must be extortionate and so may well make your financial situation worse.

Amen to that. i know a few people who's situations have been made worse by these outfits. in my opinion they should be banned

pink_princess

NeverEnough wrote: »

Its not illegal, it just doesn't stop the cheque from being presented prior to the signed date and being put through by the bank.

Really? Do you have a link please?

Edit to say, I can't find the law. Loads of links split between legal/illegal.

If any one can provide a certain answer it would be appreciated.

burnham1

Can you have a look on the discount voucher board, there are some vouchers on there for free tins of cambells soup and a voucher for £1 off honey shreddies which are only £1 in tesco at the moment, so will work out free, Soup is warm and filling, may do a few meals to help out, if your anywhere near me i'd love to help out as i know where your comimg from as i was in a very similar position 2 years ago, get in touch via PM if you want...

Emmzi

pink_princess wrote: »

Really? Do you have a link please?

Edit to say, I can't find the law. Loads of links split between legal/illegal.

If any one can provide a certain answer it would be appreciated.

Here

http://www.chequeandcredit.co.uk/faqs/-/page/post-dated_cheques/

Not illegal in the criminal sense, more a breach of T&Cs of the account in most cases. Depends on T&Cs though.

pink_princess

Emmzi wrote: »

Here

http://www.chequeandcredit.co.uk/faqs/-/page/post-dated_cheques/

Not illegal in the criminal sense, more a breach of T&Cs of the account in most cases. Depends on T&Cs though.

Thanks, so it is legal but against t&s.

mmummy21

A few things that came to mind, some not exactly relevant to now but will help in future.

Now -

Do you have any coppers/change lying around the house? Check old handbags, coats, drawers, down the sofa etc. Most Tesco's have a machine where you can empty the change in and it counts it all up and gives you a voucher to take to the till. It does take a small percentage from you though but a good emergency option!

Sell your mobile. I'm not a single Mum but I get nil support from my partner and have to keep myself and my daughter (10 months) going myself. I sold my contract phone to Mazuma which only took a few days for a bank payments and and I replaced it with a £12 phone from Tesco.

o2 also buy old cameras etc.

Later -

Childcare - most of this should be covered by tax credits, start budgeting for it. Can you open a seperate bank account for childcare only? Leave the money in there and find the self-control NOT to borrow from it. Then you'll never be shocked if they take 2 months worth and it's not in your main bank account to spend if they take too long to cash a cheque.

Child maintenance - go through CSA to get what you are entitled to.

Check with tax credits that your award is correct and you are also likely to be entitled to housing and council tax benefit. I know that even though I am on a fairly decent part-time wage (almost 10k for 21hours) I would still be entitled to housing and council tax benefit if I lived on my own.

School uniform should be covered by a grant every year.

Hope those help a bit!