It's all gone a litte Pete Tong!

Wellyboots6

Hi,

I recently posted asking for advice due to having problems sorting out a budget etc as I am totally awful with numbers (maybe a form of dyslexia).

Well, this morning it really hit home how bad things were when I checked my bank balance and could very clearly undertstand my balance... £1.99

I don't get paid until 21st December and still need my petrol to get to work. I can maybe spread out what is in the tank to last me until the end of next week. I am not sure what to do after that other than try and use holiday or something until pay day.

Once the initial problems are sorted I then really do need to work out what I am doing as I am now accruing bank charges.

I welcome any suggestions!

(And yes I know I am a pillock for letting things get this bad!)

RAS

Very basic things

Talk to the bank.

Anything that you bought on a debit card that you can take back?

Do check all your coats, back of chairs etc for coins. You might be lucky and find a fiver. Even £1.05 could be useful.

Anyone with whom you can car share? Even part of the way.

Make a list of everything in the cupboards and freezer and then head over to the money saving old style forum and ask them to help you put together a store cupboard challenge with no spends.

klfairy

RAS wrote: »

Very basic things

Talk to the bank.

Anything that you bought on a debit card that you can take back?

Do check all your coats, back of chairs etc for coins. You might be lucky and find a fiver. Even £1.05 could be useful.

Anyone with whom you can car share? Even part of the way.

Make a list of everything in the cupboards and freezer and then head over to the money saving old style forum and ask them to help you put together a store cupboard challenge with no spends.

This is great advice. Can you walk to work? How do bus fares compare to petrol prices?

Also consider inviting yourself to dinner with friends/family.

Chrisblue1962

Hi,

A few suggestions re. travel

• See if you can get a lift from a colleague? - "Oh damn my car is on the blink, etc etc" - promise to share petrol costs when you get paid.
• Public transport
• Borrow a bike or walk

Other things...

• Take some annual leave, so no travel costs
• Sell some things on ebay

Good Luck

Wellyboots6

Hey,

Thanks for the suggestions

I haven't bought anything take-back-able in months due to being skint

I have also spoken to the bank which my wages go in to and they can do nothing to help because of my credit rating. I have a seperate account with a maxed out overdraft on it.

I also, believe it or not have no freezer (yet another thread on here!)

Ebay too, because of my cash flow problem my account has been blocked due to some payments bouncing

I have however checked my usual coin stash places and found a few shiny silver coins, and also a £20 I had used as a bookmark to hide money from myself a while back!!

I think I will have to take annual leave until 21st which is pay day, using up all my leave now until April Better that though than getting in further debt I suppose.

Thanks for all the suggestions, they are a great help

I work as an outreach worker and so car share, public transport etc impossible unfortunately.

camuk81

Could maybe your employer help you with an advance on salaries. It mean very tight budgeting for the next few weeks but they might be able to help

Wellyboots6

I had thought of that but I daren't cause any problems at work as redundancies are being discussed. Trying not to think of that too much though as I have no idea what I will do if I get made redundant as I wont qualify for any payout

buffster_2

If you're blocked from ebay at present, what about trying to sell on ebid or amazon? It's free to sell on ebid, so another saving to be made there.

You could also try gumtree as well. Tthat might get some cash in quicker if someone only has to pop round for it.

Is there a friend or family member that you could ask to look over your spreadsheet and check for errors with your numbers? Assuming of course that you don't mind sharing your financial situation with them.

Wellyboots6

Thanks for those suggestions Buffster, I had not heard of ebid before.

I am struggling to find things to sell though, most things I don't need have already been sold!

buffster_2

I haven't seen your other threads on here, so sorry if you've already explained this, but do you not have room for a freezer or is it that you can't afford one?

If it's the latter, try freecycle or freegle. I gave away a fridge/freezer on freecycle when I got a new kitchen, as I was getting a built-in one. The one I gave away was around 12 years old, but was still working fine. So you might pick something up on there.

I take it you're looking at getting cash in by doing surveys etc?

Wellyboots6

I have room for a freezer just can't afford one.

I keep looking out on freecycle but they get snapped up so quickly, like gold dust on there! I havent heard of freegle either so I will look in to that, thank you.

People keep mentioning the surveys, what is it?