We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
How do you manage to survive on your jobseekers money?
Comments
-
How else can i ask for help if i have a mortgage to pay plus bills, etc. I live on my own and i do not have a family. obviously, the jobseeker's allowance is not enough to pay. i do not have an unemployment cover on my mortgage, credit cards.0
-
It's fairly impossible as a single person even living relatively frugally - I am running up bills on available credit to get me through. I had no savings as buying a flat in London on one secretarial wage meant there was never any spare to save before becoming unemployed.
I have cancelled my cable tv, I've reduced my food bill, have kept my heating mostly off except when it snowed, I keep putting off friends as I cannot afford to go out, have put no petrol in my car since December (I will need to put some in this week but keep useage at a minimum), I walk where possible, have had to suffer my car insurance premium massively rising just due to being unemployed. Latest casualty is the TV guide! I can go and get a Metro.. Up to now, I have been paying mortgage, service charge and ground rent myself as well as all I have been getting is the £67.50 a week.
I have kept gym membership and hair appts as I don't want to look a state whilst trying to get a job and they keep me more motivated, internet/phone and vet/pet bills are necessary. The costs for which are going on credit.
I don't drink, smoke, eat meat, have kids or a large tv...
Travel costs to interviews are also high and unless you give a fair bit of notice or they are a long way out of your area they are not paid - I have to travel into Central London for interviews and this is expensive, most i/v's seem to be at short notice too.0 -
It's fairly impossible as a single person even living relatively frugally - I am running up bills on available credit to get me through. I had no savings as buying a flat in London on one secretarial wage meant there was never any spare to save before becoming unemployed.
I have cancelled my cable tv, I've reduced my food bill, have kept my heating mostly off except when it snowed, I keep putting off friends as I cannot afford to go out, have put no petrol in my car since December (I will need to put some in this week but keep useage at a minimum), I walk where possible, have had to suffer my car insurance premium massively rising just due to being unemployed. Latest casualty is the TV guide! I can go and get a Metro.. Up to now, I have been paying mortgage, service charge and ground rent myself as well as all I have been getting is the £67.50 a week.
I have kept gym membership and hair appts as I don't want to look a state whilst trying to get a job and they keep me more motivated, internet/phone and vet/pet bills are necessary. The costs for which are going on credit.
I don't drink, smoke, eat meat, have kids or a large tv...
Travel costs to interviews are also high and unless you give a fair bit of notice or they are a long way out of your area they are not paid - I have to travel into Central London for interviews and this is expensive, most i/v's seem to be at short notice too.It's not easy at all.
0 -
you mean it's hopeless, right ?
i do not have a family and i have to pay my mortage £600/mo. where can i get this money? i0 -
seaweed5254 wrote: »you mean it's hopeless, right ?
i do not have a family and i have to pay my mortage £600/mo. where can i get this money? i
If your interest is being paid on your mortgage then it will take a long time to end up 6 months in arrears for the mortgage company to consider taking action.:footie:Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S)
Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money.
0 -
Hey we're up to £71 a week now:j0
-
It does say in my letter from the DWP
'How much money the law says you need to live on each week'
Just so the people know who think it's money to look for a job with! Or course you have to live on it too and that doesn't include job searching like phone calls, broadband, travel, extra electricity to run the pc/laptop that you wouldn't have on if you were at work etc0 -
It does say in my letter from the DWP
'How much money the law says you need to live on each week'
Just so the people know who think it's money to look for a job with! Or course you have to live on it too and that doesn't include job searching like phone calls, broadband, travel, extra electricity to run the pc/laptop that you wouldn't have on if you were at work etc
I was going to cancel my phone and just keep the broadband but I've had 2 telephone interviews now so it's something that needs to be kept and paid for.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 352K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.2K Spending & Discounts
- 245K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.4K Life & Family
- 258.8K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards