Going to be unable to afford rent

welsh_bristolian

GDB2222 wrote: »

If you need them for your work, you have no choice, really.

Now, about that second wage, is your partner actively looking?

Yes, she's shown me emails (I didn't ask for proof, it was to show me the stupid replies and demands employers make).

lindsaygalaxy

I think the only real answer is for your partner to find a job, any job, even on minimum wage part-time, it will all help. There are jobs around, not always the best, but there are some, even just to keep her earning some money til something she wants come along.

robpw2

welsh_bristolian wrote: »

Please reread what you quoted, the £250 covers food, drink, cleaning stuff and everything that has to be replaced regularly.

And I live with my partner, we have a cat, but he costs roughly £20/month

even so thats extortiante .
cleaning stuff even you can get from 99p shop- branded products too like cif and ajax surely you don't need to buy more then 2 -3 of these a month
drink - do you mean alchohol ? if so perhaps you should cut down on the basis you cannot afford to live - try water and squash
as for food for two people me and my partner spend £20 a week that - 80 a month and we cook everynight , don't buy ready meals or junk food etc
so you could save at least 150 on your montly food spend and even if you wanted drink you could save £100 quid -

jjj1980

Just wanted to try and help with the cutting down of food, drink cleaning bills.

I cover the above for me and my 2.5yr old, including her nappies and wipes for around £100 per month, probably less as I don't always keep a complete check!

I buy whatever is on offer cleaning product wise from Wilkinson and the supermarket. Get hand wash, toothpaste etc from Boots own ranges, always checking for discounts on the advantage card machines. I buy other bits from Poundland and Poundworld.

It was hard at first as I had been on a good salary, renting privately and paying loans and after being made redundant while pregnant, am now working on a lower salary so can understand it can be upsetting but you will find ways to manage.

Voyager2002

I have to say, 550 per month is reasonable rent for a home for a couple that is also suitable to be a workplace. So I doubt whether there are significant savings to be made there: not enough to justify the expense and disruption of a house move.

You might consider letting your landlord know that you find the rent rather high, and ask for a reduction, possibly in return for accepting responsibility for part of the maintenance.

Otherwise, the way forward is to look at ways to increase your household income and cut expenditure. I think your gas bill sounds extremely high, so that would be something else to look at in detail.

puddy

apart from the phone and internet bill which OP may not have a choice over due to his job, his outgoings sound far from excessive, just normal

not all of us have the choice of a meter due to the type of property, also if i understand correctly OP is in rented, how can he apply for a meter, surely that is down to the landlord as the meter cannot be removed again if he changes his mind and the lanldord may not want one

secondly, the only answer to this is for the OPs partner to get a job as even a part time job on minimum wage will pay this extra, so all is not lost

BitterAndTwisted

£250 for food, cleaning materials and whatnot could be cut in half if you're determined. I think that should be a challenge for your OH to take on if they're not earning a cent. I suggest a visit to the Old-Style part of the forum on methods to do this. My little pusscat only costs me a quid a week for his food. Also, I think your figures for utulity bills are too much. If they're an accurate estimate of your consumption you need to turn the heating off. I've barely had mine on since about February. Needs must!

Your OH needs to find a job, any job. And soon.

Also, if you're renting your landlord might not be too pleased if you try to arrange for a water-meter to be installed. That's not your decision to make.

SternMusik

GDB2222 wrote: »

IIRC, I pay £3 or so per 1000 litres of water, including sewerage etc. So, it sounds like you are being billed for 15,000 litres a month water consumption.

I am guessing the OP lives in South West England. So do I, and I pay over £5 per 1000 litres (plus a standing charge) for water and sewerage. I am on a water meter. Before that I used to live in the midlands, where my water bill was roughly half of what it is now (also on a meter). Consumption has stayed the same.

The same is true for gas and electricity, which is also more expensive in the south west.

go_cat

welsh_bristolian wrote: »

Yes, she's shown me emails (I didn't ask for proof, it was to show me the stupid replies and demands employers make).

Are these demands really that unreasonable if it means she gets a job yes it might not be mon-fri 9-5 Or what she wants to do as a career but it's a job and nowadays you can't be picky

welsh_bristolian

go_cat wrote: »

Are these demands really that unreasonable if it means she gets a job yes it might not be mon-fri 9-5 Or what she wants to do as a career but it's a job and nowadays you can't be picky

No, sorry, not the demands for her, I meant job requirements:
one job required a degree, 5 years of management experience and paid 20k.