Fighting a losing battle!

liamgallagher87

My tv license is so expensive as Ive had to set it up from new so for the first 6 months im paying ~35, I also do a 60 mile round trip daily commuting to work so thats the reason for my fuel consumption.

There aren't any benefits available to me that I'm aware off.

paulmapp8306

Council tax relief should be shouldnt it?

Working Tax Credits if you work 35hrs a week or more (as a single person with no children) as well I think - though Im not so sure on that one (in not single and do have kids).

You should also be eligiable for help with your mortgage interest if you on a low income (which you are) and are struggling.

Can the 60 mile round trip be managed more efficiently? car share? Public transport (more of a pain almost certinly by cheaper?)

liamgallagher87

Im not eligible for working tax credits because im not 25, maybe next year though...

Im unsure on the council tax, ill contact my local council and regarding help with my mortgage, who provides that relief?

bargainbetty

If you are in a decent commuting area, you could look at something called mondaytofriday dot com. I used it once when away on business, and it's for people who don't want to stay in hotels.... worth a look, because you get your privacy at weekends.

That said, I have a lodger. He is now one of my best mates, we have a cracking laugh together, he cooks a mean lasagne and always changes the toilet roll. He pays a flat rate for rent, and chips in half towards the groceries. Cooking for two saves in the long run.

You aren't going backwards, you're just stepping sideways for a bit till the world catches up with your financial needs!

Good luck

zxspeccy

All very good suggestion being given here, but to add my tuppence worth:

Lodger - yes to a lodger, but I do understand how this can be a little daunting at first. Ideally get a good, credit worthy friend living with you, the utility bills shouldn’t be too much more.

Family Loan - would it not be possible to ask for a payment holiday or to reduce the payments? Are they charging you interest of is it a free loan? Ultimately they would like their money back so I would like to think they would be sympathetic to your current situation.

Bank Account - clearing the bank overdraft would save £31 a month so that should be a priority. What is the £15 Bank fee for?

Mortgage - are you stuck in a fixed rate mortgage or are you the bank’s SVR, as you maybe able to negotiate a good deal with your bank to reduce you mortgage payments (although this might be by increasing the term).

TV licence - your TV licence will come down in future which should help.

Phones - Mobile can be trimmed as long as you are not in a contract, you have a home phone and internet so an expensive mobile phone contract isn’t a necessity (unless it is needed for your freelance work). I get by on a £5 pay as you go contract which is sufficient for my needs.

Council tax – has this been trimmed for single person occupancy?

Gas/Electric/Water – are these all on meters, as living on your own might mean expensive bills if not. If they are on meters then are the bills estimated? If not it may be worth providing more accurate reading to see if you are over paying (or under paying).

House and car Insurances – shop around for deals as and when they are due for renewal, most years you should be able to find a cheaper deal providing you have no claims in the previous 12 months.

Overall you are not in that bad of a position, there are certainly people much worse off. You have a small shortfall in your income/expenditure which will hopefully be short term. I am sure things will pick up on the freelance work soon.

Good luck.

FireWyrm

Try cross training. Websites are nice, but its server-side that pays the most. Try cross training and certifying in C# as fast as you can. My colleague (from India) learned enough C# to get a job in under a month. I've been a professional developer for years, but it didnt just happen. There was a time when I was answering the phone and asking if you wanted fries with that. It's hard for the first few years, but if you are prepared to learn, you'll get there. Nothing every gets handed to you on a plate.

gashbag

get a new girlfriend