Not being able to make ends meet

SusieT

Mortgage and council tax are priority debts so they should be paid before the card debts. |s has been said drop the cards to £1 a month until the council tax and mortgage are sorted out and then pay more against them.
When you or your sister can manage it you could give your mother some money to help her get the payments back on track sooner. The card companies will jump up and down and threaten you with death and damnation but they know they are non priority debts and while you pay them the £1 there is nothing much they can do about it.

1940sGal

McKneff wrote: »

Not being judgemental, sorry if it came over that way. I really was thinking of your mum struggling while sister has the mobile (which are never necessary) etc. etc.
In your mums shoes, I'm not sure whether I would feel a little resentful

Hopefully things will be a little easier when you get your JSA and you can contribute.

Sorry, when things are like they are it's too easy to let things get on top of you. I know what you're saying but I wouldn't want to be without a mobile, if only for emergencies.

To be fair to mum she's not even remotely resentful. I know she could be but she's not like that. She knows we'd help more if we could. I've helped loads in the past when i've had money coming in, which is just another reason i hate not working. Not being able to pay my way! :mad:

1940sGal

SusieT wrote: »

Mortgage and council tax are priority debts so they should be paid before the card debts. |s has been said drop the cards to £1 a month until the council tax and mortgage are sorted out and then pay more against them.
When you or your sister can manage it you could give your mother some money to help her get the payments back on track sooner. The card companies will jump up and down and threaten you with death and damnation but they know they are non priority debts and while you pay them the £1 there is nothing much they can do about it.

I had no idea that was even possible! I'll tell her in the morning and see what she says. I know what she's like, she won't like phoning the companies up and asking that but I have no such worries so if she doesn't i certainly will!

1940sGal

Spirit wrote: »

I can see you are thinking hard about this, and some of the responses will challenge your existing thinking. These responses are not judging you, just another way of looking at things. You sound like good family team, so the next paragragh should not be taken as a critcism, just a bit of achallenge to think differently.

There is no way your sister could cover her basic living costs for £110 per month, and at this point your mum cannot afford to subsidise her ...as much as she might want to. Your sister needs to recognise this, cut back on her own expenses and meet more of her share of bills. (for example - my DD is still studying, when she has worked full time we have asked her to pay £200 per month towards her keep as she needs to have realistic understanding of the cost of living).


When you have found work or recieved benefits that should also be assessed as to what it costs for you to live and a fair sum go into the household kitty (could you assess what did rent, bills and food cost when you were away studying?).

In the meantime have you and your sister things you could ebay that might raise money towards helping your mum with arrears that cannot be met otherwise.

Good luck, you sound like a great daughter.

Thank you. I know people are trying to help and I'm more than grateful. With ebay, there isn't that much in the house that we could sell, at least not much that would make much. But tomorrow I will have a look.

ukclare

Spend a little time on the "up your income boards". The ideas on there can help you make quite bit more using your PC. I do surveys and Swagbucks and do quite nicely each month. Perhaps there are a few other ideas for you there too.
Good luck!!!