Newbie here looking for advice.

Mummy_Sarah

Me and my partner are having some money issues at the moment. My partner works full time (shift work) and I dont work as i stay at home with my son (he does go to playgroup 2 hours on a mon,weds and fri). We have 2 children, 4 and 2 years. And because my partner done a lot of overtime last year to pay for our childrens birthday parties, christmas and holidays we were reassessed by housing and working tax credits and told we have been overpaid by working tax by 1600. and we are dropping from £140 to £17 a month (which we cant start having until next april) . and housing we owe £120 and do not recieve any more benefit. The thing is my partner as been told there wont be no more over time left as they have employed some one new. So we calculated all our finance and im left with £74 a week after bills. How do you support a family of £74 a week? anyone else going through this? Iv been looking at part time jobs (lets face it no one can take any more of our benefits off us because we are not receiving anything anyway) The only problem I have is that I have no family for my son, basically its just me and my partner. If i left him at my partners parents he basically would be watching tv all day and dont want to do anything to hinder his development. Any advice or chat from people going through the same pardicument would be greatly appreciated.

unimaginative_user_name

Well done for posting. It's hard when kids are small as often what you earn would all go in childcare costs if you worked.

£74 isn't a lot for a family. Have you looked at the old style boards on this forum where there are lots of ideas for cheap meal planning?

I don't know if you have any debts except the tax credit overpayment but if you posted your Statement of Affairs here people will probably have ideas for cutting back, shopping around etc. There is a link on the first page of this board. O'm not allowed to post a link but I'm sure someone else will.

firesidemaid

also, am pretty sure, altho they may try and fob you off, that if last year and this year are so different that they should be treated separately.

OrkneyStar

What is the £74 to cover, as you say 'after bills'?
Maybe if you completed a Statement of Affairs (don't have the link but it is near the top somewhere) folk could help more?

Mummy_Sarah

Ok here is the breakdown of all our incomings.
1050 partners pay each month
133 child benefit
412 (103x4) Child tax

= so average is 1595

Outgoings is
rent 450
concil tax 100
gas and electric 180 (im trying to cut this down had no gas on in months)
car insurance 55
petrol for month 100
water 27
sky 52 (we are considering getting rid of tv as we pay a lot of money each month for just nick jr)
Mobile 25 (contract)
interest on overdraft 20
Tv licence 12
daughters Dinner money 42.00 a month
sons playgroup fees 88.00
Overpayment from housing 20
Loan 125
1296
1595-1296 = 299 or
74.75 left each week for food, nappies, saving for christmas etc. We dont own any store cards or credit cards. My partner has an overdraft of 1500 and we are always in it. The loan is due to end in a christmas 2013.

Mummy_Sarah

My partner is considering looking for a lower paid 9-5 job so I could work nights (if i find a job that is) and then there be someone there for the kids at all times. Even through it be really hard. Maybe I could sleep when my son is in nursury?

brummiebabe

Mummy_Sarah wrote: »

Ok here is the breakdown of all our incomings.
1050 partners pay each month
133 child benefit
412 (103x4) Child tax

= so average is 1595

Outgoings is
rent 450
concil tax 100
gas and electric 180 (im trying to cut this down had no gas on in months)
car insurance 55
petrol for month 100
water 27
sky 52 (we are considering getting rid of tv as we pay a lot of money each month for just nick jr) - unnecessary...your children can easily make do with the freeview channels
Mobile 25 (contract)
interest on overdraft 20
Tv licence 12
daughters Dinner money 42.00 a month - have you thought about packed lunches??? Easy to save a little money there
sons playgroup fees 88.00 - can these sessions be reduced?
Overpayment from housing 20
Loan 125
1296
1595-1296 = 299 or
74.75 left each week for food, nappies, saving for christmas etc. We dont own any store cards or credit cards. My partner has an overdraft of 1500 and we are always in it. The loan is due to end in a christmas 2013.

Hi and welcome to the board! You really need to do a full SOA detailing everything - sticky for this is one of the first posts on DFW. That way you get a real picture of your situation. Good luck

Mummy_Sarah

brummiebabe wrote: »

Hi and welcome to the board! You really need to do a full SOA detailing everything - sticky for this is one of the first posts on DFW. That way you get a real picture of your situation. Good luck

Hi brummiebabe what is SOA?

My little girl cant have packed lunches until she is in year one. She is in reception at the moment so will be a possibility next year.
I can reduce the nursury to two sessions a week saving £30 a month. I want him to go to nursury because my little girl went and i feel im failing as mum if he doesnt go and experience it. He soo happy there at the moment. Sky defiantly, my partner is the one reluctant through as he says cbeebies are rubbish (yes hes 29).

lilyp

I think it sounds like you do really well with what you have.

Get rid of Sky and put the money saved towards the loan to pay it off faster. That will make a bit of a difference.

Mummy_Sarah

Yeh hopefully I can get it cleared a lot earlier. The things i worry about through obvious christmas. And I may come across as a bit silly but I dont like my children going without anything. So when the school has a halloween disco, theyre costumes, and taking them out for bonfire night, and my little girl has had her pictures done in school which will be about £25. Im just worrying about paying that out of my budget. I know it sounds daft and I need to be strict with myself but half of the issue is that i dont like my kids being different to others.

Allypops

I would also advise getting rid of Sky and cutting the nursery sessions back. The added bonus with Cbeebies and CBBC is NO ADVERTS!!;) Wait until you get funded nursery placement. Things will also ease up a bit once the loan finishes.

Christmas can be just as much fun without spending mahoosive amounts of money - especially when the children are so young. Have a look at the christmas threads on the Old style board. I was reading through the other day and there were lovely ideas of what to make and do at christmas.

There will be lots of other parents in your child's school who are struggling - there's a lot of it about you know!

If pay has dropped make sure you report it to HMRC/local authority as they might reassess you for this year.