Help urgently needed, please!

[Deleted User]

clairelg88 wrote: »

My cars not worth much, its an old focus, probably get around £500 for it as its got plenty of tax and a bit of mot left.

But you will also be saving on the recurring costs of Insurance, Tax, MOT, Servicing, fuel etc.

eyeopener2

How much is your rent arrears? Would the car sale clear it?

I can't see the amount from your SOA.

clairelg88

I owe nearly £400 in arrears, but obviously that goes up every week. I have no money at all at the moment to even pay rent!

Then i owe over £500 in housing benefit overpayment.

Phil_rich

Sell the car and pay off the rent arrears. Then with the £100 per month saved, pay off the benefits over 6 months.

At the same time cut your food bill and think about only having 1 dog and you will be on a much better path.

Good luck.

mum2one

even if your daughters dad is on the dole he should still be supporting her, at present you would be entitled to £5 per week, then when he starts a job your entiltlement would go up.

Topcat1982

can you go through the CSA?

Is the dad actively seeking work or is he permanently on benefits? hopefully if he gets a job it should be easier to make ends meet

ChopinonaBudget

You can look into appealing the Housing Benefit decision. I had to do this for many years when I was on Housing Benefit as my self-employment meant nobody ever worked out my benefit correctly until I got to managerial level :eek:
In fact, I seem to remember baing on roughly the same income as you at one point, and I was still eligible for about £200-£250 per month benefit on a £575 2 bedroom house (I'm also a single parent getting tex credits living in a 2 bed house). If you're working, you need to make sure you account for any child care in your application as this is taken into consideration too (I think they work it out as a percentage of a deduction from your income, giving you that "eligible amount" figure that is crucial)

You might also be eligible for council tax benefit, not just single person's allowance. I know I got CTB for a good few years, although it got taken off me long before HB did as the income threshold is lower.
If (and it is an if....) you were eligible for CTB and HB, and somebody messed up, you could get a back payment yourself, so please do make sure you appeal, you have nothing to lose!

Good luck

lizzy23

CSJ is another cheap good quality dogt food, think the puppy is less than £20 a sack, and the adult is just over £10 and this is delivered, good luck

Slowdown

Hi
Sorry to hear you are in a bit of trouble here and I hope things begin to look up soon.
When I was 12 my dad left and things became very tight at home. My mum was never one for spoiling us present wise but things got tighter still. Even though I resented seeing my friends tip up in their new birthday outfit with loads of presents, I am to this day grateful that I was not showered with meaningless articles that were wasted money.
It has taught me a lesson in value. Not just monetary, but idea of the gift being in the giving of it rather than the price of it.
Thirty five years later I am buying the ladies in my family second hand ponchos from ebay and the men hand knitted socks also from ebay. My children have learnt to ask for reasonable gifts. This year my 14 year old has asked for a pair of bootie slippers and my 16 year old a game. My daughter at uni has a list of useful items she needs. I can't see myself spending more than £200 between them and I know they will be happy.
Please think carefully about the message you are giving your DD. She would be just as happy playing a couple of games with you as she would with her mountain of presents. Its always nice to get presents but in the end its you she loves not the heap of plastic.
I don't wish to sound like I am moralising, though if I do,I do. I just think its a big area where big savings could be made now, that will lay good foundations for the future.
Kind regards
Slowdown:)

clairelg88

Hi everyone,
thanks for your replies.
I have written a letter to appeal to the housing benefit decision, which I sent last week so I'm just waiting to hear back from them.

I have tried contacting csa and they say they will contact him, but its been years and nothings ever come of it. He won't get a job for that reason, so there's not much point pursuing that.

I will definatly try and cut down on the presents this year, I'm going to try and budget for £100 for my daughter. So hopefully I will find some good deals online

I do feel kind of hopeless at the moment, I've got bills to pay and can't pay them! Last week all the direct debits came out, so we had to live out of the cupboards, but running low now. My ex also brought my dogs some food, which was good of him.

I've tried ebaying again, but I really dont have anything to sell! Sold a few bits last week and I've made about £80, so quite pleased with that.