Cost of living.. advice please

princessdon

robbie1412 wrote: »

Can you explain universal credit to me?

it's the new benefit system where the Govt has promised to help families like you, where working pays. There are basic calculators (not 100% accurate as not all details are known) that show how much better you will be in work as opposed to out of work. Which is how it should be - There is no way a family who works should be worse off.

They also have minimum working hours for couples relating to child age etc.

Also I am not sure from your posts whether

a) You are in private or social rent. Would you have to pay if on benefits (as many have to) or be subject to the bedroom tax if in social housing.

Also from april those on benefits are likely to be at least some Council Tax. (varies from council to council).

So if you get time look at UC calculators before you make any drastic decision on hours as you may find that soon you are in a worse position.

nannytone_2

brcaise money has always attracted money!

it is the middle classes that are losing at the moment ...
but they didnt worry too much avout the people that were benefot dependant ( lone parents, the sick and disabled)
now its biting them and theres uproar!

as a disabled person, that isnt entitled to th higher rates of benefit, but is at a real disadvantage job wose ...
dont expect me to pity those that are losing a percentage of their income.

i live on $139 a week and am looking at losing £60 a week through various vuts.
i cant better my position, but you are looking at maximising you entitlement by lessening your family responsibility.

im sorry i cant cry for the people losing child benefit ... im far too busi trying to work out how i will afford to eat

princessdon

robbie1412 wrote: »

Honestly, if you saw what we had cut down on you wouldn't believe it. cant get rid of car as not paid for, so need to stand the £45. School lunch is £1.85 per child per week so thats £22.20 pm, not sure where you get £80 from, lol. Utilities have stayed same cost, but we have reduced our consumption by 1/4. Honestly, we are trying every best way we can, we just feel as much as we give, its not enough. There are single people near us living in 3 bed houses , all paid for, with fancy lights up, and we have to make sure every light is switched of when leaving a room...

But I pay less Car Insurance for a brand new car (£25) fully comp (you;d only need basic insurance).

I don't use school lunches - Pack up's cost a lot less and often healthier. I think I probably spend £20 pm in school lunches, you are paying £1.85 x 5 x 3 - Over £100 (so easy savings there). Hence where the £80 comes from

I pay approx 100 pm Gas/Leccy on a 5 bed/3 bathroom home

I know this is about benefits v working - but realistically I think there are savings to be had in your budget to prevent further debts.

And the single people in a 3 bed home WILL not be paid for from april, they will have to pay an awful lot towards them.

robbie1412

princessdon wrote: »

But I pay less Car Insurance for a brand new car (£25) fully comp (you;d only need basic insurance).

I don't use school lunches - Pack up's cost a lot less and often healthier. I think I probably spend £20 pm in school lunches, you are paying £1.85 x 5 x 3 - Over £100 (so easy savings there). Hence where the £80 comes from

I pay approx 100 pm Gas/Leccy on a 5 bed/3 bathroom home

I know this is about benefits v working - but realistically I think there are savings to be had in your budget to prevent further debts.

£20 pm on school lunches for a family of 3 ? Thats £5 per week, thats £1 per day, thats 33p per day a child ?? please tell me where i can even buy an apple for 33p, lol

seriuosly we have looked at everything..

anyway thanks for reply, in case you hadn't noticed the numbers in my user name, today is a supposed to be a special day for me. Unfortunatly, i find myself here, lol

anyway, will break off and let you know how things progress thanks for your replies tho x

princessdon

Ok - Bag of apples at M's £1 for 10 (10p each). They take juice or water in a water bottle. Satsumas are 50p for 10 at the moment (5p each). Sarnie and a cheap yoghurt.

Given the rubbish they give at school and as your wife will give them a hot meal at tea, it's certainly doable.

miduck

robbie1412 wrote: »

We have worked for over 20 years, full time at 50 hours each

robbie1412 wrote: »

We did the step up at April from the 16 to 24 hours, cos the government told us we would be better off, it actually took ages to convince an employer who is feeling the pinch too to do this, and it was all lies, we are not better off at all.

Which is it?

Hmm71

robbie1412 wrote: »

Honestly, if you saw what we had cut down on you wouldn't believe it. cant get rid of car as not paid for, so need to stand the £45. School lunch is £1.85 per child per week so thats £22.20 pm, not sure where you get £80 from, lol. Utilities have stayed same cost, but we have reduced our consumption by 1/4. Honestly, we are trying every best way we can, we just feel as much as we give, its not enough. There are single people near us living in 3 bed houses , all paid for, with fancy lights up, and we have to make sure every light is switched of when leaving a room...

Blimey where do you live? I want to live there if the school only charges £1.85 per week for school meals. My daughter's school charges £2.00 a day - which is why she has packed lunches.

Happy Birthday by the way, if that's what the 1412 in your username is for

princessdon

Hmm71 wrote: »

Blimey where do you live? I want to live there if the school only charges £1.85 per week for school meals. My daughter's school charges £2.00 a day - which is why she has packed lunches.

He meant £1.85 a day - Hence the amount in his original post and my suggestion that you can save a huge amount of money by sending a pack up.

I can't fathom people who claim be skint and pay for school lunches. My son left his pack up in my car a few weeks ago and for his money he got limp salad, jacket that was tiny with some warm cheese and a cookie.

Mine often take left overs (today they had chicken rice and a nan bread). Much better varied diet.

In the summer it's easier as we grow our own salad, strawberries, raspberries etc so far cheaper again.

missbunbury

As far as the car goes, if you aren't using it I don't see why you can't get rid of it and still pay off the money you borrowed, it's off a person you know isn't it? If you are set on keeping it, try investigating cheaper insurance, I don't know whether you can still do this but I once had third party only (not fire and theft) which I had to ask for specially but it was a fair bit cheaper and since the car was worth barely anything it was well worth doing.

robbie1412

miduck wrote: »

Which is it?

Both miduck. It's not rocket science, and if you read the thread as good as you copy paste and edit, you would see I said later years accident and redundancy had forced this situation.