Wages don't cover the basic bills

Ianwindowman

Hi. I have recently moved in with my girlfriend.And 2 children. We are both part time self employed and we earn about £200 a week combined.

Apparently we are entitled to £63 pw child tax credits.
And that is all we are entitled to
This brings our income to £263

Basic bills
Rent. £83.
Council tax £27
Gas and electric £35
Dinner money for kids £30
Shopping £80
Car insurance and fuel £40

And we are already way over.!!!

How on earth are we supposed to live?

How do people on the dole afford big TVs
and cars on finance?

Anyone that could help us out in understanding all of this will be greatly appreciated. Ian

nannytone_2

if you are working more than 24 hours a week between you ( with one working at least 16) you may be entitled to wtc.
stop paying dinner money and make packed lunches
your shopping bill is very high. you should be able to save at least £25 a week.... with the money for kids dinners... would leave you a fiver up!

look into housing benefit and council tax benefit.
increase your working hours.

Tiglath

How did the finances work out when you had two places to live between you? Can the kids take packed lunches? As has been said, the food bill could definitely be cut. Your gas and electricity are quite high as well - are you on the best deal and do you monitor usage?

Barneysmom

One of you will have to get a proper job.

pmlindyloo

This doesn't seem right unless you are not fulfilling the hours needed to claim Working Tax Credit.

Even then I would expect you to get some Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Have you applied for these?

You can put your details into the benefit checker here:

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx to see what you should be claiming.

Of course it could be that because you are both self employed your earnings have fluctuated a great deal and any claims for benefits were worked out on your last year's incomes. Is this the case?

pmlindyloo

Useful article here explaining about being self employed and claiming benefits:

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/working_or_looking_for_work/self_employment.aspx

Bangton

Do you get the £20 per week child benefit at the moment. If you have 2 children it should be £20 plus £13ish for the second child...per week. It wasn't mentioned in your incomes and is available for everyone.

Ianwindowman

nannytone wrote: »

if you are working more than 24 hours a week between you ( with one working at least 16) you may be entitled to wtc.
stop paying dinner money and make packed lunches
your shopping bill is very high. you should be able to save at least £25 a week.... with the money for kids dinners... would leave you a fiver up!

look into housing benefit and council tax benefit.
increase your working hours.

we work 30+hours between us
the kids dont like packed lunches, besides, we wouldnt save much money there . and if we did. we have plenty of other bills. i only wrote the basic ones.
we constantly try to increase working hours, but the work isnt there

Ianwindowman

Tiglath wrote: »

How did the finances work out when you had two places to live between you? Can the kids take packed lunches? As has been said, the food bill could definitely be cut. Your gas and electricity are quite high as well - are you on the best deal and do you monitor usage?

i lived with my parents and my girlfriend got nearly £200 in housing, working tax and child benefit. now i moved in, they take more off her than i earn. so even paying every penny towards bills, dosent cover it.
yeah we are on the best gas and electricity deal. its very cold here in the winter

Ianwindowman

Barneysmom wrote: »

One of you will have to get a proper job.

thanks for you amazing idea. dont you think we have tried?

RuthnJasper

I know it sounds harsh, but sometimes it's the only way forward. I have no kids, but am in a fairly similar situation.

Are you able to get rid of expensive phone/mobile gadgets and apps?
Definitely get rid of Sky if you have it - I don't even have a TV now, though I can appreciate that not everyone can go without the basic 'free' TV channels.
Also, the kids are a part of the equation and will have to learn that they have to have a packed lunch (unless they get free school meals) - everyone needs to pull together; my neighbours and their kids are all, like me, in HA properties and understand that they can't always have everything they want when money is tight.
Plenty of 'basics' (I use Sainsburys) foods are perfectly acceptable and can really reduce your food bill.
It's hard, but it IS possible.

Have a squint here for some good (free) advice:- http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/your_money/money_management_index_ew/debt_help_with_debt_e.htm?gclid=CISt84mznbUCFdLJtAodGxgAfQ

Good luck to you and your family. x