Starting a new job

dancingfairy

I would do what kloana suggests, start stocking up and squirelling tiny bits away if you can.
I know you are supposed to tell the jobcentre straight away but obviously if you can tell them a week of 2 later then that will help you (obviously you will have to pay back any overpayent).
Be careful with trying to start mid month - I understand what the poster was getting at but you need to be mindful of how long it will take you to get on the system and cut off dates. If you start mid month and have missed the deadline to get on the payroll for that month then you may end up waiting until the end of the following month to get paid (which will obviously be worse).
In terms of borrowing (if you have to) I'd look at:
1) a short term overdraft at your bank
2) a credit card to tide you over until you get your first paycheck
3) a smallish loan from a credit union. Some credit unions require you to have been a meber and saved with them for a period of time before they will lend to you, others don't - it very much depends.
In terms of housing, you have 2 choices, 1 keep quiet and hope that you are o.k or 2 let the landlord know that you havesecured a new job and there might be a changeover period but that you will of course prioritise your rent.
I'd also look at making a list of everything you need to pay over the next month or 2, work out what money you will have coming in when (ie DLA, wages etc) and work out what you can shuffle around/pay late without too much hassle.
Oh you can also try the moneysaving oldstyle board for how to really cut the groceries down or there was a woman called Jack Monroe on the tv this weeek with a food blog on how to live on 1 pound per day for food- maybe worth a look. I wouldn't want to live on this amount for long but for a few weeks it should be doable.
Best of Luck
df