Low income, savings gone - what now?

SallyJane_2

Hi everyone, my first post. Been reading lots of posts and feel guilty because I am not strictly in debt but will be very soon. Apologies if this post is in the wrong place; find it a bit confusing.

Husband and me are low earners - he gets £13K gross per annum and last tax year I got £5K gross. I have to do temp work as and when because my dad has very poor health and sometimes I can be with him every day for 2 or 3 hours. Can't work at moment because of dad. Years ago I claimed "the dole" but swore I never would again because I felt humiliated. I was treated very badly and my dad made me complain and I had an apology in all fairness. But, never again. Probably haven't paid enough NI anyway. Anyway, my outgoings are more than what comes in. Mortgage, council tax, life, house & contents insurance, water rates, phone, gas, electric, tv licence, one loan which ends in 4 months, etc. etc. Got 3 credit cards but they are all clear. We are 58 and 60 yrs. old by the way.

We don't go out socially, no holiday for 4 years, we run two cars, one is J reg and the other is S reg, just basic cars .. we need them for work as we are in a rural area. Don't drink and haven't bought new clothes or shoes for 18 months. Even cut our own hair now. Since dad took ill we have dipped into savings to live - eked it out as much as possible - nearly all gone now. Only "extravagences" are broadband and husband smokes 80 cigarettes a week - used to buy packets of cigs but now rolls own cigs.

I tried to claim for looking after dad but was not successful.
Now that savings nearly gone we will steadily get into debt. It frightens me. Also, we really need to have repairs done to house - got several builder's estimtes and it will be about £5K.

Should we sell house and rent. We would get about £100K if we sold. Mortgage has about 6 years left. I've read about working tax credits but know nothing about them - do you have to have children for this - I hardly pay any tax anyway.

Sorry to rant on and on. I know my problems must seem laughable compared with some on here. Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you so much.

*zippy*

Hi sally :hello:

Welcome to mse and well done for posting

There is a website that has a benefits calculator link below that you may find helpful.

http://www.entitledto.com/

Have you also had a look on the benefits board here

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=139

As its late its quiet on here, but do check your thread tomorrow as i'm sure you will gets lots of advice from those with more experience.
best wishes
zippy x

angchris

hiya:hello:
sorry to hear you are having a rough time of it lately. from what i can gather you were doing ok up till your father got ill.. is there anyway he could be entitled to a home help/carer to ease the pressure on you? its worth checking out...
have you got a spare room you could rent out till you get back on your feet? could you rent your place out and move in with dad? could he rent a room out to pay for carer? anything you could sell on ebay lying around?
keep your chin up...angchris

Angelica_2

Hi you don't need children to claim Working Tax Credit. Have you tried for Pension Credit if you are on a low income and one of you is 60 you might get that. Is dad getting Attendance Allowance? if he was getting that you could get Carers Allowance for looking after him.

Hope this helps

SallyJane_2

Hi Zippy - thank you for replying so quickly. The websites you recommended are fantastic and have given me a lot of hope. I am off in a minute to the county hall to ask for a form to claim council tax. Thanks again.

SallyJane_2

Hi Angelica - many thanks for your advice. What you say re pension credit is very interesting. Am going to look more into that this morning. Thanks again.

GreenNinja

SallyJane,

I would just like to say I really admire you for your care of your Dad and the sacrifices you are making to do this. It makes me angry that people like you are not getting help from the state when there are so many people that milk and abuse the system.

I really hope you get some help with these money problems, I will be checking this thread to see what progress you have made.

Thinking of you and wishing you the best in this. X

SallyJane_2

Hi angchris - thanks for the kind reply. Will definitely look at ebay (life long hoarder of anything and everything). Feeling better about things now ... things are always worse in the early hours of the morning. Did try while ago for carer's allowance but wasn't successful. Might try again as dad's health is worse now. Thank you.

SallyJane_2

Greenninja - you are very kind. Thank you. It has given me a real boost to know that people do care.

BLUESUNSHINE_2

Hi Sallyjane ,

hope your situation improves very soon .Youve come to the right place for help , the people who use this website are fantastic and always willing to help other people

Shineyhappy

Morning!

I hope you are feeling a bit more positive now. I really hope you manage to get a carers allowance for looking after your Dad.

Have you checked all your ultilities are as cheap as possible? Or thought about earning some extra income through mystery shopping which could be fitting in around your Dad?

I think it is very admirable that you look after him even thought you have to sacrifice things for yourself. Try to sort out a holiday though, we all need a break and there are threads about using Tesco vouchers to pay for holidays or just to get away for a few nights camping.

Good luck sorting it all out!