Leaving with nothing - help!

hannah9000

Morning all,

My marriage has broken down and I'm currently looking for a private rental property to move into (I am on the council list but I know this could take some time regardless of banding!) - I have an 18 month old son.

I have never been in a position where I have quite literally nothing - I've spoken to the housing people and they've advised me they'll provide a bond as I don't have any money for a deposit - but I'm going to need approx £2k for a car (current car is my ex husband's) and to get essential furniture for the new house.
I work 20 hours a week, so I'm not looking to scrounge, and I can afford repayments up to £100 a month. BUT I'm still a discharged Bankrupt (until next xmas!). A crisis loan no longer exists, is there anything in place of this?

jacques_chirac

Is a car essential?

Look for local furniture projects, you'll no doubt be able to get most items for free or at very low cost. You certainly shouldn't be looking at anywhere near £2,000.

hannah9000

Yes a car is essential to get my son to nursery and me to work.

pmlindyloo

hannah9000 wrote: »

Morning all,

My marriage has broken down and I'm currently looking for a private rental property to move into (I am on the council list but I know this could take some time regardless of banding!) - I have an 18 month old son.

I have never been in a position where I have quite literally nothing - I've spoken to the housing people and they've advised me they'll provide a bond as I don't have any money for a deposit - but I'm going to need approx £2k for a car (current car is my ex husband's) and to get essential furniture for the new house.
I work 20 hours a week, so I'm not looking to scrounge, and I can afford repayments up to £100 a month. BUT I'm still a discharged Bankrupt (until next xmas!). A crisis loan no longer exists, is there anything in place of this?

OK, first check that you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to - tax credits, housing benefit, council tax reduction, child benefit and child support.

I am presuming that you have no furniture in your current house that you could take with you?

To be blunt there is no financial help available. You would need to be on a qualifying benefit to be eligible for any of the loans available.

You need to look on freecycle/secondhand shops and ask family/friends etc to furnish your new place. Amazing what people have spare.

Maybe you ought to consider renting a furnished place - that would solve your problems.

As regards the car then I am sure that there are dodgy loan companies with enormous interest rates that would oblige.

The alternative is to ask someone to take out a loan for you with you signing an agreement to repay them each month.

Not something I would personally do but someone close to you may help out. Even if you lost your job (worse case scenario) the benefits you got plus child support would probably be enough for the repayment if you bought a small, cheap, reliable runabout.

tonyciclo

hannah9000 wrote: »

Morning all,

My marriage has broken down and I'm currently looking for a private rental property to move into (I am on the council list but I know this could take some time regardless of banding!) - I have an 18 month old son.

I have never been in a position where I have quite literally nothing - I've spoken to the housing people and they've advised me they'll provide a bond as I don't have any money for a deposit - but I'm going to need approx £2k for a car (current car is my ex husband's) and to get essential furniture for the new house.
I work 20 hours a week, so I'm not looking to scrounge, and I can afford repayments up to £100 a month. BUT I'm still a discharged Bankrupt (until next xmas!). A crisis loan no longer exists, is there anything in place of this?

Been there, done that. Put as much as I could in one suitcase, got in the car and drove to the railway station (Swansea), parked the car in the station car park and got on the first train and ended up in Manchester. Had £20 in my pocket, no where to live.

Eventually things improved, got married, bought a house, had children. Looking back now - being in that position taught me one thing - self reliance.

hannah9000

Thanks all.

Lindyloo I'm still currently living in the family home so not entitled to housing benefit etc until I move out. I'm looking at a house in Monday.
After researching I've come to the realisation that there is no help available so I'm going to have to talk very nicely to my dad!

Tonyciclo I am an incredibly independent person and have only ever relied on myself until I met and married my husband!! I feel like I've lost all sense of identity and independence-looking forward to gaining it back. If that means struggling for a while than so be it. I just don't want my son to suffer.

rb211

you should be able to get a run around car for a lot less than 2K I would have thought £750, (get one with as much MOT as possible).

I was in a similar position and i virtually furnished my whole house using freecycle, but you will need internet access for that (library)

can you get a second job ? pub, restaurant work

Dovah_diva

To be honest, you don't need £2k. You can get a car for £500 - there are loads on Auto Trader that come with MOT and tax for that price. Furniture - consider a partly furnished rental or look to charity shops and Freecycle.

Horseunderwater

As you will be a lone parent you can claim working tax credit if you work more than 16 hours per week and are over 25 years old. Assuming you income is low enough. Suggest you look into that.

princessdon

Horseunderwater wrote: »

As you will be a lone parent you can claim working tax credit if you work more than 16 hours per week and are over 25 years old. Assuming you income is low enough. Suggest you look into that.

Under/over 25 doesn't matter if they have children.

Neelienew

tonyciclo wrote: »

Been there, done that. Put as much as I could in one suitcase, got in the car and drove to the railway station (Swansea), parked the car in the station car park and got on the first train and ended up in Manchester. Had £20 in my pocket, no where to live.

Eventually things improved, got married, bought a house, had children. Looking back now - being in that position taught me one thing - self reliance.

Of course you did Andy.
Are you self reliant?
The OP has said she has nothing, so how are you helping here?

tonyciclo wrote: »

ESA £106.50
Private pensions and annuities £107.76
Wife State pension £78.55
Guaranteed pension credit £114.84
Pension credit savings £2.12
DLA (HRM/MRC) £108.25
AA (top rate) £79.15

Makes a total of £597.17 a week