Student, pregnant, sinking and in need of help :( *update*

Archi_Bald

Use a comparison site to find the cheapest energy provider. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

Then when you know who you would like to switch to, check Quidco and/or TCB because lots of them pay cashback if you switch.

If you are unfamiliar with cashback sites: you must delete your browser cookies before you start the order.
Also read: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/cashback-websites

ABetterLife

Archi_Bald wrote: »

:

Thank you Archi Bald!

DCFC79

Maybe think about buying yellow stickered items to reduce the food bill, other than that not much else I can say except well done on making a start on it and I wish you luck with the debt and the newborn, looks like you have kind of started to plan where to take the new born.

Archi_Bald

Most is one-time stuff only, but it could help reduce your supermarket bill, particularly once you need nappies

Tesco food shop

Ocado

ASDA

Worth checking regularly for new offers. I think Quidco allow you to "follow retailer" for offer alerts.

That's the end of my ideas - - but I bet people on the Debt Free wannabee board have tons more to add.

ABetterLife

DCFC79 wrote: »

Maybe think about buying yellow stickered items to reduce the food bill, other than that not much else I can say except well done on making a start on it and I wish you luck with the debt and the newborn, looks like you have kind of started to plan where to take the new born.

Yeah, there's two little stands in my local Sainsburys with reduced items which I like to peruse. Got some good deals there I find the nectar card coupons help also, plus I accrue the points for a future date

And thank you! Hopefully I can post here in a year's time with a happier post and a report of savings!

Katem

ABetterLife wrote: »

I'm determined to relax in my last few weeks and I am SO excited to meet my little girl! She's already a ray of sunshine in my life and I am already even MORE determined than I already was to work hard and get us out of this awful flat/area and into a good financial position. I want her to have opportunities, to not grow up in deprivation. I want both of us to be happy because I am so miserable at the moment and it's not fair on her to have a sad Mummy.

And I agree. His response was totally uncalled for and obviously crafted to hurt and degrade. I'd understand if I was posting saying "I'm on 1000 a month benefits and I want more to pay for my cigarettes, Sky TV and gambling, plus I'm planning on having another child soon and I don't ever want to work" but I'm not. I got pregnant unexpectedly but decided to keep going forward and working towards a better life and education. Yes, I have a few luxuries and have made some silly decisions, but ultimately I'm trying and I'm getting somewhere.

Honestly, I am proud of myself for getting this far. I was at rock bottom some months ago. Nowehere to live, having to seriously consider dropping out of my top University because of the rent at the temp accom, crying daily, no support and then moving into a grotty, dirty, undecorated and empty flat with all my stuff in boxes and sleeping on a mattress on the floor day after day.

I have worked really hard to stay at uni, sort out this flat and make the best of a bad situation, even when it's meant working myself to the point of getting ill. I could have taken the easy route of dropping out of uni, claiming HB to pay for the temp accom, getting this rent paid for me and then claiming all the benefits under the sun after my baby was born with no view of going back to work. But I didn't, because I don't want that - I want a career, something to work for, money in my pocket that I earned.

I've even paid off an overdraft, which I'm very proud of!

Thank you again (sorry I just ranted a bit there!)

I think you SHOULD be very proud of yourself - good for you! Your daughter's dad doesn't know what he's missing - his loss!

DCFC79

ABetterLife wrote: »

Yeah, there's two little stands in my local Sainsburys with reduced items which I like to peruse. Got some good deals there I find the nectar card coupons help also, plus I accrue the points for a future date

And thank you! Hopefully I can post here in a year's time with a happier post and a report of savings!

Forgot to say you should be proud of yourself

ABetterLife

Katem wrote: »

I think you SHOULD be very proud of yourself - good for you! Your daughter's dad doesn't know what he's missing - his loss!

Thank you!

Despite my Mother and I's differences, she taught me to work hard for a living. She was a single Mum (up until I was 6 and she met my Stepdad) and got herself through uni and achieved her 2:1 in Steiner education. She worked very hard and taught me well. She always made sure to teach me the value of education and being well educated. Likewise with my Father.

He really doesn't! This baby is already so full of personality and love and he's missing out. I do hope he comes back though, not so much for my sake but for her's. She deserves a Father. Fingers crossed.

ABetterLife

DCFC79 wrote: »

Forgot to say you should be proud of yourself

Thank you! I appreciate it

ABetterLife

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Most is one-time stuff only, but it could help reduce your supermarket bill, particularly once you need nappies

Worth checking regularly for new offers. I think Quidco allow you to "follow retailer" for offer alerts.

That's the end of my ideas - - but I bet people on the Debt Free wannabee board have tons more to add.

Thank you! I think I'm gonna do an online shop at Tesco (have a clubcard) if I can find a good offer.

Thanks for your ideas, they've been very useful I think I'll stay away from the Debt Free wannabee board though, as I posted a thread on there yesterday and people were quite harsh to me. Kinda put me off to be honest.