Cannot afford to pay all our bills, what are the options?

Pollycat

ChopinonaBudget wrote: »

Am I the only one wondering if OP would be given such a hard time finding a evening job if he were a she? I've not seen SAHMs being told to get evening jobs on this board before... Mostly just to find survey work or eBay stuff etc.

I don't come onto the DFW board very often, I just picked this thread up because it was on a board that I do read and it was moved to DFW so I don't know what advice SAHM's are generally given about upping income.

I think in fairness to the OP, the reticence he showed about a job was when he explained about not claiming job-seekers in post #58.
I can understand that it would be pretty hard for him to work at the same time as his wife is out working because they'd need to pay for child care.

For all we know, he may be out trawling local pubs, shops etc looking for an evening job.

Time to cut him some slack and hope he comes back to update us on how he's getting on after the advice he's had?

ChopinonaBudget

sourcrates wrote: »

I think a lot of people give advice, in good faith, but of the "one size fits all variety".
I work shifts 3 days a week, and have the kids the other two days.
My wife and myself are separated, but we still share the childcare, mind you my life will become easier after September as my boy will be at school full time, they are very good at handing him there, very strict with them lol, he doesn't like it !!!!!
Really, we don't know that much about the OP`s home life, and we don't all fit into niche brackets, there are often other factors to consider.

With apologies to OP for off topic, good luck for your son for September!

You're right about the one size fits all... We do know very little about most people's circumstances here. And everybody needs slightly (or very) different solutions to their problems.

glasgowsaver2011

I agree, working is a bind...( for the sake of argument)......

So will he sell his telly, his smart phone....

And regarding the number of applicants for jobs - no point trying then eh.

G4s rock steady are pretty much evening and weekend only - always recruiting - guaranteed start (unless you really do not want to work) - zero hour contract but work is there. (no experience or quals needed- concerts and sporting events)

They got me out of a bind once upon a time!

ChopinonaBudget

Pollycat wrote: »

Time to cut him some slack and hope he comes back to update us on how he's getting on after the advice he's had?

Agreed .

Top-ranking_Bug

A_Couple_In_Love wrote: »

3 ways to save here:



£200 arrears for the rent. Been paying our £775 a month on time, only been short twice.
Look for a cheaper home, again, I pay £375pm for a 2 bedroom house, front and back garden. Have a look for a home for £400 until you sort out your debt. (Saved £375)

This is not really a sensible option as it costs a lot of money to physically move (even with the help of friends and family for transport and fuel.

More importantly, you need a deposit to get a new lease. You only get back your current deposit about two weeks later. Oh, and there is the obligatory credit search fee that most landlords charge these days. Plus the risk of being turned down for a lease due to poor credit.

It is likely that the OP's utility companies would prove problematic if he told them he was moving.

Been there, tried all that. It's often cheaper to stay where you are.

tgroom57

The thing I am unclear of is just how to go about this. People are saying cancel DD's but I am looking for template letters to send out to these people.

You cancel Direct debits at your bank. Go in there and ask for a list of all Direct Debits on your account, then look through and decide what to cancel. Your bank holds the permission for the Direct Debits, and you just need to tell your bank to cancel - maybe in writing. It can all be done in one trip.

In other news, were you due a tax refund from the year that ended April 2014? If you stopped work in September 2013 you should have had a refund of PAYE tax. It isn't sent automatically. Update: presumably that was the £350 you had recently.

birtles1010

Am coming into this rather late but don't think that this has been covered.
Your food bill for 2 people and a toddler could be halved
I suggest HotUKdeals.com, Yellow (reduced food) labels and perhaps a Jamie Oliver cookbook borrowed from the library
If you have even a small freezer you are set for life.
Visit lidls, aldi, morrisons, coop & waitrose - no - don't laugh - the local waitrose gives worthwhile discounts on almost out of date food. 4 ltrs milk is down to 85p in the local aldi, fruit & vegetables are a good price in aldi & morrisons, lidls for couscous, yoghurts & vanilla icecream etc etc
Remember that loss leaders are intended to get you into a shop & then overspend there to save time.
Apart from really basic staples like potatoes ONLY buy reduced/almost out of date food and local reductions and loss leaders. You'll get a varied diet, eat food that you would perhaps have never tried & save pounds.

And as a final mention - NEVER throw food away, cook what you need & eat it all or overcook & freeze for later.

BillJones

Pollycat wrote: »

:wall: :wall: :wall:

It would have been very useful advice if the OP had originally posted:...

No, it's still good advice, unless you are claiming that you know that the OP will never consider any loans again.

His previous activity suggests otherwise. Can you not just stick to giving your own advice, and stop sneering at the good advice that others give?

BillJones

sourcrates wrote: »

With regard to everyone saying the OP should get an evening job while the OH looks after the childcare.
Unsure as to where the OP lives, so I can only comment on the job situation in my area, most advertised jobs have between 150-250 applicants, on average.

So what, you are saying that he should not even try? If jobs are hard to get, what of it, that means that you do not even bother looking?

tgroom57

Some of it also depends how long the loan / contract / payment arrangement has to run. If only a month or two left of payments, try to keep on schedule with that. Given that OP has been out of (paid) work almost a year & presuming all contracts taken out before Sept 2013, some of them must be at least half over.

I think a drop from £400 to £250 on monthly food spend is well done for a first attempt, and take getting used to before further savings can be made there.
I also think OP should not take night work as it would have a deleterious effect on his childcare the next day. If an opportunity falls into his lap well & good, but his efforts are better spent elewhere for the next few months. He might look at getting some temp work over Christmas when the time comes.