Always skint and have a 3 month old child. I need money advice

Angry_Bear

Just on the cycling front ...
While 7miles is absolutely do-able, at this time of year bright waterproofs, reflective clothing and a decent set of lights are absolutely ESSENTIAL.

Ask at your work if they have showering facilities, a lot of places do, and it makes a huge difference if you can have a hot shower to wash off the wet and mud.

You'll probably also need a bike lock and some basic repair stuff (a pump, a puncture repair kit and a spare inner tube or two would be ideal).

None of this stuff is particularly expensive on it's own, and Aldi and Lidl often have it on offer, but it can mount up. If you have siblings that need cheap Christmas gift ideas these would be perfect .

Finally, if you haven't cycled for a while (and I'm assuming you haven't if you don't own a bike) then I should warn you that your bum will hurt for the first week or so. Sorry. However, you'll get used to it and won't notice it soon enough so you don't need to splash out on padded cycling trousers or anything.

And on the bright side, cycling every day will be great for your health .

[Deleted User]

If you're buying a bike, go second hand then get it checked over by a bike shop - plus you can always replace the saddle for a comfy one

What is the traffic like between you and work?

gayleygoo

OP, if you pop over to the Old-style boards I'm sure there is lots that the nice people there can help you with It's great for meal-planning ideas, food shopping, packed lunches etc, as well as lots of general support and ideas!

If you are on FB, are there any local buy and sell or "freecycle" groups in your area? Always a good place to check for things like bikes and accessories, although getting one as a christmas present is probably a better option.

Not sure how many bedrooms are in your house, but do you have any friends who could move in with you to share the rent and utilities? (If your landlord is happy with this obviously.)

I think you are doing very well on such a low budget! Part-time jobwise, local takeaways and small shops may offer work if you ask, or can leave your details with them. In my experience, it can be poorly-paid cash in hand, but sometimes they are the only jobs out there for evening and weekend work. A friend of mine saves his change towards different things. If you could start saving, say, all your 20ps in a jar, that could go towards emergency expenses, child costs and birthday presents etc. It's not much but it all adds up and is better than no pennies saved at all.

PlymouthMaid

Glad you have got some good advice amongst all the weird stuff. Enjoy being a father x

BigAunty

Flinchy-Stryder wrote: »

You are just assuming things by saying the government is providing my girlfriend with a significant amount of benefits. Why not ask me the situation? ...
She does get some money in benefits which buys the basics and that is it. .

£72 income support (assumes mother of child is 18 otherwise it is £57), £20 child benefit,£98 child tax credits would be the typical sum for a lone parent with one child. There is no impact on her income through attending college or living at home.

That's £190 a week, around what most people earn on the national minimum wage for a 35 hour week and nearly three times the sum of a single person on Job Seekers Allowance.

And twice as much as you earn (with presumably, little or no requirement to pay rent to her parents from it).

duchy

It really doesn't matter that the poster's lifestyle wouldn't suit you. No-one is asking you to live it.
She's pointing out that long hours are a reality for many people and not every career is a nine to five Monday to Friday occupation.

Lily-Rose wrote: »

Your OH has 3 hours a night sleep, and works 110 hours a week some weeks?

And you work 65?

And you have so many outgoings that you have to do these hours or you'd only have £30 a month between you to spare?

And your pets cost you some £300 a month and your train travel £200?

I don't know if you're happy with this situation, but I must admit that I certainly wouldn't be.

That is a LOT to spend on pets. And if you're both at work for 65 to 100 hours a week, do you even get to spend time with them?

Each to their own, but this situation wouldn't do for me. I think I would be doing my best to change this situation.

I'd rather live in a caravan and live off the land than work 65-100 hours a week just to make ends meet. I don't see that as a life. It's just work work work and no play. No way to live IMO. Surely there must be SOME way to make your outgoings less? Have you done a I & E list on the money managing boards?

duchy

Flinchy-Stryder wrote: »

I had a good read through this and have taken notes cause i think a moderator will terminate this due to all the strange arguing and cheap shots taking place. Before payday i'm going to swing buy the old style board everyone mentions and see what can be conjured up before i do my shopping. Once again thanks for all the good advice

Forgot to say to those saying live at home with mum. It is not possible to get to work on time as the public transport from her place is woeful. Traveline have it as a journey taking over 6 hours leaving at 1am and taking 4 different buses, 2 trains, with a 3 mile walk. She did take me for the first month but it was costing her to much in petrol and she was nearly late for work due to all the traffic so i had no choice but to move out closer to work.

Would a secondhand moped for commuting and living back home be cheaper ?

pinkteapot

Flinchy-Stryder wrote: »

Na its a contract phone and the cheapest deal is £30 a month. I'm also tied in to it for 3 years, well 2 now. I need it for the internet access cause its to expensive using internet cafes.

Doesn't help right now, but once those 2 years are up go sim only. I was paying £35 a month on contract for my iPhone. Once out of contract, I went sim only and kept the same handset. I pay £10 a month and have ample minutes, texts and internet.

Like I said, sorry it doesn't help for another two years.

Shen81

BigAunty wrote: »

£72 income support (assumes mother of child is 18 otherwise it is £57), £20 child benefit,£98 child tax credits would be the typical sum for a lone parent with one child. There is no impact on her income through attending college or living at home.

That's £190 a week, around what most people earn on the national minimum wage for a 35 hour week and nearly three times the sum of a single person on Job Seekers Allowance.

And twice as much as you earn (with presumably, little or no requirement to pay rent to her parents from it).

Why have you taken it upon yourself to try and besmirch this young man?

His girlfriend's income from benefits is nothing to do with you, nothing to do with this thread and you have no right to post potential income details about anyone. He has created this thread for himself to help himself save money. This is very irresponsible of you.

Some people make it out that being a young parent and receiving benefits is a bad thing. They are both studying to better themselves and at the end of their studies both of them will have careers to enable them to become competent providers for their children. As a taxpayer, I prefer to see my taxes going towards people who are actually making an effort, rather than our taxes going to those who make no effort at all.

moomoomama27

BigAunty wrote: »

£72 income support (assumes mother of child is 18 otherwise it is £57), £20 child benefit,£98 child tax credits would be the typical sum for a lone parent with one child. There is no impact on her income through attending college or living at home.

That's £190 a week, around what most people earn on the national minimum wage for a 35 hour week and nearly three times the sum of a single person on Job Seekers Allowance.

And twice as much as you earn (with presumably, little or no requirement to pay rent to her parents from it).

.................................And you know she is on full benefits because??? Perhaps she receives working tax credits and child benefit/child tax credit! How do you know she's unemployed or her parents aren't supporting her?

When I was a teenage mother I received only child benefit with the lone parent top up £27 a week, my parents supported me living at home and I got 3 cleaning jobs in the evening while my parents babysat! I took less from the government than a lot of working couples!!! But I expect there were the people on high horses assuming because I was a young single mother, I was a waster, or used benefits as a career!!

Give the guy a break! What a bunch of nasty, snotty people there are on this thread!