SOA/ budget

EssexHebridean

kimplus8 wrote: »

hi essex
yes that 'other income' is child maintenance.
I currently have 4 at school and 4 nursery/preschool age so by the time I take childcare into account (which is capped at 2 kids) I would be far worse off.
however I am starting 2 training courses in September through my local 'back to work' scheme, I hope to find a job through this.
Plus I was just diagnosed with bi-polar this year so while all my medication is being adjusted its best I give myself until September to know im not going to be rocking in a corner at a job.
I have just applied to be a neals yard rep to try and get some Christmas money, I know it wont make me a fortune but will add some to my income.

Hi Kim - and yes I agree with what you say about wanting to get stabilised on meds before adding the stress of a new job as well - that seems pretty logical. Hopefully the training courses will give you both the skills and the confidence to be able to get something part time that will work for you!

liuhutOz

Hi Kim, just thinking how you can up your income, have you got bits that you can sell? Are the older kids at an age where they can get little jobs? The training courses sound great :-)

FatVonD

I think you are doing amazingly feeding 9 of you on 400 a month!

If you have been diagnosed as bipolar does the benefits cap still stand?

kimplus8

FatVonD wrote: »

I think you are doing amazingly feeding 9 of you on 400 a month!

If you have been diagnosed as bipolar does the benefits cap still stand?

unless I apply for PIP yes it still stands and I think the stress that that brings if its only until September, its just not worth it.
by the time I would be awarded a pip allowance I will be in training and wont qualify.

Spendless

The issue I can see with your income is it leaves no room to manoeuvre. You are potentially going to have a problem when it comes to things like replacing clothing/footwear. That might not affect the younger ones so much, if you've got several of the same sex and can hand down, but your eldest is going to grow. There's also things like school uniform that need purchasing year on year, even if the younger ones are following their older sibling/s to the same school.

Are you eligible to go to the food bank? Sorry, I have no idea what the criteria is.

Re - life assurance. I know you've said it's to buy the kids a house in the event of something happening to you, and I do understand the way you feel (I'm not just saying this, I have a close friend with bi-polar) but you'd need a willing and able adult to care for them too. If you still feel you need it, is there cheaper options to go for? To me you need cover for the next 18 years (so the youngest is an adult) possibly less. If you think that's a possibility, have a look at the insurance boards of this forum. There's fantastic advice all over this site, but sometimes you have to seek out where posters with more specific knowledge 'hang out'

I think your eldest is now at Secondary school. Is s/he able to get a free bus pass? I'm pretty sure she would within my LA, living with a non working single parent, but I'm unsure if this is area specific.


Ultimately I think it's going to need a return to work before your finances improve, but your health has got to come first. Years ago when I first joined this site, Martin Lewis fetched out his first book and in that was a bit about 'knowing your town' by that he meant find out things that are specific to your town, when a market is on for example and what time they reduce the veg. Before the kids break up for summer and you have more of them to watch, is this something you could put in place so you're aware of the best place to grocery shop or buy non-food essentials or even park the car for free.

My suggestion for your starting point is to list the food you've currently got in, go over to the Oldstyle board and ask for help meal planning to try and save and give yourself something of a buffer for any extras that turn up.

heartbreak_star

Don't really have any advice but keep on trucking, you're doing brilliantly and you've got this

HBS x

Golightly72

That's such a tight budget, but you are doing so well, especially with food!

I think it's been mentioned, but consider signing up to as many survey sites as you can, especially as you are not working.

I only spend up to an hour a day on them - I use Swagbucks, there's a thread on the income board, and make about £250 a year in Amazon vouchers, which is used for the kids birthday and Christmas presents. Also You Gov pays out cash, I made £100 on it last year which went towards kids clothes.

There's loads of others though - while you are at home and have the time they are well worth doing for that extra stuff.

Spendless

kimplus8 wrote: »

unless I apply for PIP yes it still stands and I think the stress that that brings if its only until September, its just not worth it.
by the time I would be awarded a pip allowance I will be in training and wont qualify.

Why don't you receive it if you are training? (Just curious)

mumtoomany

Hi Kim, take a look at cheap-family-recipes.org . It was created and road tested on this site. The prices are a bit out of date, it is from 2010 but then it was possible to feed a family of four for £100 a month. Some good recipes and ideas on there. Also a Facebook site called feed yourself for £1 a day. M2m.

kimplus8

Spendless wrote: »

Why don't you receive it if you are training? (Just curious)

I don't know the answer to that but the lady I spoke to at the employment centre said 'well if you are well enough to be in training then you don't need the PIP'?