£19k debt with 2 kids and single income, need help on where to start to reduce.

macman

Water meter: no, you are not tied to a meter if you switch to one-you can revert to RV billing in the first twelve months if it's proving more expensive. No-brainer.
I don't know where you live or what sort of property you rent, but £476 seems incredibly cheap? If your tenancy ends, how are you going to afford a more realistic level of rent, or even a deposit?
You have insurance for your dog and your iPhones, but none for your home contents? That's a weird set of priorities! Sell the iPhones, buy cheap Android phones for under £100, that'll give you at least £500 towards your debts and to buy some contents insurance.

Drawingaline

Do you not apply for uc online? It replaced child tax credit and I received that with two children and a similar wage. Maybe post on the benefit board on here, they are pretty helpful. It may be your wife who needs to apply.

Also look a surveys, your wife can maybe do these from home, there is a thread around somewhere, not great paying, but maybe save some vouchers up for Xmas?

Money_mess

You can apply for universal credit online. I really don't see how you wouldn't qualify for it to be honest, maybe the job centre didn't take into account your kids?
I think you should try again. Best of luck, it really doesn't seem fair if you don't get help you are entitled to.

Mrs_Soup

LunInf wrote: »

Also, I would switch but my current bank is offering phone insurance for my self and my wife plus breakdown cover for £16pm, not sure if I could get it that cheap elsewhere but could look around or see if contents could cover phones also.

We have Nationwide flexplus account which is £13 a month and provides all of those plus travel insurance so you might be able to find a better deal.

RecentPost

Absolutely disgusting regarding the DWP approach its not there job to have an opinion its there job to pay entitlements. Reapply and make a complaint if it happens again. If youre not getting child benefit you can apply for this with just a form.

retepetsir

'Hi

I am in a very similar position to you, 2 adults 2 kids, my partner works part time from home as has depression and only earns around £5k a year. our debt is much higher but we earn slightly more at around £42k per year - we are entitled to Universal credits of around £300 per month, the application process is not too bad and the people at the job centre are really helpful. Its worth trying if you haven't applied.

Nat'

I didn't realise you could get Universal Credit with that income?! I'm doing something wrong then!

EssexHebridean

LunInf wrote: »

Yeah the car is only 2yo, I’ll check thanks. Me and my wife have relatively new high end iPhones so they need insuring, but I will definitely be either downgrading at end of contract or going sim only.

Oops I missed it off my SOW!

No - they don't need insuring, they need looking after!

If you get your home contents insurance sorted (please tell me you already have as this is SUCH a false economy not to have!) then that will cover your phones, anyway albeit there will be an excess to pay.

I'm appalled to hear of your experience when you enquired about benefits by the way - you absolutely should not have been treated that way.

You mentioned a credit Union loan elsewhere in the thread I think but that doesn't look to be on your SOA (unless it's under "loan 1" or "loan 2")? Both that and the child benefit should appear on there to give you a full picture.