Hopefully lightbulb moment...

2020Lightbulb

Thank you. Would be mainly things like books, DVD's. And then majority would be kids clothes and toys. I have done a nearly new sale before, spent literally hours sorting and labeling things, and then actually doing the sale. I made about £50. It just wasn't worth it, compared to the hours into it. 

EimearF

Books and DVDs are essentially worthless. Try CEX they gave us the best price but it was pennies for most. 
kids clothes and toys try facebook - its better than gumtree as you can see their profile but giving any details. You also just take pictures with your smartphone and chat with some people no major hassle. 
You need to shift your mindset re the money. It will be small but you will be chipping away at the debt. Realising how worthless my stuff was once used really kicked me up the backside to stop my spending habits. 
Im going to repeat what everyone has said about presents, you simply cannot afford them. People you love enough to buy a present for should understand. 
Now I am debt free i can afford to buy gifts for people and not panic. Its not forever. 

pelirocco

travel is costing you £315 per month , this is a huge chuck out of your  wages ,can you car share ? , give someone paid lifts to work?

monetxchange

2020Lightbulb said:

Thank you. Would be mainly things like books, DVD's. And then majority would be kids clothes and toys. I have done a nearly new sale before, spent literally hours sorting and labeling things, and then actually doing the sale. I made about £50. It just wasn't worth it, compared to the hours into it. 

It can be a faff, yeah, but at the moment it's money sitting there that you can't sniff at.

Don't bother with car boot style sales as people want something for nothing. Get all the nearly new stuff on the online selling sites. I'm sure some will do well and balance out the total. Maybe space out the listing so it doesn't seem overwhelming.

Realistically, if you've got a job lot of books and DVDs that you don't want and don't get used, just get rid of them with something like Cex like a previous poster said. You might only get a tenner, but that's a tenner less you're in debt and it's money you thought you'd lost. Don't have expectations on price.

2020Lightbulb

Thank you all for the tips ref selling, much appreciated. 
Ref the car, I appreciate it might seem excessive. But I couldn't car share as on no one else does my hours (full time, but still doing the morning part of school run) 

DawnW

Re the books and DVDs you might google Webuybooks (they buy DVDs and other things as well). The amount they pay per book varies according to what the book is, often it is only pennies, but sometimes it is a few pounds. Some they won't accept at all, but it is worth trying again at a later date as their requirements change over time. There is no postage to pay and the process is pretty trouble free. I have used this company several times and found them straightforward to deal with, and they pay out quickly. There are also others such as Music Magpie that do the same thing, but I haven't dealt with them, so can't really comment on them. Ideal for decluttering, and as someone above said, these items don't have much value overall, and some money is better than none.

Andyjflet

Rent or mortgage should be no more than 25% of your monthly income. Which in your case is £475, its easy to see why you are struggling when its around 40%. You either need to create a side hustle to earn more or find somewhere cheaper, rent out a room etc 

2020Lightbulb

Andyjflet said:

Rent or mortgage should be no more than 25% of your monthly income. Which in your case is £475, its easy to see why you are struggling when its around 40%. You either need to create a side hustle to earn more or find somewhere cheaper, rent out a room etc 

Hi Andy, thanks for the info - this isn't something I have heard before- food for thought.  But I am confused, as where I live, you would never find anywhere even close to £475 for rent?! I live in a 2 bed flat with my 8 year old son. I have lived here for 9 years. Even when I first moved in, the rent was around £600.
I don't really have the ability to earn more. 

Galloglass

I don't really have the ability to earn more. 

You might want to consider reducing your spending so you do not end up further in debt. 

prb1984

Even just delivering packages or pizzas on the nights your son is staying with his other parent would be a way to make a bit more money? You either need to really reduce spending as has been suggested, or make more money somehow. Those two options are really the only way out of the mess. It isn't forever, you will be tired and stressed, but SO worth it when you come out the other side.