Not making ends meet

Fireflyaway

Definitely see if you are eligible for universal credit. Renting privately doesn't mean you won't qualify and your income is pretty low for 2 people. Try this calculator. It's very accurate. 
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/AboutYou?utm_source=BAdviser&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=GovUK
Looking at your expenditure, I think you could decrease your grocery bill. I'm currently spending around 160 pounds on food for 2 people , including for dog, cat and bunnies. 

PurpleFairy26

If you can’t increase your income you could contact a charity like step change and see about a DMP for your two debts. That way you could hopefully get interest stopped and you would at least be paying off the balance and you maybe able to pay less per month based on affordability. You would still likely pay it off quicker as interest won’t be accruing. 

Best of luck. 

enthusiasticsaver

CoolBeans22 said:

 

The catalogue and card are not new debts, they are in my name whereas the IVA is only in my husbands name.  I desperately want to get rid of them, they have not been added to, just lowering slowly.  The APR is high but I can’t make an indent at the moment although I am paying £50 a month towards the card rather than the minimum £28.

The interest rate is so high on the credit card and catalogue that I don't think the payments can be bringing the debt down or if it is it is minimal. I know you say you are paying £50 to the card but your budget is so tight that would be better in your pocket. I would contact them and tell them you cannot afford to repay it and ask for an arrangement to pay and for them to freeze the interest. Or do a DMP in your name as purple fairy suggests.  It will mean defaults but as I assume you will not be applying for credit any time soon that at least means that you can offer them both £5 a month and that £5 will go to the debt rather than covering interest.  I have worked out the interest on the catalogue and if it is really almost 60% then the interest is more than the minimum payment.  As you say your budget does not allow you to save for emergencies or other things so that is where I would start. When does the IVA in your husbands name finish? 

kimwp

Face masks are probably a good earner at the moment for someone who can sew. You could sell on Facebook local. You could do facemasks for adults (pretty patterns, geometric patterns, kids (spiderman, peppa pig, don't know about copyright though, could just do animals) and those buttoned facemask straps so they don't pull on the ears. Kids' masks could be full face so they feel they are in fancy dress rather than a medical thing.

gwynlas

I am self managing my unsecured debts and have been so for a number of years and have six monthly reviews.
I have never completed a statement of affairs and initially told the companies that I needed to stop paying and could only offer them a token £1 per month for the time being, I think 6 months,and they accepted this.
You could write and include the fact that family income dropped because of covid furlough.
This would allow you to start building up an emergency fund which you should try not to touch.
As mentionned you could be making cloth facemasks out of washable fabrics, patterns available on line, and sell them. The cheapest I have seen is £3.00 each.
A card in local shop window offering alterations might also bring in some more income You could tie it into the fact that most people have been sorting out their wardrobes during lockdown. Do not underpay yourself but could charge lower prices to get started and known.