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872 posts

Hello all
I have got myself in a pickle, and, after gentle encouragement from Moving Forwards & Skintyetagain on another thread, they think the kind people on here can help.
This is nerve wracking but here is my situation:
Technically still employed, on sick, MH issues but likely to be let go from employment. No more sick pay or SSP available from employer.
Advised that I should apply for Universal Credit, which I reluctantly did, and have been receiving from April 2020. £409.89 per month.
Here is the pickle:
Income £409.89
Bills £360.42
-------------------------
Left £ 49.47 to feed me and dog. Or £12.36 a week.
SOA MONTHLY INCOME AND OUTGOINGS:
No of adults - 1
No of cars - 0
Dependants - dog
Income £409.89
---------------------------
Total £409.89
Outgoings:
No rent/mortgage
Dual fuel £72.50 (12 month fixed) - just switched and got £25 cashback (BG)
Water £58.72 (over 10 months not metered, did ask , but advised my usage would result in higher bills)
CTax £109.00 (75% over 10 months, get single person discount)
Vet £15 (includes flea and worm treatment, annual vaccination, and one consultation per year)
B/Band & Landline £38.00 (Sky)
Insurance (H&C) £30.78
TV licence £13.20
PAYG Mobile £10.00
Charity £7.00
TOTAL = £354.20 (I think I can't add up...!)
Left for food: £55.69 just working it out helps, I am a fiver better off than I thought....
DEBT OWED (FAMILY) £1,000, No interest or deadline to pay back, but, has to be paid when I can.
No other debts, no overdraft (yet!), no loans, no credit card owned, but, equally no savings, no emergency fund left as bills used up the family loan whilst waiting for UC claim. They have been stars and got me over the hurdle between having no income and receiving UC. As I understand it, UC is only a limited benefit, but I don't think I am eligible for other benefits since I feel I am hopefully improving health-wise at last.
(Deep breath)
So £55.69 gives me about £14 a week to eat....I am also newly vegetarian which has to be a plus cost wise. I am just a whisker away from being up sh*t creek without a paddle.
Any advice, even a kick up the bottom, is welcomed. Thanks all.....
I have got myself in a pickle, and, after gentle encouragement from Moving Forwards & Skintyetagain on another thread, they think the kind people on here can help.
This is nerve wracking but here is my situation:
Technically still employed, on sick, MH issues but likely to be let go from employment. No more sick pay or SSP available from employer.
Advised that I should apply for Universal Credit, which I reluctantly did, and have been receiving from April 2020. £409.89 per month.
Here is the pickle:
Income £409.89
Bills £360.42
-------------------------
Left £ 49.47 to feed me and dog. Or £12.36 a week.
SOA MONTHLY INCOME AND OUTGOINGS:
No of adults - 1
No of cars - 0
Dependants - dog
Income £409.89
---------------------------
Total £409.89
Outgoings:
No rent/mortgage
Dual fuel £72.50 (12 month fixed) - just switched and got £25 cashback (BG)
Water £58.72 (over 10 months not metered, did ask , but advised my usage would result in higher bills)
CTax £109.00 (75% over 10 months, get single person discount)
Vet £15 (includes flea and worm treatment, annual vaccination, and one consultation per year)
B/Band & Landline £38.00 (Sky)
Insurance (H&C) £30.78
TV licence £13.20
PAYG Mobile £10.00
Charity £7.00
TOTAL = £354.20 (I think I can't add up...!)
Left for food: £55.69 just working it out helps, I am a fiver better off than I thought....
DEBT OWED (FAMILY) £1,000, No interest or deadline to pay back, but, has to be paid when I can.
No other debts, no overdraft (yet!), no loans, no credit card owned, but, equally no savings, no emergency fund left as bills used up the family loan whilst waiting for UC claim. They have been stars and got me over the hurdle between having no income and receiving UC. As I understand it, UC is only a limited benefit, but I don't think I am eligible for other benefits since I feel I am hopefully improving health-wise at last.
(Deep breath)
So £55.69 gives me about £14 a week to eat....I am also newly vegetarian which has to be a plus cost wise. I am just a whisker away from being up sh*t creek without a paddle.
Any advice, even a kick up the bottom, is welcomed. Thanks all.....

"...when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains however improbable, must be the truth..."
"Mastering a low budget lifestyle now, means you are set for life" quote by 'Miss Babs'
Dog's 'Pot o' Gold' = £23.85
Household maintenance = 0
Prolific Academic = £41.64
"Mastering a low budget lifestyle now, means you are set for life" quote by 'Miss Babs'
Dog's 'Pot o' Gold' = £23.85
Household maintenance = 0
Prolific Academic = £41.64
1
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Replies
Lastly have you had a shop around for both insurances?? They might be able to come down a little if possible.
Due to your low income I would speak to your local council about their council tax reduction scheme which you might be eligible for and that will lower the council tax bill further.
Have you had a look at one of the benefit entitlement calculators such as entitled to or turn2us as they might point out anything else relevant and make sure you’re getting all the help you need.
You can watch anything other than BBC programmes on catch-up without a licence, so it would be worth considering whether you really need the TV licence right now (if you can just cancel it, I don't actually know how it works).
I'm not asking, but just mentioning that perhaps you could consider whether you could pause the charity donations while you get yourself back on your feet.
[If you haven't already, worth looking around to make sure you are getting the best deal for your phone. Obviously you're not paying a huge amount anyway, but on PAYG you can be a lot more flexible presuming you own your phone outright.]
Batch cooking, if you physically can and have room in your freezer, especially if you can get reduced veggies in bulk, should be quite economical. https://cookingonabootstrap.com/ is an excellent resource.
That's what I am hoping, that I can scrape by, I used to yellow sticker at my local shop, but that's been closed for a while. Need to motivate myself to try the bigger stores a bit further away. I read that courgettes are great in cooking as they help thicken a soup or stew, so will look out for those. Thank you.
"Mastering a low budget lifestyle now, means you are set for life" quote by 'Miss Babs'
Dog's 'Pot o' Gold' = £23.85
Household maintenance = 0
Prolific Academic = £41.64
I do not routinely treat my dogs for fleas. I have only had to treat them twice in 40 years of dog ownership. Once when they picked them up from a visit to friend's house and once when they picked them up in a holiday home.
So I only treat them when needed.
Worming tablets can be bought cheaper online than from a ver, unless you need a prescription one.
An annual consultation is given as part of th vacs appointment
So, is £15 worth it?
Thank you, even when I was typing it in the SOA I was thinking why am I donating that, when money is so tight? That could pay for dog food...
I am amazed at all the tips and knowledge that people have, and are kindly sharing, I wasn't aware you could change from 10 to 12 months for CT and Water. I think they have been set up for while so haven't thought about it. Although I did look into metering the water, I am too extravagant with it to reduce useage. I think I have cleaning issues from the MH....
No and I need to shop around to check the house and contents insurance, can't remember when I last did that.
Funny you should mention that about tax reduction as I finally did apply on-line, didn't want to go there, but feel like I don't have a choice now. Don't know if I am eligible but I have applied. I will definitely have a check on the benefit calculator just feeling there is a lot I should have done and haven't got my head around it. Denial and MH is definitely an obstacle to your financial health....
"Mastering a low budget lifestyle now, means you are set for life" quote by 'Miss Babs'
Dog's 'Pot o' Gold' = £23.85
Household maintenance = 0
Prolific Academic = £41.64