Pay day today and it wont last the mth

continualdiamond

No real pt to this post as i dont think anyone can help me. But its pay day today and OH got his JSA as well. We've done a £50 food shop, which was well needed as we did our last one 2 weeks ago to make it stretch until today so house was really bare.

Anyway, so did a food shop and put £30 petrol in.

Just added the sums together of what money is left to what money goes out and am short £32 a mth, just for the bills, so cannot afford anymore shopping or petrol until the 22nd May

Our only other income source as such will be my OH's JSA again in 2 weeks time at £119. So that would leave £87 for the mth. (i hadn't added this on as i was purely going on the money that is i the back right now)

For the 1st time since OH has been unemployed, i am down £15 a mth in wages thats to the PM, council tax is back into the figures and has increased and our car needed taxing.

No money left for the DMP at all, a whole £21.75 a week, my car goes through that in petrol a week.

Its always the same, you pay the bills and then cut back on food, which seems pathetic.


please dont ask for a SOA as i have posted loads in my time lurking on this board and nothing can be cut down, not bill wise anyway.

andan

Just wanted to bump this up to see if anyone else has any wise words of wisdom. I don't think there is any advice i can give you, but have you looked into making sure you are receiving all the benefits you can do, such as working tax credit. Also, is there any chance you could get a second job?

Sorry your going through a really hard time at the moment.

sassybooboos

have you got any stuff you have been hoarding that you dont really want, do a car boot or ebay it.

when i was really skint i sold my kids old clothes, shoes and anything else i didn't want, it helped me get through a very tight couple of months.

good luck

Cleosmum

Only use the car for essential journeys? Before you jump in the car ask yourself if you could walk it. I find it so easy to hop in lol.

Could you set yourself a mini ebay challenge? Or do a car booty at the weekend?

Can you go back to the DMP people and tell them things are tight with OH out of work and you need to make some changes?

LilacPixie

no real pearls of wisdom other than make sure your claiming everything. Sell anything you can.

You have to contact DMP tho because if you have nothing left to cover it then you obviously need to get it reassesed.

(Land_of)_Maz

same here re the Ebay, i have got by this month by getting the odd £10 here and there from Ebay... Or even chuck some stuff in free ads paper locally, do a car boot?

Anything that might have some value that you could consider selling? unused bikes? games consoles?

even old PC's that might get you £10-20 quid?

not condoning benefit fraud but is there anyone around that you could consider you or other half doing ironing for, or any other marketable skills? typing proof reading etc?

Not that my OH would be able to do ironing, but maybe you've got a new man!

My suggestions are only short term, but longer term are you going to manage? What's the prospects of OH getting work, as he's on JSA not invalidity or anything... easier said than done i know!

A SOA might be worth a shot, i know you've done one before but things may have changed.... and www.entitledto.co.uk is a must see, if you haven't already.

Hugs anyway, hope things improve.... let us know your thoughts.

Buffythedebtslayer

I just wanted to say I am really sorry hon, it must be a bit frightening.

I guess i am with the others and give e bay a go

I know it sounds ridiculous but what about something like dog walking? do you know any one ? or put an ad in the newsagents fo it. sorry if that sounds a bit mental xxx

take care

xx

continualdiamond

Thanks so much for the posts. I hadn't come back on to check as been up most of last night worrying how on earth to tackle the problem.

Ebay is out of the question, purely because we set about an ebay challenge last mth and made quiet a bit of money. We went mad and put anything and everything we could think of, but it gave us a bit of false hope, because we were so happy with making ends meet last mth and now have nothing else to sell. Well not to make a big impact anyway, have an outdoor setting and a hoover, thats it.

In terms of benefits, applied for everything i could be entitled to (not much as just OH and I and have a mortgage) and it all came back saying i earn't too much.

I currently have 3 jobs and applying for a 4th anyway. Problem is the tax i will loose, as i haven't started my 3rd job yet. I currently work:

1. 32.5 hrs in a school as a teaching assistant

2. 5 hrs in the same school as a curriculm support assistant (making rescources, photo copying, laminating, all odd jobs really)

3. 1 day a wk per school holidays helping a Mum look after her 2 disabled children (yet to start due to CRB not back in time for Easter holidays, so will get 1 day during half term and 6 during the summer holidays)

4. Applying for a 20 hour post to look after disabled children while parents have a day/evening out.

In terms of the car, yep, only do use it for essential journeys. Need it for work as its about an hr each way if i walked and i live in a village, so need to go into town for food shop etc. I do have 2 local stores in my village but its a bit expensive, however i use them for bread and milk etc. I stay in town as much as possible to avoid coming home and going back out again, ie my free gym membership, i leave my car at work, walk to the gym and then walk back to work to drive home.

Have been in contact with the DMP since OH was made unemployed 3 mths ago, bit slack really as we had 'cover my payments' and it wont pay out (long story) and we've been making £1 token payments to each creditor. I amended my budget online, which shows im in the red and have £0 for creditors, but for my case officer to actually amend it, i need £100 to be available to spread across all creditors.

Dog walking would be brillant, if my next door neighbour didn't have that as her job.....

OH is on JSA only for another 3 mths as he's on contribution based, he applies and applies for jobs and just never hears anything back. Not had 1 interview yet.

Anyway, a real big thank you to all your post and ideas. I know my reply seems a bit like, nope can't do that etc. But i really do appreciate everyone trying to help.

cassy

hi there, you mentioned your oh applying for jobs but nothing, is he searching for just in his field or is he trying for anything to get back to work, have you tried employment agencys you normaly get paid weekly so if he got a temp job he could have his first wage in a few weeks

melie3

hi
i cant offer any advice either, you're doing your best what can you do. i just want to assure you youre not alone. my hub is off work ill, getting paid SSP and we have a £700 mortgage p/m to pay. i only work 1 day p/w and we've 3 kids also to think of. ive got some bits to sell, but no where near enough to cover mortgage payment. we will only get about a thousand this month inc CB and CTC. and about 700 next month. shopping is £50p/w. im up poo creek right now, and dont really know what to do. paying creditors a £1 token. then theres the DD's...............

take care mel

Milly1974

I am not sure if this would be any use as an idea, but could your OH do some mystery shopping or anything along those lines? Might just be enough to tide you over?