Needing your help, guys and gals

dexters_mum_2

Hi all

I have also posted on the benefits section but I felt I might get a bit more advice here.

Basically the situation is that my husband has been running his own business for 3 years now and since November the business has not been able to support us and since January it has made very little money at all, just enough to cover it's bills and nothing more, I have had to put my hands on our savings cash to pay final demands. Husband did get another job which was on a casual basis but provided a good number of hours each week, however the manage has told husband that they cannot afford him anymore and as such, laying him off with immediate effect.

Husband is deciding whether or not to allow his business to close, weighing up the various pro's and cons of each situation. He is also applying for other jobs both full and part time but is not getting anywhere.

Our savings have been depleted to virtually zero now as our bills and mortgage have been paid from there, as well as business debts, after this month's mortgage has gone tomorrow, there will be no money in the pot for next month.

I am a part time student and I work 3 days per week and I earn £670 a month and I am also looking for weekend work to supplement but like husband, I'm not getting anywhere, I have looked at care work, bar work, cleaning, supermarkets, shops and husband is the same, we are looking at anything minimum wage plus.

We have already had our house phone cut off by BT because we couldn't pay the bill, it was the phone bill or a mortgage payment in full and BT wouldn't allow the bill to be paid in installments, nor would they enter into any dialogue about the situation we are in. We are also being threatend with having a pre pay metre installed for our electric as we can't pay that bill either, again, EDF won't negotiate they want us to pay £50 per month we just cannot afford this.

Tomorrow and the 1st of May, our direct debits go out, we have just enough to cover those but will have no money for food or petrol, basically another other than the priority bills, mortgage, council tax and husband's tax installment and my car insurance (luckily this is my last installment and I need my car for work as I am out visiting all day).

I am so worried about next month and in fact, everything, we have little food in the house, we don't have the heating on, we try to save electricity, we have no family we can borrow money from, my parents have very little money and in laws are similar.

So, this is our budget

Mortgage £606
Council Tax £101
Water £40
Gas £50
Electricity (quarterly) £300 outstanding (incorrect meter readings taken by them, now have to play catch up)
BT £118 Outanding
Husband's DMP £110
Car HP £186
Car Ins (Me) £22
Car Ins (H) £43
TV Lic £12
Home Ins £17
Credit Card (Min payment) £9.09
Inland Rev (H Tax) £300

My Income £670 before tax
Husband £30 this month
Working tax credits £76

That's just the bills, not accounting for food, petrol or anything else

So, I am not sure how to deal with this at all, I am intending to write to the companies to explain the situation but given the issues I have encountered with BT and EDF, I cannot see how companies will be sympathetic.

We are bothing trying to get more work but it's just not happening.

I am so depressed, I cannot see a way ahead at the moment.

Thanks for any help you can give,
DM

GirlRacer_2

You may be entitled to more tax credits. Have you checked on entitledto? enter your details and have a little look

devonsdreamer

Hi there- for outstanding gas bill is may be worth applying for the grant to help you pay your debt. I have been looking for the link but cant find it. Here is the link http://www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/

Also have you spoken to your colloege about the situation they may be able to offer you some advice.

Good luck

KittyKate

Hi there! Have you or hubby considered working from home? Teletech are very good - there's a post on them in the 'up your income' sub board of the jobs forum. You can work 20-30hrs a week (plus overtime if available) and specify when you are available.

Also don't forget to do free gambling offers (only ones with no outlay of course like bingo bonuses etc - I have made over £300 this year on free gambling), pigsback, free money on quidco, send for freebies (to ebay - you would be surprised what sells!) and even write nice letters to companies (most will send you something as a thanks!)

I have made at least £1000 in free goods & cash in the last year, and if I can do it, anyone can. Aim to clear your CC and you will find the time/energy! Good luck!

hypno06

If OH has not been making any real profit this last tax year, would he be entitled to a rebate from HMRC? I ask this because last year I made very little money from my business in "real" terms and submitted my return online last Thursday - 3 days later and £1200 was in my bank account as a rebate!!

Would certainly be worth looking at, especially if he has been paying tax on account, or if he was taxed on his "earned" income from the other employment.

Keeping_Motivated

Is your mortgage on repayment? Could you go interest only for the timne being to reduce it? Or do you have a mortgage that accepts you having a payment holiday?

Good luck

binnie

Hi, Tried to post three times but the bloomin wireless broadband thingy keeps disconnecting me.
Anyway hope all gets better for you Dexters-Mum. Do you have kids living at home with you?

I started years ago on ebay with very little money and just kept selling a few things from my home, then eventually buying small wholesale lots, eventually it will build up and if you scout car boots too and do amazon and clicks and surveys, all this extra adds up.

I also advertised myself as available for work on a local area forum. Is there one near you.? I got work within a few weeks of advertising myself.
Also my friend does agency work and gets regular work, maybe try this.#
I do hope things get better.
I always remember being at rock bottom and wondered how the heck I was going to get out of it all.
I'm still in a mess really, but somehow always pull through.
I wish you all the best.
xxx

continualdiamond

Just wanted to offer you a :grouphug: as myself and my fiancee are in a very similar situation. (though my OH is unemployed)

That being, we have £0 in our bank and i only got paid Tues (22nd) and will not get paid until the 22nd May now. We have no money for food or petrol, so when the car uses the petrol up thats it.

We have no idea what where going to do, just trying to get through each day.

Best of luck

binnie

Hi Continualdiamond, sorry to hear you are in the same position.

Sometimes when I moan, I look at other peoples lives who are worse off than me, and it brings me back to trying to help them instead of worrying about myself.

Is there anything I can do to help both of you?
I can send some small food parcels if you like, I feel awful for you not having food etc.

If you want to PM me your details, I can help as much as I can, if only it's a small amount.

xx

shropshirelady

Agree with contacting the tax office as what your oh pays this year is based on what his profits were in 2006/7.

Make an appointment to see your mortgage provider and ask if you can extend the period of your mortgage and if they'll change it to interest only. Then you can up the payments when you get more money coming in. I did this when I started my business after being made redundant some years ago. If they know you're trying, they're usually helpful.

Also contact the council as you may be able to get some council tax benefit.

Good luck. Hope you find some work soon.

dexters_mum_2

Hi all

Thank you all so much for your advice, if I can I will address all the points raised and tell you what I have done.

Entitled to- We are entitled to marginally more in tax credits, I have call the tax credits office who will adjust the amounts accordingly.

British Gas Energy Trust- not eligible, sadly, EDF are not running a similar scheme, still threatening with a prepay meter, have written with a payment proposal of £23 per month, awaiting response.

Tax rebate- DH is taking this up with his accountant, he also thinks he might be eligible.

Mortgage- Changed to interest only las year, we are with UBS (not the best in the world) and we are not able to take a repayment holiday, spoke to them, they asked us to keep them abreast of the situation.

Council Tax- Sending us a form but don't think we are eligible for CT benefit.

Credit Card- I have a £2000 limit and £160 on it, my Mum has offered to make a small payment towards the balance, I have made my repayment, just over the minimum today.

BT- Refuse to accept any token payment or anything other than full balance- rude and unhelpful.

DH has been offered a night job, over Fridays Saturdays and Sundays, which he has accepted, he has to await CRB clearence though.

I have spoken to my employer and I have been allowed use of a company car to save my expenses whilst out on my travels.

Looking into all the offers that people have mentioned on this thread as well.


I can't thank you enough for the support, this isn't a situation I thought I'd ever find myself in and I am so scared of what might happen.

DM x