Struggling with money any advice?

[Jazz]

Me and other half are struggling with money don't no what we will do when baby comes im trying to work out were we can cut back. I have done budget sheet and ent to CAB and they said they cant see how we live not helpful. This is what we spend a mth is there any way we can cut back im missing, I no my other half's fuel is high but we moved and its what its costs, Electric £50,Water £30,Council tax £28,Mobiles £30,home phone and net £25,Fuel £150,Food £60, Dog food £20, Rent £184. Incoming we have My other halfs wages £361.80 my benefits £120.

Thank you

 

[titch]

are your phones pay as you go or contract? is the contract on your homephone and broadband up yet? You could probably get these costs down, Ive been working the companies myself recently to try and cut down. We're trying to find ways to reduce our food costs too, its so hard cos prices are going right up!

 

[Jazz]

Mobiles are contract we have cut right down to the lowest price they will go, Our home and broadband was the cheapest we could find that cover our area and not up for another 6 mths, Don't no how we can cut down any more on food we spend £15 a week max

 

[ZMD]

I can't help Im afraid are you entitled to housing benefit? does your OH work enough how's to receive workin tax credits? x

 

[titch]

are you definately on the lowest tarif for home phone and broadband? even though the contract isnt up, they might be able to reduce your rates, you'd have slower broadband but sometimes its worth asking. Im trying to switch my gas and electric at the mo to save some. Our tax credit renewal came through and Im just hoping and praying that we are owed some money from them cos we are totally broke!!

 

[Jazz]

we do get help with rent and council tax, we are on lowest broadband tarif I called and lowered it. I called gas and electric our land lord wont allow it to be changed I just wish there was a simple answer to having a bit more money, my other half is going to at least one interview a week at mo to get full time work

 

[Zazu]

I know it won't get you much but have you thought about mystery shopping? just register and get emails sent to you when an assignment is available in your area, then if you accept you get an assignment (something like go to a travel agent an enquire about something) and then you fill in the questionnaire and they pay you for it. I did it a few times and got £10 each time.

The one I used was www.grassrootsmysteryshopping.com but I'm sure there are more.

Good luck x

 

[Jazz]

Thank you I will look in to it be something I can do when I can get off the crutches, Not thought of this

 

[Baby Bean]

I might be wrong hun but I didn't think landlords could stop you changing gas/electric suppliers? I'm sure we just did it when we rented as its your responsibility? X

 

[leanne1b]

I'm really surprised u don't get more help with rent? Maybe phone them and ask them to double check it? X

 

[Jazz]

Thank you we called landlord and asked they said they had problems with last tenants so they wont allow us to change its in contract, spoke to council we are only entitled to that amount as over housed, we are only allowed a one bed flat/bed sit up to £425 a mth to get full housing benefit, we have a 2 bed so thats classed as over housed

 

[Froslass]

Once babies here though Hun you'dd be entiteled to a 2 bed so make sure you let them know xx

 

[munchkin1982]

sorry hun I cannot help you anymore than the others have. Just to be cheeky though - £15 per week on food??? How? What do you eat? What do you buy? Would be interested to find out a way to cut mine down from £40-£50 per week (sometimes up to £70-80!) and that's for me, oh, baby and dog... although he only costs us about £10 a month because he eats a special dry food that gives him everything he needs. xx

 

[leanne1b]

Munchkin I'm jealous!!! Between me, oh, daughter and buba, ours is 75 a week average, if not 80 ! X

 

[leanne1b]

And jazz, flugel is right. That should change when lo is born so hopefully they will pay full then?! Ask them about that! X

 

[munchkin1982]

Munchkin I'm jealous!!! Between me, oh, daughter and buba, ours is 75 a week average, if not 80 ! X

aaaww. If i'm honest now i've thought about it, it's alternate with us really. £70-£80 one week and then £40-£50 the next. Funny thing is though, we used to do a weekly food shop on £20 to £25 max! and that was only 18 months ago!!! Eating habits not really changed although increased fruit and veg intake and cut down on those pies!!! xx

 

[Sleepy sue]

Won't you be entitled to child credits and family allowance ( if that's what it's called now) once lo is here? X

 

[leanne1b]

Lol munchkin. Yeah ours was about 40-50 a week... Til we started eating healthier!! X

 

[Jazz]

munchkin1982: We manage on £15 by not having lunch we have a good meal in the evening we buy meat etc cheap and buy in bulk and buying own brands, if things are cheap or buy one get one free etc, Not the best way to do it but when needs must. When baby's here's there not classed as needing a room until a year old, we are looking at moving in to a one bed flat when the agreement runs out here. other half will get working tax credits when he works 16 hrs. Going to see CAB again next week

 

[Piglet10]

i think its an absolute disgrace that people all over the country are doing the double and get wayyyy more benefits there entitled to leaving a lot less for the genuine people, how can our government think its ok for you to not be able to afford lunch?!

and they wonder why some people NEED to do the double and declare single?! i HATE benefit fraud but i wudnt blame you for doing it is that bad!? x