Single mums on benefits

[purpledahlia]

I mean i know how to live on a budget and pay bills and run a flat.. I just usually have a job along with it, Apart from my hair and mobile and occasional takeaway theres nothing else i would normally spend money on, (apart from nights out but they wont be happening!). I am gonna get a job when baby is like 4 months. I'll have too. I have a 3 grand debt to pay aswell.

 

[bloodbinds]

Try making a plan for yourself. This is what my outgoings are going to be. The amounts i've put is really the maximum they would be in the month, as would rather over estimate than under.


Utility Bills: £70
Savings: £150
Phone: £20
Laptop: £40
Car Insurance: £60
Food: £150
Petrol: £60
= £550
(babies nappies etc is included in Food price)

I will get getting around £1050 (or £800 depending if i don't get IS)
So personally, i can easily live off the £500 (or £300!!) I have left over for the month, knowing that everything else is covered.

And by me doing this plan has made me feel a lot better about it all - i feel as though i will be able to afford to live my life without too much stress of money being a problem.

Make a plan for yourself, estimate roughly what your entitled to, what you'll be getting and what your outgoings will be. If you don't think you have enough to live with comfortably, then try and see where you can lessen your outgoings (bring your phone bill down, pay less or nothing towards savings, get rid of car etc - in my case) to make yourself more comfortable.

I'm sure when you see everthing written down and worked out in front of you, it may seem less daunting.

 

[purpledahlia]

yeah, k, well,

weekly i need to put - £10 into Overdraft debt

so thats 40 a month. My phone is 20, and a month on petrol id say would be about 70. I live in the middle of nowhere and need to drive even to asda or shops etc.

So thats 130 a month, Then the extra rent is 50 (maximum, ill obv try to find a cheaper flat but maximum extra would be 50 - council wont pay it i checked today )

so thats 180 a month. Which leaves 520-180 = 340.

340 divided by 4 is 85 a week. And with that i have to buy Food, Nappies, Wipes, And pay bills, i dont think its possible. I cant do it. Im gonna have to beg to stay at home.

 

[purpledahlia]

I live in a cold climate - i will have higher heating and hot water bills than england, I cant comprimise on that cos i woiuld be worried the baby wouldnt be warm enough.

 

[bloodbinds]

Ok, ok, hang on.

You should get about £570 (IS:£250 CB: £80 CM: £80 CTC: £160)

Rent: £50
Utility Bills: £80
Food: £150
Petrol: £70
Overdraft: £40
= £390

£570-£390= £180 a month to spend on whatever else you like - make-up, nights out, a nice bottle of wine! Etc - Of course i don't know how much your food is going to cost you, so im going off my own workings out there, and i dont know if you have any other bills you havent mentioned, but hopefully you will be ok on that! And after a while you can go back to work anyway! And we can get up to 80% off nursery costs and claim working tax credits which will get some more money in! Plus you're entitled to the Sure Start Grant which is an extra £500 straight off! - You will be ok hun xx

 

[purpledahlia]

How will i get 570 ?

a week ill only get 130.. 50 income support, 20 child benefit, 60 tax credits?

no?

Apart from what youve mentioned i have just my mobile which i have loyalty on orange for my contract so its only 20 and unlimited txts etc, But il need a landline for internet, only the landline tho ill get free internet with orange. So Add 20 for mobile and i dunno.. 30 for landline?! not sure,

When you say 80 - CM whats that? Child Maintenence? I wont get that for ages, It takes months to get sorted cos i dont know his home adress or work name (he moved), so im not counting any maintenence cos i dont even know if ill get any.

 

[purpledahlia]

unfortunately the 500 is going on baby things before the baby arrives, cot, mattess, bedding, changing mats, towels, basically everything apart from clothes as i have loads of those already. So i cant assume ill have any left. HIP grant going on pram but wont cover full cost. God i hate the FOB, hes off to bloody ICELAND for a holiday, nights out, etc . and im stuggling with his child. asshole. hes not even offered to buy a TEDDY.

 

[Kirstin]

I would be emailing fob asking for some money to pay for things like a pram, I dont see why he shouldnt provide something for his child

 

[purpledahlia]

How do i ask for 400 quid tho.. Id rather borrow it or ask my parents =, He is an idiot and i cant trust him. He would probably say no anyway.

 

[Kirstin]

Just say "Can you help me out with some things for the baby" even if he just gives you £100 its better than nothing and if he says no when he turns around again and decides he wants to be in the babys life you can just bring the fact he refused to provide for her up

 

[purpledahlia]

hmm, true. ill think about it, even if he gives me some money when she arrives i can save it aswell for when we're short one month or sthing. i just didnt realisit was less than 150 id get and i didnt realise my boss wud fuck me over!

 

[ofatu]

Wow, I cant believe how different the welfare system is there? I am in Australia. I have 4 children and currently receive from the government (single parent) $1400 a fortnight. I also recieve on top of that about $200 a fortnight child support. Whilst I am far from rich I manage and am even able to save. With this next one coming soon, I am due in about 5 weeks my payments will rise again. An extra $400 a fortnight for 6 months (baby bonus) as well as additional $230 fortnightly. And whatever extra child support the CSA manages to get from him.

I do pay private rent though. And I guess things like electricity and gas are probably a bit different here.

I hope your ex helps you out, I am not counting on any help from my ex either.