not enough money to live on?

Ok calm down, there ARE things you can do and I understand about not being able to cancel mid term on contracts, however you need to cut your outgoings and manage your debts (the debts will probably be what a large amount of your outgoings are going on)

So,first things first, get yourself to either the CAB or my personal recommendation is to contact the CCCS (consumer credit counselling service) The cab are great but over worked and understaffed and the CCCS can help you right away online if you choose. They are free and are not a debt management company and will NEVER charge you for using their services.

This will help you reduce repayments to creditors and will help you work out where extra money is going. It will also give guideline amounts for other costs such as food and clothing and help you stick to pre arranged amounts.

Second, you need to look into what help you can get benefit wise, as even those working full time can get help with rent and you may be able to claim working tax credits along with child tax credits.

If you are already claiming these, then you very much need to look at other costs that you could bring down such as the debts.

You should look at trying to call your Internet and phone providers to see if they can bring you down a tariff and start looking into cheaper alternatives now, so that when your contract does finish you can move.

I hate the answers that always say chop off your Internet, because actually, your only saving around £20 a month and in all honesty, most things now, are online! I could not live without mine, because this is where I have found the most facts regarding debts, benefits, money management and I have 24/7 online banking!

You can also pay bills online now, making it easier to manage and keep track of income and bills, so to be honest in the long run your not saving much money by not having the Internet at home. You would pay around £1 an hour for an Internet cafe and 10p per printed sheet of paper!

Anyway back to the point, if your work hours are maxed out and there is no way of getting a wage increase, then curbing your debts and repayments is going to be the best way forward!

Are you a single parent? Is your partner not also working? Perhaps with the CCCS, they can work out the best way forward and you should also go to turn to us .org to get a benefits check to see what extra you could get.

I know how hard it can be especially when in debt, but it's not worth getting angry and swearing at other answers, you have to realise, that many people are sick and tired of the current situation and you do also find that those that balk the most and the very ones peed off they are not getting so called benefits, yet have not even bothered to check they are able to get them and try to reduce their own outgoings!

Most of us at this time are facing cuts and are having to manage money more carefully and try to reduce our outgoings, so dealing with debts and reducing repayments is really the best way forward.

Check out the CCCS now!

Oh one last thing, you can really try to cut down on household bills such as gas, water and elec. We live in a world now, where we think nothing of having heating on until may lol As it stands, my gas heating has not been on since 1st March! Wrap yourself and daughter up in decent clothing (vests, slippers, socks and dressing gowns) turn off lights after use and swap to energy efficient light bulbs (you can try freecycle if you can't afford to buy the light bulbs at the moment and use freecycle for other things you need like second hand clothing and household items. Some are new or not very old at all) Try to limit use of water, less flushing, full load of washing in the machine, or hand wash small items like socks while you shower! Use heavy curtains on back doors and windows and use heavy blankets and duvets! Keep one room warm the most and that will either be the kitchen or living room to maximise heat! No point heating a whole house when the 3 of you are only every in the living room in the evenings.

Please feel free to email if you wish!

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/Budget-pl...

About half way down the page there is an article "What to do if you've got an overspend..."

There are lots of tips there.

What worked for me was keeping a track of all my spending - where every penny went, for many months. I soon found where money was trickling through my fingers, what was "wants" rather than "needs", and I found other ways to provide them - for instance, reading newspapers online or in the library, bringing a packed lunch to work instead of buying one, letting hair grow long and washing it myself at home to cut out hair salon costs, wearing what I have instead of buying more, etc. If I really need something, I will try charity shops first. Great for children's clothes and you can be lucky about toys, if you keep an eagle eye out and don't wait until a week before Christmas.

My biggest savings have been in food. I was surprised to find how much too much I was buying and not using, so it got thrown out - pure waste. I now buy what I estimate is enough for 3 or 4 days and it generally lasts the week. And I look for suitable items from the "reduced to clear" shelf. My grocery bill is now less than a quarter of what it was, and we eat quite well.

I have found there are ways of shaving some of the costs of virtually everything. When you learn this, it will free up more money to pay off the bills, and one day you will be totally debt free, like me.

Working as a telemarker usually pays $10-12 an hour or more and they will hire just about anybody. The job sucks, but it's probably going to be one of the best paying jobs a person with no experience or skills can get in your situation. If you know anything about using a computer, you could also try to get a job doing tech support over the phone, that will pay about the same, perhaps a little bit more. Good luck!

Cut all the bills that are not essential. I.e. insurance for the TV, Sky TV subscription, gym membership etc. Unless it pays a utility or relates to food or your home, then cancel it.

Put a budget plan in place. Know how much you have to spend each month and don't go over it.

Contact your creditors and work out a payment plan with them now or the interest will pile up quicker than you can pay it off.

You might have to take on an extra job, like working in a pub in the evenings, or stacking shelves in the supermarket after hours, babysitting, car washing - anything to get more money coming in. Plus you have to make a lot of cuts so that you aren't spending so much. Then when you've got it all under control you can sort out a proper budget for the future.

People on here have tried to give you helpful advice and you become abusive towards them - it's not our fault you are in the position you are in - but it might help if you could be a bit more openminded and less nasty to folk trying to help you.

The Citizens Advice Bureau can help with debt counselling

And they can do you a Benefit Check as well. You may be entitled to Child Tax Credits.

Hi,

Who is we?

What is your current occupation?

How old are you?

Need more details.

First I would recommended that you talk to family and friends if available because they will usually give you money with either no/low interest and enough time to pay it back.

Also you need to cut down your external costs - What I mean is...

-Any subscriptions to websites, magazines etc...

-Use public transport

-Turn off mains/electronic devices when not being used

-Limit your water and heater/air-con use

-Going out for drinks and dinner etc...

If you keep some of these factors low you'll save money bit by bit and it looks like you need every penny/cent.

Hope this helps!

Get some debt counselling - your local Citizens' Advice Bureau will be able to help.

If you can't increase your income, you have no choice but to decrease your outgoings.

reduce the amount of bills. it is clear that when one cannot increase income one must decrease the expenses. Do you have cable television? air conditioning? a car payment? subscriptions to gym memberships, credit monitoring junk, unsubscribe from everything, clip coupons and work more.

you have to reduce the use of electricity by Flame of one lamp at least and water as well so that you can live on normally