Financially in the poo

My DF has got his dream job of flying helicopters- the only problem is its a MAJOR pay cut and he is working way down in Te Anau. I am luckily living with family so dont have to pay rent or power, however he does (granted its very very cheap). We get paid fortnightly, and after all our bills have gone out, and rent, then fuel and food, we are actually going into debt. I have trimmed everything back as much as I possibly can, but its still not enough.

My DF keeps going on that I need a job- Yes I do agree, however there is FA jobs around, almost all of them are for trained people, and the rest require me to travel. I really dont want to have DD put into care, but I will if I have to.

We get WFF, but dont qualify for an accomodation supplement. We have all these bills coming in, the ute needs K's, my car needs fixing, and many more. I am trying my best to remain calm when talking to DF about financial stuff as fighting doesnt help- however he just keeps harping on about me getting a job, I am so SICK OF IT.

I wish I could crawl into my bed and pull the blankets up over my head and it would all go away

can you perhaps get a job as an inhome carer yourself, that way you wont have to put your child in care. Most of them train you and provide resources too. It may not be the highest paid job but once you pay for child care you may not be making any money any way.

I was just going to say the same thing cuppatea. I looked at working 4 days a week and paying a friend to look after the boys, I was only going to earn about $50 more per week than if I worked a Saturday while DH had the boys and we kept our WWF. We decided $50 was not worth the added stress that working 4 days would create, plus I didn't really want to leave the boys that much.

I agree, see if you can see a financial advisor. Maybe ring Citizens Advice and see if they can out you on to one as it might be free

I live way out in the country so looking after kids at home is not really an option- plus its not what I would want to do, looking after DD is enough for now!

DF works in Te Anau and we are in Nelson, so there is no way that he can look after DD, and all of my family are busy in the weekend- plus I dont quite trust them to look after her the same IYKWIM. The next option is me moving down there which I REALLY do not want to do, but might have to.

I have written out all our incomings and outgoings and the outgoings excede the imcomings by a few hundred each week- that is with me being as tight as I can on fuel and food.

We run a business, where DF is an employee of it, so the business pays for his food, rent, fuel and phone. However even if we didnt run the business we still wouldnt be better off. And our accomodation supplement would be $17 per week, where as the business can get GST back.

I am an ex digger operator. lol. So not the best job to go back to. Other than that just basic jobs since leaving school.

I think I would have to work alot of days to earn anything decent- as you say cuppatea it would probably work out with us less off.

I love the fact that DF has his dream job but it means our income is halved from what it was, and even then it was only average. Someone please just give me a winning lotto ticket!

ooh sell stuff on trade me for a few extra bucks. make sure you plant a good garden.

bowie wrote: You can ring budget advisory and get a free meeting with a budget person who can show you how to manage your money, talk about options re: debt consolidation and inform you of any extras you are entitled too. WINZ does a payment (temporary additional support i think its called) for situations where your income is less then your outgoings. Do you have anything you can get rid off, go down to one car maybe? Trade your car in for a cheaper/more economical model? Sucks to be in this kind of situation, this sounds like me last year

 

Bowie, did you read my mind?  I was going to suggest the same thing.  DH and I saw a budget adviser several times from Dec 09 - Feb 10, the hard times are now a distant memory but the advice they gave me and the lessons learnt live on.

You've said you live with family, what about getting a part time job in the evening after your child is in bed.  It may seem "below" you pay wise but at least you'll be contributing to the family income and you won't have to pay for childcare.

Bizzy- outgoings are HP on DF's ute, insurance on vehicles/life/contents, fuel, food ($150 for 2 weeks- so $75 each), 2 bills we are paying off and that is all. I do already sell stuff on trade me, my aunty gave me a whole lot of clothes she didnt want. I have a big vege garden and I get all our fruit and vege from a local supplier who is miles cheaper than the supermarkets.

Bowie- I am going to start ringing people today to see who can see me for free, they might be able to suggest something. Yeah I will see how much my car is worth and see if I can get a cheaper one.

MrsMojo- that sounds like a good idea however my aunty is frequently out at night, and we live a fair way from town, but I am looking at everything that is advertised, most of it is full time or is long hours.

Jazzy- He is probably only working there for a year, just enough to get his flying hours up then he can go worldwide and work pretty much anywhere. No we dont have any luxurys, I buy the basic food stuffs and DF gets deer, and we have a vege garden. Its looking like DD and I will have to move, since we cant afford for one of us to travel all the time. The business brings in X amount, then you have our wages, ACC, PAYE, and future tax bill. Plus it pays for his food, rent, and fuel (he needs one tank a week). There is nothing left in it. Our wages go for the stuff above.

I have tried talking to DF but he doesnt listen, I have written it all down an shown him but all he can say is 'if i have to work 7 days a week and not get any beer....' it drives me MENTAL- . I am looking for a job, and if I find one then I will work. Its getting to the stage where I cant have a decent conversation with him without him going nuts and me hanging up cause he is yelling.

oh and dont forget to inform IRD of the change in income for WFF. and you would definitley qualify for a childcare subisdy from what i have heard.

oooh i found westpac the most expensive - i rang about 4 companies for quotes a month or so back (for house, contents and car) and they were charging way more than anyone else for the car and marginally more for everything else. you can always change the type of insurance to third party fire and theft instead of full...

Bowie- Thanks for that, I gave them a ring and are going to see someone next friday- they are fully booked until then!

Thanks to everyone else for suggesting things, we are looking at downsizing our cars, and cutting the food budget even more. I just hope no major bills turn up, and that the $6 lotto ticket I brought with the last of my christmas money wins something this weekend!