My Money: 'I have 25p left in my bank account'

1 year ago 100

A composite representation  of Alannah connected  a purple inheritance  with the substance   my money

My Money explores however radical crossed the UK negociate their spending successful a emblematic week.

As prices rise, BBC News has been proceeding astir their ways of cutting costs and the fiscal choices they person to make.

Alannah is simply a 27-year-old blogger from north-east Scotland. She rents a two-bedroom location with her hubby Jaimie, a transportation driver.

Alannah has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a familial unwellness that causes chronic pain. The couple's monthly income is astir £2,000 from Jaimie's wages and their benefits. They person a babe son, Odin.

The location was freezing erstwhile I got up this morning. Outside it was astir -4°C.

The heating was on, positive an electrical heater successful the surviving room. We're either successful indebtedness and warm, oregon freezing acold and inactive successful debt. So I'd alternatively conscionable person heat.

My tv licence came retired astatine £13.25, I hadn't expected it to travel retired today.

Another outgo of £4.16 went to LayBuy, a bargain present wage aboriginal company.

Image source, Alannah

Image caption,

Alannah and hubby Jaimie some person chronic illnesses, which means moving and caring for Odin tin beryllium tiring

We're trying to determination to determination without stairs, due to the fact that it's hard for maine to support utilizing them and my legs are covered successful bruises. But we cognize moving volition bring much fiscal stress.

In full £17.41 went retired today, but I received £21.80 successful Child Benefit.

I stayed astatine location with my lad today. Costcutter vouchers worthy £10 arrived successful the station from a section assemblage money radical for families.

They're adjuvant for things similar babe wipes but you don't get a batch from them arsenic Costcutter is truthful expensive.

I'm successful astir £1,600 of vigor indebtedness and there's thing I tin do. That's connected apical of astir £4,000 of different indebtedness including recognition card, rent and assembly taxation arrears.

A foundation called StepChange helped maine wage disconnected astir fractional due to the fact that it was astir £8,000 successful 2020. That felt amazing, but present I consciousness similar I've taken 10 steps backmost with my vigor debt.

There's a money my vigor supplier could usage to assistance maine wage it off, truthful we'll spot if I qualify. I've besides applied for the Warm Home Discount.

Today our spending was £0.

I received a refund of £15.98 for a flimsy telephone case. I request 1 due to the fact that Odin grabs my telephone and drops it.

Jaimie besides sent maine £40 and helium refuelled the car for £11.01.

A £7.99 Google Play subscription went out, positive payments to Clearpay and LayBuy, they're bargain present wage aboriginal companies. First £6.69, past £9.75, £6.12 and £2.66.

Most of these instalments are for peculiar shampoo and conditioner.

Having a stoma container means sometimes tablets don't absorb, they virtually travel consecutive backmost out. So it doesn't substance however galore vitamins I take, my hairsbreadth struggles.

People don't realise Jaimie and I trust connected definite items to assistance negociate our wellness conditions, and the terms of these going up has had an impact.

These see sanitary pads, sports drinks and apparel that acceptable implicit a stoma bag. I scour foundation shops for affordable items but it's not ever imaginable to find them.

Image source, Alannah

Image caption,

Odin is "eating non-stop" arsenic helium gets older

Next, £24.83 was paid to Klarna for Odin's Christmas present, a small electrical car.

I made immoderate TikTok contented too, I effort keeping america afloat with freelance blogging but it's inconsistent work.

Today's full spending was £69.05 and £55.98 came into my account.

We've had truthful overmuch snow. When we went to the doctor's this greeting I struggled walking up the hill.

Later we had spaghetti bolognese for supper, past it was bath nighttime for Odin.

£3.60 was spent successful Costcutters and Prime video came retired astatine £3.99. I've got £3 near until Jaimie is paid adjacent Friday, truthful it's stressful.

The fridge is getting empty. I marque definite Odin eats archetypal and past spot if there's thing left.

In full I spent £7.59 today.

I didn't slumber past night. In the morning, Jaimie got up with Odin and I stayed successful furniture until later.

We spent the day astatine his grandparents' house.

I reheated the spaghetti bolognese from past nighttime for supper, past took a bath and went to bed.

There were nary outgoings today.

I spent £14 connected immoderate effect and pouches of yoghurt for Odin utilizing our Best Start card, a prepaid paper from the Scottish authorities which lets america bargain steadfast food.

I person a dilatory cooker which is precise handy, particularly if you can't basal up agelong to cook, truthful I made beef stew for supper. Then we got acceptable for bed.

Today a full of £14 was spent utilizing our Best Start card.

Sunday is housework and household time for us. There was nary spending and we cooked.

Jaimie did Odin sausage rolls for lunch, truthful I had immoderate of those and a coffee.

He besides baked cinnamon rolls, truthful the location smelled lush.

Image source, Alannah

Image caption,

Jaimie and Alannah are stressed astir coping this winter

Our full week's spending was £108.04 and I person 25p near successful my slope account.

I'm panicking due to the fact that I don't cognize however we'll get retired of indebtedness now, we're going to truly struggle.

What keeps maine affirmative is talking astir debt, my illnesses and being a mum connected societal media due to the fact that it helps others.

As told to Jamie Moreland. Design by Jenny Law.

Would you similar to stock your play spending with BBC News? If you're surviving successful the UK, email my.money@bbc.co.uk.

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