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Confessions of a Single Mum

The ups, the downs and sideways views of life as a single parent

Vegetable Soup in Thursday Thrifting

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Its becoming a way of life now and like most people I ma always on the look out for ways to save money. We all have bills rising faster than wages so I know I am not the only one. I have started a soup night every week and so far its been going well. All I am doing is once a week I make soup with whatever vegetables are looking a bit lost and forlorn in the cupboards. Most weeks it is tasty with only one week turning into a disaster but the kids loved the concoction that week. ... VIEW POST

Universal Credit Calculations

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I would say I am an everyday, run of the mill single mum. The children spend 2 nights a week at Dads each week and both he and I are pretty flexible if the days get moved around etc. I work self employed for several reasons but the main one being I have M.E so there are days I can’t work a full day. There are days I can’t get out of bed. I know no boss would tolerate that long term and as I am ‘able to work’ I had to find a solution that worked for me and would work around my bad days. I also ... VIEW POST

A Level Result Time & Benefits

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With the A level results out today and children returning to schools and colleges in a few weeks time, I thought we would have a quick look at what financial support could be available to help cover educational costs. If your child is at school or college and 16 or over you may still get Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit up till their 20th birthday if they are in non-advanced education. ... VIEW POST

Tax Credits Renewal

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Tax Credits Renewal : Just in case you have missed all the adverts on tv or the bill boards notices, your tax credits renewal needs to be in by 31st July .Tax credits should have sent you a tax credits renewal pack in the post. You could have used the renewal pack to renew your tax credits but as the deadline is tomorrow you will need to give them a call and renew over the phone. ... VIEW POST

46% of Single Parents

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Just over a week ago we posted about the benefit cap being rolled out across the UK. Gingerbread has looked at the DWP figures and found that 46% of the households affected will be single parents who claim income support. Income support is a benefit that is in place for those who are not in a position to work, like single parents who have a child under 4. Gingerbread also have said that 65% of those affected by the benefit cap will be single parent families as many will be pushed over the cap ... VIEW POST

Benefit Cap Starts

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After a trial run in the London boroughs of Haringey, Enfield, Croydon and Bromley since April of this year, the new benefit cap is now being rolled out across the rest of the UK. Couples will now not receive more than £500 a week and single people can only receive up to £350. The benefit cap applies to people on jobseeker's allowance, child benefit, child tax credits, housing benefits and other benefits. "The benefit cap returns fairness to the benefits systems," Mr Duncan Smith said. "It ... VIEW POST