How can I raise about �4,000 seriously?

[morbidstorm]

Hi,

My husband recently spent a few months unemployed, although he has recently got a job again.

The problem is that while he spent three months out of work, we could not afford to pay our mortgage and bills and nursery fees, etc, and now we are in serious arrears with all our bills, credit cards etc.

I need to raise approx �4k - �5k to get us out of immediate danger - any ideas? A loan is not an option, as we couldn't afford any repayments - I need to earn this sort of money, and fast.
Any advise massively apprieciated.

[WendyS]

Could you negotiate with your mortgage lender to extend the length of your mortgage? If you explain that your arrears were due to your husband's temporary unemployment which has now finished they might be sympathetic. It sounds as if you're already working if you're paying nursery fees. I suppose doubling up the children for sleeping and letting out a spare room to a lodger wouldn't be an option? If you have any language schools in your locality they often need accommodation for students during the summer vacation but that certainly wouldn't raise �4,000. Do you have any possessions or jewellery that you could bear to sell? Have your got a reasonable car you could sell and buy a cheaper model ? Am trying to put myself in your position and think of other options but it's not easy, is it?

[morbidstorm]

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for your ideas. Our lender has been very patient with us as it is, I have spoken to them about the equity in our home, but they said they cannot discuss it with me until I pay our arrears.
Yes, I am working, My Husband and I have always both worked full time, but this all started when he was made redundant a year ago. He found another job before the redundancy took effect, but after 4 months his new job was unbearable for him, and that's when he left his job. our relatives and friends believe he had a delayed reaction to his redundancy, and then he spent months out of work.
We only have a two bedroomed house as it is, so the boys already share a room - and I really don't own any jewellery or a car that would be worth much more than a couple of hundred pounds.

God, life is tough!!

[kazza12345]

what you need to do is minimise your outgoings and maximise your income ... Any chance of getting a part time evening job for a bit? Is he still out of work? If so, you could immediately cut down on nursey fees surely?. What about doinfg a few car boot sales. or selling stuff on ebay? Do you have a hobby you could turn into money, ie sewing, ironing making jewelery?

[steve208]

It sounds like you work really hard as it is but as you are anxious to pay off what you owe then i have some suggestions:-

As suggested before why not look up an ironing service (yes i know it sounds dull but you can a bit of money in the evenings without having to leave the house!) try yeloow pages and ask if they need any more people.

Also as before try to cut down on out goings. So for example try to cut the weekly shoppping bill by buying own brand products, yes i know they may not always be as good but you could cut your shopping bill by a lot.

What about your utility bills we are always hearing how good it is to switch suppliers, have you looked at if you can get better deals at all?

How about the use of the family car, if you can try to limit the amount of local driving you do as this will use more fuel and with the price it is at the moment will cost a lot.

Cant think of anything else at the moment. Hope this helps.

[Kathyan]

Get advice from the CAB. They may be able to negotiate smaller repayments on the bills you have. Good luck!

[morbidstorm]

Thanks for those suggestions everyone, some sound advice there and a lot for me to be getting on with.

We've cut down our food shopping bills before by buying own brands, and to be honest, they are just as good!!

Thanks again for all your help.x

[WendyS]

Morbidstorm - it sounds as if you're pedalling pretty hard to try and keep afloat and are already doing as much as you can in this respect. However, an evening job might help but this would put a lot of stress on one of you. I wonder whether you and your husband could offer yourselves in a joint job/share evening carer if there are any residential homes near you I regularly visit somebody in one of these homes and they always seem desperately short of reliable staff. If you and your husband could divide out the evenings between you, there would always be somebody at home to look after the children. Job-shares are becoming more popular now employers are becoming used to accommodating working parents. Such a job probably wouldn't pay more than the minimum wage, but in your situation it might prove a case of "every little helps". Alternatively, could one of you try and get an evening cashier till job at a local supermarket which works late hours. (You might even get a discount on your food purchases). Or working week-ends in an estate agents? Could you board neighbours' rabbits & guinea pigs while they go on holiday? Good luck. Do hope you manage to sort something out.