No work, Help!

[pearshape]

My dh is self employed and i work part time on a low wage. He has always done okay for work and we've always got by. There are no permanent jobs for him where we live and he wouldn't earn enough to cover mortgage and other outgoings by taking one. Anyway he hasn't had any work for the last four weeks and we are really scared. We have used up our reserves to cover bills and have no money left or access to any credit as we messed up in the past and are in debt. We are sitting here waiting for the phone to ring and it's horrible. I have pawned some jewellery to get some shopping in and we have decent mobile phones on contract that we could sell which would pay us up to date for a couple more weeks. The only thing is we haven't had them long and have 2 year contracts on them. If we sell them can we buy cheap replacements or will the contract company know? Hopefully if we can get a couple of weeks leeway then dh may get some work by then, he always has in the past. We are really, really scared at the moment so any suggestions would be great. I am obviously looking for more work too

[smackapacca]

I did that with a phone - it's fine to sell the handset. I sold my iPhone and used an old handset for a while. As of last week I got my upgrade to another iphone, so I still have that old mobile which will work as a handset that you're welcome to?

[Gillybobs]

CAn he get some agency work for a few weeks? Years ago when he graduated my DH worked for a driving agency for 3-4 weeks whilst waiting to start his full time job. You just needed a normal driving licence. He drove a small van to deliver newspapers overnight. Not perfect I know but if its just for a few weeks? Id get the yellow pages out and look up any temporary employment agencies in the area. There are lots of different types of work available short term. Good luck

[IssyPeach]

Pearshape - sorry to hear this. It's very hard, isn't it - I know! My dh has a no of jobs, none at all secure, and we worry a lot, too. My jobs are also rather insecure, and none all year round.

One of my dh's jobs is low paid but very flexible and means an almost constant stream of fortnightly paid wages. Could pm you with more details, if it helps.

Job Centre? Quite a good place for searching for work. I second what Gilly says about agencies - get yourselves on the books of a number of them.

The other thing is tell eg creditors your position - they should understand that many of us are coping in such hard times as these. There are agencies that can help - anything from template letters on their websites to taking over correspondence re debts and helping you set up sensible payment plans (Christians Against Poverty is one such - you don't have to be a Christian to get help from them.) National Debtline (I think that's what it's called) - very good helpline and website. And of course your CAB. Good luck!

[Bossybritches22]

Make sure you're getting all the tax credits you are entitled to during this time, you can come off them again once you are a bit more sorted.

Good luck it's a horrible time.