That day of the month again. In goes the Universal Credit and woosh there it goes again. I feel there should be a song about it. -- I dread this date every month. It's almost as if this date has reminded me of a Traumatic event. That's probably a bit extreme but every 15th I have a sick feeling of dread in my stomach. Like the world is going to end. -- £2400 in and after bills and 1 weeks groceries I am down to £7.30. -- I just don't understand how people think that us folk on benefits have takeaways all the time and go to the pub.

Been a few days again but I've been super busy dodging the budget and trying to figure out how to get some money for the electric. It's cut out a few times. Fans aren't cheap to run. I feel it's more dangerous to run out of electric when it's this hot 5han in the winter when it's cold. I mean once your naked you can't take anything else off! At least in winter you can snuggle up and add layers! Budget tomorrow I guess. Can't face it tonight.

I was speaking to a friend this week about the impact of the increased cost of everything on our lives. We are both single parents and have in the past needed to support each other with basics such as food. Neither of us use universal credit as it seems to disadvantage people who are self employed. Of course people who live with illness, mental health challenges and disability are often self employed as it represents some sort of flexibility around health. She was telling me how even this time last year she was able to attend at least one dog show per month, as this is her passion. She said that food, electric, water, council tax, fuel, everything has increased in price so much that now she can't do that. Her income has not changed but it has also not increased inline with the rising costs of everything we need to live. It is a similar story for me. My private rent is the highest it has ever been, I ration, food, travel and everything. My daughter leaves for university this year, I will then be able to ration more as there are some things that are hard not to prioritise for your children. My finances will also shift at this stage as, when she leaves some financial support will also leave. I cannot remember ever being in such poverty and under such financial threat. It honestly feels like such an urgent emergency. People are cutting back on things they never thought they would need to. I can't remember the last time I bought any new clothes. I need new shoes but I can't afford that. I buy nothing for my home, I haven't been on holiday, I can't leave my isolated county unless it is for work and fuel is included. It's a very small shrunken, scary world.

Sat here with no electric as its just ran out. Wasn't too worried but then there's a knock at the door and my daughter has ordered her and her boyfriend dominoes whilst I'm sat here with no electric. Not sure how I'm feeling about it. She is quite entitled to spend her money on what she likes however they use the electric and don't contribute to the bills. What to do in this situation? I guess we wait and see who wants the electric back on first. Won't be me as I'm fine being poor. It's summer no heating needs to be on. After my daughter's complete disgust at coming from a poor background I am kind of hoping this will maybe remind her how lucky she is to be escaping rather than how unlucky she is to have come from a poor background.

So my son has to have surgery, I let the universal credit know as there is only a parent that is allowed to go my sons dad said no he can't help because he's working! So universal credit has said its fine and put down temporary as its medical obviously they want proof which is fine also. The hospital has said he will need 2 week off and my manager said it will be unpaid. So I'll be down massively on my wage and no one can help me. Ive got a full house to run my sons outdoor activities to pay for. Is there any other help out there. Ive just had to buy a new washer aswell its going to be so hard. My sons pre op is at the end of month and its not long after he has his surgery.

I just realised I forgot to road tax my vehicle after it was kept sorn over winter. Since I lost £550 a month from PIP support (I have stress related agoraphobia, adhd, generalised anxiety disorder and a long history of depression) I've had 2 speeding tickets, 2 parking fines, forgot to re-tax the van, forgot to pay kids forest school fees, had to quit volunteering as can't afford the petrol to get there, been in my overdraft at the end of every month...it's almost like being stressed about money has an adverse effect on people's lives. The hearing tribunal thing for PIP has been waiting for a hearing date since March. It was stopped in October. Mandatory Reconsideration was denied. And now waiting for a hearing date. With no time frame. I've also been awaiting outcome of an Ombudsman case as i Lost access to my adhd medication whilst i was in hospital in 2022. And the nhs has left me without support since. The Ombudsman case has said the report could be out every month since last October. And each month i get an email saying it's not finished yet. And each month i get to have a cry and remember why i ended up in hospital and why i haven't had adhd support since and how hard it has made every single day since. And the cherry on the cake this week is that today is my eviction day. And my shower has broken. And i have not found anywhere else to live yet. So in a minute my landlord will be coming over to replace the shower and I have to be polite and not mad about the eviction process they are putting me and my kid through.

On the plus side I'm bid position number 1 on a house this week on the housing list...the bidding cycling runs to Monday night, it's Friday. 4 days of waiting anxiety to see if after years if housing uncertainty I might finally get a council house and some sort of housing stability. We shall see.

Trip of a lifetime to see my daughter's university. A 400 mile plus trip there, 2 nights in a b&b and a 400 mile plus journey back. So far has cost about £700 without food or anything else. I have put aside £30 to get a top up shop for the people I am leaving at home. They still need to be fed and still need electric.

-- God I feel like I am having a breakdown. It's all going to plan but the debt, the borrowing I've had to do to make this happen. I've worked out I am in about £10000 of debt just trying to survive normal life. Listening to people make comments about people on benefits being lazy and scrounging off the government. They have no idea the stress and debt that goes into making life normal for us.

I am so worried about money. I am almost two months behind on my rent, I owe family members money and my car insurance has been cancelled and I can't afford to reinstate it. I'm really struggling mentally

I am very sad, every time I take my Grandson to the local park we are exposed to some form of racism.

As I was walking this 13 year old purposefully barged past me and really hit me hard with her elbow, she started to laugh and tell her friends.

I feel very unsafe in my environment and this makes me very very sad.

Not much to say apart from things are tighter than ever right now. Rent. Food. Bills. Travel. Basics. Battling anxiety directly related to financial stresses. Hoping, wishing, praying it gets easier.

Hi

A very good sunshine day, will take a walk around

My daughter has just got her first job. She is making food. She now often doesn't eat at home on those days as she is given food at work. This has made a massive difference to the food shopping. It means I can just eat whatever there is and there is less stress on me to make meals that are designed to feel like "everything is ok" when actually everything is not ok.