living on CL alone as a single mum - paying private rental - how do you do it?

[deletedit]

PPS is something like 600 a fortnight, plus $60 rent assistance, plus a few hundred in FTA/FTB ...

Back in the dark ages when I was a single parent I was sharing a house right near work. I rented a room out to a guy (there's a lot of paperwork with CL right there) who was only there on weekdays and went back to stay with his mum on weekends. He was a nice quiet Asian chap. My daughter used to boss him around something fierce and he'd do anything she said, and I'm not sure if it was a personality thing or a cultural thing but she liked it anyway

Get a house near a uni or TAFE and rent a room to a student, preferably not a white male party type or you'll have a house full of drunks.

[Amity]

I did it, but was living at home with parents (not renting). However I did pay massive amounts in child care (over $300/wk) which would be equivalent to private rental.

Plan every cent. Meal plan, drive plan, play plan.
Only use the car when you have to (or don't have a car at all, public transport is often much cheaper than maintaining a car).
Cook everything from scratch.
Eat vegetarian a few days a week.
Have play dates at the park.
Join the library for books and DVDs.
Freecycle.
Get to know your local op shop.
Go to church - they often have people who are willing and able to help you with $$ and other day to day things.
Don't be afraid to go to a charity if you have to.
Find out what your local Bakers' Delight do with their bread at the end of the day, tell them you're poor and see if they will donate you some.

Good luck. I've bought milk with 5c pieces more times than I care to count.

[Trillian]

I don't have any advice, but I hope that it all works out for you

[Jennifer13]

Oh hun

It seriously sounds like you should maybe find somewhere to stay until he settles down a little, even if just for a night or two.

It sucks that you're going to have to deal with him being like this. I'm sorry he's found out about your plans.

[Beatrix]

Gigi- come stay here!!! your are more then welcome. you and bilby will have to share a room and it may be crowded but please Im serious.. I can be there tonight to help you or even tomorrow when he is at work

[Gigi]

thanks Ness, you're so kind. if i thought it would be just for a few nights, i prolly would take you up on your kind offer. but i have no clue how long it will take me to find somewhere to live, and i coudln't do that to anyone (land on them indefinately).

[Olive]

gigi please take ness up on her offer,

[Traveller]

Gigi I'm so sorry that CL broke your confidentiality. Please take Ness up on her offer, at least to give you some time to find somewhere permanent. And when you are more settled I think a complaint to CL is in order to save the next woman going through the same thing.