Sold house, now need advice on what to do next?

woddle said:

we paid of outstanding gas and esb bills, credit cards,

...

we also paid a debt back to my parents, but we have def stupidly blown alot,

Click to expand...

Sounds like your financial planning in the past has been a bit of a mess and you really need to put strict budgeting plans in place to avoid a rerun of accumulating debt etc.? Have you read the various budgeting resources in the Banking/Borrowing forum key posts and looked at the MABS website etc. If you have habitually spent when you felt like it in the past then it will take some discipline to stick to a strict budget.

When you finish your work you will need to collect your social welfare benifits as well. This should boost your weekly income. Get rid of one car and the bike asap.
Another suggestion : You're an electrician. Could you work part-time a few evenings and a Saturday ? I would imagine you could get a decent income this way.

are you refering to what clubman said re Family Income Supplement. and She will be the sole earner 99 % of the time but I will keep my business books going in case of that job that is to good to say no to. would this affect the social welfare cheers

No - I'm refering to the social welfare entitlement that everyone is entitled to if they have sufficient stamps paid, otherwise you would be on means tested assistance. Why not pay them a visit to see if they will advise you ? Obviously any changes in your work would have to be reported to them but no point in waiting for the great job to arrive as oppose to checking your entitlements straight away.

elcato said:

When you finish your work you will need to collect your social welfare benifits as well. This should boost your weekly income.

Click to expand...

But he's giving up work to become a stay at home father so presumably won't be available for and seeking (full time) work in which case he would not meet one of the key qualifying conditions for claiming Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance. The Homemaker's Scheme might be relevant though:

Homemaker's Scheme

But he's giving up work to become a stay at home father so presumably won't be available for and seeking (full time) work in which case he would not meet one of the key qualifying conditions for claiming Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance.

Click to expand...

Fair point. I forgot about the fact that he was giving up work to mind the children.