Free career advice?

[tracymort]

We are about to move house (selling up thanks to this credit crunch) and I've found old payslips from 8/9 years ago. I've realised my husband is still on the same, if not less some months, wage!
He's worked hard, all hours for years. Been promoted too. I cannot work out why he is not progressing financially!
In the meantime the cost of living goes up and we cannot afford it.
I have 2 years to go before I can go to work and help (with 3 children until they are all in school full time I'd be worse off for working) contribute anything financially. We feel so stuck!
Can't afford career advice, is there anything free out there?

[factor-fiction]

Are you sure he hasn't moved from weekly pay to monthly pay? Has he taken pension salary sacrifice or taken a car in lieu of salary? Have you asked him?
Have you enquired about working tax credit?

[tracymort]

He's had various jobs over the years, even if the salary offered is more our take home is always around the same. It's like when we earn a tiny bit more, they take away more!

He earns slightly too much for wftc (sadly they don't take into account the huge costs of getting to work), CTC is how we manage to eat!
Technically our quality of life was better when he earned less as we had more help iykwim. We can't even afford a car anymore.
We are kind of stuck in that middle bit. Not poor enough for help, but not rich enough to afford to pay all our bills!

[Buenchico]

The Government's official careers advice service for adults is operated through Learn Direct. The service is free and available between 0800 and 2200, every day of the week, by phoning 0800 100 900.

Chris