My "Hard Times" Diary.

CalJake

Boilers are so expensive. I am in a similar position to yours and during the winter months our boiler packed in also. What a nightmare, cold nights and even colder showers !!!

My better half phoned up British Gas and explained the situation. They offered to put us on their service plan which covers for service/repairs. I can't remember the name of the plan, but it costs about £24 per month.

It was something I'd thought of before, but didn't go for it thinking that the boiler was already broken they wouldn't allow me to join.....but they did, even when we explained that the boiler was broken. The engineer was round the very next day. He didn't need to replace the boiler thankfully, he was able to effect a repair, but it cost me nothing that day.

Definitely worth a go if you can, and good luck

Mupeteer

Not much to add bam, just here to wish you luck. I hope the people on here can help.

Bambywamby

Thank you all for your kind words, advice and support, it's invaluable as ever.

Elatan - Nope it's not just your son. My son is the giver of grey hairs, worry lines, empty purses and headaches and tiredness. But I wouldn't change him for all the cash in Branson's empire.

Vertabim - I work part time as the Assistant Manager in a residential home -I have rang around a few homes this afternoon and have a couple of interviews booked so hopefully one will come to fruition. Realistically I need to start working more hours to cover our outgoings and debts. Thank you for the compliments .

Caljake - That's my second major worry at the moment. Getting a good quality, yet reasonably priced boiler...and then ensuring I get it insured after the warranty expires. My friend has a boiler plan with Ideal Standard and she pays £11 per month for total coverage.

Working Hard - I have worked at this actual home for 12 years, but I left in December last year for 3 months to work for an agency and then returned as the work was too infrequent. So I think I have blown any redundancy. If only I had known then eh?

Thanks Muppets...I don't think you lot have ever let anybody down yet. The help here is second to none.

Bamsx x

hypno06

I am sure you will get one of those jobs pretty quickly Good luck with the job hunting.

How about joining in (if you haven't done so already) the "make £10 a day in July" challenge - whether you are working or not, the extra £300 it could bring would be very useful, I'm sure!!

Bambywamby

Thanks Hypno - I think I might join the £10 a day July Challenge...better get my Ebaying head on.

I have has quite a produtive day considering my job and boiler went up the river.

I haven't spent any money, I made dinner from my store cupboard (spicey kidney burgers...were very nice too.)

Have had a strip wash with water from the kettle, seeing as I have no hot water. It wasn't as lovely as a bath but costs a heck of a lot less.

I used up yesterdays left over yorkshire pudding mix and had banana fritters for breakfast which wasn't very good for my weight loss efforts but they tasted yummy.

Washed and dried my and D/P uniforms on the airer rather than use the tumbler.

Cancelled Sky ...boo hoo...sob...sniff. What will I do when Prison Break Season 4 comes back on?

I ordered two weeks of shopping from online Asda, so I don't impulse buy when I go around the shops and I got a free delivery code from this wonderful site.

And finally I am off to do a night shift at work tonight, 11 hours overtime.
It will be sad knowing this is our last couple of weeks with the residents.
Ah well...you have to go with the flow when life keeps on changing and rearranging.

rubydoiwannabee

Hi BambyWamby, really sorry to hear about your predicament, don't these things all come along together at the wrong time!!

I second what everyone has said and would like to add:

1. Is your mortgage currently repayment? Could you explore moving to INT only whilst you focus on your debts/boiler/getting new job etc.?

2. Make sure you have a look at your local authority website for jobs, good residential/nursing home staff are really hard to come by... ( I work for social services)

I wish you best of luck and keep posting for lots of support.

best wishes

Honeybee_2

Could you try having a look to see if local hospitals need bank staff? Although the work isn't as reliable as set hours per week, could give you a paddle whilst you're up the creek on the job front? They do pay pretty well too, lots better than private care homes.

Also, with mobiles, may be worth seeing if you can get onto the lowest tariffs and pay off the contracts as pro formas, then go onto PAYG.

Also, instead of RSPCA direct debit, are their any animal shelters nearby? If so, you could donate a bag of shops own brand pet food so you're still doing your bit as it were. I know my local Pets at Home has collection bins for local cats and dogs homes that people can drop off donations into.

WorkingHardDFW

Have you thought about joining an NHS Bank via your local hospital. They are usually very keen to get people working qualified or unqualified. Generally Trusts use their own bank staff first before using agency (which is more expensive because of the Agency's costs cut).

Try looking on http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/ as well.

:cool:

Verbatim

I've had a call from a call centre telling me DEFRA want to offer a free grant for replacement boilers!!! obviously a scam and an Indian call centre with the usual long period of time between picking up phone and person replying.

no use to you but thought I'd share.

phantom9999

Could you get evening/weekend job in a pub/shelf stacking or something? The money won't be brilliant but a supermarket job would get you staff discount.
Have you anything you can ebay/car boot?

Best of luck!