50p a day til christmas, healthily?!-Weezl's next challenge (part 2)

shaz_mum_of__2

aww mooloo don't let it get you down now in some ways you have come so far talk to the utilities companies again and pay only what you can afford ....perhaps even point out that if you were to go bankrupt they would get nothing ...........did you ever get to see a debt counsellor ?

Shaz

Savvy_sewing

I already went bankrupt 2 years ago. So I cannot go bankrupt again. I wasn't happy with the situation then, certainly dont want to go down that road again.
I spoke to the national debt line in the past. It was them that suggested letting HMG bankrupt me over non Payment of VAT bills. !
Anyway, I cannot even contemplate all that stress and trouble again.

Its my own fault for being so soft on the children. (And NPower for never sending bills!!!!). I knew i didnt want to be with Npower as I had this problem with them 15 years ago, and it nearly crippled me paying the bills when they came in 18 months later. Had the same problem with the phone at that time too. (I had a package with the power company for utilities and phone, paid a direct debt, which I thought was covering the bills and didnt worry, till I moved and ended up with a huge final/only bill!!!)
Anyway the past is the past. I have to organise a way of increasing my income, or resigning myself to the fact that I am going to have to have a longterm payment plan.
I did talk to the company yesterday, and they said that I cannot reduce the payments any further as I owe so much. Feeling low, and the grey day out there, is really why I am just annoyed with myself, and my children for getting back in debt!. I know I will rise above it, and succeed eventually, its just the thought of struggling on a minimum for at least another two years is just so depressing.!
2 years ago, 6 months after the bankruptcy, I had a new career, a council flat and a boyfriend. I was looking upwards and onwards and was saving money (via my mum as I cant have a savings account), and having two holidays, small self catering, but I was having them!.)
Now I am just having to actually face up to the problems so that I can deal with them. It was/is just the shock of adding it up and realising the time scale, and the amount over electric/gas/water!!!! Basics!!!
I am scared to put the light on in here when I know that I am happier with brightness!

jackieglasgow

{{{{{hugs}}}}} mooloo, I don't really advocate hugging strangers, but you're not really to me as I've been lurking here forever, so just kid-on you know me. I don't have any advice I can offer I'm afraid, but I will try and think of money saving / making stuff for you and your wee cottage?

As for light, have you tried mirrors with candles in front to double-up, or lamps with eco bulbs (also in front of a mirror)? I have a mirror on the wall opposite/behind my south facing windows, which brighten the whole house up. They make a huge difference.

newlywed

Hugs to you Mooloo. My OH refuses to let me persuade him away from prepayment meters because of large utility bills.

At least we always know when we've used too much - it goes dark, or cold :rotfl:

I know it's more expensive for gas and elec but it does at least stop those kind of worries and make it easier to budget - eg if we are running low on money I'll reduce how much hot water/heat we use.

newlywed

jackieglasgow wrote: »

Not all prepayment meters are dearer to run than credit meters. Especially if you're on benefits. I work for one of the Big Utilities and they have a tariff for prepays which is the same as Direct Debit customers. Check who you're with, and compare tarriffs. You might be surprised.

Yeah my electricity is the same tariff as others - just without the direct debit discount :rolleyes:

It's the gas supplier I'm not happy with - especially since their numpty salesman came to the door, called me by the wrong surname (even though he had the correct one written down), called me babe :mad: and then couldn't answer any of my tariff questions :rolleyes:

jackieglasgow

My message got deleted, how did I do that? I was plugging in the charger, must have been leaning on the keyboard with my big belly!! :eek: Time for a diet.

jackieglasgow

You know that some companies do a duel fuel discount, even on prepayment meters? Then it's just one load of numpties to deal with? Not trying to sell you anything, just a suggestion. I would always get Dual fuel, simply for the ease of use, and the wee bit extra discounted price.

In_Search_Of_Me

aww hugs maloo...them there heating bills are a mare...I now walk around with jumper, socks and hotty botty (hot water bottle) and its gone down massively as I also got rid of my comfort blow fans that are hot or cold depending on how you fee. Really would recc rining one of the free debt agencies...they are there to help at the end of the day and arent judgemental. I spoke to cccs last week and they were lovely...meanwhile may be worth you seeing gp and seeing of there is any councelling you cound get as if it may help you sort and sift some of the issues and help you to learn how to say no to the kids and get different ways of showing them love than with material things? Just a thought?
Also check on here to make sure you are gettng the cheapest tariff and be lethal about turning stuff off like lights, tv etc. In terms of doing things how about focussing on one thing for you to do for now and build up as you gather strength. big hugs for you...

shaz_mum_of__2

got more jam on the go

picked up 6lb of damsons for £2 at the market £2.07 for the sugar should get at least 12 jars of nice yummy jam ...........33.9p a jar plus a little gas

I really do not need any more jam(i must have almost 100 jars of hm stuff) in fact we are running low on marmalade(on the lookout for whoopsied citrus) but couldn't resist them as they were 80p per lb last week and no wild ones locally

Got beetroot to lift too from the garden but not sure how well its done it looks a bit scraggly

Missing the weezly geekiness on here and could do with some new inflation busting recipes but appreciate raising frubabies is time consuming and energy sapping

Lesley_Gaye

Mooloo wrote: »

Maybe its the time of year, as I have been feeling down and depressed about the finances. Yesterday, I started to look at my Debts again, and organised a payment plan with the Utilities (about bills left from living in the big house with the twins and grandchildren).
Thank goodness for all the lovely people I have "met" through MSE!!

aww, hugs to you Mooloo, sounds like a really difficult time you are having there.

don't really know enough about your situation to offer any advice - assuming you want any! My DD and her husband lost their business just over a year ago and went personally bankrupt as well a few weeks ago. They owe me siginificant numbers of thousands that was lent to their business and assure me that they will still pay it back, but are showing no signs as yet.

Lending and borrowing to friends or family makes things really hard sometimes.