It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

cw18

Well done on finding ways to drop your budget to match the unexpected drop in income JillD :T

But (and I hate to throw a spanner in the works), you do realise the Tax Credits are almost certainly going to chase you for repayment of the Tax Credits you're now being told you shouldn't have had :eek:

I've got an appeal outstanding ATM, which I filed early in October. I told them of every change of circumstances during the 2007-08 tax year as soon as it happened, and in the summer of '08 they suddenly got in touch to say they'd overpaid us by more than £200 for that year So I filed the appeal, which I have been told is showing on the system, but it's not yet been processed. In the meantime they're not clawing back anything from my current claim, but I'm in an even worse financial position to pay it back now than I was then (should the appeal go against me)

rosieben

JillD wrote: »

...
Our house is double glazed but its rubbish. Noisy and we are sure its drsughty.l We have an open plan room that we use as a playroom, it has 2 big wondos and patio doors in a sort of bay type thing and it always feels really cold in there at night. No blinds or curtains, not sure how much that would save and how soon the cost of getting some curtain rods and material would payfor itself in heating bills. I have sewing machine and can make curtains, but as its a bay with the middle secction being doors I cant quite work ot how to make it all hang ?? I did a Roman blind for DS' room but its not very good. Perhaps I should try again ??? ...

You're doing really well, I'm sure you'll get it all sorted :T

I would definitely go for curtains at the windows, even with good double glazing they make a difference. The thicker the better, and lined too; I don't think blinds do the same trick as curtains. I have secondary glazed units and thick lined curtains and there's a substantial difference in the temperature in front and behind of it. I would hang floor length curtains across the door to the bay, and put curtains up at the bay as well when you can afford it. Its worth checking in charity shops for curtains, I had 2 good lined pairs, 90" drop last year for less than £10. In a really cold room I would be inclined to tack some extra padding between curtain and lining (a very cheap duvet would do).

Pont

Well down JillD! What a refreshing post(s). Instead of moaning 'poor old me' you're being proactive about tackling the problem yourself. We're all finding times tough and have to cut our cloth etc. But what else do you do - hit it all head on and don't let the b*****ds get you down! Go girl!

Pont

Addition re: Tax Credits.
Make sure you include ALL hours worked be it 'at the office' or 'at home'. Last week I called the Tax Credit office, and just as an aside, I told them about all of the hours I spend in the evening preparing work,. I got an extra £700 put into my account (backdated 93 days)!

Pont

Addition/additon! I would echo rosieben's advice. I make my own blinds/curtains and always interline them - saves a fortune on heating bills.

JillD_2

cw18 wrote: »

Well done on finding ways to drop your budget to match the unexpected drop in income JillD :T

But (and I hate to throw a spanner in the works), you do realise the Tax Credits are almost certainly going to chase you for repayment of the Tax Credits you're now being told you shouldn't have had :eek:

I've got an appeal outstanding ATM, which I filed early in October. I told them of every change of circumstances during the 2007-08 tax year as soon as it happened, and in the summer of '08 they suddenly got in touch to say they'd overpaid us by more than £200 for that year So I filed the appeal, which I have been told is showing on the system, but it's not yet been processed. In the meantime they're not clawing back anything from my current claim, but I'm in an even worse financial position to pay it back now than I was then (should the appeal go against me)

Blimey I thought no other idiots like me would be up so late!!

Yeah, I know they will probably chase us for the money.Depressing isnt it! Tehe gits :mad: They sent that letter (well 2 of them, one for me one for hubby - er we do talk you know, in fact what happens is I open both and shred one ) that said they will collect overpayment from future payments. What I am anticipating is that for 2009-2010 our earnings will drop again as I will have had a full year of no salary, so from that point they would start paying us again ie they will then start to claim back the money, We have been saving our child benefit for the last few years so we have that to fall back on too. In fact we are so used to the child benefit going into a savigs account, we never see it, I keep forgetting that thats another £160 a month we could live on if we need to :T

JillD_2

rosieben wrote: »

You're doing really well, I'm sure you'll get it all sorted :T

I would definitely go for curtains at the windows, even with good double glazing they make a difference. The thicker the better, and lined too; I don't think blinds do the same trick as curtains. I have secondary glazed units and thick lined curtains and there's a substantial difference in the temperature in front and behind of it. I would hang floor length curtains across the door to the bay, and put curtains up at the bay as well when you can afford it. Its worth checking in charity shops for curtains, I had 2 good lined pairs, 90" drop last year for less than £10. In a really cold room I would be inclined to tack some extra padding between curtain and lining (a very cheap duvet would do).

We used to have these double doors to the room and the doors had lots of little glass panelly things in, we noticed one day one of the panels was all sharp and shard-y down one side, so we decided immediately to remove the doors as they were a hazard to the kids. We (well I, hubby never seems to notice temp of the house ) noticed the difference in the ouse temp esp at night it was colder so yes I think we do need to do something, Our front room also has a bay but not the french door part, but it has lined curtains and its toasty warm at night.

You have cinvinced me to look into it
I think we may even have some in the loft, oh gosh I hope I didnt charity shop them years ago ...... I have a bad feeling :rolleyes:
And loving the idea of a cheap duvet as extra padding, Asda do some very thin ones (as I foind out when I bought one for DD1 , how they can market it as a duvet have no idea! Its more like a bag of air!! (yes I know air is insulating but not just air on its own!!!)
Thanks!

JillD_2

Pont wrote: »

Well down JillD! What a refreshing post(s). Instead of moaning 'poor old me' you're being proactive about tackling the problem yourself. We're all finding times tough and have to cut our cloth etc. But what else do you do - hit it all head on and don't let the b*****ds get you down! Go girl!

Thankyou

You clearly didnt hear me sobbing when I came off the phone to the gas people then, I think hubby thought someone had died ........

Plus I went out on my friends hen do last night, it had all been paid for up front before Christmas, so going out was a complete no brainer, I had the best night I've had in years!! About 5 hours of dancing. So I am in a very bright mood today :beer:
And of course I have remembered that I love my BM

JillD_2

Pont wrote: »

Addition re: Tax Credits.
Make sure you include ALL hours worked be it 'at the office' or 'at home'. Last week I called the Tax Credit office, and just as an aside, I told them about all of the hours I spend in the evening preparing work,. I got an extra £700 put into my account (backdated 93 days)!

Sadly I did no work at home at all
Does that work even if you work over the 16 hours ?
In that case hubby works about 80 hours a week, he works into the small hours at home every night and lots at weekends. On paper he is under the minimum wage :rotfl:

JillD_2

Pont wrote: »

Addition/additon! I would echo rosieben's advice. I make my own blinds/curtains and always interline them - saves a fortune on heating bills.

You have convinced me, hubby is going up in the loft tomorrow in search of old curtains and if he cant find any I wil be getting thinking cap on for cheap linings and materials Quite looking forward to getting sewing machine out