It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

kidcat

frosty wrote: »

Hi everyone,my husband works offshore and they have just received letters saying the recession is now filtering through the oil industry:eek::eek:,and they may have to look at making people redundant.My husband says his job is safe but I dont think anyone is safe.:oI have been cutting back since I joined this site and have been putting money away:j(my husband does not know about this)to cushion us if he does lose his job.He wont receive any money if he loses his job because he is agency.

Well done frosty, I have been doing the same, my DH has no idea we have any savings - but if he did he would want to spend it. It makes me feel secure knowing its there - its not alot - equivalent to a couple of months wages but as we have never had any savings at all its a massive step for me.


Thanks for the advice kittie, I think my prob is that I was devastated to have to leave behind the old house - even with all its problems (and there were so many of those), my head says this is good for us but my heart still cries for home. I will get there especially when the lower bills come in.

Primrose

A big :T to the ladies who have been secretly hoarding away some money against the bad times which may be to come. I think the nation as a whole owes a very big debt to unsung heroines like this who hold families together by their forward thinking and their steady prudence. I don't know why it is, but it often seems to be people like this, who by their quiet sacrifices, do what needs to be done to hold the fabric together in difficult times. These are difficult times but let's hope redunancy doesn't happen for any of you.

pagangirl

Hi folks - havn't been on this thread for ages, been playing catch - up.

Congratulations Sammy - great news.
Bigs hugs to all - might need 'em meself soon coz got told last week my fixed-term contract due for renewal 31st December ain't going to be renewed - so that's me out of a job again - going to be a great start to the new year ! :eek:

Thanks to hints & tips picked up on h MSE already, have been saving like mad, so have some money to spare in case of emergency. Also squirreling any bargains so storecupboard is ok, and Christmas has mostly been sorted.

Just when you think things are going ok, somone always pulls the rug from under your feet. went to C.A.B today for advice - guy very helpful, said you can work up to 16 hours per week and claim Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit. If you work 30 hours per week, you can claim Working Tax Benefit, but if you go for part time job - you will get no help at all, so you'll be better off not working!!!!

Sorry for rant folks, just seems totally pointless that I want to work, applied for a part-time job for 20 hours a week, but now found out I can't afford to take it It's crazy - or is it just me?????

kidcat

Pagangirl my friend was in same position, she took a job a few years ago for 21 hours when she was married and had a child at home, but when her husband and child left she was left really struggling as the hours werent enough to pay her bills but she wasnt entitled to claim any extra. The CAB told her that she should ask her employer to increase her hours to 30 and still pay her the same salary (as they couldnt give her the extra pay)!

Hope you find something soon.

ceridwen

pagangirl wrote: »

Hi folks - havn't been on this thread for ages, been playing catch - up.

Congratulations Sammy - great news.
Bigs hugs to all - might need 'em meself soon coz got told last week my fixed-term contract due for renewal 31st December ain't going to be renewed - so that's me out of a job again - going to be a great start to the new year ! :eek:

Thanks to hints & tips picked up on h MSE already, have been saving like mad, so have some money to spare in case of emergency. Also squirreling any bargains so storecupboard is ok, and Christmas has mostly been sorted.

Just when you think things are going ok, somone always pulls the rug from under your feet. went to C.A.B today for advice - guy very helpful, said you can work up to 16 hours per week and claim Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit. If you work 30 hours per week, you can claim Working Tax Benefit, but if you go for part time job - you will get no help at all, so you'll be better off not working!!!!

Sorry for rant folks, just seems totally pointless that I want to work, applied for a part-time job for 20 hours a week, but now found out I can't afford to take it It's crazy - or is it just me?????

Hi PaganGirl

Good to see you again. Re your comment on not being able to get Working Tax Credit unless you work 30 hours per week - correct me if my memory serves me badly here - but dont I recall that you are in your 50s? If so and my memory was serving me aright here - then I'd doublecheck that fact about how many hours you have to work to get that benefit - as I rather thought that people over 50 only have to do a 20 hour a week job in order to be eligible for WTC. Worth doublechecking....

regards
ceridwen

EDIT: Darn - just nipped over to my "chez ceridwen" blog to check out the "label" to give you for the posts I have put in on "employment" - and couldnt - because I cant access any of my blogs at the moment, as an error screen is coming up. This is happening to a few of the Blogger blogs at the moment - so just google for it later and hopefully they will have resolved this problem:

http://chezceridwen.blogspot.com/

and hunt down the labels at the side for "employment". I put every useful link I come across on re jobs/benefits on that - and think I might well have put one for WTC.

[Deleted User]

Primrose wrote: »

A big :T to the ladies who have been secretly hoarding away some money against the bad times which may be to come. I think the nation as a whole owes a very big debt to unsung heroines like this who hold families together by their forward thinking and their steady prudence. I don't know why it is, but it often seems to be people like this, who by their quiet sacrifices, do what needs to be done to hold the fabric together in difficult times. These are difficult times but let's hope redunancy doesn't happen for any of you.

my mum did that in the 50s because come winter and after christmas, no one wanted their shoes mending and my family of 9 had to survive on maybe a shilling a week and that is 5p today. That would have bought a cheap pair of stockings then. Our diet then was sour milk and potatoes and pigs head and cabbage.

Having said that, you wouldn`t believe how healthy we all are still

InfamyInfamy

pagangirl wrote: »

Hi folks - havn't been on this thread for ages, been playing catch - up.

Congratulations Sammy - great news.
Bigs hugs to all - might need 'em meself soon coz got told last week my fixed-term contract due for renewal 31st December ain't going to be renewed - so that's me out of a job again - going to be a great start to the new year ! :eek:

Thanks to hints & tips picked up on h MSE already, have been saving like mad, so have some money to spare in case of emergency. Also squirreling any bargains so storecupboard is ok, and Christmas has mostly been sorted.

Just when you think things are going ok, somone always pulls the rug from under your feet. went to C.A.B today for advice - guy very helpful, said you can work up to 16 hours per week and claim Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit. If you work 30 hours per week, you can claim Working Tax Benefit, but if you go for part time job - you will get no help at all, so you'll be better off not working!!!!

Sorry for rant folks, just seems totally pointless that I want to work, applied for a part-time job for 20 hours a week, but now found out I can't afford to take it It's crazy - or is it just me?????

Not sure what the rules are re being self employed. Both OH & I are self employed (seperately) & we get WFTC & CTC. Hope this helps!

andan

Good to see this thread being resurrected again. I think the recession is finally starting to hit my partner and I. He is a painter and decorator so work has been hard to come by for some time. We have had to resort to renting out both rooms in our house to ensure all bills get paid. Not ideal but it means we don't get into debt. I think at times like this, we have to make small sacrifices whilst still enjoying things in life.

[Deleted User]

andan wrote: »

. We have had to resort to renting out both rooms in our house to ensure all bills get paid. Not ideal but it means we don't get into debt. I think at times like this, we have to make small sacrifices whilst still enjoying things in life.

Lots of people had lodgers in the 50s and it was definitely a mutual help society

pagangirl

Thanks for the advice folks. I did a benefits check on a site called Entitledto.co.uk - said I MAY get some Housing Benefit but no guarantees (put figures in as working 20 hrs per week). Not eligible for anything else.

Ceridwen - I am officially now 56 as of last Friday! Checked with C.A.B re Working Tax Credit, as there is 50+ element to it, but you have to have been out of work, and on benefits for 6 months before you can claim that bit. Will go on your blogspot later - thanks for the link.

Can't take in lodgers - would if I could, but only have 1 bedroom flat to start with, and don't think my back could put up with sleeping on the couch ! :eek:
It was a good idea though !