Unemployment Making Me Utterly MISERABLE!

toasterman

lufcgirl wrote: »

How people can survive on £60 a week I'll never know. I can't buy my clothes I'm used to, eat out like I'm used to or anything and relying on OH for flights to and from seeing them (unless I find the £10 ones which usually has me jumping!). Thats my time away from it all. I think I'd go crazy without some time away from jobhunting!

You can't live on £60 a week. I can't actually survive on it either - I'm spending more than I'm getting in benefits - just lucky in that I have a small amount of savings.
I'm lucky is that I've never been that big on regular purchases of material things (no pun intended re: clothes), so it doesn't bother me I've not bought any clothes in a year or more. I splashed out and bought myself 7 pairs of socks for £5 recently, as all my current pairs had holes. Was mildly exciting.

andygb wrote: »

Toasterman, you should be eligible for free dental treatment if you are on JSA. I only signed on in September last year (Previously didn't because of "pride" - stupid me), because my teeth needed more work (after paying out hundreds of pounds for them whilst working). I found a NHS dentist, and signed a form, and they did my teeth.
Go for it, there is no pain like toothache!
Andy

I have a dentist already I was seeing when I was working.
They're a very nice pracitce and I should phone them, but because I don't like visits to the dentist, I've been putting it off.
Thanks for advice on forms though - I've got no excuse now that it doesn't involve loads of additional forms :S

sackcloth

Hello All and welcome to our new posters! Great to have you on board!! :j

Guru, schmuruuuu... lol!! Thanks RR, I've always wanted to be a guru... damn... another life long ambition fulfilled... :T

Have my interviews shortly, so am waiting and thought I'd check in and see how you're all doing.

sidcat: my OH was also laid off in November so we've gone from heroes to zeroes in one fell swoop. Not much fun but we're just about managing - and please don't ask me how, I'm not sure myself... :rolleyes:

hr100: good going, you're targetting the people and being proactive instead of waiting for them to advertise. It does pay off as I know someone who approached a company and got an interview on spec. Didn't get the role but was a nice pick me up and boost to the confidence.

lufcgirl: another good job lead, so go for it. Make sure that you are kept on the top of the pile in a positive way. You could always follow up your application with a card (greetings card type thingy) sent to the company confirming your application and asking them to confirm it back to you by email or a call. They'll have to dig your paperwork out of the pile then.

Everyone else:
We've had free dental treatment and glasses/eye tests because we're on income based JSA. And we applied for a special form from the NHS. Check on the directgov website for details about getting the form, once you have that you can get surgical supports and free wigs as well. :eek:

Scrooge: you are today's legend! :beer:
Your post is a reminder to me to hold on to my dream and I promise I will. I always think that I'm not good enough to make things happen and always surprised when they do. I guess having been a menial so long I don't believe I'm boss material. In fact, I always say I'm a good lieutenant rather than a general. Maybe I should start thinking a bit more about taking charge? Ooh dear, sackcloth and ashes time... lol!!

Anyway, good for everyone for getting on with the housework, learning to cook, growing your veggies and most importantly, especially with the debt and financial factors, for being positive and making steps to change your lives. I have learned that money isn't everything and frankly, I don't want much but I do want to have a life. And I think I've changed my whole perception because now I just want a happy life not a rich, wealthy one. Although I wouldn't say no to the lottery win if it came knocking. So if nothing else, that's my silver lining... and I feel better for it! :A

Finally, lufcgirl - your comment about clothes reminded me about my passion for charity shops. At the moment, I am not really able to afford to splash out even at their prices but I have always loved rummaging and having a good look at the clothes and shoes. Pre-loved stuff is a great way to update your look with original, vintage, retro and just good quality items. There's nothing better than finding a really good label on a piece and taking it home. And try different areas for shops if you can, as each area has different donations. Yes, I saw the programme on BBC2 last night, but I've been doing that for years!! Hey, maybe we should have a Donate Day on this thread...? Hmmm... something else to think about...

So today's thought is help yourself to some fashion and help others with fashion... gosh, I'm turning into Gok Wan...:p

Okay, I'm off into the world of high finance... top of the morning to you all!!

Sackcloth.

sackcloth

Toasterman, spooky - we must have been posting together there... :cool:

Well done on getting the socks! I know what you mean about not being able to manage. My OH and I get the couple's allowance but nothing for our kids who are both in education but not "dependant" enough apparently. We've had to manage on what was left of my pay, borrowing from rellies and my OH is a legend by managing to do a week's grocery shopping for around £60. Having said that, our benefits don't cover our bills so we're currently juggling stuff! The end of the month is going to be a nightmare as this really is it now.

I was watching the news and saw the politians talking about the increase in figures and frankly, they haven't got a clue what it's like. Retrain for what? Have a work force trained and ready to get all these new jobs... as what? Don't get me started... on that one... lol!! :rotfl:

Right better go, really, you're far too entertaining you lot...
Sackcloth.

lufcgirl

Good news

I applied for a job with my sister (whose a recruitment consultant) working in a new mobile phone shop thats opening. I passed the interview over two months ago but never got a start date.

Now they want me to work in a store thats already established and only one bus journey from home Well she says theres an 80% chance because I'm the only one who has passed interview and available to work now there, it's just a case of the company getting back to my sister and letting me know a start date!


Excellent advice about the charity shops, I've managed to just get a new Ireland shirt with name and number on the back for 4.61 on ebay...I'm chuffed!

hr100

I love charity shops now, mainly because at least if I see something in there I can afford to buy it. Also been going to car boots, like to try and get out and about a bit and this is a good way of doing it

rosered1963

Just to say hi to everyone :hello:

Some brilliant posts here! Wish I had talked to you, Sackcloth and Scrooge before I had decided to change jobs and maybe I wouldn't have learned the hard way.

Nothing much to tell you all today - just wanted to say it's great to read your posts and know others are in the same position (well - I don't mean that really - I wouldn't wish it on anyone!)

May I just have a moan and say that I have worked like a dog all my life, we have a Labour government, and now when I need them to help me in return for all my taxes and NIC, we just can't manage financially. Our ruling elite just don't have a clue. Sackcloth and Scrooge for PM (you can fight it out between you !

Gosh - must go and do something... See you all later xx

rosered1963

SACKCLOTH:

"Also if the job spec does change after you start don't be afraid to challenge it. And if you decide to move on then be honest with your next interviewer/employer that you left because the role wasn't as presented at interview. I usually know within a week or so whether it's a good move or not and even then I still give around 3 months to settle in and decide one way or another. A life raft standing by is usually a good option during this time. :T Of course, this was during the good days of mass employment and not really relevant now, but when things get better it will be a bit more normal out there."

Great advice Sackcloth - what I am concerned about is whether I should actually put the name of the Employer on my CV that I told you about - the one where the job wasn't presently accurately and they didn't have the money to pay me. I would like to put this down as it would make my CV make more sense - but I am worried that I am in a small town, and a recruiter might not liek me putting something bad down about another employer in the town - even tho it's true and I can prove it - or maybe I just just explain on my cv but not name the employer? Sorry to bother you but you have been so helpful to me so far and I trust your judgment

blueye

just got me a jobbie ( not the toilet kind) wooo hooooooooooooo
only have to suffer one more week climbing the walls.
have to say aswell it was the quickest job application process ive ever been through, application form to job offer totaled 45mins lol
good luck with finding work everyone x

El_Rey

blueye wrote: »

just got me a jobbie ( not the toilet kind) wooo hooooooooooooo
only have to suffer one more week climbing the walls.
have to say aswell it was the quickest job application process ive ever been through, application form to job offer totaled 45mins lol
good luck with finding work everyone x

Congratulations. What is the job?

rosered1963

Good for you blueye