A new start for Mooloo

Js_Other_Half

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

It also occurred to me, is there something like a Society for Distressed Publicans, which can help those who have fallen on hard times? I imagine it's under enormous pressure these days. I wonder if the FLVA knows of such a charity?

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/grants_search/search_by_topic.aspx?PageNumber=1

lavidaloca

How are you getting on with your DLA appeal?

Savvy_Sue

Js_Other_Half wrote: »

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/grants_search/search_by_topic.aspx?PageNumber=1

Brilliant! mooloo, you want Food Drink and Provisions Trade, as far as I can see!

~Chameleon~

Ok, looking at this again with a slightly fresher pair of eyes I think it's important to get to the bare bones of what your current living expenses are in the new place. This is the "real" budget you need to produce for SOA's when working out how much you can afford to throw at your debts

TV License £12.12
Water £50.00 £40.73 (why 2 amounts?)
Old Electric £30.00
Old Gas £30.00
Contents Ins £6.56
Car Ins £27.47
Car Tax £21.66
Car Mot £10.00
Maintenance £25.00
Fuel £120.00
Logs/coal £15.00
Birthdays £10.00
Christmas £10.00
Holidays £50.00
Sth Electric £70.00
Clothes £7.50
Shoes £7.50
gardening £5.00
sewing £5.00
food £125.00
Oxford CT £49.83
Telephone £48.00
Mobile £30.00
Total £765.64


The ones in red are basic living expenses = £256.68/month

The ones in blue are semi-essential living expenses = £249.13/month but you need to look at cutting these where possibly, particularly fuel and mobile costs.

The amount you are paying towards OLD debts = £109.83/month - this figure needs revising to pay the very minimum possible. I know it will take longer to clear but you really can't afford to pay very much towards these at all on your basic income.

And finally, "luxury" expenses = £80/month



So, if we take your basic and semi-essential living expenses they total £505.81/month but we can easily slash £100/month off that immediately by reducing petrol bill and only use your car for visiting BF (could you do alternate weekends at yours and his?) and essential trips i.e. doctors/medical appts (will be cheaper to get Asda/Tesco to deliver shopping using a code for free delivery) and if you can manage to trade down to smaller car the associated costs will reduce too.

So, that reduces your current basic essential budget to approx £400/month

This would actually be quite doable even once your income has reduced to single allowance in Sept if DS is also gives you something (min £10/week) towards housekeeping. Anything extra he can manage to give on top, or anything you can manage to make yourself, can go towards paying off the debts and 'luxury' expenses.

I hope, if nothing else, this will help you make more sense of where your money is going and how much you need to make ends meet etc. If I can think of anything else I'll post back later ... :A


Just had an idea about the car ... would it be worth asking on Freecycle Cafe site or something similar whether anyone has a smaller car they want to trade for a larger people carrier? You never know, someone might have a small car but have rapidly expanding family and need something larger but be in same boat as you and can't afford to sell and re-buy. Maybe a straight swap if similar value, or even ask for a bit of cash on top too if your car is worth more ... worth a try I think

Savvy_sewing

Gosh, all that work on my behalf, thankyou.
I will start to work my way through it all.
DS is aware that when he starts work, (Hopefully its when and not if) he will have to help me.
I think the letter writing with my SOA would be the first step.
I will take on board all I can. I have been getting hints and tips off of a few other threads that I have been lurking on, and posting occassionally.
I am feeling more calm, that I will be able to manage something from all of this information that will help me.
BF and I have already agreed to do alternate weekends. Its just that this weekend is Fathers Day so I am going there two weeks in a row, because as his kids live with him, he wants to be there. My Dad is in France so I wont be able to see him anyway.
Making my curtains for the bedroom the other day, has shown that I can sew a bit, although I will take a break sooner then the hour and a half next time.
I think i will let a few of the old contacts know that I will take in some sewing again.
Now I am off to follow some of the links given.

Savvy_sewing

lavidaloca wrote: »

How are you getting on with your DLA appeal?

I have put in a verbal query at the moment. That means someone else will look at the claim. They said it will take up to 11 weeks. to come back to me.
I am hoping then that if that doesnt help, I can get help to appeal through tribunal. We will see.
Have started to look at the various Grants etc. I have noted the water authority one, and also there is one for Charity workers. So I have written that down. Running out of time to do anything else today.
Got to get ready to go to oxford. Trip will be abit different as road closed here for Silverstone.

~Chameleon~

There is light at the end of the tunnel at last! You can do it Mooloo, you are an incredibly strong woman

Hope you have a lovely relaxing weekend at BF's ... you deserve it! :A

Savvy_Sue

Mooloo wrote: »

Have started to look at the various Grants etc. I have noted the water authority one, and also there is one for Charity workers. So I have written that down. Running out of time to do anything else today.

Doh! Why didn't I look for that when I was looking at the link which Js Other Half gave! :rotfl: Mind you there might be other appropriate categories for you to look under, I'm sure we don't know the half of what you've done in your life!

Hardup_Hester

Hi Mooloo
I have very little advice to offer, hubby & I have been in a similar situation to you moneywise. We also cannot change our car, it's too big for us but there is no way of changing to a smaller one.
We also don't buy any Christmas or Birthday presents if we don't have the money or if we are a bit better off we spend a maximum of £5 a head.
Hope things go well for you.
Hester

Savvy_sewing

Well I am back from a longer then normal weekend at BF's.
I didnt really do much there, read a lot, slept quite a bit. BF did the cooking. I must do my best to reciprocate at the weekend when he is due to come to me.
Not that there is much meat in the freezer at the moment.
I never did get around to doing a menu plan for the rest of the month! But I did list what foodstuffs I have in the storecupboard and the freezer/fridge.So I have a base to do it from.

Savy Sue, I have done quite a lot in my lifetime of working, but most of it has been self employed, from Dressmaking/alterations business, to Office Services. Then the Pub. But I was not a member of the Vitulars Association, (due to lack of funds and time really!). But the last two years I had been in Charity.
I would love to find another job back in charity, if I could. But health is stopping me from doing the heavy physical work that running the charity shop envolves.
I miss it dearly. I felt so happy doing the job, if it hadnt been for the problems that I had at home as well.
Ah well, nothing that I can do about it now.
DS was supposed to be at a Skillsnet meeting/interview thing today, but just before we were due to leave, 8.45 this morning we got a call to say it was cancelled as the man had been in an RTA.
So I hope that he is OK, but I also hope that it will not delay DS getting his apprenticeship started.
Post man just arrived. I hope its not more huge bills, I dont think i can cope with it all.