What else can I do?

Greenwellies_2

sweetmoneysaver wrote:

As the posts have gone on, it has become clearer what each item is. Can your husband help with getting the shopping rather than getting it delivered? I know you have a problem with carrying, probably hence the deliveries. Going every couple of days and maybe going to the butchers and greengrocers etc. separately may help cut the costs.

Hi, well we don't get it delivered anymore.
It was cost cutting in my book as if the bill got too high, I could subtract things and review what I needed, rather than going to the store and seeing something on offer. Also because effectivly 69 of my hours a week are supposed to be spent either working or studying, it was a good use of my time.

Hubby will begin doing the shopping, we have already discussed that, and it starts this Friday. The only slight problem I have with it, is that if he does get a job, I can't sneak out of work to get the shopping, nor can I manage to carry it. (so i might fall back to deliveries)

Thanks

GW

Greenwellies_2

I thought you might like to know what I have planned to eat this week:
(focussing on main meals)
Monday:
Children lentil burgers (hm) from freezer and hash browns (freezer-use up) and beans with a burger bun (freezer - use up)
Hubby and I will have shep pie - (HM) while makingt Shep pie I will also make spag bol.

Tuesday
All: Beef and mushroom stroganoff using reduced mushrooms (1/2 price) tinned mushroom soup, frying steak (from freezer) and rice

Wednesday:
All: Spag Bol

Thursday:
Children: Chicken and mushroom pie (reduced counter) mash (need to buy potatoes)
hubby and I - lamb casserole, (mushrooms and onions, oxtail soup and 1 leg steak)

Friday:
All: Curry from freezer (hm)

Saturday:
Kofte kebabs (HM) with finger bread rolls / rice and salad (need salad)

Sunday:
Roast Lamb (freezer)
Roast pots and veg - Need to buy these

So that covers my week.
The children and hubby will have a variety of sandwiches (cheap cheese, econ ham, tuna and mayo) for lunch. as well as fruit. One of my children eats about 8 pieces of fruit per day. I ask him not to, but he claims he's hungry (at least it's not junk) there will be the fruit in their lunches and maybe celery / carrot / cue sticks. I will have a HM soup from the freezer.

The children all have cereal and I may have egg on toast or a juiced veg drink (hm). My children do eat about 60 - 75g of cereal in the morning, I have asked them not to, and I did at one point portion it for them - but I had a rebellion on my hands!

That is an average week, although I admit the finger rolls and the burger rolls have been in the freezer for some time.

BTW, all of my children are so slim that their trousers all need belts, despite eating like they do. We rarely have crisps or chocolate bars in the house, in fact I don't really believe in processed foods, unless it is necessary eg milk and cheese.

Thanks to everyone for their support. I am off to bed now.

NN

GW

sanfrancisco

Greenwellies wrote:

If I could sell the car I won, then I would, but to sell it for 1/3rd of it's value is silly. I can try again soon, now that the weather has picked up.

It's "worth" what someone is willing to pay for it.

I have a £500 volvo that is 12 years old. It's value is not £20k, it is £500.

Sell it, you need the cash.

livinginhope

Hi GW,afraid I agree with sanfrancisco,sell the car you didn't pay for it,so it doesn't really matter what you sell it for.If you really can't live without 2 cars,buy a cheap one!.Also what about your other car? would it not be better to get rid of that too and save nearly 300/month and again get a cheaper car,I take it from the amount you payout that the car isn't a little runaround?
Just another thought,my OH used to deliver pizzas part time as a second income,payed very well and got free pizzas,maybe this would kill 2 birds with 1 stone,won't upset MIL,and will earn some good money

BobProperty

Greenwellies wrote:

Not yet, we have to wait for the JSA decission to come through

GW

Council tax benefit:
I think the amount will be linked to JSA but the mechanics of the claim are separate. Please check asap as I have the feeling that CTB is administered by Housing Benefit but JSA is done by DWP. You can fill in the claim and get everything sorted except what the JSA will be. You will then get it paid as soon as the JSA figure comes through. I had a problem with CTB and if you can't get the info they require within so many days, the claim lapses and you have to start again and try and persuade them to backdate it (not always done).

lynzpower

Bobs right

You should apply for both at the same time.

Annie_Fanny

Surely there must be some job that your OH can do in the meantime? Factory work?

Greenwellies it sounds like you do an awful lot work/study/household work ... you say there are 4 adults in the house - what are the other two doing??!!

Greenwellies_2

The ages of my children are 8, 13 & 15. The two elder ones are eating adult portions as you would imagine.

Hubby has had a chat with another agency this morning and was told that the driving industry has taken a nose dive over the last 12 months. Having said that he's going there to register this afternoon.

He would be happy to take on anything, but there is nothing suitable advertised. the main jobs in my area seem to require skilled people.

The type of jobs he has applied for:
driver for organ donations & blood
Gardener
dustman & driver
Warehouse person
Delivery driver for car parts
school care taker
Various delivery drivers
meter reader
platform assistant (trains)
supermarket home delivery drivers
tram driver
and thats just off the top of my head

GW

Greenwellies_2

BobProperty wrote:

Council tax benefit:
I think the amount will be linked to JSA but the mechanics of the claim are separate. Please check asap as I have the feeling that CTB is administered by Housing Benefit but JSA is done by DWP. You can fill in the claim and get everything sorted except what the JSA will be. You will then get it paid as soon as the JSA figure comes through. I had a problem with CTB and if you can't get the info they require within so many days, the claim lapses and you have to start again and try and persuade them to backdate it (not always done).

Thanks I'll get on to that then.
I guess I just phone the council and ask for a form?

GW

Greenwellies_2

livinginhope wrote:

Hi GW,afraid I agree with sanfrancisco,sell the car you didn't pay for it,so it doesn't really matter what you sell it for.If you really can't live without 2 cars,buy a cheap one!.Also what about your other car? would it not be better to get rid of that too and save nearly 300/month and again get a cheaper car,I take it from the amount you payout that the car isn't a little runaround?
Just another thought,my OH used to deliver pizzas part time as a second income,payed very well and got free pizzas,maybe this would kill 2 birds with 1 stone,won't upset MIL,and will earn some good money

The free car only costs a fraction to run, insure and tax (it's a smart) it makes more economical sense for me to use that each day. I can't sell the other car as well as I need a reliable car to get child to therapy appointments and to fit the family in. The smart is worth 12k, I have been offered 3.5k. this was through ebay and I just met lots of time wasters who didn't actually want the car, but were on a scam.

I also have a trailer tent, so the bigger car (MPV) is for towing that and getting all our gear inside.

I will try to sell the car again, but I got fed up of listing it on ebay, paying their fees and having to communicate with scamsters. I told all my friends and family I was selling the car, I sent out a flyer by email for them to pass on to other people, but in the run up to Christmas, not many people were thinking of getting a new car. I resigned myself to assuming that I would have to wait until February. But now I don't know where else to advertise it. I tried loot, and all the free advertising sites on the internet and I got nothing in response.
There is nothing wrong with the car, it's in as new condition, possibly has 3k miles on it now and it's black - If you know anyone who's interested, PM me for more details. I am ideally looking for 7k for it

GW

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