Memorygirl's SOA - do your magic!!

SazM030306

Fantastic thread!!! You are a true inspiration MG. I love the way you describe doing housework, and your vision is superb
Keep up the good work and your DSs have an excellent example to follow.
Thank you for a super read, I will be keeping up with your thread
Oh and what super GFs you have!!!
Sarah
xxx

vandanfc

Hi Memory girl, have you managed to make any progress today ?

Memory_Girl

vandanfc wrote: »

Hi Memory girl, have you managed to make any progress today ?

A whole lot of no's I'm afraid.

Can I claim any more help on Council Tax? - Nope

Can I get any help with DS transport to school? - Nope, there is a place available for him at a closer school so tough.

Can I get any help with DS school lunches? - Nope, only if he goes to a state school - charity schools don't count.


A couple of Yes'

I can earn up to £20 per week without it affecting my benefits.

I can get an appointment with the lone parent advisor to do a "better-off" calculation which will show me how much money I would need to earn to be better off than on benefits.

I can put a claim in for help with mortgage interest - but since the bank have frozen my account and asked for my mortgage to be paid in full I am unsure whether I actually have a mortgage still. (I have always paid my mortgage BTW there are NO arrears)

I have got an appointment with CCS tomorrow morning - and as the bank has taken all my saving fund for big bills I am now in the position where they have made me unable to pay

Gas - British Gas
Electric - British GAs
Sons Lunches - invoiced from school so a debt
Council Tax - Council (Plus arrears from last year I guess)
Car repair - garage ordered part for my car and I've told them I can't pay for the repair but they still want paying for the part.

So from having no-one chasing me for debts I now have loads.

Pants!!!!!!!!

Tell me there is light at the end of the tunnel. I feel so lost.

Memorygirl

PS Electrician that fitted my new boiler (under a grant scheme) has called and asked me out for dinner. I can't afford a babysitter to go out - but I'm ashamed to ask him to come here, where he can see that we have this lovely new central heating system installed, but it's switched off because I can't afford to keep my kids warm. Got to let him know tomorrow

Off to have a virtual bubble bath, with a virtual glass of wine and a virtual warm towel, toasty from the radiator - well at least they haven't stolen my imagination yet :rotfl:

vandanfc

Hi MG

Sorry that you haven't got the answers you were looking for.

About the electrician, couldn't you invite him over, turn the heating on for the few hours he is with you AND ask him to investigate the upstairs electrics that you say haven't worked since the boiler was fitted ?

Have you spoken to school about the cost of lunches ? They may let you off for now and let you make it up later. Could you do anything extra for them to compensate for not paying them cash ?

Lula-Hula

Hi Memory Girl,

I used to read your Make do & Mend thread over on old style & was always impressed with your relentless optimism & energy.

Wishing you all the best

Lula

locutus2003

Sorry it's not been a better day - and good luck for tomorrow. Will be thinking of you
xxx

barnaby-bear

Memory_Girl wrote: »

A whole lot of no's I'm afraid.

Can I claim any more help on Council Tax? - Nope

Can I get any help with DS transport to school? - Nope, there is a place available for him at a closer school so tough.

Can I get any help with DS school lunches? - Nope, only if he goes to a state school - charity schools don't count.


A couple of Yes'

I can earn up to £20 per week without it affecting my benefits.

I can get an appointment with the lone parent advisor to do a "better-off" calculation which will show me how much money I would need to earn to be better off than on benefits.

I can put a claim in for help with mortgage interest - but since the bank have frozen my account and asked for my mortgage to be paid in full I am unsure whether I actually have a mortgage still. (I have always paid my mortgage BTW there are NO arrears)

Banks legally have to treat people fairly and to repossess they need to go throguh a judge.... make sure you put all this in writing to the bank and have a paper trail.

Do you have another bank account you can divert benefits to?

Memory_Girl

vandanfc wrote: »

Hi MG

Sorry that you haven't got the answers you were looking for.


I'm not really very "oranginsed religous" but I'll be the first to admit I do have a spiritual side. I'm taking each day living with the quote "God doesn't offer us what we want- he offers us what we need" I have to keep clinging onto the fact thatthis is happening for a reason and at some point in the future we will all look back at these times and laugh.

I also quite like the "It's only over if you don't stand up again"

About the electrician, couldn't you invite him over, turn the heating on for the few hours he is with you AND ask him to investigate the upstairs electrics that you say haven't worked since the boiler was fitted ?

Well as I am getting no-where slowly witht the grants people getting the fault sorted I may have to do just that. I guess its my pride, not wanting to seeem like a needy-single-mom-on-benefits. Well sod my pride, this is for my kids. Ooohh!!! not sure I'm ready even to hae dinner with ANY man - got cold feet already:o

Have you spoken to school about the cost of lunches ? They may let you off for now and let you make it up later. Could you do anything extra for them to compensate for not paying them cash ?

I have talked to them and they have been fabulous. They are not going to leave my DS sitting there as everyone eats. They have known me for five years and I have always paid my way - even in better days paid great contributions to the school. They will be patient until I am back on my feet and can pay again. It would break my heart if he had to leave that school as the only "real" alternative would be to home-school and I con't see how to juggle that with getting back to work in the next few weeks.

Wish me luck - CCCS interview just after ten today.

Memorygirl

PS Good news of the day. ONe of my girlies has found a pot of pink paint in her shed (shes just moved). After my interview she is coming over with the paint and we are going to liven up my kitchen (where I spend most of my time).

I've got cream basic units, cream tile with a black coachline - so with the bubblegum pink walls it will be like living inside a liquorice allsort :rotfl:
but I will finally be rid of the greying magnolia which in a north facing room is rather gloomy.

NOTE TO SELF: Find one FREE thing that makes your heart sing everyday to keep you going through this.

MGXXX

Memory_Girl

Lula-Hula wrote: »

Hi Memory Girl,

I used to read your Make do & Mend thread over on old style & was always impressed with your relentless optimism & energy.

Wishing you all the best

Lula

Hi again Lula

I loved starting that thread - then the baby came (at home, fabulous birth) and I got Credit Crunched and didn't even have internet connection for ages.

What I did do was keep a diary (paper one).

Funny I was reading it last night and (Even if I do say so myself) it would make a relly educational book, or training programme, for others who need to develop, or learn the skills of living on nothing - and in the last week it really has been nothing - lol

TOAST - to more "Make Do and Mend" Adventures

Memorygirl

LuckyBiscuit

Memory girl, have you considered approaching a local church or know someone who goes to one, when we were struggling we were given gifts to pay the rent once and another time £50 tesco vouchers for food, they have pastoral funds available for this type of thing.
Im up early today and battling with staying up and achiveing something or going back to bed as the kids are still asleep!! the battle of the mind!!!!
Ill be thinking of you today, hope all goes well!!!

Love and hugs!!!