Back on the straight and narrow...

SarahNeedle1872 · 30 May 2010 at 3:46PM

So here I am back again, after a couple/few months away - not actually sure how long it is, I've popped back a couple of times but not really stayed for long! I think I stopped coming to help me not get stressed about the situation we currently find ourselves in... it wasn't that I had my head in the sand, but I think seeing how everyone was doing, and seeing people pay off debts when I couldn't pay a penny would have made an already stressful situation even worse!! I know there is a lot of support here, and I had some lovely messages (including offers of food parcels!) but I'm not sure it would have done my mental state much good, dwelling on what I could/should have been doing.

So what has happened.... after OH losing his job (mainly his fault, but I won't go into that again, I'm over it!) we went into financial freefall... on just my wage, we probably could have just survived, until I was moved to another store, and my fuel bill went from £40 to £200 a month! We have sold a couple of mobile phones to help pay the bills etc, and spent the last of the car savings - I even had to pay my car insurance monthly this year, which I detest more than anything at 24% apr!! Sadly I didn't have the money to pay it in one hit

OH has had nothing but hassle with the Job Centre. Since he lost his job at the end of Dec, he has received the princely sum of £46!!:mad::mad: Back dated money has been promised time and time again, but so far nothing. Quite frankly they are a waste of time.... he was even reported once for 'not taking job hunting seriously' because he had to take DS with him to sign on. Apparently it should be treated like a job interview!?! So he asked what they suggested he did with his 3yr old, when his mother was out at work earning money to feed the family, and we can't afford nursery care on one wage!?! All of this while the local scagheads/scroungers are downstairs getting benefits for this that and the other thing!! Quite frankly I have lost what little faith I had in the benefits system!!!..... and breathe!!

DS has now started getting his 12.5 hrs per week funding, so he is going to a local nursery... the best nursery in town by far (they were disappointed when they got an 'excellent' on their OFSTED report, because all other areas were marked as 'outstanding'!! In the next couple of weeks he will be starting Forest School which is an additional 2.5 hrs per week

OH.... well what can I say about OH??? Hmmm......

HE HAS A JOB!!!!!! WAHOOO!!!!:rotfl::D

He gets his start date on Wednesday... he will be earning £5k a year more than he was in his last job, and working shorter shifts, but will be working 5 nights instead of 4. It is on a bus route, so he will be able to get to and from work with no hassle (although he can re-apply for his drivers licence soon too) and he is really REALLY looking forward to going. He went for an 'orientation evening' on Friday night (overnight) after having DS all day, then had him all the following day... Dare I say things might have changed...?! He's also keen to give up smoking again, after being forced to cut down due to money (I also told him that if he wanted to continue to smoke, we would have to cancel Sky+ HD - I love bribery

)

And so to the money….. eeek!!

Well I have £21,516 of unsecured debt in my name, 5 CCs, a loan and an overdraft. All 0% offers have been withdrawn, and most are in default. I have also had my ‘banking privilidge’ removed by First Direct (luckily I had a current acc with an unrelated bank, and got my salary/CB changed in time). OH has approx £3k in his name, 3 CCs and two or three pay day loans. Again, I should be angry, but theres nothing I can do about them now, so I’m not going to waste my energy on being so. I don’t know what state his bank account is in as he has changed his bank details so I cannot access it (he did this when he got his first PDL, in the hope that I wouldn’t find out – sadly for him I can read emails!!) I will ask him allow me access once he starts getting paid again, but as long as he gives me enough money to cover all the bills, what he does with the rest is up to him!

So I have the CCCS budgets, and have been using them. It made me realise that I have been underestimating what we should be spending/saving for things, so once OH is paid, I will continue to use these. Once I know what OHs monthly salary is going to be, I will do the CCCS Debt Remedy again and see what is recommended…

So that’s about it, things are still a bit up in the air, as obviously OH has not been paid yet…. But things are looking up for the first time in a while

Sorry that was so long

Sx

Seaxwyn · 30 May 2010 at 3:52PM

Hooray!!!!!!!!! So glad to hear he has got a job. Brilliant. And DS at nursery too. Sounds like you will be heading upwards from now on. I'm so pleased for you.

mooomin · 30 May 2010 at 3:52PM

*subscribes*

SarahNeedle1872 · 30 May 2010 at 4:17PM

Thanks

Still got a long way to go, but I am feeling positive since OH got this job.... He also is onboard with the budgets etc (has hasn't moaned about all the basics food I've been buying!) and his only request when he starts getting paid again is that I buy Ariel washing powder! I am happy to oblige although I will still be using the Tesco value one for me and DS.
Theres lots of organising stuff that needs doing like getting DS extra nursery hours, signing up for childcare vouchers again, finalising budgets then sending doing the Debt Remedy and out I&E forms again etc, but I am looking forward to it! I want to pay back what I've spent, and I know its gonna take a long long time, (especially as my crredit rating will be shot to hell now, so no more good deals for a while!) but I am ready for it

And its great to be back here...

Sx

Pooky · 30 May 2010 at 4:32PM

Delurking to wish you luck - sounds like you've been through some pretty tough times.

Glad your DH has finally got a job, it must be a weight of his mind too.

Onwards and upwards!

hypno06 · 30 May 2010 at 4:45PM

Wow, what a turnaround! I am so pleased that things look as though they are going to get back on track.

Welcome back xx

Double_Trouble · 30 May 2010 at 4:48PM

Subscribed

Glad that things have taken an upturn its a long road but I am sure you will get there

DTxx

Eager_Elephant · 30 May 2010 at 5:06PM

I have also subscribed.

I'm glad that things are finally falling in to place.

It is a shame about the JSA - in my area they are usually quite good and will pay interim payments. Do you know if he provided the info they needed like ID and proof of address. I think he should have got contribution based as long as he has had a job for the last few years.

Anyway I expect you are just looking forward now which is great.

EE