Got a letter from my landlord this morning...

chris_m

clutton wrote: »

i thought there was a criminal charge of "installation of a television signal receiving piece of equipment" in addition to "watching an unlicensed set"
if the TV police arrive and the tv is not on, i dont belive they can prosecute you for watching, but for having "installed" a tv.

So you detune all channels so they receive no broadcast, then unplug it from the aeriel socket and, maybe move the TV so that the cable will physically not reach the socket - to be absoutely sure you "can" cut the aerial lead off, but that may be taking it to extremes. The TV is now no longer installed to receive broadcast TV, so no licence is required.
If you're in an area that has already had the digital switchover and the TV is not digital-ready it's even easier, just remove the set-top box.

This also needs to be done for any VCRs and/or PVRs.

dorisday

Wranger - you seem to be having a bad day!!! The op came on here for some advice - not to be told I TOLD YOU SO, do you have to be nasty
Do hope one day you never need advice. We al cant be brilliant at all things. Experience and good advice makes us wiser.

She didnt come on here asking for hand outs only someone who has lost her way and needs some expert help (without anyone being nasty). Everything is always so much easier to control if you know where you are going and what you are doing. No one ever learnt to pay the piano without lessons and managing money has to be earnt too. If the big banks can get it wrong so can a mum of 2.

Best of luck hun, keep searching for some help to get it right and ignore the little gods on here who should know better xx

artybear

Regarding the food issue. This website might help you Cheap Family Recipes

GEEGEE8

Wrangler has got a good point with the food though, it may be bland and boring, but put a few colours in the meal and the kids will have to make do..

OP - let us know what you are doing with regards to checking your entitlements to other benefits - I think this is most important right now !

You can do this, you just need to have confidence in yourself and go for it..!

GEEGEE8

Also, if you don't want to trawl the recipes, why not post what you can afford and some things your kids like and I'm sure people will enjoy making up and suggesting some good recipes for you to make.

BitterAndTwisted

OP, please find your way to the Old Style part of the forum where much help can be found to feed yourself and kids on next-to-nothing.

About the laundry detergent: use HALF of the manufacturer's recommended amount and wash all non-whites in cold water. Search for the "Laundry Gloop" thread on Old Style about how to make TEN LITRES of home-made laundry detergent for about 3 quid: it'll take you less than half an hour to do on the cooker hob and all you need is a grater, a saucepan and a plastic bucket plus some empty milk-cartons to store it in. That will make enough for 100 washing-machine loads of laundry.

alasia

Thanks although trust me...I already use barely any washing powder! About 2 (not heaped) tablespoons...then again that maybe be too much anyway, I tend to wash everything on 65 degrees as I think it means I can use less powder - may be wrong on that though!

I cook everything from scratch and try to do things like spag bol (my own sauce which is just chopped tomatoes and herbs with worcester sauce in) and cottage pie with the cheap mince; the only ready made things I buy are the sauces for pasta bake - they do stretch to making 2 meals though as I add water to the sauce

Lucvkily the kids love cheese omelettes so thats great as I can buy a box of 15 eggs from farmfoods for £1.50 for a cheap meal week, omelettes with veg we have at least 3 times a week if not more on really skint weeks...

And to whoever said it...I am NOT putting food or bills above my kids shoes...I will buy him some next week but have been trying to make them last as long as possible. I WONT feed my kids spam and whatever else was suggested as I think its really salty which is no good for young children...my youngest has a kidney problem as it is so dont want to overdose her on salt!

I was also taking a distance learning access course so I could get onto a midwifery degree next year; unfortunately at £28 a fortnight even that was too expensive so had to quit for now.
Im really not sitting on my a**e thinking being on benefits is better than working, I want to set a proper example for my children, just not finding work at the moment; dont forget I have to work hours where I can get childcare, so cant work nights etc.

And did I mention, I dont go out, read magazines, do the lottery, gamble, drink OR smoke so surely I can get a few brownie points for that!?

Anyway I dont want sympathy, hand outs or a pat on the back; I wanted advice about paying my landlord...and as it is, I text him this morning (luckily I remembered his number) asking to agree a payment plan and he replied "no chance".

I then phoned him and after 30 mins of abuse, basically, he said I can pay him £100 next week and then the rest "when I can afford it" (thats what he said last time...hence me being in this situation!)

This time I asked him to clarify exactly what when I can afford it means, and told him I will try and get a chunk of the debt paid off in August - my mum has offered to get a budgeting loan for me as she is registered disabled and I cant get one because I had to get a B loan myself to afford the deposit for this place!

He said that I had to move out anyway by Decembner, as his sister is thinking about selling the house he lives in so he will have to move back in here.
So basically I now have 6 months notice instead of 1...slightly better than before!

Allegra

Alasia, I have nothing new to add to the advice that has already been given, but just want to reiterate the advice about visiting the Old Style moneysaving forum for help with your grocery bills, and definitely the Cheap Family Recipes website. The website has been developed by an Old Style member, and as your kids are stil little, you could easily adapt the planner to feed you all for £10 a week.

sausageandmash_2

I wouldn't give my kids crap like spam, tinned food or ready meals either!

OP you not answered anything regarding benefits.

clutton_2

as a LL i would want to see you give me a regular sum EVERY week to address arrears... that may keep him sweeter than vague promises of "when i can afford it"

someone eearlier mentioned Discretionary HB Payment - if your local HB office thinks it will only be until December when you move on they are more likely to agree it.... ask your landlord for a schedule of rent and arrears since you moved in so that the HB office can see the problem

if he evicts you via a Section 8 (arrears) Order the local authority will deem you to have "made yourself voluntarily homeless" and will not rehouse you other than in an emergency hostel accommodation or B&B for a short time.... so you need to be thinking now how you will acquire a deposit for your next place.....