Help needed!!! A long one!!!!

robnye

pink_girl wrote:

Mortgage ins.............Im not sure i really want to cancel this, just in case the worst happens. I did cancel the mortgage payment protection last week that cost £19

sorry i assumed this was ppi, if it isnt, what does it cover..... Life? if it does, then keep

saverram

pink_girl wrote:

Food is around £350 this includes pet food and pack up for us both
Cannot afford a service on car
Mot in April cost £200 with repairs
Car tax £95 every 6 mths
Glasses for me £120 last year
Crimbo last year £300
We cannot afford to go out but we tend to get a takeaway each week £40 per mth
Thanks

hi there
have u looked at https://www.glassesdirect.co.uk for cheap glasses and this week there is free eye check up in boots, u need to take appointment though.
in glassessdirect u can get pair of glasses from 17.50,

jope it helps

Saverram

Verbatim

Hi and hugs.

Rather than your OH taking lessons for new skills can he TEACH a class in bricklaying?

I think you're doing brilliantly. Sounds like you have loads of energy and determination.

full-time-mum

Verbatim wrote:

Hi and hugs.

Rather than your OH taking lessons for new skills can he TEACH a class in bricklaying?

I think you're doing brilliantly. Sounds like you have loads of energy and determination.

This is an excellent idea - my OH could use some given the language floating around last time he tried to be a bricky!!

Has OH tried advertising in local shops for small (maybe cash in hand) type work? You know the no job too small type ad.
We all have a loose paving slap, uneven patio or a frost damaged wall in need of attention. It may not pay more than pocket money but it would be a way of getting noticed. If you make sure he has business cards available then, you never know, he might end up building a conservatory or some such. Get a board to stand outside anywhere that he is working. Can he lend his hand to building garden ponds and laying decking and the like too - there are so many gardening programmes out there at the moment that he might find an opening there.
If possible, take photos of work undertaken so that you can build a portfolio/scrap book to show when touting for other jobs. What about the odd voluntary wall built for a local charity type idea - all good publicity and it may lead on to other work.

Bambywamby

Hiya Pink-Girl

Sorry youre in such financial hassle, the other members of the board have given you some fab ideas to get cracking with and get that debt down. :T

My input is for you as a person. You say you feel depressed and there isn't a great wonder why - money trouble is a heavy burden for us to bare.
Have you been to the Doctors and asked for advice about your depression?
They may give you a prescription for mild anti-depressants (prozac works quickly and tends to make you lose weight).
If you're not for taking medication (as I prefer not to) try Paul Mckennas Hynosis Book & CD "I can change your life in 7 days" (you can get it on Ebay for a few pounds) it really will give you a mental and emotional lift. You will feel positive, excited about life and it will stop the procrastination and get you motivated for action. (I can vouch for that from personal experience)

Also you say you have put on alot of weight recently and that is making you feel down too...have you tried https://www.weightwatchers.co.uk You can join the community for free and there is loads of advice, inspiration and menus on that site to help you lose weight. There is a large forum full of other people losing weight, they are very friendly, motivational and will keep your spirits up when you are flagging.Best of all it wont cost you a penny.

Its very hard feeling optimisitic when you get yourself in the mire, however exercise really will lift your depression and make you feel brighter AND help you lose weight.
Try free activities like walking, dancing like a mad woman in your bedroom, following one of the aerobics programmes they have on SKY (usually in the morning), lifting weights(using tins of beans/full bottle of water) etc

If you really detest your job - get a new CV typed on your p.c and get applying for new jobs(hopefully with better pay) - you should be able to get your local paper online for the jobs section - try http://www.thebigproject.co.uk/news/ thats free too!

Start persuing charity shops for Christmas presents - keep your eyes peeled for goods that are or look brand new (what people don't know wont hurt them).

And finally - I agree with one of my fellow MSE comm members - while your hubby's work isn't constant he must find alternative work to help with the bills, even if it is stacking shelves, cleaning or working on a factory line.

Good luck my dear...but most of all keep your chin up. You can do it!!!

Bams x.x.

mystic_trev

Buy the cheapest Vodka possible. Pour into a Brita water filter (any other water filter should be OK) and repeat another three times. Ends up like nectar!

Gosh looks like MSE'ers have already found out!

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=169238

full-time-mum

Bambywamby wrote:

...
You say you feel depressed and there isn't a great wonder why - money trouble is a heavy burden for us to bare.
Have you been to the Doctors and asked for advice about your depression?
They may give you a prescription for mild anti-depressants (prozac works quickly and tends to make you lose weight).
If you're not for taking medication ...

I'd just like to add a personal note to this advice.
I know that not everyone is keen on medication for depression - I think some of it is still to do with stigma of 'mental illness'. However, I have been there briefly, and, because I had to get on and look after my child felt I had no option but to try medication.
My feelings now are that medication can give you a window to get your emotions under control and put you in a position to deal with whatever was causing the depression. In my case, it was Chronic Fatigue. Prozac removed those really low feelings (and some of the really high highs) putting my emotions on an even keel and getting rid of that roller coaster feeling. I was then able to look at things and put in place ways of dealing with the tiredness and looking after a child so that when I came off, I could cope.
I know it is not everyones choice but, if you really feel that out of control, don't just rule it out. I was on them for about 6 months and it turned my life around.
I still do harbour those feelings of avoiding antidepressants like the plague but would definitely consider them again if I needed to.

full-time-mum

pink_girl wrote:

I am pretty crafty so im sure i can make something to sell.

Now that the schools are going back, you could look to see if any are doing Xmas gift fayres, if you can get enough stock made. A word of warning though, think very carefully about paying up front for a table. You need to be sure that you are going to cover your costs. The first few events you might want to restrict yourself to commission only. ie; 10% of takings. You might end up giving them more than £10 (typical table rate) but you won't be out of pocket if you only sell £50. Get to know your market first.

slonik

Well done on all the effort you are making to sort out your finances! I just wanted to say that you don't necessarily need to cut out all the fun out of your life. I don't know where you live in the country but even in London, if you pick your pub carefully, £10 can stretch to 5 drinks - so two each for you and OH and may be enough left over for a small pack of fags (don't know how much they cost as I don't smoke). That would be £15 cheaper than your usual Friday night treat and perhaps even more fun? For £25 - with a bit of effort - you can get a meal and a bottle of wine for two in a restaurant, even in London. Lots of pubs do pub quizzes/live music etc, so you can have free entertainment thrown in. If you do live in London, also check out http://www.londonfreelist.com for listings of free or very cheap things to go (eg free salsa classes or free comedy nights). If you live elsewhere try the notice board in your local library or the free local paper for listings. Finally, regarding internet have a look at this if you haven't already. Both Orange and Sky offer free broadband for their customers, so this may work out cheaper for you. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1092034925,22928,

Frequent_Flyer_UK

Hi there

I think this may sound a bit blunt what I have to say.

Congratulations to you for realising the scale of the problem you have and trying to do something about it. Reading all the threads it appears that you are being given all the advice about what YOU can be doing cutting back expenses etc etc .

What I think you need to do is get your other half to read this and make him realise the state of things. This will sound very controversial but here goes unless your partner has a medical condition there is no reason why he cannot get a job as a bricklayer - the industry is crying out for experienced people. Even if there is no jobs as a brickky there are plenty going as labourers on site.

The only thing stopping someone getting a job today is being workshy - the salary may not be great but £150 a week is better than £0.

You can cut back your expenses but until you boost your income your mess will continue. Does his spending patterns change when he is not working or is it yours ?