It's STILL tough and not getting better - so how are we coping?

Kitcaboodle

smileyt wrote: »

Might be losing a week's JSA - I was so upset about having Deirdre Hen put to sleep on Wednesday that everything went out of my head and I didn't attend an advice interview at the job centre :mad:. I wasn't signing on - that's this Friday. I wouldn't care but the adviser has already admitted there's nothing the Job Centre can do for me because I'm qualifed to Masters level. Seems like there's no room for mistakes in the system.

I have some savings so it won't be too hard, but it will still be felt. I have explained why I didn't attend but it has to go to a decision-maker. I hope they are an animal lover and understand that a pet is a member of the family.

If they decide against you then it's worth appealing. A different decision maker would then take a look at it.

Also, I know from my own jobseeking experiences that you're right, there won't be much on the Jobcentre books for someone with a degree, let alone a Masters - however, they do have organisations that can work with professional level people to go over your CV and how to find work at your level (it's generally just a one off meeting or series of telephone support meetings but hey, it's available!) So, if they haven't already suggested it, ask about support for professionals.

Also, beware that if the Jobcentre staff print off a vacancy for you, you have to apply for it or you risk getting your benefit stopped. That isn't always made clear to people but most decision makers will asume that you ought to know!

taplady

purpleheather2810 wrote: »

:eek: Does Morrisons sell chicken portions on their hot chicken counter? Perhaps she could buy a portion instead of a whole chicken, if it's too much for her?

yes they do, dont know why she bought a whole one - perhaps they'd sold out. She's definitely not an OS Mum - didn't pick up my moneysaving from her:D

Annie56

Ive always been pretty careful with money even when I had plenty but now Im on single persons JSA and divorce pending Im begining to realise its only ME, that I have to rely on, even though I have friends and family I could turn to if things ever got desperate I really now need to get my act together properley.
Id not even considered this VAT increase thingey and reading the good offer re cleaning products at Sainsburys didnt realise that the increase applied to washing products and loo rols etc:o:o.

So where in the day to day life of a family will this VAT increase hit? I think I left my brain behind when I left the OH:(:(.

Im doing really well, have got my camping stove ready and my wind up radio and torch and lantern as there are lots of power cuts here in winter.
Im starting to stockpile my basics in my nice newly painted pantry and have just bought some large plastic sturdy containers for under my bed to put more things in.

I got a wow freebie of freecycle the other day, 2 pairs of curtains, heavy tapestry material and a door curtain and these match the couch bolster cushions Im using as door draught excluders that me and my friend helped ourselves to from a skip one night...only thing was curtains were a bit dusty and needed dry cleaning so I dry cleaned them in Natures Dry Cleaning Shop :rotfl::rotfl: I pegged them out on the washing line, it poured down with rain and I had to leave them there, overnight the wind was howling, went out next morning they were still on the washing line, slightly damp but the rain had washed out all the dust and the wind and fresh air had refreshed them, they smell lovley and fresh now and a quick press with the iron and there going to be used as heavy curtain liners

Ex OH has moved his floosie into my old home, checked with lawyer that I was still allowed to enter the family home as I had left so went round this morning and sorted out all my winter clothes and other things and took the small chest freezer from the garage( it was empty) and a selection of all the power tools I had bought for the idiot OH over the last few years ( I have receipts that I paid for them), and a good job I did as I answered the phone and it was a local locksmith confirming his appointment to change the locks on Saturday so I went :eek::eek::mad::mad:, phoned my brother and he and his friend came and helped me take a few more things out, like my nice king size metal bed my parents bought us, and I just chucked the mattress on the floor and took the new one from the spare bedroom and Ive had the washer dryer I bought a few months ago and the kettle and all the other leccie things I bought plus Ive raided the airing cupboard and had all my new towels and sheets and various other things and have raided the garden shed and took all the legal papers I needed.

Am writing this on the OHs posh laptop am sooooo tempted to have this but he paid for it...my old next door neighbours just helping my brother and his friend dismantle the garden shed and the greenhouse, I have an allotment in a new scheme thats just opened and OH doesnt know about it so they will be very useful, all the things Im taking are mine bought and paid for and the lawyer has cleared it with the localpolice incase there is any trouble which there wont be as OH and his floosie (his secretary) have gone away overnight and as long as I leave the house clean and tidy there will be no comeback..ooh clean and tidy reminds me vacumn cleaner must just go and find the old one for OH t his Dyson is one I bought...and am just off to collect all the plums off the tree and a few plants out of the rockery ...

Scuse my rantings but I was ok till the trolley dolly arm candy floosie moved in....had a mad insecure moment that maybe we could get back together:eek::eek::eek: that soon passed:rotfl::rotfl:specially when I saw the pile of dirty dishes in what was sink and the make up all strewn over what was ususally imaculate bathroom, so if they want to turn my ex home into a tip/dump they can but not with my stuff still here.....will update later on am off to storage place now ...

Have found the V5 document to my old Renault Clio and there still in my name so thats ticking over in the drive....dont know if I could afford to run it but shes served me well over the years and shes coming home with me and no this isnt a hell hath no fury than a woman scorned its 25 years of slaving and working for him toget his business off the ground and when it did all he did was blow the profits on some heel teetering blonde with massive boobs (an op that he paid for) so he and his inflated booby blonde can have each other, the law of the UK says I have rights and Im bleedin well using them as well..... so picture this..

Rene Renault Clio and Annie go kangaroo jumping down the road, with her old neighbours waving her a fond farewell and promising not to loose touch and in my head Im doing a Winston Churchil double fingered salute to my old home and life.....ye gods have I done the right thing?????..ofcourse I have..roll on my visit to Sainburys and there will spend the contents of the piggy bank I took of the dining room unit, hello Coinstar here I come ,hope its full of £2 coins...well a gal can dream cant she ??

Annie

taplady

Annie56! I loved reading your post!:D:T:T:T I'm glad you're having the things you bought back to help you start your new life.
I wish you all the best x

BigMummaF

Annie56 wrote: »

....contents of the piggy bank I took of the dining room unit, hello Coinstar here I come....

NNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! DON'T use a machine, but ask your bank for money bags & count it out yourself! Those machines take a percentage & it may mean affording a loaf of bread for the freezer or even a currant bun to have with your tea, maybe some meat if there's a fair bit in your piggy Good on Ya tho; I'm routing for you major-time..Hi Five!

Now, before I forget..
Someone has posted on the NSD thread that there's 4kg bags of dishwasher salt in the 99p shop. I'm going to see if they have any in ours & stock up in readiness for the icy paths to come [apparently this is better than table/cooking salt?]

And have you been watching the programme about E-numbers on Auntie Beeb the Second? The chap collected five naturally occurring substances from various places around his person & made a cake including them _pale_ You didn't see him eating any thank goodness, but it did highlight how very little I actually know about additives. It would seem every sunstance known to Mankind has been allocated an E, so perhaps we shouldn't be so scornful when they appear on the list of ingredients.

Annie56

THANKS So its no to Coinstar and hello bank clerk your right i may well need that loaf of bread one day see ya all laters..dishwasher salt mmmmmmmmm wheres me list..
Annie

MummyOfTwo

annie what a sad but equally marvellous post... wishing you all the best for your new start, which will be nothing short of fabulous

kezlou

Annie all i can say good on ya girl!!!!!!!!!!!
Your new life is starting and already your there!
:T:T:T:T:T:T

Well its been iffy here, money is really tight so i'm using what i have in at the mo. Luckily we have quite a few tins of beans lol

Anyways i'm oging to make a start on making the sewing machine work. I meant to do it yesterday but i spent most of the day in A & E. My bleeding knee started playing up so had to get x rays oh the joy. Thankfully my knee cap hasn't split again, but the process has slowed down. The doctor said i had sprained my knee doing to many exercises.
Made a us a veggie meal last night for some friends, luckily i had food in, so didn't cost us a penny. Everyone loved it, regarding wheat / rice prices. Looked in my local Asian food store and everyone gone up. Lentils have doubled in price in the past month alone. So watch out when you go shopping next time.
Loads of people were complaining about it, the shop manager said its going to be even worse after christmas when the VAT increases start.:(. This is also the same for bulger wheat and spelt.

Sorry to hear you didn't get the job lambanana, hopefully something will come up soon.

Well better get on with the banana loaf, found two manky bananas in the fridge so going to use them up. Boys are off school tomorrow as its eid. No idea what were going to do, but i'll find something to do..

Hippeechiq

Annie Your post was both uplifting and exhilarating to read :T and you so totally have done the right thing, well IMHO anyway

You're bound to have moments of weakness. You're human and it's natural - I did too - so don't give yourself a hard time over it.

Personally, I think you're an absolute inspiration, and I have nothing but admiration for you. :T

..........how much would you like to be a fly on the wall when they get home? :rotfl:

kezlou

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:yes i can Annie's ex wandering round the house going,"i'm sure i used to have a bed " :rotfl::rotfl:

I have news !!!!!!!!!

I have just found 2 yes 2 red tomatoes and 3 baby courgettes!!!!!!!!
Looked over and 2 bell peppers and 2 chilli peppers!!!!
First veggies other than herbs and salad leaves of the year, everything has been has been devoured by our cats or slugs/snails, birds, you name we've had them climbing over a 6ft high wall.
everything else is still green but i'm loving it!!!!!!!!!

Going to have a go at making weezl's yule log in a bit. Looks yummy hmmmm