Life after bankruptcy?

ani_26

startagain wrote: »

:)

Morning Nohope. I have got a few minutes before a dog walk and then work so here goes....

Firstly, there is EVERY point in keeping your diary. I admit that it is comforting to know that I am not alone in leading a pretty solitary existence and do not have the means to "splash the cash". For the life of me, I do not want to keep reading diaries of people who can clear huge amounts of their debts in a year. That isn't the real world to me. I realised yesterday that my current weekly income is less than I used to spend on a dinner out with my ex husband. That was pretty shocking, I can tell you!

Next, I don't mean to pry but what exactly is the problem for you financially in that you are eating tinned tomatoes for a week? Bankruptcy is supposed to clear the decks and leave you able to make a fresh start, not leave you poverty stricken. Is it the income that is the problem? If so then you need to have a cold, hard look at what you are currently doing, how much it costs YOU to do it, and whether there is an easier solution. As I mentioned before - one income topped up with benefits may be better for you. Then you can do some other stuff as well - planning your new life!

My car insurance has also gone up by 30% - renewable this month, but I have the time now to shop around and have reduced it down to just £20 more on an annual policy - about 10% which I can live with. I do need my car to get to work but I know where you are coming from with the cost of running one.

I am sure that a lot of you being down is that you currently are existing and not living and this is what you have got to change. If you rent a property then you can get housing benefit so that is a plus to losing your own property.

I am sorry if I am galloping through this but time is not on my side and I was anxious to post before I dash. I hope you have been able to get some more sleep and wake up feeling ready to make and take a baby step....

Best wishes

SA

That is shocking the amount you have to survive on, too. At least we are not alone. This is what i ask myself, why am i struggling so much, when bankruptcy is supposed to make it easier?

Realistically i suppose i have to say, the reason why i'm stuggling so much now is because i had almost 3 months off work, with the repo, stress etc. £ 65.37, or whatever it was, per week, just does'nt go very far. I still had my direct debits for council tax, water rates, gas, electric, etc, plus the costs of removals, and then settling outstanding bills from my former home. Despite still paying my dd's, there were bills to settle. In fact the gasboard hit me with an additional bill for almost £600, after i moved. Where they got their figures from, i can't begin to guess. I've worked out my useage of gas over the summer months, ( very little ), minus what i've paid already, it just does'nt add up. I've contested it, but i suspect they are just charging for a bill that went into my bankruptcy. Its just an extra £100 a month to find month for 6 months. Then its b* over. I give up.


Then the transition from esa, to no income, whilst still funding myself back into work. I turned a job down recently, because it involved an overnight stay, ( and a hotel ), some distance away. The hotel was out of the question at short notice, i could'nt shop around, and had to wait to be reimbursed, and the cost of the petrol too, as there was no other way to get there. But thats the only thing i could do, at that time. Unfortunately it takes time for the pay to start filtering in, i'm just hoping its got to start picking up soon and there will be plenty of work, soon, too.


You are right. There still is this sense of existing and not living, and one of the things i should serioulsy consider now, is, i think applying for working tax credit?, for help with my rent etc, since having 3 months off work, has made a serious dent in my income, this year.


Nohope x

beanielou

If the utilities bill went into the bankrupcy under no circumstances should you be paying towards it,End of.Speak to the OR's office ASAP.

miggy

Nohope wrote: »

one of the things i should serioulsy consider now, is, i think applying for working tax credit?, for help with my rent etc, since having 3 months off work, has made a serious dent in my income, this year.


Nohope x

Give it a try - I don't know how it's calculated, but if there's a chance it could help you, go for it. And I hope they come up with the goods.
{{{hugs}}}

ani_26

Today has been one of those sorting things out, before going back to work, days.

Cheque cleared, whoopee. All bills paid except one still needs to be sorted, leaving me just enough for transport costs, until my next pay? Food shopping is still always the last of my priority list, but bought some more bread, ( more toasty things ), and some hot cross buns, for 50p, ( gosh, is it easter, already ). One small bag at the local shop, so i don't go to the supermarket and spend more than intended.


Another of those ' car ' days. grrrr. I've been impressably chilled about it all. Tried to sort out my insurance, but decided i'll now wait for them to phone me back. Maybe a long wait? I'll give them chance. Spoken to a few garage people today, and like you good people here, apparently insurance costs are rising for everyone. But i'm still in the unfortunate position i don't have much ' play ' in obtaining insurance, in the first place. Not insurance company friendly, i have limited options. Something i never really considered too much when taking the br option, as i never expected to be allowed to keep my car. No one was more surprised than me, at that point.

Since its the first time i've used my car for a while, i decide to have the wheel nuts checked out on my replacement tyre. Something i always do, as a matter of course. The brake calipers had stuck, but the garage said some good braking on the motorway should clear the rust that has collected. But they could'nt tighten two of the bolts. The thread has gone, so i've been driving around with two loose bolts. I had a feeling sometnig was'nt quite right. Rang the repair company who replaced them, who simply did'nt believe it, so i took car in. This can't possibly happen. But it has. They use a torque, but its destroyed the thread on the bolts. In the meantime, they've also damaged the alloy they also replaced. So now car back in garage for the weekend, awaiting new parts. Got myself a nice little automatic, now. Have you ever driven an automatic? Well once or twice, many years ago. Hehe. Nearly been through the windscreen a couple of times, but i've got the hang of it now. Stlll prefer a clutch, though. But they were very good, giving me a car, just like that.


So, another day, coped with, just need to pay the other bill, then i'm sorted for a few days. Still got two weeks until the mot is due.........
Aaaargh, thats what i forgot to do today. Book it in, somewhere, even if i have to cancel it. Must remember tomorrow. Feel reasonably calm, now, or is the word, resigned..................

ani_26

miggy wrote: »

Give it a try - I don't know how it's calculated, but if there's a chance it could help you, go for it. And I hope they come up with the goods.
{{{hugs}}}

Thanks x

Theres a positive thought, for once. The first time i have some spare time, next week, i AM going to enquire, as i'm fairly sure i must now qualify, and it could make all the difference, for sure.

ani_26

beanielou wrote: »

If the utilities bill went into the bankrupcy under no circumstances should you be paying towards it,End of.Speak to the OR's office ASAP.

I did mention it to the OR last week. Wait and see if there is any comeback? But part of me says, well if i owe the money, i owe the money, and it just seems easier to pay it, even though i'm sure i never used to pay that much for gas.

MatyMoo

Nohope wrote: »

Hmm, i don't know about that.sa.

Just had a knockback today. My house is finally on the market, after all this time, for alot less than i would have expected. Its not gone to auction. Its very upseting finally seeing it in print, as it were. Take me a bit of time to get over this one. Its made me cry, and i know it should'nt.

Nohope

Sorry, been away overnight & just catching up.

Why don't you think you should be upset???? I think you have every right to be, it was your home after all. It may have helped you on your way into BR but it still makes it all seem so final But have a cry, put it behind you and move on if you can.

As I understand it they usually put houses up for a quick sale and to try and recover their debt which may explain why it was less than you thought.

When I (occasionally) drive an auto I take my left shoe off to remind me no clutch :rotfl:

Onwards and upwards - be fearless

Maty

Aesop

Nohope wrote: »

I did mention it to the OR last week. Wait and see if there is any comeback? But part of me says, well if i owe the money, i owe the money, and it just seems easier to pay it, even though i'm sure i never used to pay that much for gas.

Nohope, I jump in and out of your diary, so don't know the full story.

BUT Beanie is right, if the Gas is in the Bankruptcy order, do not pay any more towards it. SEcondly, if you don't use that much gas, and the Bill is MUCH higher than you would expect it, keep on at the Gas people to answer why they are saying it is this much.

They may have made a mistake and have not bothered to check it.

Oh and if you are renting, ring the Housing Benefit office and see if you are entitled to help with that and council tax, and tell them you are applying for WTC, and waiting to see if you qualify.

ani_26

Aureol, i did read all my meters the day i left my house, but maybe you are right, maybe i should recheck. It just seems easier to pay, somehow, and thats saying something.............................

ani_26

MatyMoo wrote: »

Sorry, been away overnight & just catching up.

Why don't you think you should be upset???? I think you have every right to be, it was your home after all. It may have helped you on your way into BR but it still makes it all seem so final But have a cry, put it behind you and move on if you can.

As I understand it they usually put houses up for a quick sale and to try and recover their debt which may explain why it was less than you thought.

When I (occasionally) drive an auto I take my left shoe off to remind me no clutch :rotfl:

Onwards and upwards - be fearless

Maty

Thanks Maty




Its easy to say just move on and put it all behind you, but there are moments that hit you, though not for long.


Nohope x