Its tough, it will get better and guess what its freezing brrrrr!

gailey_2

ceridwen wrote: »

GAILEY - Aint that the truth - for a good analysis of shop jobs from what I've seen....

Cant believe that security guard was trying to tell you that Jobcentres arent for people just asking for jobs anymore (ie "We expect everyone to do it online these days"). I would have said "cheeky mare" if he had been a woman.....

Some people simply ARENT online - for whatever reason - and I think its totally unfair to assume that everyone is:mad:. So Jobcentres are only for scallies - and not for the likes of you and me then.....:mad::eek:. That is simply not on for him to say that...

Thanks im high cynical over so called good deals.
annoyed me that some customers could not see ok price lowered and rounded up to 1pounds,2quid but weight decreased!
I am stressing over the pennie rises as look after pennies and the pounds look after themselves!

I was shocked at job centre too , was glad hubby was with me was quite rough place and dident speak to job centre staff just security guard I just thourght maybe im out of touch and this is what job centres are like these days.

I guess having lots of work experinece, can wrote cvs, got qualifications and interent access I would not need to depend on job centre for support maybe services are just for those who really need it now .

Hubby says when his younger brother was unemployed after uni he had to go to job centre scheme and felt out of place as lost of epople had no qualifications, couldent wrote cvs or fill out application forms properly and felt it was waste of his time but had to do it to get his dole money this must have been some years ago his brothers 36 now and has sucessful wellpaid career at bank in it support so guess late 80,s early 90,s maybe it was stricter then and benefit culture wasent has huge pre 97 and introduction of complicated tax credits, pension credits and any other benefit under the sun they could introduce.

That lady who find peoples jobs was on daily politics how they help longterm unemployed back to work but they only eligable for extra suppport presently after 12months . seems long time to wait to help people.

Also they highlighted that even during boom years their was high levels of longterm unemployment 8-10years per person.
If they were not on incapacity due to illness or singleparent no childcare one does have to wonder what barriers were there for these people in getting ajob and what help/encouragement they got.

One documentary last year had me in tears as was so sad. Think it followed 3genuine job seekers desperatly trying to find works at different ends of the scale and how it affected their families.
They said ajob was not just about the money it was about self respect, reason to get up and feeling of providing for their family it effects the confidence/self esteem of the unemployed individual but also sets example for their kids.

They did programme about woolies staff 33.000 woolies staff lost their jobs when they went bust. met ex woolies employer other week who still worse off despite finding other employment with worse hours and less pay.

jackieglasgow

Ceridwen, I have been following Sophie's blog for about a year, she writes beautifully, and some of her vegetarian recipes are wonderful.

seasalt_2

I remember going to sign on 30yrs ago after finding myself out of a job because I was pregnant - now I think I should have fought it but as DH had also left the minute he found out I was pregnant, I didn't have the emotional energy - so I was feeling pretty vulnerable. The woman at the desk told me I had no right to be there etc etc. I was so shocked I started to leave but then pulled myself together and went back in and then she really started shouting at me. "What have you come back for?" etc etc. At that point another man came out of the back room and led her away. I think now she had cracked up under the strain and either it was easier to take it out on me than someone more aggressive, or I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. After that I was told someone would visit me at home and I remember my mother panicking because instead of maternity trousers I was wearing my old jeans/trousers with a pair of my dad's braces to hold them up and nice stripy CS shirts over the top - she thought they would see the braces and shirts and think I had a man living with me and stop my benefit!

Also, in those days there was a long term rate that you got after a year (not then expected to look for work if had a young child or indeed a child under 16) but if you did get even temporary work (in my case, picking summer cabbages for three weeks because I could take DD with me in her pram) your reward was to get put back onto the lower rate for a year. And when I started making and selling patchwork, it was a nightmare. I had to give back my benefit book and then tell them what I'd made each fortnight and they would then make up my giro accordingly - but often meant it was late or the wrong amount - no incentive to try to be a bit more self supporting at all. So I think it is good that that has changed at least.

[Deleted User]

wow. SK you have made my day. Double wow, I feel so HAPPY. You have a lovely spirit that seems to affect a lot of people for the better and I believe that your win was karma coming back to you and just at a time when you badly need it. That is the universe for you, full of surprises. You have never been stiff and unbending but have always adapted to your circumstances and I don`t know anyone who deserves it more than you

I second what others have said, get yourself a secret little nest egg and tell no-one, maybe just start with a couple of £

Can I please add to what people are saying about your OHs debts, maybe wipe it off initially but try and get him to pay you a little, off what he will owe you, on a regular basis as it will get him into the savings habit

BitterAndTwisted

Call me cynical if you like but in Sammy-Kaye's shoes I'd be wary of paying off all of Owen's debts unless he started making a greater contribution to the household expenses as a result.

In her shoes I'd have kept quiet about the total amount of this windfall just in case it set up unrealistic expectations in another quarter.

Whatever happens, I can't think of a more charming and hard-working recipient of this very, very good fortune.

Have a lovely Christmas Sammy-Kaye!

gailey_2

I have a possible idea for sammy k.

say you will pay off all or half if he gives you regular money each month for savings then after 6 or maybe 12months if hes kept to that arrangement give him back the money given which would allow him to clear remaining debts then you both paid off half each of his total debts.

However you say owens on same page maybe he will be more careful with money in future and contribute more as will be paying less in debts means more for the family.

Fruball

I'd have no idea there was a recession on if it weren't for this website judging by people's trolleys in MrS today!!! The Christmas aisle was heaving and the queues were awful.

Not looking forward to doing the dreaded Christmas shop.... Will def try to get it delivered this year.

Had a good day at work today but know that once December arrives, there will be little work for me til Jan so am concerned... BUT we did get an offer on our (mine and ex) house that neither of us live in now, so if the buyer will come up then we can accept and I will be able to pay off a substantial chunk of my current mortgage and maybe replace my manky bathroom :j and of course be able to install a woodburner once the boiler is replaced

BUT, I am not sure if they will increase their offer even tho they have lost several properties already due to low offers! The problem with the market atm (one of my jobs is in property industry) is that people are making ridiculously low offers because of what they read in the news.... BUT Estate Agents (at least we do) value the property at TODAYS price taking the economy and local area into account when we do so :mad: . So offering more than 15% less than the asking price is not reasonable.

Anyway, I have fingers crossed that he comes up to an acceptable level for us to accept. Got to wait til Monday now

I had an immense FAIL on the MS front yesterday... Got a chinese TA. It wasn't even very good (usually fab) so I really kicked myself but I was feeling poorly and didn't want to cook. Lesson learned. Bought some sausages today to make some more HM sausage rolls... they were soooooooo good when I made them last week and I will burn off the calories because its colder... Right???

csarina

Sammy, I have to agree with what the others have had to say. If you pay off Owens debts he needs to give you a regular amount to pay you back. You won the money, its yours...... on the subject of a break maker I cannot recommend the panny high enough, its not the cheapest on the market but it is the best, do a bit of spade work and compare the prices, get the newer model - Panasonic SD-257WXC its around the £100 mark, have a look and see what you can do through Quidco and get some cash back.

Gintotmelinda

Hello Everyone

Ceridwen I looked at the mostly eating blog and it is interesting. I followed the Mindapple link and that looks promisimg too. I will keep my eye on that I think. Thanks for the link.

Have a good evening all.

Gintot

kidcat

Its will be hard for Sammy not to pay OH debts as she has said she will pay them for him, but I think if she asks for a payment towards the outlay each week to be used to save then it may be easier. have to say I would be very wary of paying them off if there was any chance he may run up debts again. The question is whether he is as committed to being debt free as Sammy.
Either way Sammy you deserve the break, well done.

Put an order into approved foods today, using the half price delivery, didnt buy loads but have saved a packet just buying stuff we normally buy. Kids are all laughing as they are wondering where I will manage to put the stuff. We were talking today about Jesus feeding the 5000 with loaves and fishes, and they said that if I had been there I would have complained he didnt manage to make a stock and a soup for the next day with leftovers :rotfl::rotfl:

Car back off the road again, new part bought and fitted yet it still isnt working. Got guy coming out to it tomorrow but am worried its going to turn into a major saga again.

Mum and dad have decided to buy new chairs for our dining room as Christmas present not a dehumidifier, am grateful as the sofa in there is ruined but was hoping for the dehumidifer to deal with the dampness. Chairs I could possibly acquire n Freecycle, but I dont see many people giving away dehumidifiers.