How to live on 65 per week?

HappyMJ

I have BT Basic and broadband. It's compatible. You need the jobcentre to put you onto Income Based JSA which as you have zero assets you are entitled to anyway. BT Basic is only £4.50 per month but the calls are expensive at 10p per minute but as you have a mobile it's cheaper using that for the calls. I use 18185 and VOIP providers such as Skype for calls and they are 1p per minute on that including calls to Australia (not entitled to the 0p per minute rate on BT Basic).

katiesmummy

grumpyoldwoman41 wrote: »

I have meters reqading, all correct

I am paying the same amount 12 month per year and it evens out by the end of the year but yes, it is a lot and need to look at this.

Will call EDF now and see what they can do.

If I put my BT line on incoming calls only - the broadband would not work, would it? As it needs outgoing line?

SKY told me if I took a phone line from them that would be £11.25 per month and Internet would be £7.50 per month.

Will call O2 now and see if they bring my Internet down to match the SKY price.....

Sigh......

My outgoing calls are restricted sometimes if I am late paying my bill but my broadband is not affected.

Sky removed my multiroom and put me onto the most basic package after I lost my job- they initially tried persuade me to take off the movies but keep the multiroom and I said it was either take it down to the bare bones or I wouldn't be able to pay it.

Given the choice they reduced it and I can cancel come March 2011.

Call them back and tell them you have done some calculations and still can't afford the amount they are asking for and ask them to reduce it some more.

grumpyoldwoman41

Thanks for all posts, no family here - just me.

BT Basic, just looked at it, as I just downgraded my mobile, this would not be a good option as a lot of places I have to call are those dreaded 0845 or 0700 numbers and calling them from BT line is expensive enough, never mind from a mobile. Yes, I know about the say no to 0845 0870 numbers but not all of them have replacement cheapert options

I also ocassionally call abroad which only costs me 3p per minute to a mobile (no landline where I call), may look into calling via SKYPE, thanks for that.

Penny-Pincher!!

grumpyoldwoman41 wrote: »

Thanks for all posts, no family here - just me.

BT Basic, just looked at it, as I just downgraded my mobile, this would not be a good option as a lot of places I have to call are those dreaded 0845 or 0700 numbers and calling them from BT line is expensive enough, never mind from a mobile. Yes, I know about the say no to 0845 0870 numbers but not all of them have replacement cheapert options

I also ocassionally call abroad which only costs me 3p per minute to a mobile (no landline where I call), may look into calling via SKYPE, thanks for that.

I really dont mean to be rude, but you're making excuses!

Skype can be used to phone abroad and you should be able to find non-geographical numbers from saynoto0870.

I can never understand when people stipulate that they are on such a low income that they have BT, internet and a mobile. How did we ever manage before?

PP

Tulip09

I havent read previos posts so sorry if im repeating anyone here. I have sky hd in the livingroom, sky in the bedroom - i dont have movies just the 5 packages of basic channels, sky phone line (free landline calls day/night) & broadband for £57 per month - so if i was you i would see what services you can change to sky. I live in a very large 4 bedroom farmhouse with 3 reception rooms my electric bills are £47 per month not including my heating which is coal or oil, so you could look at changing supplier or getting an energy meter to see where you are using the most electric. Perhaps calor gas fire etc maybe cheaper for you? Get your house checked since you will be on benefits for insulation etc - maybe warm front can access you? (I dont know all the rules on this, sorry). If you visit the debt boards and post everything you have they will be able to give you some advice on lowering payments etc just now and also the Old Style Forum is a godsend. Have a look at whats in your store cupboard/ freezer and list it and they will be able to help you stretch it further and help you with meal plans etc. I surprised myself by listing everything i had, and what i could make with it and i had over 100 different meals for 4 of us in the house.

grumpyoldwoman41

I am not making excuses - I am trying to find solutions for myself as this is very new to me.

I have BT Internet and Mobile from the times (not long ago) when I was working and I need those to find another job, simple.

How did we manage before?

Simple again, we walked into Job Centre or Employement agency and picked a job as there was plenty of them.

Now we have to search on the net, email, call and be available to pick up any calls wherever we are - just in case someone replies to one of the 8271586576 applications for a job that we send out.

Times changed, ways things are done have changed.

katiesmummy

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

I really dont mean to be rude, but you're making excuses!

Skype can be used to phone abroad and you should be able to find non-geographical numbers from saynoto0870.

I can never understand when people stipulate that they are on such a low income that they have BT, internet and a mobile. How did we ever manage before?

PP

I can't speak for anyone else but the internet is a lifeline for me, not only for job-hunting but for social reasons too- I could go to a library but I have a 3 yr old who is incapable of sitting still so I wouldn't get much job-hunting done if I was spending all my time running round after him!

Things like sky and landline- I think some people are just stuck in a contract (like me) so the only thing we can do is get the actual bill down as low as possible for the duration of unemployment.

I rarely top up my mobile, can't remember the last time I did- god bless PAYG

katiesmummy

grumpyoldwoman41 wrote: »

I am not making excuses - I am trying to find solutions for myself as this is very new to me.

I have BT Internet and Mobile from the times (not long ago) when I was working and I need those to find another job, simple.

How did we manage before?

Simple again, we walked into Job Centre or Employement agency and picked a job as there was plenty of them.

Now we have to search on the net, email, call and be available to pick up any calls wherever we are - just in case someone replies to one of the 8271586576 applications for a job that we send out.

Times changed, ways things are done have changed.

How old is the phone contract? Could you ditch it and get a PAYG sim instead? Most tarrifs have a 'top up x amount and get x amount free' and from what I understand Tesco are very good as they triple your credit.

Penny-Pincher!!

katiesmummy wrote: »

I can't speak for anyone else but the internet is a lifeline for me, not only for job-hunting but for social reasons too- I could go to a library but I have a 3 yr old who is incapable of sitting still so I wouldn't get much job-hunting done if I was spending all my time running round after him!

Things like sky and landline- I think some people are just stuck in a contract (like me) so the only thing we can do is get the actual bill down as low as possible for the duration of unemployment.

I rarely top up my mobile, can't remember the last time I did- god bless PAYG

Katie....sorry, I meant more when people pay stupid amounts on their broadband extra. I fully understand what you mean and agree as I am pretty much housebound.

I didnt mean my post to come across rude and apologise if it did.

PP
xx

grumpyoldwoman41

Can not get out of T Mobile contract, it was for £35 per month with 2 boosters which I have now taken out so down to £25 per month, it was a 24 month contract when I took it out last summer...