Utterly desperate

smileylondongal

I echo what other posters are saying about visiting your GP for a check up. I know it sounds extreme but it really is the most common thing in the world. It's very natural to feel the way you do. They should also advise you of some free counselling and I know this really helps put things into perspective - not to say you're exaggerating because that's certainly not the case - but what I mean is that it may help you focus on the right things.

You sound really overwhelmed at the moment and I know when I felt this way, it was useful having a stranger ask me the 'right' questions to get my focus back and address one bit at a time.

Hope things get better soon but I promise I do think this is the first step to take.
x

SarEl

I can't speak from personal experience, but a friend of mine got into awful - and much worse - debt problems. She went to an organisation called PayPlan - it is free, funded by, I think, the government and banks, and the help you by negotiating what you can pay back on your debt, even if it's very little. They got her out of an awful hole and I am sure they would help you - and that's £90 saved. You could probably pay back everything really quickly when you do get back to work - which I am sure you will. There's always other solutions.

teajug

Ring these people they are very good..

http://www.bestsolution.tv/?gclid=COa_7-bJ3qkCFcNP4QoduWTEWw

Saturnalia

I haven't seen the doctor, I'm not sure if that would be helpful really as I know the problem entirely stems from no work = no money = no life and debt trouble. I've had clinical depression before that comes on for no real reason but I don't think this is the same - it can't hurt to get the doctor's opinion though so I'll go.

I know it is true that just finding work will help in so many other areas as I'll be getting out and talking to people in the day, having a useful function that boosts my self-esteem and will be able to have a bit of a social life and meet more people to hang out with, but there's so much hanging on that and finding the job is the most difficult part! But I know that every job I apply for could just be the one and I have to keep on going.

I've applied for a Discretionary Housing Payment a couple of days ago, any extra money will help. Still waiting to hear about that so fingers crossed. And my parents are going to give me the money I need to get my DRO.

I'm looking for secretarial work and have about 5 years of experience. I'm registered with a few agencies and saw my advisor at the job centre the other day, she found me 23 jobs on the system to apply for, gave me printouts on writing a good CV and asked me to bring in my CV next time and she'd give me some help with it. She also sent me to a learning centre and I'm enrolled on an IT course as I have decent working knowledge of MS Office but could always improve, plus many job ads now ask for Powerpoint and I know nothing about that, so this course will teach me that and give me a qualification I can put on my CV to prove I have the skills.

I'll have a look into the funderfinder and NHS links and people per hour too.

dseventy

Saturnalia wrote: »

£20 left after rent, that goes on food, £21 for the net and £30 for the phone per month. That's the lot.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, will post a longer reply in a bit.

So you have no pets?

Fess 'up.

D70

Coopdivi

I don't know what you're wittering on about dseventy but, whatever it is, it's totally irrelevant to the OP's problems.

Oldernotwiser

Coopdivi wrote: »

I don't know what you're wittering on about dseventy but, whatever it is, it's totally irrelevant to the OP's problems.

On another thread, the OP talks about having cats; as feeding them must be quite expensive, it is totally relevant to her problems. Each of mine costs £15 a month to feed so would take a large slice of a £20 pw budget.

925dancer

I have 2 cats, they get fed very high quality food. It costs me £20 per month to feed them both.

Rehoming would never be an option unless I was homeless or their welfare at risk. Their needs force me out of bed in the morning when I'm feeling my most low, they help keep me mentally stable.

So while the OP is in a desperate situation, I wouldn't immediately suggest the cats should go.

iamana1ias

If you need to spend £45 a week of your JSA on rent you are living somewhere that is too expensive. Can you move somewhere cheaper till you get a job?

sulkisu

925dancer wrote: »

I have 2 cats, they get fed very high quality food. It costs me £20 per month to feed them both.

Rehoming would never be an option unless I was homeless or their welfare at risk. Their needs force me out of bed in the morning when I'm feeling my most low, they help keep me mentally stable.

So while the OP is in a desperate situation, I wouldn't immediately suggest the cats should go.

A much loved famiy pet is one thing. However OP's says that her flatmate has cats which have had kittens and she is planning on taking one of the kittens. Acquiring a pet when you have no job, no money, can't pay your bills and you are 'as skint as skint can be' is probably not the smartest idea. Especially cats which are not the cheapest pet to feed, innoculate and insure.