We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

Alice_in_Poorland

muddywhitechicken wrote: »

Hello
Our local recycling centre/tip has a soil/hardcore skip. There is a limit though - 1 car bootful a month, I think. We managed 2 bootfuls before they recognised us... and then took the 3rd and final bootful to another centre :rotfl:

You've got to be well crafty at these recycling centre/tips these days.:D We're going to try and do a couple of trips at the weekend, not sure if there's a limit on the number of times we can go. We could always send DS in his car too.:) xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Apologies if I reminded you all of that horrible job.....cleaning the oven......luckily OH did ours.:)

bagpuss, what I'd really love is a self-cleaning bathroom/shower!

dawnybades, will have to take have a look for the £1 shop version, they definately make the job easier.

We're in a spot of bother over our tax credits, not only did I forget to take DS1 off for 6 months (in between college courses) but the course he is doing now is not over 12hours per week (I thought it was 12.5hrs p.w., school boy error forgot they have 30minutes for lunch...oops!). Now we are being investigated will have to confess all and send a letter of apology and pay any money back. I've got visions of being taken to court and getting my name in the local paper.:eek:

I've had a long couple of days at work so think I'm too tired to get hysterical about it at the moment.

OH decided to change the meal plan tonight, he wanted chicken curry with jackets (instead of cheese and beans). I just can't 'fill' them up at the moment, with OH it's difficult as he doesn't eat rice, pasta or veg (well only carrots) and apples/oranges. Just lately the cupboards and fridge seem to be permanently bare.

Still can't source all the bits I need to make my own washing powder, either I'm not looking for the right thing or the shops are hiding it......although have to say using vinegar as fabric conditioner seems to be working a treat.

Have done 3 loads tonight to peg out in the morning.:)

Must update spending diary/budget. Currently on 8 NSDs.

Nearly the weekend folks.:)

xx

debtfreewannabe321

Oh no ref the tax credits :eek: i'm sure it will be fine do you think it will be much you will owe them? I should ring ours up really and make sure they have all the right details....

The washing powder bits I got from @mazon! I couldn't find borax anywhere in the shops. Soda crystals i could though but was the same price as am@zzon so I just ended up ordering it all from there just seemed easier I got all the ingredients for a tenner and there is enough to make over 4 lots which lasted me over a month last time (in fact i'm still using it atm so not gone yet )

Eager_Elephant

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

We're in a spot of bother over our tax credits, not only did I forget to take DS1 off for 6 months (in between college courses) but the course he is doing now is not over 12hours per week (I thought it was 12.5hrs p.w., school boy error forgot they have 30minutes for lunch...oops!). Now we are being investigated will have to confess all and send a letter of apology and pay any money back. I've got visions of being taken to court and getting my name in the local paper.:eek:

I've had a long couple of days at work so think I'm too tired to get hysterical about it at the moment.


xx

HI Alice

I wouldn't worry about Tax Credits - they very rarely prosecute anyone unless it is deliberate systematic fraud!
I have seen people on other forums owe £30k + and they haven't been prosecuted.

Sorry to cause more problems but what about Child Benefit because the rules for courses are the same for both?

If you are no longer getting money for DS1 can he start contributing to the household with a job or can he do another course to up his hours?

Alice_in_Poorland

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Oh no ref the tax credits :eek: i'm sure it will be fine do you think it will be much you will owe them? I should ring ours up really and make sure they have all the right details....

The washing powder bits I got from @mazon! I couldn't find borax anywhere in the shops. Soda crystals i could though but was the same price as am@zzon so I just ended up ordering it all from there just seemed easier I got all the ingredients for a tenner and there is enough to make over 4 lots which lasted me over a month last time (in fact i'm still using it atm so not gone yet )

Thanks dfw I'll try that. Sticking with the vinegar though.:) xx

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

HI Alice

I wouldn't worry about Tax Credits - they very rarely prosecute anyone unless it is deliberate systematic fraud!
I have seen people on other forums owe £30k + and they haven't been prosecuted.

Sorry to cause more problems but what about Child Benefit because the rules for courses are the same for both?

If you are no longer getting money for DS1 can he start contributing to the household with a job or can he do another course to up his hours?

Thanks EE, they stopped paying child benefit when he left college full time last July...phew! Had a quick check this morning and the payments went down in July 2012 to £38 per month so now not sure how much we have been overpaid.

He has got a part-time job, he pays for his own mobile and runs his own car. He's never paid board as such but he's been saving as he goes abroad to study in August (fingers crossed he gets a student visa).

xx

wuvvies

just some thoughts from me.
hello im new but have been reading. were really tight for money. trying to pay off a 2k debt but are struggling to find 50 pounds a month to pay it. its on 0% and we have about another 9 months to pay it. every single month we have no money. ive spent 41 pounds today on a weeks shop for four people. my husband summed it up he works 60 plus hrs per week and i have two part time jobs (and two kids 15 and 8) and were stuggling to find a reasonable amount for food. dont get me wrong were not hungry but i have to bake and keep everything full so there is enough for everyone. today ive made pizza and doughballs and my own potato and coleslaw to go with it.
its been half term this week but we cant go out as we cant use the car as we cant afford the petrol. weve done a dvd and popcorn day and had some board games but apart from that weve done nothing as we cant afford to. i know walks are free but realistically you need to drive 30 mins to walk somewhere nice. my kids are amazing. my daughter has had nothing new this year and my son is content swapping in games to get new xbox games. were doing a bootsale this week and were going to split it between 3 (sorry husband lol) and then the kids will get some spends. how do you lot on here not feel down about your situations?
my plus sides are - ive just paid my car insurance with cash and i also have 125 put on an asda card for christmas.
just look forward to your views

pennywisepoundstupid

Hi wuvvies, I think everyone gets down when they are in this situation and can feel like a real slog.

Is there anything you could do to generate a little more income, I do quite a few online surveys which generate me a little extra. Lots of people do mystery shopping, no good for me as I live in a rural area. Have you anything to ebay, or could you try entering comps and sell anything you win on ebay.

Could your 15 yr old find some weekend/ holiday work.

wuvvies

pennywisepoundstupid wrote: »

Hi wuvvies, I think everyone gets down when they are in this situation and can feel like a real slog.

Is there anything you could do to generate a little more income, I do quite a few online surveys which generate me a little extra. Lots of people do mystery shopping, no good for me as I live in a rural area. Have you anything to ebay, or could you try entering comps and sell anything you win on ebay.

Could your 15 yr old find some weekend/ holiday work.

thanks for your reply. SURVEYS - this amazes me. i have a friend who earns about 7 - 10 pounds a month and she puts this away for christmas. i have got my daughter doing them and i do them and we never get to finish them as were not suitable - we dont meet the requirements. i wish we did. i must try this again.
my poor daughter - shes rung everywhere for jobs but literally everywhere shes tried has said come back when your 16. so shes 16 in august and yes it will be first on her list. shes honestly such an angel. she never asks for anything, she has 1 pound a week to get chips on friday at school and shes happy with that.:( in reality she doesnt want for anything but her friends go out and about on busses and she cant afford to do that. she has excellent friends and although her room is tiny tiny tiny she has friends to sleep sometimes.
i could look for another job but to be honest im tired with two!! i like a tidy home and i homebake all the time. i work 25/27 hrs in one job and between 4 and 10 hrs at the other job. last week i did 15 hrs at second job. but its "as and when"
ebay is also another thing ive never really made money on as i dont put the postage high enough and end up paying it myself!!
bootsales i hate doing but they do make me about 60 plus so i intend to do more of these.
i know to get more money i have to work for it and i also know i sound lazy and dissing these other ideas. its good to know that others can get down. im not that down but i look at the positives thats why i ended my post with things id saved for.
its lovely to hear your views thanks:D

debtfreewannabe321

Hi wuvvies we all get down every now and then it is horrible being in debt whilst friends are off on their hols and buying new kitchens and cars we're putting pennies into pots to save for every day expenses. You can get pretty depressed living this kind of life but eventually it does become a way of life. Have you done a soa and asked others on here for advice? It's a good way of having an unbiased opinion on your finances to see if there is anything you can cut back on so things aren't so hard. You sound like you're doing a pretty great job already though... perhaps if you want a sounding board start up a diary on here it's great to have a rant every now and then to like minded people and to also share the good things

Surveys are hit and miss for me too definitely not a great money spinner! Hos bout challenges on the boards or selling on fb/ebay etc your daughter could get involved with that x

dawnybabes

Have you looked at Costco own brand washing powder, it's in huge tub and lasts forever - think it was about £12 and according to the plastic tub (reusable to wash cars !) does over 400 washes. I always use less then advised anyway, I do about 10 washes a week and it lasted me over 6 months.