Take it to the Mattresses!

Grand_Benders

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

Hi GB

Have you seen the descriptors which you have to satisfy to get points and we all know what points mean ................. ESA :rotfl:

No seriously you need to score at least 15 points to be given ESA after the WCA.

Yep, I found a web forum which has lots of help in 'de-coding' the ESA50 and pointers on things to include that wouldn't be immediately obvious because it's things that most people are used to living with but that get points in the WCA.

Hope hubby finds life not working easier to cope with, and that you manage with increased working hours. We're looking at selling our house to clear a lot of our obligations and reduce our cost of living, so that we're not so reliant on bigger salaries to live. We've been moving towards a less complicated way of life for years, and if we didn't have all this debt to deal with, we would have been much further on with this plan years ago, before I got to this stage with my health.

Snagggles

My knowledge of benefits is still a bit shaky as it's a new area that I am only beginning to research, and my debt-management knowledge isn't really any help as you already have a dmp, but I will offer my support and sympathy. It never fails to surprise me that even people I consider to be financially astute, intelligent and frugal can end up with money issues, just through sheer bad luck, lack of crystal ball or a couple of seemingly benign misjudgements.

Have you looked at the Mortgage to Rent scheme at all (the Scottish government scheme, not one of those dodgy sell-and-rent-back things)? The criteria is rather specific, but it does work well if you happen to fall into the bracket of people it is aimed at.

Grand_Benders

Thanks for the info, Snaggles. We wouldn't qualify as there's no reason to stay in the area. Also, we have way more equity in our property than this scheme allows, and we would have to hand over all but £8k to the scheme. We're not in mortgage difficulty (yet) and hopefully we could sell before we are.

Piquant_2

Morning!

Sorry to hear things have been rough. I empathise on the redundancy, it's a very difficult time without being unwell as well. I don't know about ESA so can't help with that, but I can cheer you on from the sidelines!

Snagggles

Ah yes, definitely not worth considering if you have significant equity.

I'm trying to sell a house at the moment and it's not fun. Not sure who are worse, the people who view it or the estate agents. I swear they are playing a game of 'Who can annoy Snagggles the most today?".

PinotGrigio41

I am here too, to cheer you on and offer words of encouragement if I can.

I am not knowledgeable at all about benefits, but the lovely EE I see is on hand to help you which is great. She really is our Guardian Angel when times are tough.

Take Care xx

Grand_Benders

Snagggles wrote: »

Ah yes, definitely not worth considering if you have significant equity.

I'm trying to sell a house at the moment and it's not fun. Not sure who are worse, the people who view it or the estate agents. I swear they are playing a game of 'Who can annoy Snagggles the most today?".

Oh we have no intention of using an estate agent! We already have the boards printed (Vistaprint lawn signs) with web address and phone number (free sim which I'll toss once we've sold).

We can advertise on the main Scottish property website (s1homes.com) for £150 or so for several months, including downloadable schedule and lots of photos (also video walk through if we felt like it). Also, we live on a main road so lots of passing traffic.

There's also tepilo.com which is a property selling website run/owned by Sarah Beeny (from TVs Property Ladder show) which is free.

This will be the 6th house sale between me and my OH in 15 years, so we've got lots of experience of dressing/styling for photos and doing viewings. The only thing an estate agent could offer would be access to their mailing list, and I don't think that would be much of an advantage for us as it's a rural property.

Thanks to you all for being around with advice and/or support.

Grand_Benders

I mentioned on NL's diary that I'm starting a walking regimen, as advised by my doc to help with depression.

Started today, one mile round trip to the village and back. This was mainly just to calibrate my pedometer app, so doing a longer loop tomorrow to see how I handle that. Tracking total miles in my sig for encouragement.

Eager_Elephant

PinotGrigio41 wrote: »

I am not knowledgeable at all about benefits, but the lovely EE I see is on hand to help you which is great. She really is our Guardian Angel when times are tough.

Take Care xx

Bless you PG :A

Eager_Elephant

Grand_Benders wrote: »

I mentioned on NL's diary that I'm starting a walking regimen, as advised by my doc to help with depression.

Started today, one mile round trip to the village and back. This was mainly just to calibrate my pedometer app, so doing a longer loop tomorrow to see how I handle that. Tracking total miles in my sig for encouragement.

Well done GB.

There's something about walking that just oozes positivity and health.

Hope you continue to enjoy it and make sure you take enough water/drink with you now the weather is getting hotter.