make do and mend for tougher times

grandma247

SDG do your plants look like this?

katieowl_2

Hi...I'm really struggling today. We got the deposit back from the Letting agent, along with a letter saying that the return of the deposit absolved him from any further 'doings' between the kids and owner...not sure if that holds any weight, but he told us to keep the key until we got the £££ back from the owner.

DD is in one of her FML strops, she's being 'difficult' to the BF and has spent all day watching TV. I remember very well why I need her out of my house :mad: This is her 'week off' which I suppose is a mercy, but nothing is happening very fast!

We sorted BF out with a £150 car this morning, which give them the option to move further out of town, they've called two places to view but we've not heard any more. DD is covering the insurance, which is £800 - but as we pointed out it massively increases his work options, and once he starts paying his own insurance the quicker the premiums will come down. (he's 26) I had the same problem, when I got my 'own' car. I'd been on OH's insurance as a named driver for 20 years which counted for squat diddley.

The house is an absolute tip, all I've done all day is load after load of washing, and my car is full of the last load we bought over from the flat. OH said he'd clear a space in the workshop for it last night, then went off to work this morning without doing so. When we went to collect the car, I had to swap cars with him in his place of work up the road, as it's so stuffed to the gunwales with tut I can't see out of the rear.

To cap it off when I got back (and I was on the verge of tears at the state of my house) the door bell rang, and it was a cousin of OH's who he's not seen in about 30 years, who was 'passing' on holiday, and thought she'd look him up. He hadn't got his phone (as usual) so I had to go and get him, and then invite them into my house which looks like a totters yard

While they were here I had a phone call from my friend in London's neighbour/friend, and had to go take in in the garden.
My friend is the one with mental health problems facing repossession for mortgage arrears, and who's dog the DD and BF who are now living with me, as supposed to be taking in. Following ....now I shall call my friend G for ease and the neighbour/friend is U. Last night G called me and chatted for a few minutes and said the U wanted to talk to me, so I spoke to her for while about G's plans to do as the court suggested and let her (g's) flat to cover the mortgage. Irony of irony that this week of all weeks, I know exactly what the requirements of an owner who is letting a property are. They've asked for about £1000 worth of work to be done on the flat, and U wanted to know if I thought it was feasable. I suggested the bank may play ball, but pointed out that if G was just going to be able to cover the mortgage with the rent, there would be at least the buildings insurance that she would need to cover. U said she'd check.

Anyway U called me back today, and basically she said I was right, G would get £750 for the flat, the Letting Agent would take £100 and the mortgage is £630...she wouldn't be left with enough to even cover the insurance. G had been saying to me that U would let her stay there, while she got back on her feet and found a job, but basically U has had second thoughts, after chatting with her family, an she's worried that she won't be able to cope with G!!! She has my full and utter sympathy, because as dearly I as love her I would rather pull my own head off than live with G. So when G rents the house, she will get no HB as she is letting her residence, and U doesn't know what to do to sort her out. I've told G and U that Shelter and Mind are the only two who can help out, and that really I have nothing constructive to add, the situation as I see it is deep doo doo??? G will go bankrupt without a doubt, and end up homeless. I can't sort it out I'm 7 hours drive away and to be honest I have enough on my plate at the moment. When we collect the dog it will be on the train - but now even that is up in the air, as DD and BF need to rent with pets allowed...I've always said that the reason I wouldn't get another was that I was going to end up with him here...:eek:

Kate

Pooky

It doesn't matter how far it goes Pops, it just matters that capital should be used before claims are made. If someone is asking for help and is on an income related benefit then it's because for whatever reason, they've not paid enough into the system. To then turn round and say, well I've not paid enough in, I've got money in the bank and I'll have some of that too please, is morally wrong.

The income based benefits system is there as a last result, not a cushion to relax back on.

Sorry but savings should be used first, when they're gone the option to claim will still be there if its needed.

Evie74_2

Evening all and ((hugs)) to all in need. My goodness you've all been chatty today! So much to catch up on...! Welcome to the new posters :j

Fuddle- I would just like to echo what everyone else said about the children playing out in the front garden. You didn't do anything wrong and the chugger deserved shouting at. And as someone else said, try and focus on the fact that the children didn't decide to go off exploring - they knew they had to stay in the garden, because you've taught them well.

PAH - I use lemon grass in Thai curry. I don't know if you need to dry it out in a dehydrator, it might dry out of its own accord like chillis do. I didn't know you could grow it in this country; I will have to investigate now as we are all big fans of Thai food in this house!

Smiley - please be careful in cutting down on anti-Ds. I have made that mistake several times and always ended up back at the docs. My GP has told me that she thinks I will probably always need to take them and I just need to accept that . They aren't miracle workers unfortunately but they do keep me on a reasonably even keel most of the time.

It's been another frantically busy day at work; I don't know if I'm coming or going half the time. I am sure I work much harder now I'm part time than when I was full time - basically I seem to be doing the same job in half the hours...!

DH is hard at work painting the kitchen - little does he realise how long my mental list of DIY projects actually is... :rotfl: -can't have him enjoying unemployment too much! On a serious note, there really isn't much out there job-wise. He's looking, but I'm worried that once the girls are back at school depression is going to hit .

Oh, while I remember, thank you Meme for the lovely post about camaraderie... I have learnt so much since I've been reading the "tough" threads and it's amazing how much support, advice and kindness there is here. Restores your faith in human nature .

And Katie the grand-goggy is gorgeous! Hope I've not forgotten anyone (bet I have... am hopeless!)

Evie xx

kidcat

Wow I pop out for the day and come back to so much to catch up on,
am in middle of yet another crisis, washing machine has dropped its concrete block and smashed all over the place. Washing inside is covered in concrete am praying it will wash off as DS8 special blanket was in there (it would be wouldnt it) and am now contemplating how to replace machine!

Ironic considering we had this discussion last week I believe OH wants me to take washing back and forth to my parents to wash - there are many reasons I am not keen, not least of which is the 16 mile trip which will cost a fortune in diesel. Also the idea of waiting for washing to be done just doesnt sit well, cant leave it there as my mum is a heavy smoker and it will all stink if left there.

I think the only real solution is to pay for a new one on the credit card - not ideal but there is no way I can handwash, my machine is on three days a day minimum. The idea of leaving DS while I spend hours washing doesnt bear thinking of - I would guess the cost of repairs to everything he could wreck would far outweigh a machine.

OH is not happy as I had literally just told him we couldnt afford repairs to car in region of £400 this month and he argues that car should be priority - repairs are not absolutely essential yet, they need doing within the next 8000 miles which could be a year. Also I cant pay mechanic on credit card so its not exactly a trade off.

Grrrr!!! I guess I will do what I normally do and organise it while he is working tomorrow and then face the row when it arrives!!
So all you lovely people any suggestions for a good large washing machine? Needs to be 8kg load or above and as energy efficient as possible.

kidcat

katie - only just read your post, am really sorry have no ideas for your friend, but with regards to car insurance, some companies will accept claim free named driver status and allow some NCD, they usually require a letter from the insurer saying that they have been a named driver and had no accidents. Its worth asking a few if he has been claim free as a named driver.
I suppose with regards to your friend it seems to me she would be better off with the house sold, obviously its better if she sells it herself rather than have it repossessed but if she is going bankrupt anyways it wont make much difference. At least the worry over the house would be gone and it may help her mental health

Pooky

Kidcat - Grrrrrr to the washing machine. Is there a specific need for a Bigger load one? I had a 7kg one but when it died I replaced it with a standard size one with a decent quick wash facility, I can now wash the same amount of stuff, over two loads in less time than it took to do a full load in the old machine (didn't have a quick wash function). It was £179 from C*rrys.

mardatha

Kidcat I just got a Hotpoint Aqualtis and its great. Takes 9kg load.
Re savings, best way there is to keep it in the house - not under the mattress but in a fireproof/waterproof safe under the floorboards or in the garden. What TPTB don't see their wee black hearts won't grieve. I would always have a good cash float handy and it's nobody business but mine.

D&DD

Kidcat have you applied to the family fund yet this year??? They can help with appliances
XX

prepareathome

Popperwell wrote: »

Well, how far would £6,000 go especially if the help you receive is being reduced and what you pay out keeps increasing? A lot of help is not just being reduced but withdrawn...


Though welcome and it looks like quite a sum I don't think it would last or go very far these days.

It might not be much but its half what hubby and I have coming in (his wage, my esa and my dla) so to us its 6 month income so its an awful lot to us:)