make do and mend for tougher times

kidcat

Spiky - We found the same issue with the bigger caravan resorts in previous years, it was far better and cheaper to go to a smaller one with no entertainment centre and pay at a swimming pool if we wanted to swim. It was much more peaceful too with no drunk guys at closing wandering through the park falling over the speed ramps

Fuddle - well done, there is one opening in our town but the guy who is heading it up is one of those who does no work but collects glory, whilst stepping all over everybody on his way up so I am steering clear I have seen him decimate several projects over the last two years. The neighbouring town is also getting one which I will contribute to.

bossymoo

£7k? Oh my!

My kiddies only ever want hula hoop crisps and an extra bedtime story, lol

Pooky

Is sad that food banks are needed but great if you're in a position to help out. :T

Pops - don't want to speak out of turn but is employing a cleaner going to be of any use to you at the moment? I know you have health issues and wondered if maybe a cleaner could tackle some of the bigger spring cleaning type jobs for you?

I've just been to a new hairdresser in the village, her and her husband are new to the area and are struggling so I've pointed them in this direction and given her details for AF and Qu1dc0. She did a fab job of cutting my hair and did both DDs too and for less than I'd get charged just for my cut at the local salon.

grandma247

Well I got a good result on the electricity rebate for my Bil. I rang the company but those I spoke to could not really help because the bill is in the name of the company that now owns the property so they suggested I ring them to find out what happened to the money.

At first she denied all knowledge but eventually said she would check her bills and ring the electric company for exact details as she never reads the bill! I had a vision of a duck paddling furiously when she said that.

About an hour later another call and she said the money had been taken off the bill in March! She did say she would pay the money back to Bil yesterday and said she had no idea what it was all about and that it would mess up her books if other tenants had the same payment.

Bil told me loads of them are on benefits so it is highly likely they had payments due them too. I wonder if they knew it was intended for them?

There was no money left at the flat when Bil got back home but I told him not to worry she may have felt it safer not to leave it since he was not home so she may pay it today. He rang me at 8am this morning worrying about it. I told him to wait till the end of the day and then ring me and I would sort it. He waited till tea time then went round to her home , she is only up the road from him. He got the money there and then. I wonder how long it would have taken if he had not gone round?


Now I need some help. I am going to have to write to the electric company explaining the setup and ask that they make an exception in cases like this and pay the person by cheque instead of putting the money on the meters. Who should I write to? how high up should I aim.

If I don't get a satisfactory result I will have to write to the government too because these vulnerable people are missing out and the money is going to those that are not entitled to it. It was never intended to go to Landlords unless they pay for the persons electric.

smileyt_2

Evening all!

Ended up taking darling Bruno to the vet's. My poor boy was panting and whining in distress because his tummy was so sore . Anyway, he is much better now and has been given antibiotics, and I am £40 poorer financially but much richer for peace of mind, and he is sleeping peacefully here next to me on the sofa .

I went to a really interesting talk this afternoon on disability awareness, given by a woman who only had one arm. She had a prosthetic arm which was amazing as she could unscrew the hand and screw on various attachments like a knife, fork and potato peeler! She even had a special 'heavy' arm which had a screw-on hammer and such like for when she wanted to do DIY. It was sad to hear all the bullying and abuse she has had to put up with throughout her life, though, and the thoughtless and often downright nasty comments strangers make to her. Apparently some people assume she gets a free car because she is disabled, even though there is absolutely nothing wrong with her legs, and in fact she works so pays for her car herself. She said many non-disabled people assume disabled people get everything for free - which, as we know on here, is definitely not the case.

Right, I'm off to bed since I only had five hours sleep last night and I need more than that .... I love my bed .... my snuggly duvet .... you know you're getting old when going to bed early (to sleep!) is an attractive prospect .... :rotfl:

kidcat

Grandma I would contact your local carers centre they should be able to signpost you to the appropriate helper, I would also contact OFGEM

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/OfgemHome.aspx

they should be able to give you some advice too.

Its worth checking whether this scheme the LL is running is actually permitted - there should be someone in your local council who can help with that too.

SpikyHedgehog

Malfiore wrote: »

Brilliant! Thank you

The article is in line with the first ep of this season's superscrimpers where the parents spent something like £7k on their kids in a year just in treats :eek: Little treats are fine, but it's the big ones that I think are ridiculous and usually for no reason at all. A woman I work with is always complaining about her daughter and how ungrateful she is, but she then goes on to say how she's bought her a new ipad/laptop/phone etc just for 'being her'. I sort of understand what she's doing but I know for a fact her daughter would turn her nose up at a home made cake baked 'just for being her'!!

Of course, I don't have kids so I may be a little OTT...

I think so much comes down to the parents' example - when I get paid, I do like to be able to get my boys a treat, like a new book. But I show thanks to others, & expect the boys to do the same, & they do. I also make it clear, ' if we get this, we can't get that'. we say thank you each night to whoever made dinner.

kidcat wrote: »

Spiky - We found the same issue with the bigger caravan resorts in previous years, it was far better and cheaper to go to a smaller one with no entertainment centre and pay at a swimming pool if we wanted to swim. It was much more peaceful too with no drunk guys at closing wandering through the park falling over the speed ramps

Fuddle - well done, there is one opening in our town but the guy who is heading it up is one of those who does no work but collects glory, whilst stepping all over everybody on his way up so I am steering clear I have seen him decimate several projects over the last two years. The neighbouring town is also getting one which I will contribute to.

Oh, that's a good idea! Must say, we didn't have a problem with drunks, but it certainly was noisier than we'd like.

grandma247

Thanks kidcat for the link.

Bil lives nearly 30 miles away in a different county but I will look into what the council say about these meters.

The woman did say she would prefer to have proper electric company meters in the flats but they wanted to charge her over £1000 pounds. I am not sure if that was for all of them but if it was I would say that was reasonable. Trouble is so many look for short term gains and do not seem to play the long game. She has only owned these flats for a couple of years and that does seem a small amount to pay for peace of mind. She would have paid quite a sum for the flats themselves as they are in a good area.

Popperwell

Pooky wrote: »

Is sad that food banks are needed but great if you're in a position to help out. :T

Pops - don't want to speak out of turn but is employing a cleaner going to be of any use to you at the moment? I know you have health issues and wondered if maybe a cleaner could tackle some of the bigger spring cleaning type jobs for you?

I've just been to a new hairdresser in the village, her and her husband are new to the area and are struggling so I've pointed them in this direction and given her details for AF and Qu1dc0. She did a fab job of cutting my hair and did both DDs too and for less than I'd get charged just for my cut at the local salon.

I am just about on top of things but funnily enough the thought had crossed my mind;)

monnagran

Grandma: I think you should write to the Managing Director, (if you can get his name I think it helps.) If nothing happens I would make noises about going to MP and the Press. Make a record of every letter and phone call and ALWAYS ask for the name of the person you talk to and log the time and date of every conversation and the information that was forthcoming - and let them know that you are writing things down, it concentrates their minds wonderfully. It is very tedious and time consuming but insist on being answered fully and if no satisfaction is offered ask to be referred to their superior.

One day I may treat you to the saga of my dealings with Thames Water!

Popperwell: Always make a will even if you think you have nothing to leave. If you leave it to a charity it prevents the government grabbing it. If you decide on a prepaid funeral I would always advise a local funeral director. I have a lot to do with funerals, (live with a vicar) and I think you will usually get a better deal and more personal attention from an old established, local firm.

Possession: your post about children demanding the best and latest etc. reminds me of a child I used to teach. She came from a wealthy family and was a shallow little creature, obsessed with designer clothes, (aged 11!) One day she demanded of a classmate, a very grounded child, if her cardigan was 'designer label'. The other child took the cardigan off and examined it closely. She said, "Well it seems to have 2 fronts, 2 sleeves and a back all in the right places so I suppose it was designed by someone, and look, there is a label sewn in the back so it's obviously a designer label."
Stunned silence.

the cake: my heart goes out to you. you do have the opportunity to make sure that your lovely cat spends her last days surrounded by love and comfort. We don't always have that opportunity. It's so hard though, isn't it?