make do and mend for tougher times

Popperwell

jackel wrote: »

Hi All,

Popperwell - Just waned to say how I agree with
Mrs. Chip with regard to your housing problems. Try to think of it as an adventure. You haven't got to have just any old place if you move now. You'll have time to choose and then just think how exciting it could be choosing new furniture and making it into your own little home whist you have the other advantage of having your inheritance. It could be the start of a really wonderful phase in your life if you think about it in the right way. Good Luck with whatever you decide .

Fuddle - Good Luck with the 'job chat' fingers crossed .

jac xx.

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Pops

I know you have said you don't want to move, but perhaps it would help if you could list down the pro's and cons of moving - this may help you see that change is not always something to be feared, but can give you new opportunities. And to move by choice is much easier to come to terms with than being forced to move by circumstance.

OH was very attached to our house in London - it had been his family home all his life, he lived there with his grandparents and parents. All his memories of home were there. He was very depressed about leaving, but realises that it was for the best and that memories are just that - it does not matter where you are.

I don't recall that you have many friends or family nearby, no particular hobbies that you need to be near too - so could you perhaps consider now that this is your chance chose to live somewhere more affordable, where you could build a life around yourself and perhaps meet some new people and find some new interests?

Often it is the way we think about change that affects how we deal with it, if you could just switch things round in your head you may find that many of your fears disappear.

Well, the problem is that there isn't much to choose from property wise in my town and most properties are still three and two bedroom and I have to be careful that I stay with my HA but if I thought some of the other properties are run by organisations similar to HA's I could switch perhaps...but those I looked at via Fuddle's link are further away from the area I know and if I have to use buses or taxi's to get to where I need to be I won't save anything.

Another trouble is that many of these properties are virtually the same cost to rent as where I am already. So if I cannot afford to live here, I won't be able to afford the new place.

And I will only have what I am entitled to incomewise and that isn't going to increase. And the CAB admitted that my DLA will change next year and if I manage to get the new replacement benefit it could be less or I could be on the new ESA idea.

Annoyingly, if I'd been retired I could have stayed put, had more in the bank and I don't think pensioners pay the Bedroom Tax.

Its hard enough having to now pay for electric and gas(as I said its the standing charges)Will try nd use as little as possible.

Why do I want to stay where I am?

It's a nice area, the neighbours are nice, I'm near the shops so can avoid taxis, been here almost 55 years. If I cut back on electric and gas, eat carefully I might be able to absorb the extra BT.

GreyQueen wrote: »

:o I'm having a really ME afternoon. Not only have I taken 2 trips to get one bottle of milk but I have just tried to put the washing into the fridge (they are side-by-side).:o:p

Oh dearie me, brain fog and then some. Good job I stopped before I put the washing powder in the butter compartment!

Pops, on a serious note, I agree with the others about starting to look around for a new place. It's always better to do something when you have room to manoever than when you are pushed. Your health probs, as described, indicate you may always have to be on benefits and once the bedroom tax has come in it'll eat away at your income until you end up making the downsizing decision but from a much poorer financial position.

Also, on a purely selfish note, a lot of people have no idea about the bedroom tax and once they do, the demand for 1 bedroom homes will predicatably skyrocket and it may well be so much harder to move on.

Anyway, that's just my two'pennorth, for what it's worth.

Some say don't rush into a decision like this and others say start looking now as it can take quite a while for something to come to light.

The inheritance won't last long if it's used for the rent/council tax/bedroom tax that's why the CAB advisor said possibly find the property first, then go for probate and spend it quickly doing the property up so it is not swallowed up which it will be.

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

There are sites you can sign up to for local authority housing transfers, will find a link later from the pc & post it.

Thanks.

My mind is restless and I don't feel like eating with all this to sort out.

fuddle

You don't sound like it's what you want to do pop's. I would say... and wadda I know save the key options link, apply to get your grading and look every Thursday, I think it is. I'm sure that's when new properties are advertised. (I might be wrong) There might be something in your area pop up. Is it just the Bedroom Tax that is making you think you might have to move? Maybe, just maybe the Bedroom Tax will cause an absolute storm and force a U-Turn?

Mrs_Chip

But what happens if you have to go? Are made to go because you cannot afford to live there? How will you feel? I would think you would feel awful, feel pushed into moving, hate wherever you end up. That is no way to shape the rest of your life.

Why stay in your town? - start thinking about another place you would be happy, do some research, at least investigate the possibilities so that should the worst happen you have a Plan B.

It may sound like harsh advice but really, don't leave your future in the hands of others, taking control of you life will make you feel so much more secure! (Take it from one who knows!)

fuddle

tentatively puts her hand up to back auld pops up. Where he lives is a very small town, quiet etc. The surrounding places are a lot bigger or are old mining villages with not a very good reputation. In County Durham the posh areas are right next door to the not so posh areas. We're all squished in but that means that in the not so posh areas the down and outs live there too. If pops feels independent and safe where he is I don't blame him for not wanting to move. horrible situation (and I hope no one living in County Durham is offended and knows what I mean, I'm a Durham lass though and through so feel I can say that about my own)

shegar

Well pops youve had loads of advise from members on here, you either stay where you are or go, nobody can make that decision for you, your young enough without baggage to start a new life, at least you only have yourself to consider..........

I remember some bad times I had when the boys were very small similar decisions/ plus financial decisions to be made like you, but just do what you think is right, if you make a mistake you will have to get through it ,thats life...........Plenty of members on here have also been through "the mill", but we carry on to tell the tale..........

I went to a reclaimation yard today, oh all the lovely shabby chic stuff took me back to my grandparents homes, lovley old stuff now making a fortune, I did buy a 4 foot concrete water feature its so old , I love it, had to get my neighbour and someone else to help lift it out of car, my poor car sat down on the back, I had a pump in the shed so ive fixed the pump up and filled it up and its running beautiful, I so love my garden ,soon the birds will be bathing in it..........:D

Mrs_Chip

Fuddle and Pops - please don't get me wrong, I am not saying that moving is the only option, just saying that if it comes to it, better to be in control, have some choice and be mentally prepared.

Really there are only two outcomes to Pop's dilemma - either he will stay in his own home (perhaps having take a bit of a hit on his income) or he will move.

All I am saying is that if it comes down to a move, better to do it on your own terms, and if there are so few single bedroom homes available it would be worse to go to another area that you don't want to be in.

I'll leave you in peace now!

prepareathome

GQ I was nearly doing what you did, went shopping and got back to car with a rather full trolley of dare I say teabags, tinned potatoes and tinned tomatoes a round dozen of each and I left plenty on the shelves, plus other bits and bobs but had I bought the water I went in for nope, just as well I remembered then as [STRIKE]grouchy[/STRIKE] sorry hubby was not amused at amount, so left him putting it in car and took another trolley and yep filled it, water this time plus a few other bits but have no plans for shopping for a week or more now totally broke but happy.

Even remembered to pick up a big bag of charcoal for the BBQ which should be here tomorrow, DHL sent email saying so:)

Am sure will think of things I have forgotten and be scrabbling round or digging in sealed pot for money.

SA is a woman I know from way back when hubby used to be on taxis, her hubby was one of those I did the accounts for, was telling me that since she had come on shift at 2pm it had been steady with people having full trolleys and lots of one item, just like me:o which is unusual for them on a Tuesday. Methinks word maybe getting out about shortages.

Oh at last woman from HA rang about me teaching about storecupboarding, she is coming to mine next week so have to work out a plan by then, she also asked me to think about being filmed or making a series of films so that as I cannot get out and about all the time to give talks they could show films of me explaining about things.....she ain't seen me yet:rotfl: film material I ain't:rotfl: She said although she and others from HA could learn from me to teach others she feels if this is presented by another tenant people might accept it better rather than think HA is getting above itself worrying about how they keep house and shop.

So next Thursday she will be here so I better get on with writing up my ideas and get hold of ink - see knew there would be something I had to buy - or if worst comes to worst put it all on disk and she can print it out, blank CDs and DVDs I have in plenty.

Started a word document weeks ago and not gone back so better move myself.

Hugs and Lovexxxx

Popperwell

All advice read, taken in and digested. I'm not offended by anything said. I have neighbours and sort of aquaintances saying don't move, stay put, that I cannot be moved and don't make a rushed decision that you'll regret. Also some that say when this idea really hits there will be a backlash... the backlash should be happening now but the media is ignoring a lot of what is coming.

I really think I could absorb the BT if I really watch what I spend and if the rest of my income doesn't take a hit...but I don't want to bore you all going round in circles. I will think about things over the next few months and will look at properties coming up. Even the start of the New Year is early enough to make a more informed decision.

D&DD

POPS where I live there are also incentive schemes so if you choose to downsize they actually pay you to do so and for your removals etc may be worth asking about

PAH some of the sites regarding foodstorage also have printouts which may be of use if the council will help with funding for the inks and paper

I printed one off the other day from foodstoragemadeeasy.net on the use of powdered milk and its 4 to a page will find a link and add it for you

edited to add it was here http://everydayfoodstorage.net/everyday-food-storage-handouts-downloads sorry same girls different site lol

Hardup_Hester

Hubby & I will have to move when we retire as we cannot afford the mortgage when we are on state pension. We have enough equity in the house to buy a studio flat. It isn't ideal but we will have a roof over our heads. I worked & saved towards a pension, but lost it in my divorce.
Hester