Kingdom of Bed

recoverydust

This is my diary.

I spend considerable chunks of my life in a dark depressive state, that usually means I end up not getting up, dressed, washed or going out for embarrassingly long periods of time. When my moods lift I call that time "my visit to the Kingdom of Bed".

I believe that my depressions are triggered by anxiety and have recently realised that money is a huge worry for me. I think it had been so far sublimated that when I am depressed I am obsessively concerned and agitated about spending even the slightest amount.

I also live with a diagnosis of bipolar - one of the consequences of which is I am in debt. I need to deal with that but I have decided to build savings before I tackle them. I have read this board from end to end and thats how I am going to do it.

I am on benefit. I am better off than some; I get highest rate care and lowest mobility DLA and I have been in the support group for 18 months for ESA.

I am recently married, for the second time and live a modest life in

The debts are £800 with a CA originally owed to O2
About £6000 to First Direct
These debts were put in the hands of a money advice agency in February 2011, when first came to this site.


I also have a Lloyds TSB basic account - which will become a Co-op. That is a basic account with hardly anything in it, in case the bank make me bankrupt. I dont mind this.

I have done a budget and will do an SOA next.

I am hoping that other travellers along this route will support me in the way I hope i have learnt to support others. I would like it if my diary supported and encouraged others in the way reading some of yours has encouraged me - you know who you are and I look forward to reading your contributions


xx

recoverydust

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 0
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 602.1
Partners monthly income after tax....... 414.2
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 20
Total monthly income.................... 1036.3

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 0
Electricity............................. 40
Gas..................................... 37
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 25
Telephone (land line)................... 45
Mobile phone............................ 0
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 42
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 200
Clothing................................ 40
Petrol/diesel........................... 20
Road tax................................ 15
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 30
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 10
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 516


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 500
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 500

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
collection agency..............800.......0.........0
bank...........................6000......0.........0
Total unsecured debts..........6800......0.........-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,036.3
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 516
Available for debt repayments........... 520.3
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 520.3

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 500
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -6,800
Net Assets.............................. -6,300

Created using the SOA calculator at https://www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.

recoverydust

Just to clarify: We get full housing benefit and council tax benefit
we have the basic virgin phone internet and tv package on contract till december
i have a contract phone £35 on a blackberry and DH has orange p&g. He probably doesnt spend £10 a week. My phone contract is till next May, negotiable in November.
The electric is key metered
Any suggestions for ways to frugalise this would be helpful

ani_26

recoverydust wrote: »

Any suggestions for ways to frugalise this would be helpful

Don't breathe?

Find your nearest 10p shop?

Seriously. Happy new diary. I wouldn't necessarily advocate sharing your thoughts in such a public way, but never mind, we're all here now. It's not the easiest thing, learning to accept and trust complete alter ego's, but (whispers,) it has undoubtedly enriched my life.

recoverydust

I have blogged and forumed for years under alter egos and never ever been found out to be me, and if I am then so what .... its true!
I need this diary to sort my own self out.....

What's this 10p shop? We have £1.00 shop

Our shared garden is so derelict that i never even started catching sc's the potatoes and strawberries are all gone - except one strawberry DH had. I foresee some hard digging by him this autumn and some raised bed building, but first we have to deal with the druggies and the dealers upstairs.

Aint social housing grand. When does your kitchen come? How did you get one - I am deeply envious. Dont tell me you got a new bathroom too....

Thank you for being my first visitor I was hoping you would be
Hugs to you
xxxx

ani_26

recoverydust wrote: »

What's this 10p shop? We have £1.00 shop

Sadly, it's 100's of miles from you. It's just the local shop who sell their " fresh " :rotfl: produce off, for 10p. I don't know where i'd be without that shop. Having said that, they had a massive delivery of strawberries, the other week, and sold all their punnets for 10p. :cool: Obviously over stocked. :D

Aint social housing grand. When does your kitchen come? How did you get one - I am deeply envious. Dont tell me you got a new bathroom too....

The power of mp's? It would appear, ( luckily for me,) my mp is actually reasonably proactive supporting those on benefits, etc ( con, too.) :rotfl:

You've got to remember, as well, i don't have a kitchen fit for purpose.

Actually, social housing IS grand, especially when you are homeless. In retrospect, i prefer this place to what was my " own home ", apart from the fact the access to and from this place is restricted without a car. This place suits my needs better for retirement, has a care service, and i don't have to worry about the cost of repairs to the roof. :rotfl::rotfl: I've come a long way, haven't i? I can now drive past my former home, without thinking too deeply about it, anyway.

I think my kitchen is coming in september. Not entirely sure, as they won't get back to me. They definitely won't replace the bathroom, although they DID replace the handbasin.

Thank you for being my first visitor I was hoping you would be
Hugs to you
xxxx

At your service.

recoverydust

ok the comment about social housing was a bit uncalled for. I moved hundreds of miles after i lost my house, about as far away as possible and having been homeless for 18 months we are very lucky, just not when the addicts come begging all weekend long, or when they come to the wrong flat at 2 am for a deal. I know that it happens in private flats and in big houses.
I do appreciate not having to worry about the structure of the building and the security of tenure. We will be stung by the bedroom tax, but hopefully we wont be on benefits long term. The plan is for me to be more well more consistently so DH can start to work on top of Carers and gradually return to full time employment... but slowly does it.

wish we could have a new kitchen and they wont replace our hanging off the wall sink. Think we might have to ask permission to fit a shower.
Is a shower cheaper than a bath or is that a myth???

We have an Asda that does lots of bread and sometimes other things for 10p come to think of it DH is a dab hand at popping out on his bike at about 8 to take advantage.

xx

ani_26

I think you do have to ask permission to fit a shower, even though ultimately, the ha will benefit. :rotfl:I'm pretty sure a shower is cheaper than a bath. You only have to take one look at my gas bill.


Dya know, it takes alot of courage to keep a diary and openly state you are on benefits. I don't care what anyone thinks anymore, tbh. It is, as it is.


Back laters xx

Lost_and_nervous

I have just popped over to say hello and have had a read. Keep going, your doing very well. Stay strong.

Write a letter to ha requesting permission to install shower. They may refuse but they may not. Only thing I will say is if its a power shower then it will send your electric meter a bit crazy for the duration of the shower but if you can keep it quick then you should benefit in the long run. xxx

Piquant_2

Hello! Lovely new diary!

As promised here I am, all subscribed up and ready to join in.

I don't know anything about social housing, I'm afraid, so I can't give any advice. Lost and Nervous' advice seems very sensible, I'd give a letter a try, you've lost nothing if they say no but will gain if they say yes. Definitely, taking a normal [not power] shower is cheaper than having a bath.

I'm looking for full time work at the moment, not easy, so I claim jsa and get council tax benefit. I don't actually get any money from the job centre as I prefer to work 15.5 hours a week and earn it myself. I only get my NI stamp from them. I find the whole benefits thing mystifying and confusing

recoverydust

Lost_and_nervous wrote: »

I have just popped over to say hello and have had a read. Keep going, your doing very well. Stay strong.

Write a letter to ha requesting permission to install shower. They may refuse but they may not. Only thing I will say is if its a power shower then it will send your electric meter a bit crazy for the duration of the shower but if you can keep it quick then you should benefit in the long run. xxx

Thank you, that's very kind. Its a council flat and I am reasonably confident my OT will support the request. She recently had grab rails fitted to my bath side wall and by the toilet. I will email the local housing officer - she was very good at clearing the dead furniture from the green... I did say I had seen rats, and it was gone in 30 minutes, maybe i imagined the rats, she also had the back gate reinstalled - now i am not so down and pessimistic I shall give it a try. I worry about the gas and tbh the tank is small and it takes 2 hours to heat a decent bath, we share the water to save. the gas is on direct debit and i would hate a large supplementary bill. the electric is on a key so at least we can see immediately how much we are spending on what.
xxx