when you reach breaking point

GreyQueen

:j Hurrah for The Frugal Frog's new job!

Downside is the long wait until payday but you've been correctly advised about the run-on. Darned cheek of them asking where your savings were...........:mad: lots of people can barely cover their outgoings when they are in work, never mind have a big cash cushion to cover sudden job losses.

I've seen the gradually unrolling of the poverty economy over the past few years; cheque cashing places, CashConvertors, payday and log book loan companies prevail. It's a clear symptom of a society where the cost of living is outstripping wages and leaving a lot of people scrabbling every month.

I'm fortunate in that I only have myself to keep and that home and work are 5 mins apart (OK, I chose where I applied, but they didn't have to take me, so there's an element of luck).

I talk to a lot of people in difficulties as part of my job, as well as living in an impoverished neighbourhood and it makes me sooo darned cross that the people in charge are so ignorant of real life, as it is lived by millions of people in this country. We are truly sliding backwards almost a decade with each year that we move into the 21st century.

ginger_tony

l so pleased Frugal frog that must be a big relief , but thats rich dont you have savings they make you laugh. My oldest on 18 is being sent to morrisons to work for three days but he butt of this joke is he signed on 8 weeks ago and still hasnt recieved a penny so hes working for literally nothing the only thing that gives me consilation is it will give him work experience for his cv which has been lacking when applying for jobs.

Butterfly_Brain

It made me spit feathers, when I read that the right Odious Duncun' S**t has now said that anyone who receives tips i.e the lowest paid hairdressers, waiters, hotel workers etc have to declare it as income :mad::mad::mad:

midnight_express

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

It made me spit feathers, when I read that the right Odious Duncun' S**t has now said that anyone who receives tips i.e the lowest paid hairdressers, waiters, hotel workers etc have to declare it as income :mad::mad::mad:

There is nothing new about that, tips have always been taxable.

Butterfly_Brain

And MP's have always fiddled expenses midnight express

ginnyknit

Frugal frog I am really pleased for you and hope you can struggle through till payday. there really isnt any incentive for finding work though is there, a bit of help starting out would be good.

Savings:rotfl: who the heck has savings? OH has been nicking all our small change for ages and I didnt realise that it wasnt just being absorbed into our weekly money. I found a box under his bed with bags and bags of copper in probably about £50 and I am guessing its his 'in case anything happens to him' fund for me, bless him. We have discussed what I will do without him as the doctors will not commit to an answer about his life expectancy, and that was before the cancer, I really do not want him to know the reality of my situation since all the changes in benefits. He only discovered bedroom tax recently, when the bl*8dy letter arrived and I had to re-assure him that we would manage. Anyway less of that, I have a plan b,c,d, and if all else fails I can re-instate the flea circus and travel Britain (Good life quote)

ginger_tony

I despair sometimes this government just seem hell bent on making our existence one of misery.I used to be a Housemartins fan in the 80s, listen to their song lyrics and they are of great relevance to our lives today.I cant remember voting the tories or the liberal democrats l for one of sick of their policies, of course they needed to rile the system up but to cut people to the bone i personally believe they are going about it the wrong way about it the wrong way. l think folk will get to point of breaking and there will be riots again which just is not what anyone needs just gives those in charge an excuse to keep us down further new laws etc.

PipneyJane

Jerryjerryjerry wrote: »

Hi. Yes, We are nearly at breaking point. Its only my husband and I. I've never felt the pinch as much ever in my life.

This is the first time, I've started using the dishwasher and washing machine at 6.00 am in the morning! I've NEVER done that!

Its also the first time, i've sat at home in the evenings, switching lights off, cooking during the day so don't need to have lights in kitchen on longer than necessary... with layers on and warm woolly socks. I can't afford heating at all. Hope to wait till its snowing before putting it on. Our bills for two people are 170 pounds per month! - that's gas & elec combined with British Gas. Have now switched to Scottish power and see if that improves.

Petrol has gone through the roof. We only use the car for husband going to work and shopping at Asda. Even then, I worry about it.

Apart from chicken, we only ever buy yellow sticker stuff. We go at times when Supermarket is about to close and freeze stuff.

OH has a full time job paying almost 20k. I don't have a job but am getting lots of interviews which cost at least 3 pounds return on the bus each time. I even stress about that!

Our problems mainly stem from the mortgage payments.

This month, i've sold my gold to pay the gas & Electricity, council tax, water rates and car insurance due on 1st october.. really worried about that.

Our mortgage payment is approx 950 per month and you can easily guess, that we don't have enough to live on after husband gets his 1,200 per month salary after tax.

I have tried to get job seekers allowance, and was told no. As husband works. Not paid enough tax, etc. etc.

My sister on the other hand, is on some sort of incapasity benefit due to depression (anger issues), and goes on holiday every year and is always out shopping at markets etc. And she even offered to lend me money the other day! lol. It is a topsy turvy world.

I have even cut my own hair this week-end, as there is no way on earth I could afford to pay 20 quid or so for a hair cut! I have a job interview on tuesday and i've got 2 pence pieces,etc. all counted out and ready to pay the bus fair.

I watch people as I go about my job interviews and wonder how they can afford to buy clothes.. as I have only bought interview suits and job clothes for the last 3 years,from charity shops.

We even dont go to weddings and birthday parties any more coz we can't afford the petrol, the presents, the outfits.

I am getting more and more depressed about life every day. So you are not alone. In fact, without this site, I think i'd go mad. this is the best place to be for when you are poor.

We have not been on holiday - even a week-end break for over 3 years.

(((((((((((JerryJerryJerry))))))))))))

I really hope things will look up for the two of you soon. Good luck with the job interview.

Was the mortgage taken out when you were both working? That's seriously high if it's based on just your husband's salary. Back when my job situation looked unstable, I'd wake up in the middle of the night worrying about the mortgage payments and what would happen if I lost my job. The job my DH did then - the only one he could get mid-recession - didn't pay enough to cover the mortgage, let alone anything else if that was the only income we had.

To the wider readership, I do wonder whether it would be better if we were in a situation like Sweden where they pay you a decent amount of money if you're on unemployment benefit, instead of paying a pittance and then requiring you to apply separately for dozens of different benefits for which you may/may not qualify. OK, the Swedes don't get housing benefit, etc, but their unemployment benefit is sufficient to cover housing costs and transport, as well as giving the recipient a reasonable standard of living.

Popperwell

PipneyJane wrote: »

To the wider readership, I do wonder whether it would be better if we were in a situation like Sweden where they pay you a decent amount of money if you're on unemployment benefit, instead of paying a pittance and then requiring you to apply separately for dozens of different benefits for which you may/may not qualify. OK, the Swedes don't get housing benefit, etc, but their unemployment benefit is sufficient to cover housing costs and transport, as well as giving the recipient a reasonable standard of living.

It probably would be better, I wonder how they look after those who are ill and cannot work?

Our Government will say the changes being brought in are for similar reasons but they just keep chipping away and making life difficult for those already disadvantaged(most are genuine who claim)but we even those working are struggling. The worry is that they play one section of society off against another. And now many will be hit by the changes in the CT and the introduction of the new BT and more are coming by the end of the year with some benefits being reduced/withdrawn.

No wonder we are all so worried. I try to live for the day but it's difficult not to wonder what the future is going to bring. And I so agree with Ginnyknit and Ginger Tony too...we all mainly agree but we cannot make those in charge change their plans or see how they are hurting the most vulnerable and yet from what I see and hear that's how most of us are.

Most on here know my situation, if things stayed as they are I might be able to stay put and absorb the increase in the rent, CT, BT, loss of HB, energy and food. It will be tight but we don't know what else is being taken away.

Smaller properties are rare around here, if moved out of the way I will still pay because of bus and taxi fares so its better to stay put so my solution may be trying to bring in a lodger/lodgers which will make things very different.

Scottish_Power

Hi jerryjerryjerry,
I am sorry to read about your circumstances. You have said you have moved to ScottishPower, are you a customer yet? If you are please e-mail me at [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL] and allow me to check you are getting the best deal we can offer you.

Thanks

[EMAIL="Marie@scottishpower"]Marie@scottishpower[/EMAIL]