'supporting each other through really tough times'

Molly41

Peanut2013 wrote: »

Thank you for your advice all

To who mentioned the baby groups, I'm very lucky they are a 50p donation and the leader is very good about it and says she'd rather we came and didn't pay than suffer at home alone. I only go to one a week and its a lifesaver

It's weird I was so proud of myself thinking we were doing so well, was just a bit of a shock!

I think you are doing well - you are aware of the financial difficulties and have been very brave posting your SOA.

Peanut2013

Anyway onto today...

Happy easter all We're heading to look at a wedding venue today, ok so there's no way we can afford it for years and years but we can start to source ideas. As its a nice day and there's a stunning park around the corner were going to take a packed lunch and have a picnic

This evening it's off to the parents for the Easter family meal

Hopefully the OH will like his easter gift, a Multi pack of yorkie. His favourite! And only cost £1!

Again thank you all for your help, I'm so touched

[Deleted User]

Happy Easter Toughies, hope everyone has a lovely day and manages a little bit of rest and relaxation, Cheers Lyn xxx.

CRANKY and everyone else who was kind enough to reply, thank you so much ,we are looking at lots of possibles, she has located a couple of Maine Coon Burmese crosses and we are waiting for photos to be sent, will let you know who arrives in the fullness of time, Lyn x.

VJsmum

Morning all and happy easter. Hope we've all remembered that it's 10.35 not 9.35.

Have hidden easter eggs round the house for the kids to find but they are still in bed at the mo. OH and I have been up for hours!

MIL is here but isn't very well - I think it is either cystitis, which she had a couple of weeks ago and has knocked her flat (literally at one point - she fell at home and couldn't get up luckily she could reach her mobile and called SIL who lives nearby), or she might have picked up a virus. She came out with us for the day on Friday and I think it was too much but she had said she was fine. She is 81 and has formerly enjoyed rude health (downright insulting health actually ) and is annoyed to be ill, I think. We are caught in the beautiful irony of her being more of a nuisance by trying to not be a nuisance. If she just gave in to being helped and looked after, it would be easier for all. She is supposed to be going home tomorrow, but I can't see that happening as she lives alone and SIL is on holiday for another week, so i think she'd better stay here.

We have bought a cockerel for dinner - according to the butchers we will have our heads turned and never have turkey again. OH is having a field day talking about "putting his c0ck in the oven, covering his c0ck in bacon and carving and eating his c0ck" :rotfl: so childish...:D

whiteguineapig

peanut, we watch i player on tv and that seems to be ok
oh says to look on the talk talk site at the speed calculator , you can see when you put your postcode in what speed you get as it depends on where you live
we have been really pleased with it all , especially the £5 monthly bill lol (although i did save up for the yearly payment for a while as it was £114)

stiltwalker

Morning all - Happy Easter.

Been to Church this morning but will probably have a quiet afternoon in as the kids are tired.

Peanut - sorry you are having it so tough ATM - I would urge you again to check whether you are entitled to Child Tax Credit as 've done a few sums and even if you were covering all those expenses you would still get some let alone not having enough to meet them. Can I ask - are you putting in your full salary from pre maternity leave into the calculator? If so this is where your problem lies - maternity pay is reduced by £100 per week for purposes of CTC anyway and the calculators work on last years' income and due to you being on maternity you income is significantly reduced (I assume). Please get on the phone to them on Tuesday and make sure you are getting what you are entitled to ASAP as this will make a difference.

Hugs to all who need or want one - X

kidcat

Happy Easter Toughies

Peanut we have all been there and struggled I am sure, I know we certainly did when my eldest two were babies and we had debts too. ANd to be honest, we didnt go out at all, I shopped monthly to save petrol and cut my visits out too - it saved a fortune in petrol.
The thing to remember is that times will not always be this tough for you, but if you build up debts now the hard times will last longer, good luck

We have been out for breakfast this morning with a good number of my support grp and all went really well. Then we tripped off to a national trust egg hunt which was absolutely full of people, but everyone seemed to really enjoy it and stayed calm too.

We are back home for an hour before the dreaded visit to my parents - but am hopeful we can be out handy and home in good time as everyone will be tired from such an early start.

GreyQueen

kidcat wrote: »

I have read recently and am sure GQ can confirm if I am right that everyone has the right to pay council tax over 12m rather than 10m its just that councils prefer it over the 10m so dont tell customers. Its worth checking out as it would bring your monthly cost down a chunk.

Hi.

My LA started to allow people to pay CT in 12 installments instead of 10 a couple of years ago. But my team were instructed not to tell people about it unless they asked. The reason for this is that the LA likes to have the last 2 months of the financial year to chase late payers.

If your bill has the usual 10 installments, why not email them and ask if you can pay over 12? Incidentally, CT is due IN FULL on April 1st every year and you don't have a right to pay in installments at all, it's a courtesy. And if you miss your payments, you'll be looking at reminders then the demand for the full payment of the outstanding balance for the rest of the financial year.

When I worked with debt advisers, they always treated CT as right up there in importance with mortgage and rent. Some regarded at as even more serious.

Re entitlment to help, wither in the form of HB or CT or Child Tax Credit, why not just apply? The worst they can do is say no and you'll have spent a bit of your time only.

I can't advise on baby-expenses as that isn't part of my lifestyle. Re phones., I use a bare-bones basic Nokia 100 and a PAYG contract. I have a landline at home which does 99% of the telephony and just use the mobile for silly texts with friends. I have an ASDA sim and use about £20 per annum.

I know I'm a middle-aged fogey, but I find myself watching pals use i-phones and they're basically treating them as toys. Is it really necessary to keep up with your TV programme whilst around a friend's for about 3 hours? World's not gonna end if you wait until later for that information. From my POV, I'm online at home, I'm online at work, I don't feel it necessary to be online on the hoof.

Please don't interpret that as a criticism as I know we all have our very different lifestyles and needs. I just think that as consumers we're constantly being up-sold new services and for some people they're of questionable worth.

Hokay, enough already, hope everyone is having an enjoyable Easter Sunday. I have had my first easter egg in about 30 years. As is tradional, I have gorged and feel a bit unwell.:p

:EasterBun:EasterBun:EasterBun

Peanut2013

Here's a silly question, how do you apply for CTC and HB? I agree its worth a go!

Thank you all for your help

kidcat

peanut I assume you can do it online these days at HMRC.gov.uk