Getting Desperate

Seaxwyn

Hi tiredofdebt

Sympathies to you, I hope your husband makes a good fast recovery. Just one point - I read on another thread that if someone is in hospital for longer than three days, the relatives should get a cheap parking pass, £5/week I think, so can you ask the hospital about that?

Best of luck

brainfreeze

TiredOfDebt wrote: »

But on the other hand I am paying £2.20 every day on car parking fees

:mad: couldn't help myself:mad: Hospital parking fees make me mad. At a time when your income is reducing because DH is in hospital they charge you for the privilege of visitng him. I know hospitals need to generate income, but think they should come up with some sort of scheme whereby the immediate next of kin doesn't have to pay for parking. Rant over;)

If you DH is in hospital for a while, some hospitals offer a discount (not much though) for buying a weekly/monthly ticket. Would it be worth asking?

bandraoi

I'm not sure about this, but it may be worth asking the council about a discount off council tax while your husband is in hospital/you are his carer.

Also if you have any insurance policies, these might pay out for a bit with your husband in hospital. Chances are probably slim, but if you don't ask they definitely won't.

TiredOfDebt_2

I will ask about the parking reduction when I park today, will pop into the office there. Never thought about Council Tax.

Just worked out my debt free date and it will be November 2011. I will be 40 in June 2012, so what a great thing to aim for, Debt Free by 40. Here we go:j

TiredOfDebt_2

Just a thought my husband is part of the union in work and pays every week, do they offer anything if you are off sick for while?

elsien

With regard to water costs, see the severn trent link below. You may be in a different area, but I'm guessing similar rules will apply, and you could check with your own water authority.
It says you can change back wthin a year, or within 30 days of your second bill. If you look at the links on the left there is also a calculator to help you decide. Again I'm guessing your water company will have something similar on its own site.
Good luck.

http://www.stwater.co.uk/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.3054#q9

bandraoi

Alot of unions do, or there may be a fund you can apply for.
Ask, the worst they can do is say no.

The same with your mortgage insurance and any loans you have PPI on.

margaretclare

TiredOfDebt wrote: »

Thanks margaretclare, he is still smoking at the moment, it seems they can smoke in the hospital grounds, however, he is not smoking as much thats for sure. But on the other hand I am paying £2.20 every day on car parking fees, which is the cost of his other pack of fags. I have never smoked but at the moment the worry of the operation and smoking for about 25 years it must be hard for him to give up at this time.

I am surprised at this (smoking allowed in hospital grounds). Our hospital - Southend - stopped all smoking within the hospital boundaries, more than a year ago, January 2006! You do see the hospital staff in little groups going just outside the gates for their 'fag break'. Before last January, going through the main entrance you had to pass through a screen of smoke - patients, staff, everybody, wheelchairs, crutches, uniforms, all just outside the main front entrance.

I don't go along with this 'the worry of the operation making it hard for him to give up'. To give himself the best chance of recovery from the operation he SHOULD give up, a few days to clear his lungs and circulatory system would be very beneficial and give him the best chance. Any chance you could have a word with his hospital consultant and get him/her to express and opinion to him on this? That way, it needn't be seen by him just as you nagging.

£30 a week on fags is an awful lotta money. £1560 a year would help an awful lot.

In our local paper last week a woman of 72 has given up smoking ahead of the national ban in July, and she has smoked since she was 15!!

Back to your list of expenses - go back and re-do it in the form of 'priority' and 'non-priority'. For example, housing costs i.e. mortgage, council tax, gas, electricity, water, TV licence, are all basic things that we all have to pay, and if you don't pay them you get into serious trouble. Mortgage should not be listed alongside loan. There is some room for manoeuvre e.g. switching power suppliers, but mostly we have little control over those. Food and clothes come next. Travel to work. All the cards, catalogues, loans etc should be listed separately with highest APR at top of list.

When my husband was in hospital I paid for 7 days at once and it was at a discount. Go along to General Office and ask!

Just a few ideas, HTH

Margaret

juliapenguin

Good luck to you all. I'm new here but had terrible debt after my first husband stitched me up financially then went off with my best friend. I got debt-free in about 1998 and have stayed debt-free ever since, mainly by keeping up the habits that got rid of the debt. Easier said than done, but eventually I just stopped wanting new stuff and my second OH and I are very similar in being happy living quite simply. Our kids are nearly grown up, though. I really feel for all of you who have little kids - it was a million times harder watching my little boy do without all the latest 'stuff' than doing without things myself. Big hugs to all who are trying so hard.

TiredOfDebt_2

Just come back from the hospital, they do not offer a reduced weekly pass for the car park. So I will have to continue paying the £2.20 every day until he comes out.

Have a good evening