The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

PRINCESSX87

Afternoon everyone. Where has today gone? Seems to have flown by leaving me behind. Having one of those days today where my energy has got up & gone.

OH nipped around the shop earlier & got us the aldi vouchers. Happy to see some decent cleaning products in there. He's debating now whether he should nip back around to get a second. I don't like the idea that we're buying 2 when someone who could use the discount could miss out..

I also signed up to Quidco this morning but I have to say, I'm still puzzled whether its something I can make money from without having to buy online. Simple things boggle my mind rather easily. :rotfl:

Had a falling out with a few family members yesterday. They seem to think i'm just a cash point that they can run too when ever they see fit. When I cant "help" they get insulting & nasty with their mouths. So, My mood still isn't any better & I cant help feeling like i'm useless.
Does anyone else have someone like this in their life? How do you cope with it? Because I don't want to loose ties because their close family members, But on the other hand its driving me crazy that they seem to think its perfectly normal to treat me like this often.

MRSLW: I hope you have an amazing time. Hopefully the weather stays nice for you & your family. Have a magical time my lovely!! xx

Nuttyp: Hope your mum has a pleasant stay at the hospital along with her jolly new pals. It makes the day shorter when you have people you can get along with. Hospitals isn't the best place either is it. x

ALSO: FOR YOU PARENTS OUT THERE, THE PAPER THAT HAS THE VOUCHERS FOR ALDI ALSO HAS A £5 OFF A £25 SPEND IN SHOE ZONE. might help for school shoes?

carlymummy

Just had a letter from council tax - we were claiming council tax benefit which took the cost down to about £50 a month instead of £110 because DH was on such a low wage, anyway now he has been promoted he is earning more so I notified them its taken ages for them to sort out but they have sent a letter saying that we will have to pay £200 a month until January I have no idea where we are going to find that money from, I feel like we are sinking at the moment one thing after another. Have emailed it to our IP for the IVA hopefully they can sort it on our expenditure and swallow it up somewhere, our food budget is already very low for 5 of us.
Anyway sorry to depress people, Jem I home schooled our middle and youngest from March until June this year middle son is Dyspraxic, also suspect Dyscalculia and school behaved appallingly towards him, I felt that I had no choice but to remove him from their stone age attitudes. We were door stepped by the local EWO and had a few other problems it wasn't an easy ride but glad we did it, until his confidence was raised enough to consider another local school, fingers crossed he has settled in we put him in after half term to see how he went on, I am worried about youngest starting in Reception as I suspect a few things about him and his behaviour but will have to cross that bridge when we come to it. I know how speech therapy behave from previous experience with middle son but also in my previous career as a SEN teaching assistant, they are very slow to respond and quick to turf people off the list but with anthing those that shout the loudest get heard so I shall continue to do so for my kiddies.
x

Cheapskate

Afternoon toughies, been away this last week, so missed LOADS of stuff. Too many pages to wade back through, so will just offer hugs and kisses, and commiseration as needed.

Monnagran, what's happened with you and herself? I gather something serious is amiss, can you recap for me if it's not too painful?

We spent more than we planned whilst away, so belt tightening in order for this week and next - needed to finish emptying the freezer anyway before school re-starts.

Can't believe there's less than a week of the hols left - where's it gone? Feels a tad back-endish here today, that September feeling is almost here. Hoping to go brambling tomorrow, need to stock up for winter puds and booze, few more weeks then my spuds will be ready, and then sloe picking - sorry to the summer lovers, but I really love autumn!

A xo

PRINCESSX87

Carlysmum:

They sent us a bill with high repayments. You can usually call them and they will do lower weekly amounts & extend it over more time.

floss2

carlymummy wrote: »

Just had a letter from council tax - we were claiming council tax benefit which took the cost down to about £50 a month instead of £110 because DH was on such a low wage, anyway now he has been promoted he is earning more so I notified them its taken ages for them to sort out but they have sent a letter saying that we will have to pay £200 a month until January ...

PRINCESSX87 wrote: »

Carlysmum:

They sent us a bill with high repayments. You can usually call them and they will do lower weekly amounts & extend it over more time.

Just what I was going to say! I would do the following, in this order:
1. Work out how much you can afford to pay on top of everything else - reasonably, not cutting things too much. Do it weekly if that fits your budget / hubby's pay day.
2. Call them, tell them you advised of the change of income x weeks ago, you now have a letter asking for increased payments that you cannot manage, suggest that you pay your calculated payment until the end of March, and will review it at that point. You can then ask for any arrears to be added onto next year and pay over 12 months instead of 10. If they make a fuss, tell them it's their delay in responding and you cannot magic the money from nowhere!
3. Speak to your IVA people
4. Have a cuppa & a sit down!

kezlou

Lynn - enjoy the wedding!
we'll be expecting lots of tales

Princess thats my family. I am the cash point, they can't seem to understand that i'm not made of money.I now just ignore the phone when i see texts off them as i as see the word money. Awful i know. Its taken ine a while but they finally seeing that i really don't have any money. They still suspect i have around it the house though.
Not much help sorry

carly what a nightmare hope you can sort something out.

excellent advise floss and princess!

sorry about my appalling spelling and wring words, i've been using my phone and the daft things changes words on me without knowing. It also won''t let me write long posts.

Were having another day in, text my sister about going over but haven't heard anything back.
Instead i've been tormented by the chipmunks and scooby doo!
oh the joy.
Still haven't got the uniforms in, but the lads have agree to go on Saturday. Not looking forward to it at all.

Popperwell

Afternoon All,
Real life...pah!:mad:

Hope you all find a way around the problems that keep coming...I shouldn't be but I feel "little" down myself...maybe its suddenly running out of AD's which suggests chemical imbalance but it could be that I know Summer is ending and the dark nights are here already:(

8.30pm last evening...must have a proper meal later perhaps when I come in from playing bingo at the sheltered home:pme playing another night of bingo but it gets you outdoors and into company I suppose.

So far I have only had a bag of Jelly babies today:p

After all the support here I am not going backwards. It will pass. Its temporary. We all have days like that and many more have reasons to feel that way than myself. I've come too far during this past year and am like my old self.

I think all of us have faced adversity and shown strength of character:)

VJsmum

Ooh thanks for the heads up on vouchers. I had forgotten and shop in both food stores.

Am reading along but not posting much as things have been hectic and likely to remain so. I am extending my work hours soon and playing catch up after holidays and in law sitting. Having spent a few weeks over the summer with little or no Internet, I have realised that I'd become something of a slave to it so have decided to limit my time.

My house looks like a bomb has hit it, I have laundry everywhere, though mostly clean. I have The contents of the caravan, and an awning and a tent in my conservatory, the bathrooms are below the dysentery line, I fear. My son slept on a camping mat on the floor last night as he didn't have a made up bed! . The in laws (aged 9 and 11 but appear much younger) were reasonably well behaved but hard work, needing constant attention, consequently not much else got done.

I have decided that some of my extra wage will be spent on a cleaner, but I can't entertain the idea until the house is decent enough to be seen.

And as for the garden :eek:

I think my weekend will be spent tidying, cleaning and gardening. If the weather is decent, the garden will win:p

carlymummy

Thank you Princess and Floss, I have taken my frustration out on the ironing! Text DH and we are going to have a good look at the paperwork tonight to see why they are asking so much etc then I can phone them tomorrow, also have already emailed IP so will see what they say. Children really pick up on stress vibes don't they - middle and youngest DS are currently running a much upstairs wild as anything and its pouring down outside now so can't send them out either, I have no space to dry the clothes haha.
Thanks for listening to me it really helped x

shegar

Havent had time to read for a few days , been so busy with children / bank holidays etc, you all know how it is..........

Took grand children to Great Yarmouth today for the day, it was lovely and hot , loads a people about, and all the usual crap seaside stuff for sale in the novelty shops..!!...Nice to have a look though, the temp was 25 degrees , it was so nice to walk about in tee shirts so close to the sea........Got home at 5 we had eaten too much junk food all day ,:eek: so we didnt want anything for tea.................

Thats the last treat before all the children go back to school next thursday , theyve all got their uniforms ready , there so very cheap these days, 2 white polo shirts £2.50 per 2 , god you cant get any cheaper than that , black trousers £3 per pair, :eek:....Yea admit they are all supermarket branded stuff, but at least they neednt go to school dirty.........Perhaps other stuff they need isnt so cheap................Right off to water a few plants then bed...Sheila