Husband is leaving in two weeks - Advice please....

myfairlady

Hi all,

Been having a horrible time with my alcoholic, lazy husband for the past few years. I decided that he was to either change or ship out and it looks like he's shipping out.

I'm trying to make a list of all the cuts I can make. So far I have the following:

Council Tax - 25% discount already arranged.

SKY - going to cancel
Virgin media - will either haggle or change

Does anyone know if it's possible or advisable to haggle with the gas/electric providers? I am on a fixed rate deal.

Is there anything else that I've missed that anyone can think of?

My head is all over the place and I just want to make sure that I'm not spending unnecessarily. I recently did my insurances (house, car) so they are taken care of.

Thank you in advance for any help you can offer me.....scary stuff this!

RAS

Check out www.turn2us.org.uk

Do you have any joint bank accounts or other accounts/does he have access to any of your cards?

Is there any scope to take in a lodger short-term to help you?

BitterAndTwisted

Change the barrel of the lock on the front and back doors. New barrels can be bought from a hardware shop for about a tenner = priceless.

For the utilities: I don't believe that haggling would work. Best to get onto Uswitch and find a better deal.

thorsoak

You've obviously already closed joint bank a/c.........

Home - rented or mortgaged? OH off lease? Notified mortgage co?

Good luck - you can do it - and you'll know peace of mind x

DigForVictory

+1 for new barrels in locks. (Presuming you own the place in your own name - if that's still joint then denying access is fraught.)

Get a list of moving house things to do & tick them off.
Meter reads, inventory, insurances - you've started well!

It may be simpler if you plan to change Everything - utilities, broadband, bank etc Hassle, but simpler later as you can say as of X date it's mine, before then it was joint. Also switching is a recognised & accepted & largely automated phenomenon, haggling may be trickier if you aren't feeling up to it.

I'd have a dekko at the redundancy boards & see if any of their suggestions rang any bells, too.
Then anything OS MS may also help.

Welcome to a new world!

[Deleted User]

You can phone the utility providers, if the account is in joint names, have them reverted to your name only, tell them you're now a single person household and ask them to review your monthly payments if you pay by DD.

growler834

Consider a water meter if you haven't already got one.

pmlindyloo

Useful list here:

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/relationships_e/relationships_relationship_problems_e/ending_a_marriage.htm

myfairlady

Wow, thanks guys. I wasn't expecting such a response.

Okay, so thought I was strong enough to take on SKY. Called up to cancel and got through to a very perky Scottish guy who kept saying he would cancel for me and then made me feel so guilty that I wouldn't haev any childrens channels that I said I'd think about it. I'm not even convinced I got through to retentions. He was telling me how he coudl cut my package but not much else.

I just don't feel strong enough to do this but know I have to!

I recently changed energy provider so assume I'm on the best deal there.

I will speak to Virgin to see what they can do as my H was always downloading tons of stuff, which clearly I won't be doing because I don't know how!

I can't change the locks yet as the house is in joint names and he is still officially half the owner.

Everything is in my name anyway so not much I can do there, but it does save me the hassle of changing eveyrthing over.

We do have a joint back account but its got no money in it. Its the accoutn where we put our bill money and that's about it. I do have a credit card debt (Which is joint, but in my name!) but he has said he wil honour that and pay half each month.

I don't know. This is just so hard and on top of all that Im workign full time and trying to prepare a 6 year old for the departure of his Dad! Lets turn that around...on a brighter note, i have a full time job and a 6 year old who will understand

Thanks all....I'll get there!

thorsoak

If you have a joint account - then close it! Otherwise he could still run up an overdraft on it! Also, I would take him off your credit card - alcoholics are very good at makiing promises, then breaking them.

Have you spoken to the mortgage company? Is the mortgage in joint names?

RAS

myfairlady wrote: »

We do have a joint back account but its got no money in it. Its the accoutn where we put our bill money and that's about it. I do have a credit card debt (Which is joint, but in my name!) but he has said he wil honour that and pay half each month.

Close that bank account urgently; otherwise he can OD on it and you are liable. If they refuse then instruct them that all further debtis require both signatures.

Does he have a second card or anyway of remembering the credit card number (like a previous purchase)? If so, ask for his card to be cancelled and ask for a new card for yourself.

Expect that once he is gone you get dumped with all the credit card debt.

Is he working?

Can you get Mortgage Interest Support in the short-term?