Journey to happy skinflintedness

saraih

OH is off work now until the end of next week, I wanted a luxurious lie in but then got up at my usual time! Luckily I love being awake on my own first thing in the morning. Nobody to bother me

We scrape through by the skin of our teeth for everything! I worked out this weeks bills and expenses and there is £60 for shopping (including travel) and naff all in the cupboards. No baking stuff left and no basics like pasta and rice or tins of tomatoes.

Payday one day early and I'm broke as a joke already. At least there's a teeny emergency fund and hopefully I'll pick up some work.

Right then, best make the most of the quiet and get this ebaying and stuff done. My son did find quite a haul of things he's outgrown to sell. Steam will think it's their birthday :rotfl:

saraih

Right! Got a lot done today. Bought the bus pass (yuck), enrolled son & heir in college, sorted out his boxes and stuck the £22 in the credit union before I spent it.

Trying musicmagpie and webuybooks this time, if it works out well I will put the other lots on. If it doesn't I'll have a go at ebay with it.

The mugs arrived from Neilsen. That was really fast, I'm sure the first lot took about six weeks.

Gave the agency a ring just to check everything was okay and they said it can be three weeks before the paperwork is sorted for the first job! good job I rang or I'd be waiting by the phone feeling lonely :rotfl:

Enrollment was cheaper than it said on the website so I've got £65 for shopping not including travel now. That's much better and I can try to stock up a bit.

Still not filled in the DLA form. Just can't face it today and need to make sure I'm doing it right. If I mess it up it always takes an age to fix.

I'm skating by on the edge right now, if I screw up the bank accounts there will be charges I just don't have the money for. Worrying and depressing. Oh well.

saraih

Did well enough on the shopping and managed to get some cartons of tomatoes, dried onions and pasta in for emergencies.

Going to fill the DLA forms in today and tomorrow for posting on Monday.

Beer money sites are dead though. At least it gives me time to have a good clean through the house. The state of the house is weirdly connected to my state of mind

in_need_of_direction

So, are the forms filled in yet? Prepare to be nagged until they are submitted. If you don't have info to hand, get them in anyway. You'll always get an info request if needs be. Also, try to avoid the temptation to be overly positive. What you need to do is to compare OH's condition and abilities to someone else of a similar age with full fitness. You also need to claim invalid care allowance for you.

saraih

I'm half way through but need OH to wake up and answer the rest. Going to the sunday market but they will definitely be ready for Monday's post. They can't give me anything until they know about it...

They were easier than they looked actually. He's pretty decrepit when I think about it. Good job he's funny or I might run off :rotfl:

potplant

Just read through your posts, (admiringly). Do make sure you apply for Carers Allowance if you don't already receive it. It might be worth contacting the Carers Trust - they very helpfully interviewed us to fill in the forms for us, as they know what you need to put in.

saraih

Thanks very much! I will apply for it. You never know do you...

Well I splashed out on the Sunday market and got my son a branded t-shirt with his name that happens to be in the design for £5 unworn, and a new lightbulb for the bathroom.

The ecig oils were discounted because we bulk buy once a month, I never usually count that into the money we take because you can't guarantee it. If it's the stall holder's wife there's no chance of a discount :rotfl: I'd normally be on her side but a fiver is a fiver.

Yes I'm done with the forms. There was one big thick one and a smaller leaflet one. We'll see if they play silly !!!!!!s with it.

Back when we first applied, nobody had any idea what was wrong with OH. His provisional diagnosis/medications changed at least once a month and the various departments didn't half accuse him of malingering. Once they found out it was MS nobody bothered us again. Of course then he decided to go back to work anyway...

Well I'm slightly less depressed now. It's amazing how forms can loom over me.

Right. Time to look for food I can take out tomorrow, no picnic food in and it's free activities at the country park. If it comes to it we'll have to go after we've eaten at home.

in_need_of_direction

It will be more straightforward now he has a diagnosis and a dedicated care team

saraih

Thanks, I hope so. We're lucky to live here with so much MS care, you hear such horror stories about people living in other areas with no dedicated community care. A real postcode issue.

saraih

Another no news money day. I was hoping to spring clean the shed but too tired after pushing OH around at the park. It was lovely weather though. Posted my forms and a stamped thing to the travel people. Funny how you pay for the bus pass then have to post the form, what if something goes wrong? They'd better give a refund!

At least the banks are behaving and I haven't gone over anything yet.

Veg lasagne for dinner, there wasn't anything portable in for lunch because everyone is off work/school. Made it a quickish trip before anyone got hungry enough to want me to pay for it