Mini meltdown and light bulb moment

AleMrsT

Oh, on a more positive note, I found my log in for my Mr T Clubcard account.
I have £27 worth of points, and I can 'boost' these to get double the value on certain things like vouchers and meals out. I had NO idea that you could do this, I've had a clubcard for years and never really used it properly. So I'm going to make a habit of using the coupons for the things we actually get, and then continue saving the points to use for a summer treat, either a weekend away (£30 of points is worth £100 with cottages4u), or day trips, meals out etc.

I'm sure I'm very late to this party, but just wanted to share.

I also discovered that our Eon account is linked to my clubcard, so I have 637 unclaimed points, which I have now redeemed in my clubcard account, but I have no idea how much 'money' this equates to, although I assume £6.37?
So, I'm pleased with that! :j

Brightspark87

hi! great progress already and well done on staying strong I know you will do this. I will subscribe!

AleMrsT

Brightspark87 wrote: »

hi! great progress already and well done on staying strong I know you will do this. I will subscribe!

Thanks brightspark. I've just read back through from the beginning, I think i've made the journey so far more bumpy than it needed to be! Oopsy. Will try and be less dramatic in future.

Puzzcat

AleMrsT wrote: »

Thanks Misstara and Twiggy.

So far I've spent the morning with my niece which has been lovely, and now looking at information online about benefits.

I stick by my original decision; I can't be bothered with the hassle for the sake of some random figure of extra cash (it is THAT confusing, I don't even know how much the entitlement would be!!!!)

From what I gather, our joint household income is too much for us to get working tax credit (who in their right mind decided that £18000 total household income is a sufficient amount to live on?!) and I do not get enough 'points' to be eligible for the personal independence payment.
So from what I understand, I work too much and earn too much, and also don't work enough because I have a life long condition, but I'm not 'incapable' enough to get disability assistance even if I didn't work at all?! So, now I've cleared that up, SCREW IT. I'm getting coffee. :rotfl::eek:

After that lot I think your an angel for having coffee and not wine!!

AleMrsT

Puzzcat wrote: »

After that lot I think your an angel for having coffee and not wine!!

Ha Puzzcat, I know. liver damage from severe iron overload dictates that I am not allowed alcohol. Which is a shame, but saves me cash.

AleMrsT

So, after my first day off on my new hours, I have done no cleaning no ironing and have pretty much been reading forum posts for hours :eek: I figure its my first proper day off, so I have had a good rest, and OH is on lates this week so the ironing can be done tomorrow and Friday, and the cleaning over the weekend, when I will have the opportunity to have a BIG sort out. Which brings me on to my plan of action, that I have been inspired to do after reading for hours!

1. Make the most of loyalty points, card schemes, vouchers, but ONLY use them for items/things that I would be buying anyway. This follows on from my discovery about Mr T clubcard. I am going to make the most of the money off coupons for shopping, and save the vouchers for any special occasions, gifts that are needed. I am going to save my 8oots points for christmas next year, and make use of money off coupons that arrive in the post.

2. Any spare cash I have will be paid into savings and/or set aside for 'planned spending' as required, such as insurance renewals, new clothes, dentist etc.

3. I am going to save my £1 coins for hospital parking. We already have a change compartment in the car, but I am going to make sure this is replenished so we always have car park money.

4. I will remember to purchase a bus ticket saver pass each month!!

5. I am going to continue to be anti-social, unless the event is pre-planned and budgeted for in advance (for example, I have Kasabian tickets for this weekend, which is already paid for)

6. I am going to make a monthly budget when I get my pay slip for things that don't have a set amount such as food shopping, on the back of this I will make a meal plan and do a food shopping list AND STICK TO IT. I can already see OH putting a spanner in the works on this one, as he makes so many unnecessary purchases... (which brings me to...)

7. Not get too caught up on what OH is doing. As long as he is not spending MY money or causing me to not pay debts or save, then if he wants to stay in debt forever, thats his choice.

8. Finally, I am going to use preloved, zapper and ebay as much as I can to get rid of all of the junk that I find after a good clear out. I MUST SELL MY WEDDING DRESS!!!!

SO, I think thats enough planning, don't want to take on too much as I will never stick to it. I already have a DD set up from my new current account to my savings, only £10 a month so I won't miss it too much and its good to start small. I can always add mini payments to it along the way.

Thats all for now. If anyone has any hints or suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

AleMrsT

Just realised I've had more sick days than usual in November for hospital appointments and actual sick absence, so I can just submit November's payslip to stepchange instead of waiting for the confirmation letter and new contract from work, as the total will be similar to what my new wage will be.
Why didn't I think of that before?! :huh: I'll get the payslip tomorrow so will scan it straight across.
Looking forward to getting the ball rolling now it seems to all be taking forever! :j

kermit2601

AleMrsT wrote: »

He did suggest that I should try and claim for disability living allowance after discussions that took place at the charity weekend we went to a few weeks back, he thinks this will help us with the cost of prescriptions, travel, parking, etc etc, but I really don't think I can face the fight of putting in the claim.
Its so humiliating having to think about the things that you can't do, just for a few extra pounds, I really don't know whether its worth all of the hassle, especially considering I wasn't eligible when I wasn't working at all, its going to be even harder to be approved now I do work, despite having to reduce my hours.

Just had a read through the bulk of your diary here. Sounds like you're on the right track.

I've quoted the bit above purely to give a little bit of advice from experience. You say it's humiliating to think about the things you can't do etc...please don't think like that. Of course I'm not in your situation so I can't begin to imagine what your exact feelings are for this but I'll try to offer one bit of advice based on a "similar" experience.

About 3 years ago I ended up being unemployed, I left as I hated the job and was getting depressed to the point that my OH was getting worred about me. Obviously I would have been due Job seekers allowance but my pride didn't let me go claim. I felt like I'd be admitting defeat if I did so. Looking back afterwards, I regret it more than I can say. I ended up frittering savings away whilst I wasn't earning.

The reason I compare these is that you, like I did and still do, are earning a wage and therefore paying tax on that wage. We are paying this tax for EXACTLY this reason. You have every right to claim the disability living allowance, especially in your current financial situation.

I hope you don't feel I'm trying to patronise you but I've heard of numerous people claiming allowances who are FAR less deserving than you. Do not feel bad for seeking the help you are entitled to.

AleMrsT

kermit2601 wrote: »

Just had a read through the bulk of your diary here. Sounds like you're on the right track.

I've quoted the bit above purely to give a little bit of advice from experience. You say it's humiliating to think about the things you can't do etc...please don't think like that. Of course I'm not in your situation so I can't begin to imagine what your exact feelings are for this but I'll try to offer one bit of advice based on a "similar" experience.

About 3 years ago I ended up being unemployed, I left as I hated the job and was getting depressed to the point that my OH was getting worred about me. Obviously I would have been due Job seekers allowance but my pride didn't let me go claim. I felt like I'd be admitting defeat if I did so. Looking back afterwards, I regret it more than I can say. I ended up frittering savings away whilst I wasn't earning.

The reason I compare these is that you, like I did and still do, are earning a wage and therefore paying tax on that wage. We are paying this tax for EXACTLY this reason. You have every right to claim the disability living allowance, especially in your current financial situation.

I hope you don't feel I'm trying to patronise you but I've heard of numerous people claiming allowances who are FAR less deserving than you. Do not feel bad for seeking the help you are entitled to.

Hi Kermit, what a lovely post, thank you. I did look into it, not sure if you've read that far down yet, I do ramble on a bit, but its all so confusing, I don't think I'll be entitled to anything anyway, as DLA is now PIP, which is done on a points system, and because I am actually able bodied, I just get tired easily, get a lot of infections and have very very minor mobility/grip issues with my right hand, I dont class myself as disabled at all. All i want to be able to do is cover the hospital expenses that I wouldn't otherwise have if I didnt have my bone marrow disorder, it seems that you either get all or nothing Thank you for your kind words, it wasnt patronising at all, and I know exactly what you're saying as my OH says the same thing.

AleMrsT

Work has been good to be me today Firstly, I got my November payslip, which I was right about being shorter than usual, so I can do a budget and send it off to Stepchange, HOWEVER, I also got my new contract confirming my new salary and hours.

Current finances look like this:
Octobers payslip £1093.29 (which is usual salary, plus £76.38 overtime, minus absence deduction of £164.82.)
Novembers payslip £941.28 (usual salary, plus £40.20 overtime, minus £311.55 absence deduction (OUCH)).

My usual salary is £16000pa based on a 35 hour week, with a 6 hour shift every other Saturday.
Because I used to start at 9.30, I only got paid for 35 hours, then built up 'overtime' by going in at 9am to offset the deductions (hope you're following...!)
My new contract is based on 30 hours, so my start time is now 9am, so new salary is a LOT more than I was expecting, £13904. BUT, I will still have to factor in some absence deductions for my Friday hospital days, which is one full day every 6 weeks, and I won't be able to pull in 'overtime' to offset the deductions.

Typically I should come out with £1034.12 per month, which is around £90 more than I'd estimated it at, with some months being lower due to hospital days.

Not sure how this effects my 'budget sheet' with stepchange, I think I may have to call them and go through it all again now I know for definite what the reduced salary is, but at least I know where I am now.

Secondly, I took a portion of porridge in to work with me (one of those packet ones) as that is literally all I have left in the cupboards that is suitable for work, I made it with too much milk, so I basically had lumpy milk, it was gross.
My wonderful colleagues came to the rescue and 'donated' various items that they haven't used/didn't want, so I ended up having cuppa soup, a slice of toast, a yoghurt and a banana, all for free! RESULT.:j

THEN, I sorted my desk drawers and found £5, so I used this to treat myself to a chinese takeaway on the way home from work, as I was planning on having eggs for tea, but didn't know what I would put with it as I literally have eggs, pasta and potatoes and porridge.

My friends are coming round this evening, we usually catch up on a Thursday at another friends house, but because OH is at work I don't have the car so its difficult to get home if I get the bus, so, they're coming to me instead, which makes life easier for me.
Although I don't have any milk in, so the OH's fancy coffee machine will come in handy! (don't tell him I said that!)
All in all, a positive day today. YAY :j:T:j:T