Planning for debt

beanielou

When was your hubby turned down?
He can ask them to look at the decision again before it has to go to appeal if it was within the last 28 days.

chevalier

I am sure that you have tried this already, but there is the old trick about buying cheap cereal and then putting it in the kellogs box (or whoever the brand name is), then you will know whether he truely tastes a difference, or whether it is a comfort thing ref the packaging?

I guess the key to it is planning, ref the food. I also do at least one shop a month on line. Three reasons save me petrol in the car, I stick to my shopping list so don't impulse buy, and I always find a voucher either for free delivery or extra points.

You mentioned one child being on a special diet, is this an allergy that has been confirmed by a paediatrician? If so I wonder that you are not getting anything prescribed. Until my older one was 5 he got his milk on prescription as he is allergic to milk. But you do have to push for it, which you may not have the energy for?

If you are on half pay, does that entitle you to some (or more) working family tax credits?
best of luck
chev

mrsspendalot

stardrops - not sure, I got mine from corner shop. i bet wilkinsons sell it if you have one near you

dla - good look with it for son

re dla for hubby - appeal or reapply. also if he needs lots of prescriptions get a pre-paid one. http://www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/ppc_intro.htm that should save you a fortune!

mrsspendalot

i was thinking that re the cereal as well. it worked with ketchup for us - put value into heinz bottle and no one spotted the difference

mrsspendalot

p.s. don't consider appealing dla as begging - if he is disabled and has higher living costs because of it then he is entitled to the extra help. you need the money at the moment - it could make all the difference

chevalier

calamity wrote: »

Also applied for hubs but he was turned down and at present refuses to "beg" his way through appeal process--- he was injured and left with a leg2" short following loads of breaks in pelvis and back---prescriptions alone come to £42 mth for him now.

Ref presecription charges, I have just got a 3 month prepayment card for £40 I think it was. I get 5 scripts every 2 months, so this works out cheaper for me (and these are when I am well, if I was sick I would have extra eg antibiotics etc). So this would definitely save you a fortune for your hubbies prescriptions.

Ref the appeal process. Sorry but he should swallow his pride. 2 reasons, 1 DLA is a right pain and they often get it wrong, so he may be ENTITLED to it. It is NOT begging! And secondly when you go on half pay, it may be the difference between keeping your financial head above water and not doing so.

When you are money saving, the first thing to go is pride. Pride costs, sorry.
chev

Snaggles

Hiya - you've already had a lot of good advice given and I can't think of anything else for the moment, but just wanted to say Asda sell Stardrops, and it was on special offer the other day (but I can't remember how much, sorry)..

calamity

Thank you for all your suggestions--will definitely get the pre pay prescription and stardrops.
Will look seriously at the shopping bill but not sure about getting away with cheaper products--he gets his cereal from plastic tubs and instantly noticed a different taste/texture without seeing the packaging.
Also due to sons difficulties with certain things he goes through a fair amount of clothes and again they have to be certain makes --socks from next with the letters along the bottom that he can line up or else it is just a waste of money as he refuses to wear them.
Same with hubs car--we could get a smaller one that is cheaper to run but due to his injuries he needs a big car to help him get in and out.
So unfortunately some of our expenses are a direct result of disabilities---hopefully DLA will come through as this would help a lot.

lynzpower

have you tried getting next things from Next clearances stores for the socks? Do have a google and find out where your nearest ones are. Additionally, keep an eye out for new ( adn used) next gear on ebay. Ive sold loads of next gear brand new with the tags on.

I appreciate totally, that you have one child who has these very specific needs, but your other 2 can function OK i take it? If so, then theres nothing to suggest that costs for them shouldnt decrease. as an example, if one kid will only eat heinz beans, but your others fuction OK, is there any reason why they cant drop a brand?

Im sure that there will be some very useful & specific advice on this if you pop to the old style board. If you go over there adn start another post explaining what your sons dietary needs are, we'll stick our heads together and see what we can come up with. One thing some people do is try to have one "meat free" meal a week, and use more eggs or cheese, or have one "on toast" or soup meal a week. Maybe one of these might work for you?

woofwoofwoof

calamity wrote: »

I certainly do not see a way of getting a shopping bill including all toilet roll etc own to £100 a month or there abouts when my milk alone comes to £40 mth

Just a small thing about the toilet roll - the tesco (and probably asda) own brand value loo roll does the same job :rotfl: as andrex, etc. I know it doesn't look or feel as nice but it really is a lot cheaper and considering what it is used for, who cares? You could keep a few rolls of 'the good stuff' for when visitors come and swap it over :T - doing this will at the very least save you a fiver a month.