Mooloo's little tapestry of life, 2016

whiteguineapig

what about joining the old style decluttering thread? (there is also the konmariers but its more complicated)

Feral_Moon

Mooloo wrote: »

Oh your right. I have too much stuff.
The de cluttering is slowly going on. The reason for the problems is the comings and goings of DS originally meant moving DGD and him around, gaining and loosing a workspace. Etc
Having furniture for one thing, but it not then fitting in the next room etc.
This was compounded by the fact that I am not at home much to make the changes, or that I have been too shattered after work to tackle.
Because I had visitors coming I have had to finally start to tackle the house.
As I was home in the last few days it gave me short bursts of energy enabling me to find better use of the things I have, and I have thrown out some.
I confess that it is difficult for me to off load things, and therefore I horde fabrics and clothes, magazines and I used to horde books too. But I am getting better, and have started to give things away to those that need them.
Being enforced to make room for visitors and being at home for 3 days on the trot has enabled me to look at things and to want to make it more homely and less of just a house we have to exist in.

I feel your pain. The only room in my house which doesn't contain any clutter is my son's bedroom and that's only because I won't invade his space, even though he no longer lives here full time. It also doubles up as a spare room for overnight visitors as there's a king size bed in there.

The rest of the house is full of clutter and my spare bedroom contains a 6ft wardrobe that is bursting to the seams, plus two chest freezers (dog's raw food storage), office space for filing cabinet, printer plus the main router/internet supply. Not to mention a stack of shoe/boot boxes, half of which have never been worn!

My garden has two large sheds plus a large summerhouse, all full of old junk and are stacked to the rafters with "stuff". I don't even know where to start decluttering.

Even my kitchen cupboards, larder, fridge freezer etc contain sufficient food to potentially feed me for at least six months, maybe longer, other than fresh vegetables. Yet I still buy more!

I'm a single person too (with a dog that possibly costs more to feed than a young child) and I also have family/friends visiting for a meal the odd weekend, yet I've got an American sized fridge freezer full to the rafters. Kitchen cupboards are bursting at the seams too.

I admire your strength and resolve and only wish I could achieve half of what you do, despite health problems. You truly are inspirational :A

whiteguineapig

what about joining the old style decluttering thread? (there is also the konmariers but its more complicated)

both feral moon and mooloo!!

duchy

If you decluttered you could work a couple of half days a week from home which could make logistics a lot easier (and in holiday time save on holiday club costs too). As mistress of your own destiny the incentive to have that more flexible option might make a serious declutter more appealing and motivate you to crack on with it . Flexibility is within your grasp Mooloo

Savvy_sewing

Well despite a rumbling grumbling tummy, and a sore throat, I did the shop repairs, and then I recovered my sofa and chair. Just the footstool to do. But I need the staple gun and the screwdrivers for that one.

dktreesea

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

I didn't say he could take essential items or items for children, just that they can force entry to take goods.


In my experience (as a Debt Adviser) bailiffs never take goods but when they threaten to take animals/stuff for children/essential items no matter how many times I explain they can't the debtor always believes the bailiff and ultimately ends up paying the debt in full.

Are bailiffs allowed to force entry if there are vulnerable people, including underage children in the house?



I suppose ultimately the people who owe the debt have had the benefit of the money/goods that gave rise to the debt, so they "should" pay. But there are creditors, e.g some pay day loan companies, even banks, who lend to people in spite of evidence that they are unlikely to be able to repay the debt. Those debts ought to be set aside.


It just annoys me when someone else ends up taking on that task of paying the debt, someone who never benefitted in the first place. Why can't we have a different system, where, in the absence of any seizable assets, the court can either garnishee wages or, if no wages, benefits, until such time as the debt is fully cleared?


The DWP have no problem recovering advances on benefits/hardship payments, clawing back up to 40% of the claimant's future funds until the loan is covered. Why can't we do this for other private or public sector debt?

Savvy_sewing

I'm not going to worry about it anymore. I will just pay what I have too, until my other bills are cleared, then I will throw more money at it, to clear it. If DS actually gets the hours he's supposed to get it would help. They cancelled on him on Friday, and then they cancelled this morning at 4.30am!!! So that's 22 hours lost. That money is needed. It means they will be struggling and doesn't give them a chance to get straight.

DGD, her little friend, and my friend and I went to Banbury this lunchtime to stroll around the canal festival. They were lucky with the weather, and there was a lot there not just the boats.
But I'm really tired now.
Feet up while the girls play, and a well earned cup of tea.

Brighton_belle

Mooloo, this is just a thought and will probably seem extravagant: you've struggled for a long time to de-clutter (like many many people) - it does take a lot of energy and I think you will struggle to ever fine the spare energy, with your health issues, a business and family needs. If you ever felt you could find the money, I would highly recommend 3-4 hrs with a professional de-clutterer. They could help you do so much in that time. We may be talking £150-180 here. Personally I think that would be worth it for the transformation it could bring your home.
You may well then recoup that cost with Duchy's suggestion of more opportunity to work from home.

Eager_Elephant

I don't want to derail Mooloo's thread too much but wanted to answer this:

dktreesea wrote: »

Are bailiffs allowed to force entry if there are vulnerable people, including underage children in the house?

How does the bailiff know who is in the house when he forces entry?
If he forces entry and only children under 18 are in the house he should leave straight away but if there are children with adults in the house he will want his money.


I have known of a case when 4 bailiffs entered the house of a woman and her 2 young children at 6am - personally I think they are opening themselves up to all sorts of allegations but can you imagine how petrified that lady was when she woke up to 4 men in her bedroom.

I suppose ultimately the people who owe the debt have had the benefit of the money/goods that gave rise to the debt, so they "should" pay. But there are creditors, e.g some pay day loan companies, even banks, who lend to people in spite of evidence that they are unlikely to be able to repay the debt. Those debts ought to be set aside.

Most debts collected by bailiffs are court fines, council tax arrears, income tax and some consumer debts.
Generally speaking all the above would have sent numerous letters about the debt before the send the debt to a bailiff so people do get the opportunity to pay at affordable amounts.
I have never known a pay day loan company take anyone to county court for a judgement and to then instruct bailiffs. It might happen but I doubt it, they don't have time to do it and too be honest most people who take out pay day loans do pay them back which is why they are still in business.

It just annoys me when someone else ends up taking on that task of paying the debt, someone who never benefitted in the first place. Why can't we have a different system, where, in the absence of any seizable assets, the court can either garnishee wages or, if no wages, benefits, until such time as the debt is fully cleared?
The DWP have no problem recovering advances on benefits/hardship payments, clawing back up to 40% of the claimant's future funds until the loan is covered. Why can't we do this for other private or public sector debt?

But it was Mooloo's choice to pay the debt off to help her son's family, lots of families do the same all the time.


A lot of debts are deducted from wages and benefits etc but there is a limit on how many can be deducted so if someone has 5 court fines they won't all be on an attachment to wages or benefits although they can link them if you request it. The problem is people bury their heads and hope the problem will go away and of course it won't.


Same with council tax - they deduct from wages and benefits but for wages they can do 2 debts at a time and for benefits 1 at a time.


Not all benefits can have deductions taken from them - court fines and council tax can only be taken from JSA, IS, ESA and Pension Credit.


Other debts such as Overpayments of benefit and social fund can be taken from any benefit.


The more we can educate people to contact their creditors asap the better as the problem only gets worse the more time goes on.

Savvy_sewing

I see where your coming from. But not sure that my hording tendencies could cope. I see value, money tied up in everything, and hate throwing things out. I do need to get stronger at decluttering though.
I like to work in the shop, upstairs, as it helps me be more professional in my business, but I would like to have a little more energy so that I could turn my hordes into funds.
Having cleared a lot my black bin is full, and two sacks are beside it!
The blue bin fir recycling glass and plastic, paper etc are nearly full too.
I need to get help to get the mountain of junk I cleared out of the shed, an old tv, and part of a wardrobe to the tip. Only problem is that the nearest one doesn't accept all of it, and the one at the next town isn't open on my day off. Also the sports car is not exactly the car for taking wardrobes to the tip.
Joining the decluttering challenges may be one way to go.
I shall focus on making my space more comfortable, and remove what doesn't work as I go along.
There is a huge amount of work to do, but if I just concerntrate on one area at a time I will get there.
If I can repurpose, upcycle, and sell things perhaps giving myself a financial target it might help me. I'm usually ok at financial goals, even if I don't keep it long!
Taking time for myself is difficult, and strange, but these last few days have shown me that I can't sit still even when I'm feeling rough, as the things around me are beginning to bug me, to tell me that I need to make changes.
The kitchen is nearly finished. Just need to empty the food cupboards, get rid off the things I never used from Approved Foods over the years. Make room to put my gadgets that I want to use to hand, rather then on top of high cupboards!
The next few days are going to be full on, with birthdays and trips all going on. So I'm planning the next blitz next week on Wednesday. ( so a week Wednesday). If I get energy back it may be earlier. But after the trip out today I realise I'm still not 100%

Tonight it's going to be an early night. DGD is now in the bath, and when she's done and ready for bed I will be going up.
I did the work for the shop yesterday, so I can take them back tomorrow and then bring more back if necessary.
If there is not much work then I will restart my makes.