Newbie, In need of some serious advice!

Suki_Lane

I am signing up for quit net. So hopefully that'll be me off the death sticks.

My partner, although a highly qualified chef has recently just had a run of bad jobs, he prides himself on his proffessionalism and has made MILLIONS for other people. It's just at the moment the only jobs he can get are in pub kitchens with low pay and not enough hours. He's looking for a new job just now. I've had a few responses to my cleaning ad and that means I'll have an extra £20 in my pocket every week.

In addition to all of this the Ebay pile has grown in size ALOT so I'm going to get to work sorting the Ebay stuff. I've also sent a letter to the income support and housing benefit people asking them to reassess my benefits and let me know if I'm eligible for a little more help or a council tax discount.

I'm visiting the girl who does my DLA form to get stuck into that. Hopefully now I've had CFS for 3 years they might help me out a bit too.

Again thanks for all the advice I'm feeling quite positive and not isolated for the first time in months.

(Land_of)_Maz

Could Martins recommended website "entitled to" help you ascertain what you are entitled to benefits wise?

http://entitledto.co.uk/ should be able to help...........

Re the pets, if you are financial hardship can these not be rehomed thru an animal charity? It might seem harsh but that think of it this way..... it would improve your extra cash from £16.00 per month to £136 which is about 800% if you weren't spending on the beasties. And i'm an animal lover, so not being mean. If you were to sell them to a good home thru local ads paper, you could even make some money. One less problem to contend with in life in general too.

Storm

This might seem a silly question, but when you say money you thought had been transferred to the bill companies from your bank, but hasn't - was this in the end an accounting mistake on your side, or has the money just gone into the wrong account?

Quitting smoking - come over to the 'giving up smoking thread' for support along the way - the first post has lots of links to useful sites - oh and if you sign up to Pigsback you can get points for signing up to the Niquitin emails too!

MissKJ

DLA is definitely not means tested. can also lead to other benefits. If you have restricted mobility (sorry don't know what CFS stands for?) and were awarded this part of it, can also get cheap car and tax paid even if you can't drive it. If you get care component, you can also get reductions in council tax and income tax I believe. Early good advice is essential, every day you haven't claimed, is a day less in back payments.

However, if you can work, you need to earn as much as you can while you there. every job you have mentioned doing is low paid. I presume you can still study? You can claim benefits and do part time study? Why not aim higher?

The answer to debt reduction is 1. Spend less 2. Earn more. So simple, yet hard to do I know. You need to think outside the box. Why don't you do a basic hygiene course (2 days at college) then advertise locally for outside catering. You and other half could work together and the profits will be yours alone. The marketing and book keeping can be done by you when you are well and he is at work. His days off he can help, when he can't you can get staff from local catering college to help you. Start small, Christening buffets etc, and build up.

Just a thought.

misspoppy

Hi

DLA is very hard to get I would recomend that you contact your local council and ask for the welfare team, they specialise in completing these forms and will give you the very best chance. Expect to have it refused then use the same service to appeal which is usually when they award it.

I am confused as to why you were responsible for the rent before you took over the property solely and why you didn't change the bills into your name when your friend moved out and left the companies to chase her. Is there more to this than a straight forward lease?

(Land_of)_Maz

MissKJ wrote: »

You need to think outside the box. Why don't you do a basic hygiene course (2 days at college) then advertise locally for outside catering. You and other half could work together and the profits will be yours alone. The marketing and book keeping can be done by you when you are well and he is at work. His days off he can help, when he can't you can get staff from local catering college to help you. Start small, Christening buffets etc, and build up.

Just a thought.

What good advice! With his skills and yours, you could make a go of it. You would almost certainly get the course for free, and you don't need premises. You could just use the premises of the venue where party is being held.

You go girl!!

MissKJ

Have done it, it works. Cooked at home and took it to various venues. Got environmental health to inspect my kitchen, and voila! Cheap add in local paper, print own menus, bookings on first week. Animals a big no no though.

(Land_of)_Maz

MissKJ wrote: »

Have done it, it works. Cooked at home and took it to various venues. Got environmental health to inspect my kitchen, and voila! Cheap add in local paper, print own menus, bookings on first week. Animals a big no no though.

Another reason to get rid of the lovely animals.... i am an animal lover, honest!

Storm

MissKJ - loving the idea of the small catering business - and can I add offering a very basic sandwich delivery service to businesses can be good (we pay a fortune at my work for someone to deliver sandwiches for meetings!)

MissPoppy - it was probably a joint lease, hence the rent arrears falling onto Suki, council tax has to have all your names on the bill and they'll chase whoever they can get hold of - just the utility ones - if they were in ex-fm's names they shouldn't fall onto you, but if in the OP's name then they're a bit 'tough luck' about it!

Realised as well, if you register as a small business with the catering you'll be able to get cards for your local cash & carry etc - so your personal food bill will go down too! The phone is high on your SoA - if you're due out of contracts soon look into reducing your tariffs or going PAYG.

I agree with Maz about the animals too - especially the ones you were left with - phone the RSPCA and say they've been abandoned with you, but you can't afford to feed them.