Debt free dream

Caspeia

I've taken out another credit card to do a balance transfer, I've only got 10 months 0% on it but it gives me 7 more months than I did have to pay it off. Just waiting on it processing but I could only transfer £950 over and there was a £28 fee. I decided the £28 would probably end up being cheaper than if I had to start paying interest on this, it also has given me a bit of breathing room.
This leads me with £670 on my Halifax card to pay off in 3 month which is more realistic, will be difficult but not impossible.

My partners disciplinary meeting is tomorrow, I'm praying everything will be okay and he won't lose his job. I am absolutely terrified, if he loses his job we are screwed.

For the wedding I'm going to do a practice run to see if I can successfully make homemade tablet, if so I'm going to do this for my favours as it will be a lot cheaper than buying the chocolate.

I bulk buy everything for the cats, their food is due to run out in 3 weeks. I normally order 36kg worth as it qualifies for free delivery. This lasts them 10 weeks a time, if I don't have enough saved up for my normal order I will just order the amount I can afford. Delivery is between £6.50 - £11 (depends on weight) so I'm hoping I have enough to do my normal order as £11 is around 5 days worth of food! My gran normally adds on to my order for her dog so hopefully if I don't have enough, she'll order and take us over the amount for free delivery. I have £20 in their account, the quidco money should be in my bank account by tomorrow so that will be £70 towards their food

I also need cat litter, there's 2.5 bags left. I've tried a lot of litter over the last 2 years and I've settled on one brand in particular. The one I buy is between £3 to £4.50 depending where you get it. I know you can get cheaper ones but I found the cheap ones needed changed more often so I'd use more. When I used Tesco own it was 2 bags a week as it just clumped together and smelt so bad, this one I only need half a bag a week and it doesn't smell as long as I scoop it out daily.
I've just looked on wilkos, I've only ever seen the 10L bags but they have 20L bags for £5! so 25p per litre where as the cheapest I can find the 10L bags right now is 35p per litre. My partner gets paid on Tuesday so will buy a couple of the big bags

Caspeia

My partner lost his job, fired with immediate effect

starting_again_in_the_sun

Hi Caspeia,
I'm so sorry about your husband's job! You need to have an honest discussion about whether he was responsible or not. If not, post on the employment board for advice.

Either way, check a benefits calculator to be sure you are getting everything you are entitled to.

The good news is you do have surplus in your SOA.

Good luck with everything.

Little_Miss_Winner

Hello. Aw thats terrible about your hsband job - can he appeal ?? would it be worth it - I just looked at your SOA - did he earn just £616 a month? what was it he does?

He needs to apply ASAP for anything he can get just to keep you afloat for now. Theres lots of places taking on Christmas Staff, could he just apply for everything and anything for now?

hugs x

DebtFreeDuo

Oh no, sorry about your partners job. There are lots of jobs around at the moment, even if he can just go for a temporary job over the Christmas period, it should help tide you over and give him chance to find something more permanent. I hope you get everything sorted.

fay66

Ys mental health I suffer too depression and anxiety , I have just had a relapse

Caspeia

When i filled out the SOA I put our figures the wrong way round, mine is the £616. So we've lost our main source of income, I've applied for housing benefit and informed tax credits of our change so hopefully that kicks in and helps out for the time being.
Hes going to appeal the decision, they wouldnt even show him the 'evidence' they had on him.
Luckily he contacted his old employer, he technically still had a zero hours contract with them but hasnt worked there since last year. They phoned him this morning offering him to do 4hrs work for tomorrow! Shes going to speak to him in person tomorrow, hopefully he will manage to get regular shifts. Its not much but at least 4hrs is a start, hes also going to cycle there and back so will save the £8 on bus fair. He will work 12 - 2 at one school and then cycle to the other one and work 3.30 - 5.30. It will take him 25 minutes from our house to the first school, 40 minutes between schools so will have time for a break and then 30 minutes home.

Caspeia

When I took my Halifax card out it said I had 20 months interest free which I worked out to be the start of Feb 2018, I've just checked my statement and it says it doesn't expire until 1st June 2018. Very confused! That's an extra 4 months, if I had known this I wouldn't have taken out the balance transfer card but at least I have more time for the money I couldn't transfer.
OH had his pay from his employer today. I'm only going to pay the minimum until we have worked out what hes doing job wise. Don't want to put too much into debt saving and end up not having enough for bills. He should get some pay next month as well, should be around £400 in owed holiday pay

Little_Miss_Winner

Caspeia wrote: »

When i filled out the SOA I put our figures the wrong way round, mine is the £616. So we've lost our main source of income, I've applied for housing benefit and informed tax credits of our change so hopefully that kicks in and helps out for the time being.

Looking at your SOA and in light of the statement above - I would say that any luxuries on your SOA will have to be put on hold with immediate effect. Just temporary - or at least till your OH gets a full time salary coming in again.
Gym & Driving lessons would save you nearly £200 per month. You cant afford these with only one wage coming in.

xx

Caspeia

Gym is on 6 month contract, i cant cancel it before. I'm not entirely sure why I even took out a membership, i never go!

Driving lessons have been stalled for the now.

But on a positive note, he has a job at amazon! Induction tomorrow and will start next week! 4 nights a week. Its only a christmas contract but better than nothing anyway. Travel is the main downfall, depending on the day of the week its 1.5hr to 3hr commute. Its only a 40 minute drive but buses arent very good around here and expensive. Its £8.70 for a day ticket. I think theres a weekly ticket for £28 but will need to check.
As soon as we can we will restart his driving lessons and hopefully get him passed his test.

Amazon are well known for getting rid of people left right and centre so we arent getting our hopes up too much and will just take things as they come
Pay is £357 a week before tax, its actually more than he was on before.