“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

earthgirl

Oh wannabe I really hope you get some sleep soon and I' sure that this will make it all seem so much better. You've done great to get everything paid this month.

Sun_Addict

You've made great progress although you might not feel it, it will take time to come through the other side but you're getting there, albeit slowly. Luckily you have youth on your side and have years ahead to get yourself sorted. One day this will all be a distant memory. Enjoy your smalls while they're young.

Talking of hollow legs - I was at a work meeting last week and a young lad there said he was 6'9" - all I could think was his poor mum, how much does he eat, must cost a fortune :eek:

Take care and get some rest xx

PositiveBalance

teafor2 wrote: »

I'm really laughing about the DC's looking at each other because we used to say that as well when we were kids. "Muuuuum, he's looking at me, tell him" :rotfl:

I seem to remember those words being moaned in our house, too!

WannabeFree wrote: »

But in other news I came back to post a positive all my bills have gone out and even though it's just enough to the penny nothing has bounced back or gone unpaid. Just the energy direct debit of £140 on the 14th to save up for now and the one off payment of £30 Friday and I'm back on track. That's a whole load better than this time last month.

That's great! :T


It's hard to gauge, Wannabe, but your gas and electricity might be a bit high. Or the DD is set a bit high even if you usage is reasonable. Might I suggest that you take metre readings once a week/month etc (I take a photo on my phone) and pop onto MSE Cheap Energy Club to see if you can get a better deal now that you are on a meter? I probably live in a similar sized house to you not a million miles away and it's not an entirely fair comparison as there's only me and I'm out at work every day, my DD is set to £50pcm and that's a little more than my real usage and that's for 100% renewable electric and 10% biogas plus carbon offset, which is a bit more expensive.


I doubt yours would be quite that cheap, but it might be worth having a look. Conversely, if there are no better deals out there, check over the coming months that the DD is set to an appropriate amount (baby bear territory - not too much and not too little) as I've just looked to move providers as my fixed deal has come to an end and the company I am looking at want to set up a DD for £92pcm based only on the number of bedrooms in my house! :eek: That's about double what I actually use! :eek: :eek: :eek:

WannabeFree

Thank you

I have sent readings in regularly. The provider still comes out cheapest on comparison sites but the current direct debit is definitely more than we use. We do use quite a lot of electric as we have a lot plugged in and in use. But definitely not that much.

Youngest is still awake :cool:

Another couple of days of the extra steroids and then she will be back to just her usual ones. It does take a while for things to settle down again.

PositiveBalance

WannabeFree wrote: »

Thank you

I have sent readings in regularly. The provider still comes out cheapest on comparison sites but the current direct debit is definitely more than we use. We do use quite a lot of electric as we have a lot plugged in and in use. But definitely not that much.

Youngest is still awake :cool:

Another couple of days of the extra steroids and then she will be back to just her usual ones. It does take a while for things to settle down again.

I hope Littlest Small settles down soon and is feeling better.


About the DD: could you perhaps reduce it a little? I try to have mine a little more than I use (but not that much) so that it builds up a small reserve for winter. and juggle with meter readings. I seem to have arrived at a level that is right for me that way.


I know you would be wary about getting into arrears so it might be better for your peace of mind to pay a few months at a higher rate then take a look?


I'm sure there are lots of way around it. So long as the DD isn't stupidly about your actual usage, I'm sure it will be OK (but a few extra pounds in your pocket each month wouldn't harm, either). xxx

WannabeFree

Morning

Thank you PB. They have said they'll review it after 4/6 months. I think I'll provide the readings fortnightly and then call after the 3rd month at £140 which is July's and see if they can reduce it. At the minute it's slightly more than I was using on the prepayments monthly so should definitely go down.

We have no plans today. I was going to walk to the salvation army for a coffee with the smalls but it's raining and I'm not sure we've enough change left so I will go Friday. I need eggs and bread. If we locate eggs we will probably bake some snacks. Need to decide on something for dinner and lunch too. I better get up actually and make a start on sorting it or I'll still be here in an hour : rotfl:

Hope you all have a lovely day

x

WannabeFree

So now things are settling down again here. Hopefully just one more big meeting this week and home life will become a lot easier. Cryptic but can't and don't really post about that bit here but it's been a heavy weight for a long time and it's coming to an end. So back to MSE..

Bill Account - All money coming in will go in here this needs to cover
£95.04 Rent (Weekly Monday)
£19.70 Council Tax (Weekly Friday)
£11.40 Water (Weekly Friday)
£140 Gas/Electricity (Monthly 14th)
£10 Phone credit (Monthly 1st)
£54 Bus Pass (Monthly 14th)
£50 to 'cash account' (Weekly Friday)

Cash account needs to cover
£30 Shopping (Groceries, cleaning, toiletries, pharmacy)
£2 Snack (Weekly)
£? School (Always something)
£? Travel (This should be lots less now I have my monthly bus pass)

Currently
Bank Balance - £0.09
Bill Account - £40.00

Bill Account Shortfall £131.

Nearly back on track - but in a better position than ever before. All my bills are paid on time - not a week behind. Once everything has gone out on the 14th June if it balances at 0 rather than a shortfall the weekly in amount covers the direct debits when they are due. For the first time in my adult life.

x

teafor2

Hi WB Absolutely fantastic to read that you're on top of all your bills and will have £50 every week for shopping etc. It must be a real weight off your mind after all you've gone through over the past weeks/months. And if the gas/elec does come down you'll have a bit more wiggle room as well. :T

Hope the meeting goes well and the outcome is the icing on the cake for you all going forward in a much better position. xx

[Deleted User]

Hi hun,

You're doing really well.

Glad that the big issue is nearly sorted and that things will settle down for you xx

WannabeFree

Thank you pmo2

Thank you Tea. It's going to be such a huge relief when the bill account finally balances. I think it will have a huge impact on my anxiety too. For the first time ever I don't have any debts on them and they will all be paid on time without a worry. I'm hoping the £50 cheque arrives and clears before the 14th so it helps towards the shortfall rather than having a shortfall again next month and carrying it on.