Quit..rest ..restart . Diary no.3

another_casualty

Just had a browse on right move . The guy upstairs has decided to let his flat out once again. £850 pcm . Freshly painted . Wooden flooring now and not carpeted as before . Interesting time ahead ..

Gigervamp

Ooh, that's going to be noisy!

dreaming

Gigervamp wrote: »

What are you expecting the job centre to do? It's not like in the old days, where they used to help you get a job. Now, they're just there to make sure you do your job hunting, and give sanctions if they feel like you're not doing enough.
They expect you to job hunt for 35 hours a week. Ridiculous of course, because there won't be enough suitable jobs to fill that time applying for them, but thems the rules.


They might also expect you to look for jobs up to 90 minutes commuting time away.


But, until you get a job, you're just going to have to do it, or you'll end up back in the same position you were in London.

Hi AC. I'm afraid Gigervamp is right about the Job Centre. I was taken aback when eldest had to sign on as I thought there would be more help with finding suitable work. Instead she was given a sign-on to their jobs advertised site, and as Gv states, was expected to spend 35 hours a week applying for jobs. This basically meant that she "clicked" on so many jobs per week regardless of whether she could do them or not (eldest has Aspergers and some mental health and physical issues) but at least she was fulfilling the criteria. Once a fortnight she had to go to the Job Centre to sign on (an electronic signature on their system (which often didn't function properly)) and had very little contact with a person for more than a few minutes each time. She was also sent on a couple of "back to work" courses which covered cv writing/interview techniques etc. which she considered a complete waste of time but had to show attendance to get benefit. The good thing was though that she did get busfares paid.

I'm afraid it all seemed a bit grim to me, and although I hated the fact that she was on JSA (she is now her partner's carer so has different circumstances and benefits), I did feel the whole system was so impersonal and de-humanising. Even the centre staff she did speak to seemed really demoralised and agreed that it was all pretty pointless as there just aren't enough jobs round here.

Don't want to depress you - your outlook is much better than eldest's was - but I do want you to be forewarned. Keep on applying to the agencies as other people I know who have had to claim JSA got much more out of that than through the Job Centres. But do claim JSA and get going on the NI credits so you (hopefully) get as much pension as you can when the time comes, although you can make lump sum contributions to catch up a bit.
Good luck.

another_casualty

Thanks Dreaming .
Not looking forward to this st all , but it does sound like more or less what I'm expecting . One of the reasons I put it off for so long .
I have joined a few more websites ,and will probably send off cvs to agencies in my area and surrounding areas . Who knows ?

another_casualty

Gigervamp wrote: »

Ooh, that's going to be noisy!

Not the best way to redesign an upstairs flat . The ad does say , no pets / no dss . If I have any issues , I will have to report them to the managing agents . Hopefully ,it will be a quiet couple or something .
If it's more babies , or kids I'll probably have to move .

Gigervamp

You'd be better off actually going into the agencies. When my sons signed up to some by just emailing their cvs, they never heard from them, and a friend of mine who works in recruitment, said they needed to actually go in. It shows more willingness to work, because it's easy to just click your mouse a few times.

another_casualty

Okay, got my finger out and am dealing with everything grim. I cannot procrastinate any more as we know .

First thing I did , was go to the gym and upped the cardio .

I then went through the god awful task of finding how to tackle the universal credit stuff I need to do . I got some great help from poppy on the disability section. I bookmarked what I need to do, the forms I need to fill in and no's / contact details of both cab in Poole and Bournemouth. I think it will be Tuesday when I get everything digested and find the bravery to phone cab and get things moving
Monday is probably a morbid day to start..

I saved a few agency details and will send cv off tomorrow to various
I saved 2 part time jobs , and will probably send off at to at least one of those . Just practice

I then thought about the upstairs flat. Playing on my mind
So a few minutes ago , I sent the right move link to the managing agents" asking anonymously" as I put it to see what way the land lies
Right ,or wrong I have to know . I may move if it's bad news
Regarding everything I've been through , I guess I may have to harden up once again and prepare for the worst .
I am wondering if it's worth having my own place at all .
I know having a mortgage did me no favours in the past , and if I never had it I could have avoided a lot by quitting the job many years before and not be frightened to do anything incase I lost the flat.
This chapter now , will be the hardest .
I won't say much more now as I'm not really one to be down for too long ..

enthusiasticsaver

AC I am not sure if you suffer with anxiety or your medical condition makes you catastrophise but you are jumping the gun a bit with panicking about the possible new tenants. They could and most probably will be fine.

Hope the CAB trip goes ok next week.

another_casualty

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

AC I am not sure if you suffer with anxiety or your medical condition makes you catastrophise but you are jumping the gun a bit with panicking about the possible new tenants. They could and most probably will be fine.

Hope the CAB trip goes ok next week.

Thanks enthusiastic

Yes the prednisolone does bring out some weird symptoms . I think I got use to everything too quick here and seemed to have settled quickly . I got used to the previous tenant , hence the carpet .
I sound too dramatic at times, and am probably over worrying.
I've had my miserable couple of days . Thankfully , it's not often.
Normal service will resume ..:)

Gigervamp

You'd be worse off going into rented. You'd have the same problems with tenants coming and going, plus the uncertainty of how long your tenancy will last, and the extra costs of moving each time the landlord decides to sell up. You'd have to make sure you've always got enough to pay a deposit, because you'd need to pay it before you get the other one back.
And if you're getting any benefits, you'd have the problem of finding somewhere that will accept you. You could end up in a grotty flat, in a grotty part of town.


Just stay where you are.


And don't forget, you need to go to the agencies in person. Just sending them your cv will be like p*$$ing in the wind.