2018 New year, new focus and new mission

Choccygirl123

Thanks for checking in again tea. I've not been on at all from mixture of life and pain getting in the way.

I hade been plodding on with surveys and receipts, but it's not enough for a Caribbean holiday quite yet.

Did recieved wake up letter from my employer saying my SSP is stopping on 7/3/19! That means my SSP will be about £90 for that week. I do know they should pay me holiday pay on pro rata rate, so after 6months is half my 5.1 week entitled. Not millions but will come in handy.

Massive wake up call that means I've got to face the fact I need to apply for ESA. Looking at the rates it's £73 for 13 weeks then goes upto £110. I know I'm not going to be back to work in next 13 weeks so guess the £110 will be a nice bonus to look forward to!

I need to keep budgeting better and make sure it's completely that under control. Take every possible survey (if available) save all the receipts abd increase by wombling too and start looking at my selling again. I made the vow every penny from sells woukd go to Christmas, and I really want to continue with that. It's reassuring that there is some money saved away to cover at least some of the Christmas costs.

The great news is that this is the first month hubby is back to normal wages after having to pay pack 3 months of he's mess up!

Positives
All school trips paid up
All bills paid up to date
In April our total amount of debt will be less than 14k


Negatives fir April & long term need to save Fors

Elderest needs study books £33
My car needs mot (23/4/19)
My car needs service 50k.....not sure 2/3months
Youngest desperately need larger chest of drawers & bookcase then mini make over


It feels good getting everything down online out of my head! It's 3 weeks to Easter and I'm panicking our budget won't stretch as have friends and their kids staying! Already booked and paid for huge trip out, but very little else planned. The kids at that age they want to do loads of stuff that seems to costs a fortune and we just don't have the cash!

Does anyone else have a tumble of numbers, events and things going around d in their head?

Choccygirl123

Wow posting two days on in a row!

Nothing much to say....,joint bank account looking very sad. Still ages to go to pay day but cupboards snd freezer full.

Withdrew £5.69 after fees on PA and will transfer to my bank 'sealed pot account' I've declare the add today although takes 2/3 days to clear. That'll mean we £111.52 & sealed pot towards Christmas. I'm determined not to use the money, until Christmas!

teafor2

Morning CG Sorry to read that you don't think you'll be back to work any time soon - it's a long haul for you isn't it. Good news that hubby's wages are back on track though.

Just looking at your list, there's always something isn't there. We've had funeral expenses, car mot, car insurance, a last minute residential weekend for DS and caravan site fees since 1st January, plus other everyday stuff that crops up. The only ones I don't begrudge are DS's trip and the site fees.

You do seem on top of what you're doing though so that's good.
Hope you have a good day and you're not in too much pain. xx

Choccygirl123

Thanks true tea, there's always something draining your money. Not much in way of cash or account news but I have been making progress.I found out on Saturday my sick pay finished from work couple of days before and after spending days worrying I've bit the bullet and started getting my paperwork sorted. I feel so ashamed having to claim.

- I've chased my employer to see situation about holiday pay as you can't take it whilst you're ill....not holding my breath but worth an email or two
- I called dwp which was traumatic. The first call handler was curt to the point of being rude.... was I sure I was I'll, was there any way I could go back. This isn't to do with my claim, this was just to see if I'm applied to applied fir esa. The second lady I spoke was amazing and so informative. She's going to arrange a home visit as I'm unable to go to job centre. I've fill in the form on her advice and collected my proof of ID ready. Hopefully after bug if research I'll be able to claim the higher right of £110 a week.
- I have my PIP appointment soon and I'm worried sick. It's at home, which I don't think helps. I'm dreading it, but needs must. Hopefully, I get a truthful assessor who can see how bad I am.

In other news I've had success with applying fir a discount on my council tax. After another home assessment I've been awarded a band reduction since my accident. That's £220 credit from last year's council tax and a savings of £398 on this year's. It's made huge impact on this year's payments and I could cry.

I've been worrying about money so much and dreaded the day my wages stopped. If you read my diary you'll know we've got 2 children, no cash and c£15k of debt. Hubby earns well, but you live to your limits. I've been cutting back and cutting but worried we won't have enough coming in. The reduction in council tax is £50 abd hopefully the esa at £110 a week woukd make all the difference. It means I can keep everything on track and hopefully (and finally) start over paying the debt!

Sorry fir the long waffle of diary entry, if anyone has bothered to read it. I've got so many things going around in my head and so much anxiety over the next few days, I needed to put it down into words. I so sick, but hyper too. I don't know, I'm hoping I can get a good night sleep with the pain.

Homegrown0

Oh choccy, I can hear the worry in your post. Everything seems to be at least moving in the right direction and that's all you can do for now.

Please don't feel ashamed for claiming - it's clear that you would not be claiming unless you need to. And you need to. That's what it's there for.

Glad you hear you're getting a reduction in the council tax, that will make all the difference. All you can do is keep on keeping on and do what you can to get the finances in order.

Choccygirl123

I am worried homegrown and this episode has certainly taught me two things 1) live within your means and don't really on credit to support your lifestyle 2) have savings fir the bad times!


I am very worried, I know it won't ever get to desperate point when we've no food. We do have credit cards to fall back on, but I don't want to add to our debt. Arrrrrrggghhhh I hate it and I want to pay it all off ASAP. It's frustrating, but I can't currently change it!

teafor2

Morning CG I'm right with HG in saying there's no shame in claiming what you need to. You're genuinely unfit for work and from what you've said I would think that would be obvious to anybody.

There are so many horrid stories about how people are treated with regards to benefits that I'm amazed somebody is going to come out and visit you. I'd half expect them to tell you to crawl there before they did that Fingers crossed you don't have to wait too long for the visit and you're awarded the £110.

Good news about the council tax, every bit will certainly help at this stage. I think you're doing a grand job of keeping everything together. It can't be easy, especially with 2 children and also paying debt off at the same time. I would say even if the debt doesn't come down that much over the next few months that as long as it doesn't go up, you're winning.

I think the children are teens if I remember rightly? Do they know money is tight at the moment or are you trying to carry on as normal?

Don't worry about 'waffling', which by the way you're not doing. If getting things down on here helps you see things a bit more clearly then carry on writing.

Have a good day. xx

Choccygirl123

Money is tight tea and yes both the little choccy's are teenager 14,13. Eldest needs some next gcse text books at £33 which seems steep. She looked on eBay and Amazon and found deal from school a bargain. She said don't worry I can wait until you have the cash.

I do feel a lot shame especially when having to use the wheelchair. I know it's the only way I can do anything, but I still not keen. I had booked tickets for the Harry Potter world for youngest's birthday (booked months and months ago) I called them today to ask about wheelchair access. The lady was so lovely and has refunded us 1 adult ticket as my hubby is my carer. I didn't even ask and could cry at her kindness. The joint account could certainly do with the £43 refund!

I'm not even going to update my figures, but my lovely little pink shopping has approx £37 cash so that'll keep us going for odds and ends. Hubs did monster shop last Thursday so meal prepped for days. I'm hoping to keep feeding us on the supplies!

I have do the spreadsheet for April and it's not as bad as it could be. I'll get 7 days SSP, but that's all. There is a surplus, but it's teeny. This gives me hope that we can manage without any benefits in case they're all refused. I've cut back and swapped everything so pleased we can officially just live on hubby's wages. It's a miracle!

teafor2

Evening CG. Yes, after posting about the children I realised from what you've said and the 'conversations' we've had, that they were obviously in their teens. I blame the early morning posting and there being so many children on the diaries I follow. I lose track of who belongs to who. I'm much better with names than numbers. All the 'numbered' DC's confuse me :rotfl:

What a nice surprise getting a ticket refunded for HP. We went a few years ago and it was brilliant. I'm not that keen on the films and have never read the books so wasn't really looking forward to it but it was fantastic. Have you been before? I'm sure you'll have a brilliant time and it's nice to have something to look forward to.

Glad the spreadsheet for April is looking OK. I've worked April's money out as well and it's only mid March. We are so on top of this CG xx

Choccygirl123

I know what you mean, I often start reading a diary then page 4 penny drops and you've read it before. I blame the morphine.

All good in choccy world tonight. Had my ptsd catch up with the doc. He's lovely and very understanding. So today has been about taking my life back! Easier said that done with mobility problems. However, it's silly things I enjoy and miss.

So number 1) go out with hubby abd the dog in the wheelchair.
This is a massive thing I hate it so much. I don't want people looking st me thinking ah poor woman. I'm not ill and feel a fraud. It's just parts of me aren't working proberly.

Number 2) ring my bestie ......I've been so down I've avoided her life he plague because I know as soon as I do I'll cry. Big girl pants on and time to just call

Number 3) play a board gave with the kids. We've a family favourite which we've not played in 8months since all the problems started

I am feeling more positive but still teary. I think most of it is frustration at my situation. Once the my physical is fixed I think my mental willl be in better way too.

First time in ages I've not checked the bank accounts but we have had a nsd. I did a couple of surveys inc a £2.50 one, so looking forward to hitting min again and moving it across to my sealed pot bank account which is for Christmas.

3 nights with sleeping tablets and tonight will be no 4! As people say Rome wasn't built in a day. X