My journey to a debt free life

Onebrokelady

Honeysucklelou2 said:

Hadn’t even considered alternative options to the monthly direct debit. I find the billing bewildering, particularly after I got swopped from one company to another without requesting it. My monthly direct debit is £277, up from £167. You are right OBL - it’s money that is sat in their bank accounts. Thanks, lots to think about...

I'm reading posts from people who have always been happy to leave their credit on their account but on checking have over a thousand pounds credit. When they have requested it back the energy companies are refusing to give it back saying they need to keep at least three months of the money but at the same time they are increasing these people's direct debits 🤷‍♀️ The energy companies rely on direct debits to be able to forecast how much money they have coming in to the business which is why they encourage people to go on them and offer a measly discount to those that do. I only pay by direct debit normally because I am likely to forget to pay otherwise but this hasn't really angered me so I'm not doing it anymore
They sent me an email saying you will have to now pay by cash or cheque until you set up another payment method so I relied and said I'm not setting up a payment method I'm paying cash from now on 

My direct debit used to come out on the 1st of every month so I will pay them then 

Onebrokelady

warby68 said:

We're with Scottish Power, I'm doing monthly readings and get a bill immediately after. Quite easy to track what my 'true' credit is. I don't mind it sitting there ready for Winter but for people who cannot put money aside easily I think its so wrong of energy companies to hold onto money. They really are trying to give themselves a preferential position over other bills.

I'm glad you have a plan of attack. I agree the debt is low priority, upsetting as it is. You need to keep warm and well fed and able to work if you can first. Secret Santa is a good Christms option too between the adults who buy for each other. It means only one gift but a bit bigger one if preferred at the same time as knocking the total cost for pressies right down.

I don't see what you have to lose in applying for PIP. Your health clearly impacts you in terms of personal care (too low or too much pain to cook) and the money would make a big difference. My mum qualified for the high rate of Attendance Allowance. We were amazed but had someone from AgeUK fill the forms in and we didn't realise how many adaptations she had already made to cope. Its about the original need not how you cope with it.

Its all rubbish at the moment but you're always heard here if it helps.

I've never been good at remembering to do the readings so have always been in the dark over my energy bills but this has galvanised me into action and I will be checking it religiously from now on. 

I am going to suggest the secret Santa idea as I think this would work well,there aren't many of us luckily 😊

Onebrokelady

badmemory said:

I think you will find that the majority of people when approached about the low/no presents will heave a sigh of relief.  For many it isn't just the money but the time (& brain space) it all takes.  Although there are those that love buying presents.

Hopefully but my DDs don't seem to be able to do Christmas without presents for some reason, when they were younger me and my partner didn't bother getting each other presents we would just get something for them so I'm used to not having anything to unwrap but they don't think like that, mind you they might once we get into winter and the reality starts biting 

Onebrokelady

milann said:

The plan of action is sounding great. The energy companies holding onto money is absolutely scandalous. I totally agree it your money and it’s for you to pay as you wish 👍 Good idea to stock up on candles and torches too…..I hadn’t actually thought of that.
I also hadn’t thought of getting Age UK helping to fill a PIP form in. Definitely might be worth it for you as the temperature affects your condition so much. I found unison really helpful when I had to finish work last year. It took some adjustment but I’m getting used to it. I know I’m in a different situation as I’m not on my own having to pay the bills, but I feel so much better for finishing. I honestly don’t think I’d be able to manage at work now. If they do end up suggesting you aren’t fit for work…it might actually be for the best. Have you paid into the NHS pension…..if you have and have to finish due to ill health, it is paidto you at an enhanced rate. I’m presuming they’ll follow the same guidelines as my local government pension. It might even be better.

I’m loving the fight in your posts now. That spirit will keep you going 👏👏 Hang on in there 👍

I have paid into the NHS pension for 22 years but not all of it is at full time hours so it won't be massive. My friend gets £300 a month and she is on more money than me and more hours, she did take the larger lump sum though. I need a minimum of around £900 at the moment to get by.

I am being prepared in case we have power cuts over the winter. I'm thinking of how it was back in the 70s when we had mass strikes,3 day weeks and power cuts. I remember it so well but as a child it was an adventure and we had fun despite the times. I now realise how much stress my parents must have been under at that time 😟

Onebrokelady

Deni_debt-free_dreamer said:

Morning OBL 

As others say it is great to hear your plan of attack.  Definitely helps to have a plan.
I think buying small gifts from the CS is a good plan too, I have already bought a book from a CS as a present for a friend, you can find really good quality ones that look virtually unread. I walked past our local CS last night and saw a gisela graham ceramic heart photo frame in the window, if it's still there tomorrow i'm going to buy it as a present to put away for one of my sisters. We've had a present price limit for years and we try to be inventive in what we buy. We also have 8 children between us and buy for 2 each on rotation and we buy for one sister. It helps keep costs down. But none of us need anything so I'd be happy to stop that if others needed to.
Hope you feel ok today

Love Deni x

I love Gisela Graham products 😍😍. I'm going into town next week and will start having a look around, I love your idea for buying for the children too. I am lucky that there aren't lots of us and me and my sisters stopped buying for each other's families years ago.i just have my mum and dad, two DDs, one son-in-law and two grandchildren and my best friend but I normally have a £50 per person budget for the family and then £20 for my friend, it's not loads but when you are facing all these bills it too much 
None of us need anything and I bet if asked no one would remember what they were given last year. I would much rather go and do something together instead 

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hi
My DDs and I decided to scale back the amount we spend this year and do something nice together instead.  I'm not sure they will remember that conversation when we get nearer to Xmas but i shall remind them!  DD1 has her own house and isn't in a well paid job and DD2 is just finishing uni and saving for a house with her boyfriend. I'd rather we had a nice day together than more stuff 
love Deni x

Onebrokelady

I woke up really late today ( 11.20) 🙀🙀 I did have trouble getting to sleep because my wrists and hands were throbbing but I don't remember waking up again during the night so I must have slept well eventually.
B was a bit grumpy because she was taken out late and the cats were making out they were wasting away 😳

I don't have a lot planned for today but I am making a banana bread and a curry for tea. I'm doing that after I post this update because I know if I leave it until later I won't want to do it. The curry will make enough for us to be able to have some tomorrow as well so I won't need to cook when I get home from work.

I left work early on Friday because I was in too much pain so finished at 1 and came home to bed for a couple of hours, I phoned this morning to tell them I would be in tomorrow and they hadn't even realised I'd gone home early. I did tell the person in charge but she obviously forgot to put it on the system or let anyone else know. They are run off their feet though so it's understandable. Right I've finished my coffee so had better crack on.

Onebrokelady

Deni_debt-free_dreamer said:

Hi
My DDs and I decided to scale back the amount we spend this year and do something nice together instead.  I'm not sure they will remember that conversation when we get nearer to Xmas but i shall remind them!  DD1 has her own house and isn't in a well paid job and DD2 is just finishing uni and saving for a house with her boyfriend. I'd rather we had a nice day together than more stuff 
love Deni x

My two are in the same position but my eldest daughter seems to be spending all the time ,they are always going away for the weekend or camping with the kids, they have had three holidays that I can think of this year and they are on average earnings,I'm suspecting lots of credit card use but hope I'm wrong 🤞🤞
DD2 is currently at home but saving for a house which seems to get further and further away, the price of houses or flats where we live in the SW are ridiculous

Onebrokelady

Ignore my previous update I wrote it at lunch time and forgot to press post 😀 I have now made the banana bread and the curry so am just having another coffee.

 I have washing to hang up but it's going on the airier because I don't trust the weather overnight tonight.I quite often hang it out overnight and it's dry by the next lunch time but today has been sunny and cloudy so I'm not taking the chance

I have a nice week work wise coming up so I'm looking forward to that ,I'm working Monday 9-5 then I've got three days off working Friday and Sunday then two weeks of holiday which I can't wait for,I only go back for one week and I have another week off ( this is what happens when you can't book your AL in because it's full )  I'm supposed to be decorating my bedroom while I'm off ( just painting the walls and ceiling ) but I'm not sure I will be up for it yet,it's partly stripped and desperately needs doing but my hands are not good at the moment so I'm not sure I will be up for more stripping.

I have started knitting a jumper but again my hands are quite painful so I can't do too much at once, I'm getting to the point where I'm too scared to do anything in case it sets off the pain and affects me going to work. I am keeping on top of the housework by pacing myself but everything else has had to wait. I had loads of things I wanted to do in the garden but I just can't do it like I used to. 

I have an appointment next Wednesday for some blood tests so 8m hoping that will shed some light on my current joint pains. Normally my fibromyalgia causes more of a muscle pain and a feeling of having arms and legs made of lead but these joint pains are not the same. If it turns out it's nothing I will have to speak to my gp about different painkillers that I can maybe use less often but that are more long lasting. I'm taking two paracetamols, two ibuprofen and 30mgs of Codeine every four hours at the moment and that can't be doing me a lot of good especially as a lot of the time it doesn't even work 😟

badmemory

I find ibuprofen really upsets my stomach now (as does the omeprazole which is supposed to sort that).  Have you tried ibuprofen gel?  I believe it doesn't work for everyone but at least it doesn't affect your stomach.  But that is an awful lot of painkillers - especially if they aren't working.