Any halp for disabled person needing new mattress and chair but no money?? :(

moneyangel22

I am after some advice please...

Background: I have been suffering from a disability for the last 8 years which means I have been unable to work. I get PIP and CHB as we have 2 children. My Hubby has a good job but works all hours for all his money to go on our living expenses.

The problem is...I am in so much pain day to day and we need to buy a new mattress and a new chair/sofa so I can sit comfortably in the day time. Our mattress is 8 years old and sags making my pain worse so I don't sleep well. Our sofa is around 15 years old (don't laugh!) and not good for my posture so hurts me to sit on it.

As I said all of our money goes on bills and living costs...which just keep going up! we have no savings or anyone to loan us money etc.

Can anyone offer any helpful advice on how we can purchase a new mattress and at least a chair for me with limited funds please?

I have found my ideal sofa and mattress after trying loads in the shops I just need a way to get the funds somehow...for example...will HMRC help if I tell them i'm desperate (which I am!!) I don't believe there is any other disability I can claim as hubby earns a lot it all just goes on our mortgage and council tax and bills and food!!!

I'm feeling very depressed and hopeless...when you live in chronic pain you try everything possible to make life even a tiny bit more comfortable...but you need money to do that .

Yes, I have cut all bills as much as we possibly can....switched fuel suppliers, phone suppliers etc...there isn't any more we can do.

Please tell me there is help for someone like me??

I am even considering going into arrears with our mortgage for a couple of months just so I can be in a bit less pain. It sucks!!

KxMx

New mattress definitely but look at second hand sofas. There is often nothing wrong with them and are radically cheaper than new.

I would suggest making a temporary cut back somewhere and using the PIP.

Its surely worth going without something so you can be more comfortable, and that is the kind of expense PIP is meant for.

From your previous posts struggles with money are not new. Perhaps it's time to radically alter your lifestyle, budgeting and expectations.

I don't mean to be harsh but I feel that is a fair comment, considering an option you're thinking of is defaulting on the mortgage to fund something that is so necessary.

Savvy_Sue

SOMETIMES there are grants available from benevolent funds linked to employment, eg I know there's a licensed victuallers association which may help those who've worked in a pub. Also if you were in a trade union, they can sometimes help.

So what was your line of work?

Otherwise I'm with KxMx, I'm afraid.

comeandgo

My sofa and chairs are 18 years old so yours is a youngster sofa. Are there any charities linked to your disability who may help? Can you start a JustGiving page?

flowrypot

Have you tried using a credit union for a loan ? There is also a feed yourself for a £1 a day on facebook,which might give you ideas to cut down food costs to release a little bit to be able to borrow. You might be able to pick up a chair from facebay or a charity shop to tide you over . Beware defaulting on your mortgage , because if you dig yourself a hole it may be difficult to get back out .

Robinette

Do you have a local Freecycle group? People give away and request all sorts of things, with those donating often preferring their items to go to people who genuinely want/need them.

Candyapple

Sounds like you need to urgently reevaluate your budget and lifestyle.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5800627

Fill this out:
http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

And post it over on the DFW forum here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=76

I think you can keep the ideas of buying a new mattress and sofa safely back in the box because that's not going to happen anytime soon and putting yourself in mortgage arrears is not the answer.

The way I see it, you have 3 choices:

1. Carry on the way you are living hand to foot, month by month, nothing ever changing.
2. See if there are any secondhand or free mattresses/sofas available on Freecycle or any of the other numerous places which offer them.
3. Fill out the Statement of Affairs, post it on the DFW forum and listen to people's advice and opinions, as brutal as it may seem to you, and act on it. You may think you have cut back to the bare minimum, but the folks on there can spot things that you might not have seen.

SingleSue

Not sure if this would work for you but I also need a new mattress (a whole new bed in fact, the whole thing is being held up by old packets of nappies) but cannot afford one.

A couple of quilts, one thick and one thin and a fleece blanket placed on top of the mattress but under the bed sheet. I found this works better than a mattress topper, is cheaper (my parents were throwing a couple of quilts out when they gave up their holiday caravan) and it eased my pain a fair bit and allows me to have a better night sleep.

For the sofa, second hand via charity shops, Freecycle etc and you can also further comfort pack with quilts, fleece blankets etc. May not look the prettiest or the neatest but my comfort and pain levels come first (saying that though, any guest I have immediately makes a beeline for my 'bit' and falls asleep in it!)

Archergirl

Off the subject of a new bed but have you looked into turmeric for pain relief , there is a Turmeric Support Group on Facebook and you can make the golden paste for pennies........

FBaby

Do you have any money at all you could put towards at least the mattress? I wanted to buy a second hand bed for my DS so went to a charity shop, saw one which I thought was at a good price, bought it. It's only when it arrived home I realised the mattress was brand new from John Lewis.

Fireflyaway

Do you not have any money at all left over? Not even £1? That's not good for you if there were to be an emergency. Do you never buy clothes or get your hair cut or go out once in a while? There must be some way to get a few pounds together even if it takes a while.
The other thing that comes to mind is the council. Where I live as have an emergency support fund. You call and explain your situation and if eligible they can grant food parcels, furniture, clothes etc to those who need it.
Also look at disibility-grants.org there may be help in the form of funds and grants you can apply for.