My year of living dangerously

mark55man

You may not be and I am no expert but the fact you have been working and were made redundant I think are positives. They are demanding in terms of you finding work and I am not sure how your self employment will stack up. Ask on the benefits board they know their stuff. But the basic UNiversal Credit web pages are reasonably good. I would go to CAB I think they are paid by govt to offer advice they have a helpline and you can arrange a drop in session locally

beanielou

Funnily enough I also had a too thin cheese sauce

db2016

im pretty sure CAB isnt government funded. hence why martin in his FB settlement, the 3m he got he donated in part to the CAB.

beanielou

CAB is not goverment funded AFAIK.

savingholmes

In case it helps - tins of mushy peas really help thicken curry.

Congrats on your bursary.

On the redundancy - if you have 2 years national insurance contributions you normally qualify for job seekers allowance for a period but not income support if there is other money coming in. Self employment often wrecks it - so you are likely to need specialist advice on that. If you can sign on even if they pay your nothing it is worth it to protect your national insurance stamp - but if I understand it correctly and they've not changed it - if you are paid child benefit - that can have the same effect on your national insurance stamp anyway as it was designed to give stay at home mums pension credits for later...

You would have to declare yourself as looking for work and have evidence - it would depend how many hours your course is and what it it is and when it is as to whether that goes against you in benefits calculations too

Seasidegal58

Well done on the bursary DIA!:j:j:j. And enjoy your Scottish Highlands break!
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doingitanyway

Thanks everyone for the advice and good wishes. Much appreciated.:)
If I can Savingholmes and Marks88 I want to find a way to work that does not involve jumping through DWP hoops, but I will explore my position and do what I need to. Thanks for reminding me about NI contributions, something I will address.

This week has already been stressful :eek: Work is an irritating nightmare. My fault partly for booking 2 trades in to quote today. The electrician to do the work needed prior to the bathroom refit. The double glazing for 2 new windows one with a wooden frame so rotten that damp is being sucked into the wall and blowing my plaster.

Feeling a bit edgy today but telling myself just get through today, I am off work tomorrow and will be treating myself to a cinema trip (free ticket)

I decided to cancel my gym membership as I have zero inclination to go. I just don’t like gyms and I know that, but I keep trying to ignore that and just go, but it has not worked AGAIN!! A bit embarrassing considering my good intentions but there we are…:o:o

Another work's meal and drink night is being suggested. I have one coming up next week already. These are easily £70 a head and I simply can’t afford it. I’m annoyed at being constantly asked to these. (I still haven’t gotten over £30 for my contribution to a £100 gift for a colleague I’m not even close to.) I guess I will be sad when I am no longer invited too
As the Americans say, ‘go figure.’;)

As I write this I feel mean. I don’t want to feel mean. It reminds me how difficult it can be having friends who do not understand what living on a small income involves.:(

The electrician had been drinking. A really strong smell of fumes so not little drinking. He is a nice guy but I don’t want to be blown up if he makes a mistake. :eek:

The working day is over. I am monitoring AF days but going to have a G&T all the same…

Hope everyone had a good day

August AF 4/31

beanielou

Enjoy the G & T

Seasidegal58

I think you're right to cancel the gym membership if you know you're not going to use it. You know you don't like gyms so the payments will just be wasted to fulfil a wish that isn't going to happen. I'm sure you'll find another form of exercise that you will be committed to - you have a lot on your plate at the moment so give yourself time - and at least you are having some AF days!

Re the works night - you are quite within your rights to refuse - explain about your building work costs and how you are on a tight budget at the moment. Or you could just make an excuse that you have a best friend's birthday do that night and can't miss it - that's what I've done in the past!:D

:eek: to the boozy electrician!

Enjoy your day off and your trip to the cinema today. What are you going to see?

savingholmes

Scary re electrician. Hopefully all the effort will be worth it when your place is sorted.

With regards to works do's - the best bit of being an adult is you don't have to explain or justify - you can just say - sorry that's not going to work for me and leave it there.