The Mental Debt Struggle...

beanielou

Interesting on DP’s.  Here it’s a set amount per hour.  I pay my PA that amount per hour.  

Keedie

My current care plan is 1 hour shopping and two 1.5 hour domestic calls. But this is useful to know, as when the review happens on Monday, I can always ask for it to be 1 hour shopping followed by 1 hour domestic on day one and then 2 hours domestic on day two if that makes it easier to calculate??? 

I don’t pay a contribution at the moment as they have done an assessment and deemed me ineligible due to being on benefits in relation to the number of hours I receive for care. But I know that direct payments will require insurance and a payroll service. As that’s what my mum does for my eldest sister. 

I’m assuming that the rate for the carer would be at a minimum, above the London Living Wage, but I’m really not sure how that works. Hopefully the social worker knows more to help me. 

We’ve not even hit 1 November yet and my son was already asking me for more stuff 🙄. I can’t wait for him to do his job training on Saturday. He said he’s going to a party with his friends in south east London and wants to get an Uber back home. I’m in east London at my sister’s so can’t pick him up. I told him that’s there’s only £50 in the travel budget and we’re on half a tank of petrol. So he’ll need to order his Uber, and send me the receipt once it’s come out of his account and I’ll go halves with him. As his allowance is for him to do things that he wants to do. 

I’m trying to be more strict with both of us, in the hopes that being more disciplined will allow me to keep to budget. And then over a period of time, be in a position to start having money left over at the end of the month. As that’s when the real money magic starts. 

PennysIntoPounds

There *is* public transport in South East London 😂
Will any of his mates be coming back to the area with him, could they chip in?

Cherryfudge

You're doing so well, with the budgeting and the earning!

Glad I'm not coping with London prices any more, though I miss it in other ways.

Sarahwithlove

Keedie said:

My current care plan is 1 hour shopping and two 1.5 hour domestic calls. But this is useful to know, as when the review happens on Monday, I can always ask for it to be 1 hour shopping followed by 1 hour domestic on day one and then 2 hours domestic on day two if that makes it easier to calculate??? 

I don’t pay a contribution at the moment as they have done an assessment and deemed me ineligible due to being on benefits in relation to the number of hours I receive for care. But I know that direct payments will require insurance and a payroll service. As that’s what my mum does for my eldest sister. 

I’m assuming that the rate for the carer would be at a minimum, above the London Living Wage, but I’m really not sure how that works. Hopefully the social worker knows more to help me. 

We’ve not even hit 1 November yet and my son was already asking me for more stuff 🙄. I can’t wait for him to do his job training on Saturday. He said he’s going to a party with his friends in south east London and wants to get an Uber back home. I’m in east London at my sister’s so can’t pick him up. I told him that’s there’s only £50 in the travel budget and we’re on half a tank of petrol. So he’ll need to order his Uber, and send me the receipt once it’s come out of his account and I’ll go halves with him. As his allowance is for him to do things that he wants to do. 

I’m trying to be more strict with both of us, in the hopes that being more disciplined will allow me to keep to budget. And then over a period of time, be in a position to start having money left over at the end of the month. As that’s when the real money magic starts. 

To give you an idea, say hourly rate is £15 per hour, you get 4 hours a week that gives you a weekly budget of £60. But say your carer charges £15 for an hour but £10 for 30 mins you are paying more over the week. The insurance and payroll should be included in the hourly rate that the council pay you. I'd suggest you find out what the hourly rate is then find out from your carer what she will charge and so you can have a cost. Some carers accept the DP rate but others have their own private rate so it depends what category your carer falls under. Sorry if I've confused you more! 

Keedie

To be honest @PennysIntoPounds, I don't think he wants an uber. I think he wants more money to go out with his friends to the party. He's got his provisional licence to flash about now that he's 18 and can buy alcohol. That's why I called his bluff and said I would go halves on an uber once he shows me the receipt for the payment. He probably was trying to use his brain on me, as he insisted on his November allowance early, and went on a date last week with his girlfriend, and probably overspent and it's hit him that he doesn't have a lot of money left. If he is genuinely getting an uber, then he might well carpool with his friends, but only one of them lives nearby. The other is closer to where the party is. He might miraculously decide he doesn't need an uber after all when he's fronting the cost initially.

London prices are really not the one @Cherryfudge. And the wages aren't as high as people think they are, in terms of the cost of living. I think it's a bit of a financial scam to live in London, but the tradeoff with convenience and amenities can make it worth it. But I've grown up here, so even when it doesn't always fit who I am or where I am in terms of a point in my life, it's still my home. 

Thanks for the breakdown @Sarahwithlove, that's really helpful. I understand it better now. I'll speak to my old carer when she next comes to help me declutter and I can ask her about the rates. I think she's mainly worked via an agency, so she might not know what her own rate is. It's exciting to know that I get to have more autonomy with my care. I've been feeling on edge having these people in my home as I feel like they're not very respectful of my space and belongings.

Sarahwithlove

Keedie said:

To be honest @PennysIntoPounds, I don't think he wants an uber. I think he wants more money to go out with his friends to the party. He's got his provisional licence to flash about now that he's 18 and can buy alcohol. That's why I called his bluff and said I would go halves on an uber once he shows me the receipt for the payment. He probably was trying to use his brain on me, as he insisted on his November allowance early, and went on a date last week with his girlfriend, and probably overspent and it's hit him that he doesn't have a lot of money left. If he is genuinely getting an uber, then he might well carpool with his friends, but only one of them lives nearby. The other is closer to where the party is. He might miraculously decide he doesn't need an uber after all when he's fronting the cost initially.

London prices are really not the one @Cherryfudge. And the wages aren't as high as people think they are, in terms of the cost of living. I think it's a bit of a financial scam to live in London, but the tradeoff with convenience and amenities can make it worth it. But I've grown up here, so even when it doesn't always fit who I am or where I am in terms of a point in my life, it's still my home. 

Thanks for the breakdown @Sarahwithlove, that's really helpful. I understand it better now. I'll speak to my old carer when she next comes to help me declutter and I can ask her about the rates. I think she's mainly worked via an agency, so she might not know what her own rate is. It's exciting to know that I get to have more autonomy with my care. I've been feeling on edge having these people in my home as I feel like they're not very respectful of my space and belongings.

Will you use her through the agency again or pay her directly as that often effects the hourly rate. Also if it's via an agency you don't need payroll etc but you pay more for agency. So can be a bit swings and roundabouts at times. 

PennysIntoPounds

Ah, the old tugging on mum's safety first heartstrings 😁 Well he can just not go to the party if he feels its going to be too much hassle getting back can't he, very decent of you to offer half and good on you for requiring a receipt. He's a lovely lad and his mse aunties are very proud of him, but the joys of adulthood include working to one's own budget and you're teaching him very well indeed

I also feel like if you pay for half the uber he owes you one of the mac cheeses he was going to cook...
😁

Keedie

The agency my carer was with lost their contract with the council @Sarahwithlove, so they were TUPE transferred to different providers. But she was not moved to the agency that is covering my area of the borough. So she will be employed directly by me as she is not attached to an agency in that regards. 

And yes, there was definitely some coercing go on yesterday with my son, as surprise surprise, there was no uber ordered, and no receipt provided for proof of purchase 🧐. I think our kids often forget that we were children and had our own tactics with our parents and we've lived long enough to sus put these things. I was always surprised when my parents knew my game plan, and now in hindsight I can see how blatantly naive I was to think I could get away with half the things I did as a teenager 😂. Oh well. The main thing is that he's home safely and I just spoke to him and was rushed off the phone as he's about to eat 🤣.

I have my bipolar support group this evening and so I'm looking forward to seeing my friends there and enjoying the dynamic of being in a group with likeminded supportive people. And I might well have the energy to go to the pub afterwards. But my sleeping pattern has been all over the place since the clock change, so we will just see...

Keedie

All the grinding for my freelance role paid off. I managed to net £600 which has gone straight to my budget accumulation for December 2024. That job ends next month, as I'm wrapping up all the freelance work as I'm starting to feel burnt out. So I need to make the most of that work and the income it brings. 

Having such a low emergency fund is making me anxious, so every spare penny I have will go towards reaching the £500 goal by the end of 2024. I can then figure out what I am doing with the rest of my financial plan. I think I should just about make it, if I eek out the last of this freelance gig.

I'm hoping to start my accountancy qualification in February 2025. So once the emergency fund is in place, every spare penny will go towards funding that.