The Diary Of Onebrokelady Aged 60 And A Half

Onebrokelady

Newstartforme said:

So glad you have a bit of clarity regarding ESA , 1 less thing to worry about but bad that it's taken so long and given you added stress , hope you feel a bit less sore today x

Thanks they certainly took their time but I think it’s normal for them which isn’t ideal really but we got there in the end thank god 🙂

Onebrokelady

Humdinger1 said:

So glad the money is sorted @Onebrokelady.  Not before time! Love Humdinger xx 

Thanks definitely took their time but we got there in the end 🙂

Onebrokelady

Woke up this morning to a message from the lady that is collecting the chicken run asking is she could come today but I wasn’t feeling too good and was still in bed so I said no 😀 I told her I was going to put it all in the front garden under my window so she can come and collect it at her leisure which she agreed was a good idea. I wasn’t  intending to do it today but once I got up I got a bee in my bonnet so decided to make a start and see how far I got and I managed to get the whole thing moved 🍾🥳🍾so now I don’t need to be here for her to collect it. I swept up the first leaf fall too while i was out there, there’s loads more to come down but I learned last year that it’s a bad idea to let them all come down and then try and clean them up. Hopefully I will sleep tonight because I won’t be thinking about moving the chicken coop and what a pain it will be 😀  I will pay for it tomorrow but at least it’s done and I really enjoyed being out in the garden as the weather was lovely.

I had a wake up call today as well and I’m sitting here feeling very grateful for what I have. I’m a member of a retirement group on FB and there was a post today from someone in their late 50s who lost their job several months ago, this person is single so get UC at £400 a month and that’s all they have to live on 😳 they are planning to sell their house and downsize then live off any money left over until they get their state pension but in the meantime they can’t afford their bills and can’t have the heating on so are going to be freezing cold all winter, they said their clothes feel damp in the drawers ☹️  I couldn’t live like this and I’m very lucky I wouldn’t have to because I know both my daughters would offer me a place to stay if things were that bad. I don’t know if this person has family who can help.
 I am so glad I carried on paying into my NHS pension over the years even when I was really broke and I had plenty of times where I was going to opt out and stop paying it but I didn’t and for that I’m thankful to past me for thinking ahead. It’s not a massive pension but it’s making the difference in me not having  to cut too many corners. I know I will have to sell my house at some point in the not too distant future but I’m not relying on it to be able to live. It’s clean and nicely decorated and warm when I need it to be, I have money to put food on the table without having to think where my next meal is coming from, I can go out and meet friends or family for coffee if I want to and I can pay my bills without worrying. My budget is tight but I’m used to that and although it’s tight I’m not existing I’m living a nice life in comfort so yes I’m feeling very grateful tonight .

Willowtree222

Oh my, how awful for that person. I hope they do have family to help. 

It does make you very grateful. Hope you don't pay for it too much tomorrow x

Humdinger1

@Onebrokelady what a dreadful story.  You're right, we have so much to be grateful for.  Being able to rejoice in budgeting with our tribe on here makes a huge difference; we know we're not alone and that there's a place where we can defy 'the norms' that make so many people unhappy.  We know we have a value that doesn't depend on our possessions, most of which are unlikely to be paid for in the case of people who think like that. Keep going, you're an inspiration.   Love Humdinger xx 

Newstartforme

Onebrokelady said:

Woke up this morning to a message from the lady that is collecting the chicken run asking is she could come today but I wasn’t feeling too good and was still in bed so I said no 😀 I told her I was going to put it all in the front garden under my window so she can come and collect it at her leisure which she agreed was a good idea. I wasn’t  intending to do it today but once I got up I got a bee in my bonnet so decided to make a start and see how far I got and I managed to get the whole thing moved 🍾🥳🍾so now I don’t need to be here for her to collect it. I swept up the first leaf fall too while i was out there, there’s loads more to come down but I learned last year that it’s a bad idea to let them all come down and then try and clean them up. Hopefully I will sleep tonight because I won’t be thinking about moving the chicken coop and what a pain it will be 😀  I will pay for it tomorrow but at least it’s done and I really enjoyed being out in the garden as the weather was lovely.

I had a wake up call today as well and I’m sitting here feeling very grateful for what I have. I’m a member of a retirement group on FB and there was a post today from someone in their late 50s who lost their job several months ago, this person is single so get UC at £400 a month and that’s all they have to live on 😳 they are planning to sell their house and downsize then live off any money left over until they get their state pension but in the meantime they can’t afford their bills and can’t have the heating on so are going to be freezing cold all winter, they said their clothes feel damp in the drawers ☹️  I couldn’t live like this and I’m very lucky I wouldn’t have to because I know both my daughters would offer me a place to stay if things were that bad. I don’t know if this person has family who can help.
 I am so glad I carried on paying into my NHS pension over the years even when I was really broke and I had plenty of times where I was going to opt out and stop paying it but I didn’t and for that I’m thankful to past me for thinking ahead. It’s not a massive pension but it’s making the difference in me not having  to cut too many corners. I know I will have to sell my house at some point in the not too distant future but I’m not relying on it to be able to live. It’s clean and nicely decorated and warm when I need it to be, I have money to put food on the table without having to think where my next meal is coming from, I can go out and meet friends or family for coffee if I want to and I can pay my bills without worrying. My budget is tight but I’m used to that and although it’s tight I’m not existing I’m living a nice life in comfort so yes I’m feeling very grateful tonight .

Lovely post from you OBL but how sad for that person , to work until your late fifties and be in that position is just awful and not always so easy to get another job at that age . Glad you got the chicken run all sorted x

jwil

Glad the ESA is sorted.  Such a shame for the person on UC.

Cherryfudge

I wonder whether the person on UC has had all the help they are entitled to? It doesn't sound as though they have. There's this for instance: Help with your energy bills: If you're on benefits or have a low income - GOV.UK and of course there are food banks depending on what's available in their area. They might be able to get advice from Citizen's Advice, and local libraries often have details of what's available locally.

Onebrokelady

Willowtree222 said:

Oh my, how awful for that person. I hope they do have family to help. 

It does make you very grateful. Hope you don't pay for it too much tomorrow x

I know I felt awful reading about it ☹️

Onebrokelady

Humdinger1 said:

@Onebrokelady what a dreadful story.  You're right, we have so much to be grateful for.  Being able to rejoice in budgeting with our tribe on here makes a huge difference; we know we're not alone and that there's a place where we can defy 'the norms' that make so many people unhappy.  We know we have a value that doesn't depend on our possessions, most of which are unlikely to be paid for in the case of people who think like that. Keep going, you're an inspiration.   Love Humdinger xx 

I’m so glad I found this site I can tell you 😀