So what do you do when you can't cut any more?

floss2

Melusine wrote: »

How do I find the newbies post to find out what an SOA is?

Click on the blue bit in my post.....

Seaxwyn

Hi Melusine, the link in floss2's post above will take you to the newbies post.

Congratulations on writing the plays - that's a fantastic achievement for anyone, let alone someone who's a full time carer. The BBC sometimes has competitions to write plays for radio and tv - I could have a look for a link to that part of their site if you're interested.

A friend of mine cares full-time for her son who has complicated physical and mental disabilities so I have an idea how full-time and wearing it is. I hope that you are getting all the help available to carers (I know it's not much).

benbenandme

Is there any possibility of renting out the room your other son will be vacating??

Karmacat

Hello Melusine

Just to confirm - Floss has given you the link to find out how to do an soa, in post 9 on your thread, just above this. Check it out, its written by southernscouser, who was very deeply in debt, and is now down to his last ten grand of debt.

Without knowing any detail, it sounds to me as tho, even tho your creditors have been good, and repayments are below minimum, you may have to renegotiate them lower. You can explain very clearly what has happened, as you have done to us, and one of the debt charities (also a link on your thread already, in post 11 from floss) may well help you with that. NOT one of the people you have to pay for, tho you sound like you're wise to their ways.

There's another board on here called Boost Your Income. It lists little things to do, like surveys, mystery shopping and so on (mystery shopping might be a good one for you, actually) going on to much bigger things.

Not directly related to your finances - are you in touch with your local support group for carers? I know it can be difficult to find the time, but they may even have a telephone tree, something like that. Or there can be a new local initiative thats currently unknown to you. Or a volunteer who can come and do *something* for you, I know volunteers came to sit with my dad when my mum was looking after him and she had to go to her own doctor's appointments, things like that.

All the best - I've never experienced going through what you're going through, but I have seen it, in my mother, and it can be hell. Sheer and unadulterated. Do keep posting, try to start a Statement of Affairs, and people will do what they can to help.

Oldernotwiser

As you live in HA accommodation and aren't able to take employment, have you anything to lose by going bankrupt? You would lose your monthly debt payments and be about £70 better off than you are now.

Have a look at the bankruptcy board for help and reassurance; you've nothing to lose and may have few other choices.

floss2

Have you been in touch with Carers UK? http://www.carersuk.org/Home

And also the Princess Royal Trust for Carers? http://www.carers.org/

Soubrette

Could you earn a little bit extra each week by applying to AQA? They prefer people with degrees but that isn't necessary but you must have a very high standard of English and be superhot on punctuation. The good thing about it is you do it as and when you want and when you've earned your maximum you can just stop. It is self employed though so the income is not guaranteed.

Have a look at the Up Your Income part of the forum - they have threads on AQA, Txtperts (a similar home based job), renting out your home from Mon to Fri etc

Another thing to investigate might be matched betting - look in the gambling loopholes part of the board and make sure you understand it 100% before attempting it (make sure you read the things that can go wrong thread too)

Good luck

Sou

Dill

Melusine wrote: »

Payments altogether are monthly £184. I struggle to find it. ]

:eek: :eek:
I'm not an expert, but to expect someone on IS to come up with £184 a month is surely unrealistic. If you're on Income Support then you're already living at the minimum amount the goverment says you need to live on. Can the CAB help you at all?

I'm sorry I can't offer much more advice, but I'm sure some DFW-ers will be along who can help you more.

PS. totally understand what you're saying about the respite, I'm also caring for someone.

fatbelly

Dill wrote: »

I'm not an expert, but to expect someone on IS to come up with £184 a month is surely unrealistic. If you're on Income Support then you're already living at the minimum amount the goverment says you need to live on. .

Not an expert? You're spot on though. I think we're in token offer territory here.

Melusine

Ok, did that.

Total monthly income £767.28

This is benefits for me and my son, and no longer includes the £30 a week my other son gives me in rent.

Outgoings (monthly) workd out on Martin's budget calculator

Home contents insurance 11.50
Water and sewage rates 20.00 (waiting for bills for exact amount)
Gas (direct debit) 28.00
Electric (direct debit) 45.00
Home phone (at present direct debit) 39.50
(trying to reduce, have you tried to play with BT?)
Food bill (includes all bought at supermarket, cleaners, wash powders, deodorants, everything) 216.50
Petrol 45.00
Contribution to taking son to day centre 32.48
(this used to be £80 + a week.)
Loans and cc payments 184.00
Respite costs 78.34
TV Licence 11.37
paper, pens, ink, etc for writing hobby 10.00
Christmas and birthdays (mainly grandsons) 20.00
Haircuts 5.00
Opticians 10.00
Paying back loan from my mum 30.00
(not negotiable)
Total to here: 786.69

Plus thinking of cancelling:
life Insurance 20.00
Pet insurance 48.00
Cost of feeding dogs (2) 10.00

New total with these things: 864.69