My Diary - SmellyOldSock

SmellyOldSock

Am a bit miffed at the mo. Last month had a lovely lady round to check our paper work regarding our housing benefit claim. I asked her when it'd all be sorted and she said 'within 2 weeks'. So got our usual £40 a couple of weeks ago, so presumed everything was okay. OH NO!

Today have received an invoice saying we've been over paid and now owe them £91:mad:

In the same bundle of post was a letter regarding our housing benefit entitlement, from 1 April its going UP! doubling what we were getting! confused!!!!! So I telephoned them up, and basically it's because its the new 'benefit' year, so I have to pay back £91 and the next week will get it back! grrrrrrrrrr

Why is nothing simply with these people? Do they have a special 'lets complicate matters beyond sorting' department?!?:rolleyes:

thank you for letting me get it of my chest. Also got council tax bill, not as bad as first thought!

SmellyOldSock

title says it all. I left some paperwork laying around and he now is aware how much debt we are in. He took it badly at first, blamed me (which is fair enough) I did try to explain but it fell on deaf ears.

Anyway I'm relieved he's found out, it takes the pressure off, he understands why I work so much at weekends and is not quite so demanding, I've told him how I'm dealing with it, and as long as he has a few beers in the house he's okay about it all.

I'm disappointed in myself for getting us in this mess, but I'm trying to get us out of it, and gradually I will

Cleosmum

You work so hard hun, he could never say that you arent working to get out of the mire!

Did you manage to get the HB sorted out? Ours dont make you pay it then give it back, they just adjust it thank goodness!

SmellyOldSock

I've decided to wait until they pay my next lot of HB so I can use it to pay the over payment! Daft really that they can't sort it out themselves!

Have gain another cleaning job, I'm so busy! Alot of it is seasonal so come September/October i won't have alot of work, so making the most of it now. Have registered as self employeed so everything is above board.

Am alot happier now hubbie has found out, its a great lifted. Perhaps he'll make some cut backs:rolleyes:

Cleosmum

He may do, you never know! My OH suggested bulking out with lentils, he doesnt even like them so Im impressed lol.

SmellyOldSock

I went to the bank today to see what help/advice they could give me regarding our finances.

They suggested we take out a 'loan' so we have one payment a month. It is very attractive as it'll get rid of credit card, but I know there is the down side too. I've 'snowballed' my credit card and it'll take me 4years to payoff, I can get the loan for that and get out of the overdraft, and sort of 'start a fresh'.

I know I'm the only one who can make the decision, just interested what others think.

SmellyOldSock

well we went for the loan, and have started afresh. No overdraft and no credit card bill!

My hubbie has been told today as from the 1st May he will be getting a 10% pay cut for 4 months, then a review. At least the company he works for is trying to keep going, and thinking of the long term not just a short term solution. It will make his earnings less than £280 a week, so will have to notify HB.

As for my work, its picking up, am actually turning some down, just wish there was more hours in a Friday and Saturday!

Cleosmum

Lol could you do without sleep, could take on more then! Glad things are going ok, drop me a PM when you have time, I keep forgetting to check in here!

SmellyOldSock

Hubbie has got some work away, which is great for the money, but sad for us as he'll be away for 2 weeks at a time! Its only short term, which is good for feathering our nest!

Trying to get him to cut down his beer intake, proving quite difficult! Am still working on him, i have my ways;)

Have really enjoyed having the children at home, we're going to the cinema today as a treat, they have been good whilst I work. Also found out the local cinema does a family ticket so each seat is £3.99, pop to Asda first for nibblys!

Am on Slimfast plan, only coz its on offer at Asda (worked out it was cheaper for 2 meals a day!) and have lost a bit, haven't weighed myself so not sure how much, but my jeans keep falling down!:rotfl:

My little girl is potty trained, so no more nappies! whilst writing all this I realise things have/are improving for us as a family!

Am still miffed with blinking housing benefit, have tried to ring them to arrange payment of overpayment, all I get is a voice mail! don't they have real people work in these places?!?!? I want to pay £25 a week back, will only take 4 weeks, I can cover that in my budget!

work is going great, had a blip on Friday, but stuck it out and its on the up. Partly my own fault, so was well annoyed with myself, then doubted whether I was capable of doing all this. Had a good cry (3 actually) felt better and am still plodding on! After all tomorrow is another day!

hope everyone else is doing well, its tough but we'll get thru, one way or another!

love and hugs
Charlotte

Lula-Hula

You're doing so well, be proud of what you've achieved

I sympathise on the HB situation, I'm currently battling with my LA too, half a tree's worth of paper & not a twigs worth of sense in their silly reptitive forms grrrr