The advice thread for random problems #6

[griftalo]

If its not your home, you need to go via your landlord/HA or the Council. Whoever owns the property will have insurance which will help fight the other side.

It’s going through the at fault party’s insurance so they’re taking all the time in the world.
Why is insurance so tit? I haven’t even got my holiday money back yet after being ill and unable to go - last year!!

 

[Tetley2091]

Hi, sorry if this is really random just couldn’t find anywhere else to post!! I have had to order this bridesmaid dress in a size 14 when I need a 10/12 but as the 10 and 12 aren’t coming back in stock and I’m panicking as the wedding is in August, any one know if it is an easy just to bring in a chiffon dress ot will probably be the shoulder and round the bust and waist that will need bringing in?

 

[littlepup]

Hi, sorry if this is really random just couldn’t find anywhere else to post!! I have had to order this bridesmaid dress in a size 14 when I need a 10/12 but as the 10 and 12 aren’t coming back in stock and I’m panicking as the wedding is in August, any one know if it is an easy just to bring in a chiffon dress ot will probably be the shoulder and round the bust and waist that will need bringing in?

I’m not sure re the alterations but Six stories told us the one we wanted would be out of stock for at least 6 weeks, if it came back at all, it came in within 7 days.
You can often find them second hand on Vinted too so maybe after May/June weddings some will become available.

IIRC that specific dress is lined and stretchy which I think may make it more tricky to adjust but the ruching would probably hide alterations. They’re really long too, ours all need taking up but it’s a really flattering dress.

 

[bozlem3080]

So my previous job I was on a 4hr contract but did 20hrs a week. I was a supervisor on minimum wage but thought it would look good on my CV, I’ve got a new job told the manager I could do as many hrs they could offer me over 24 if possible no problem, I’m only being put in for 16hrs a week, I literally can’t survive, there are no extra hours to have, I’m single so not entitled to UC as according to them I earn ‘too much’ (I live in a HMO so bills included) but by the time I’ve paid my rent & debts I owe I have £65 a month for food, my only options are to either find another job with more hours but there don’t seem to be any around or to take on an extra job doing nights perhaps twice a week, I’m in my 40’s & feel like such a failure.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

So my previous job I was on a 4hr contract but did 20hrs a week. I was a supervisor on minimum wage but thought it would look good on my CV, I’ve got a new job told the manager I could do as many hrs they could offer me over 24 if possible no problem, I’m only being put in for 16hrs a week, I literally can’t survive, there are no extra hours to have, I’m single so not entitled to UC as according to them I earn ‘too much’ (I live in a HMO so bills included) but by the time I’ve paid my rent & debts I owe I have £65 a month for food, my only options are to either find another job with more hours but there don’t seem to be any around or to take on an extra job doing nights perhaps twice a week, I’m in my 40’s & feel like such a failure.

Please don't feel like a failure. Life is hard and people don't talk enough about the fact that not everybody does what is considered "well" in life. Try and change your mindset. Are you healthy, do you have a roof over your head and food in your house. If so you are winning! There are a lot more people in your exact shoes than you think, some of them might even look well off but are probably one bill away from losing it all.

Is there some sort of extra work you can do for an income? Maybe dog walking, cat sitting, a bit of light gardening etc If you are a crafter try and sell your work. I recently met a lady who does pet sitting in people's homes for an extra income. SHe uses a reputable app/website for her services and makes fairly good money. Plus in the host family home she's saving on utilities, although that might not be relevant to you

 

[bozlem3080]

Please don't feel like a failure. Life is hard and people don't talk enough about the fact that not everybody does what is considered "well" in life. Try and change your mindset. Are you healthy, do you have a roof over your head and food in your house. If so you are winning! There are a lot more people in your exact shoes than you think, some of them might even look well off but are probably one bill away from losing it all.

Is there some sort of extra work you can do for an income? Maybe dog walking, cat sitting, a bit of light gardening etc If you are a crafter try and sell your work. I recently met a lady who does pet sitting in people's homes for an extra income. SHe uses a reputable app/website for her services and makes fairly good money. Plus in the host family home she's saving on utilities, although that might not be relevant to you

Thank you, I just feel so lost at the moment, I know I should be grateful for a roof over my head & food etc….but I just feel I will be stuck in a shared house forever now, never having a place to call my own I can’t even have people round as there is no communal area, just my bedroom, I’ve applied for some jobs today even if they are 8hrs a week it would bump my pay up a bit, my debts I won’t pay off for another 10-15yrs so they are hanging over me as well, it’s taken me 3mths to afford a pair of work shoes as the others had holes in them it’s just essential things like that I can’t even afford, I’ve cancelled my gym membership I can’t afford it anymore, I’m absolutely miserable, I’m not saying I want to be a millionaire but at my age & willing to work any hours surely that counts for something?!

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

Thank you, I just feel so lost at the moment, I know I should be grateful for a roof over my head & food etc….but I just feel I will be stuck in a shared house forever now, never having a place to call my own I can’t even have people round as there is no communal area, just my bedroom, I’ve applied for some jobs today even if they are 8hrs a week it would bump my pay up a bit, my debts I won’t pay off for another 10-15yrs so they are hanging over me as well, it’s taken me 3mths to afford a pair of work shoes as the others had holes in them it’s just essential things like that I can’t even afford, I’ve cancelled my gym membership I can’t afford it anymore, I’m absolutely miserable, I’m not saying I want to be a millionaire but at my age & willing to work any hours surely that counts for something?!

It does count! And you are completely entitled to feel the way you do. It's just from experience, I know that you can spiral when things aren't going well and that's why I always try to have a positive attitude.
I don't know if you've physically have gone and knocked on doors but do try that. We always hire people who knock on our door even if we might not be looking. Especially on trading estates people tend to hire like this. Try the smaller companies and see if you can get a better job or more hours.
But I think if you like pets then maybe doing pet sitting is a great way of making extra money

 

[chickhicks86]

So my previous job I was on a 4hr contract but did 20hrs a week. I was a supervisor on minimum wage but thought it would look good on my CV, I’ve got a new job told the manager I could do as many hrs they could offer me over 24 if possible no problem, I’m only being put in for 16hrs a week, I literally can’t survive, there are no extra hours to have, I’m single so not entitled to UC as according to them I earn ‘too much’ (I live in a HMO so bills included) but by the time I’ve paid my rent & debts I owe I have £65 a month for food, my only options are to either find another job with more hours but there don’t seem to be any around or to take on an extra job doing nights perhaps twice a week, I’m in my 40’s & feel like such a failure.

Will UC not even help towards your rent? If you have done an online calculator, these are not always correct, so do apply if you have only gone by this. In the nicest possible way - I don't think you can be earning too much to get it if working 16 hours a week, but there is a minimum threshold that you do have to earn - if you are earning under this amount you will be called into appointments to help you find a different job / more hours. This could actually be really helpful??

 

[bozlem3080]

Will UC not even help towards your rent? If you have done an online calculator, these are not always correct, so do apply if you have only gone by this. In the nicest possible way - I don't think you can be earning too much to get it if working 16 hours a week, but there is a minimum threshold that you do have to earn - if you are earning under this amount you will be called into appointments to help you find a different job / more hours. This could actually be really helpful??

I applied to UC for help with my rent it’s £520 a month, but they said I earn ‘too much’ to have help, I get £785 a month, I went from one job at 20hrs to a job I thought was going to be 24hrs plus, 9 weeks into the job I’m working 16hrs every week, I’ve cut back on my gym, Spotify which was my little treat, I budget £10 a week for food so have a little left over in case of an emergency like a prescription I need to pay for that kind of thing, I’ve applied for jobs this morning, just hope I can find something with better hours or a job alongside the one I have now!

 

[chickhicks86]

I applied to UC for help with my rent it’s £520 a month, but they said I earn ‘too much’ to have help, I get £785 a month, I went from one job at 20hrs to a job I thought was going to be 24hrs plus, 9 weeks into the job I’m working 16hrs every week, I’ve cut back on my gym, Spotify which was my little treat, I budget £10 a week for food so have a little left over in case of an emergency like a prescription I need to pay for that kind of thing, I’ve applied for jobs this morning, just hope I can find something with better hours or a job alongside the one I have now!

You should still be getting something. Did you actually go through the whole application process and told no? Nobody should have only £10 a week to spend on food.

 

[bozlem3080]

You should still be getting something. Did you actually go through the whole application process and told no? Nobody should have only £10 a week to spend on food.

I went for a face to face interview at the job centre to be told I can’t apply for additional help with my rent as basically I should be earning under what I earn I think they said it equates to what I would be on if was unemployed on UC can’t remember how much that is? They did advise me to move to cheaper accommodation, again I’ve been looking but can’t raise the deposit for one unfortunately, I can’t get help with a food bank again because I’m not any benefits. I’m hoping these jobs I’ve applied for will get back to me.

 

[chickhicks86]

I went for a face to face interview at the job centre to be told I can’t apply for additional help with my rent as basically I should be earning under what I earn I think they said it equates to what I would be on if was unemployed on UC can’t remember how much that is? They did advise me to move to cheaper accommodation, again I’ve been looking but can’t raise the deposit for one unfortunately, I can’t get help with a food bank again because I’m not any benefits. I’m hoping these jobs I’ve applied for will get back to me.

You can apply online, please please at least give it a go! I don't think the job centre have advised you correctly. If you are earning under £892 a month you will be called in for appointments for job searching, but from my limited knowledge you will get some help.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I went for a face to face interview at the job centre to be told I can’t apply for additional help with my rent as basically I should be earning under what I earn I think they said it equates to what I would be on if was unemployed on UC can’t remember how much that is? They did advise me to move to cheaper accommodation, again I’ve been looking but can’t raise the deposit for one unfortunately, I can’t get help with a food bank again because I’m not any benefits. I’m hoping these jobs I’ve applied for will get back to me.

I'm surprised you can't use the food bank. Where I live they don't ask questions about who needs to use it. Do you have a community fridge? Our community fridge give away food or at a nominal fee. It's terrible to me that you basically have to hit rock bottom before the council helps. Surely they should try and prevent that

 

[Pesky Tarian]

I had some new internal oak doors a while ago, the untreated kind and unfortunately I never got around to treating them. Family life has rumbled on and they now have greasy finger prints (kids) and tea stains (husband nudging the door open, tea in hand). These seem ingrained , does anyone know how I can clean these before I oil them please?. Google suggested fairy liquid but it didn't lift anything.

 

[petitspois]

I had some new internal oak doors a while ago, the untreated kind and unfortunately I never got around to treating them. Family life has rumbled on and they now have greasy finger prints (kids) and tea stains (husband nudging the door open, tea in hand). These seem ingrained , does anyone know how I can clean these before I oil them please?. Google suggested fairy liquid but it didn't lift anything.

If they're completely untreated I would suggest a very very fine sandpaper.

 

[Pesky Tarian]

If they're completely untreated I would suggest a very very fine sandpaper.

I hadn't thought of that, thank you!.

 

[Captainmouse]

I hadn't thought of that, thank you!.

Lemon juice? Lemon juice salt mix?

 

[bozlem3080]

You should still be getting something. Did you actually go through the whole application process and told no? Nobody should have only £10 a week to spend on food.

I applied online then got a notification to attend a face to face meeting with a job coach or whatever they are called, I had to prove who I was ie photo ID & show my tenancy agreement, then said I wasn’t entitled to any help but to basically look for a better paid job or ask for more hours. I don’t know if it’s because I don’t have any dependents? So came away absolutely heartbroken that there is zero help out there for me.

I wouldn’t of taken the job I have now if I knew they wouldn’t give me a minimum of 24hrs, I’m so stupid to think that I was actually going to be better off instead I’ve just fallen flat on my a again

 

[chickhicks86]

I applied online then got a notification to attend a face to face meeting with a job coach or whatever they are called, I had to prove who I was ie photo ID & show my tenancy agreement, then said I wasn’t entitled to any help but to basically look for a better paid job or ask for more hours. I don’t know if it’s because I don’t have any dependents? So came away absolutely heartbroken that there is zero help out there for me.

I wouldn’t of taken the job I have now if I knew they wouldn’t give me a minimum of 24hrs, I’m so stupid to think that I was actually going to be better off instead I’ve just fallen flat on my a again

I did a quick go on the Turn2us online calculator - I had to guess a few things (eg just put in a random postcode for the housing amount), but you really should be getting a small amount at least!

Maximum Universal Credit before deductions
£ 767.30 per month
Standard Allowance

£ 400.14

Housing

£ 367.16

Total deductions
£ -431.73 per month
Earnings

£ -431.73

Benefit Cap

£ 0.00

Total Universal Credit
£ 335.57 per month

Turn2us Benefits Calculator

Use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator to find out which welfare benefits you may be entitled to.

benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I applied online then got a notification to attend a face to face meeting with a job coach or whatever they are called, I had to prove who I was ie photo ID & show my tenancy agreement, then said I wasn’t entitled to any help but to basically look for a better paid job or ask for more hours. I don’t know if it’s because I don’t have any dependents? So came away absolutely heartbroken that there is zero help out there for me.

I wouldn’t of taken the job I have now if I knew they wouldn’t give me a minimum of 24hrs, I’m so stupid to think that I was actually going to be better off instead I’ve just fallen flat on my a again

Were you promised a certain amount of hours? Because you have some recourse if it was promised