Saturday 5 January 2019

Cutting costs

In a few more weeks CHS will have his pay cut by 50%. We're very grateful that he has been on full pay since his stroke but he is not well enough to return to work at the moment.

The first thing to go has been the tv license, my tenant is moving on 31st so I've cancelled the direct debit, a saving of £12:56 a month.

Soon I will no longer pay council tax on my house which will save £130 a month.
Then the £12 a month insurance will be cancelled.

There will still need to be more savings made but these first few are painless.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can you apply for carers allowance for you, he certainly does seem to require you to look after him . I appreciate that might be affected by any pensions you may have but is it worth looking into ? Perhaps that idiot girl who seemed to expect you to do EVERYTHING could sort it out for you !

Hope you are coping on the boat and that the sale of the house goes through without any more tenant issues. Keep ALL their deposit !

sweet blondie blue eyes said...

Hester get in touch with the citizens advice people they will tell you exactly what financial help you can get. Age concern will help as well if there is one local to you. I do not think you will get Carers Allowance its for people under retirement age. but CHS should qualify for AA at the lower rate if not the higher.

Hard up Hester said...

We have someone coming on 7th to discuss any benefits we can claim.

justjill said...

Good - Attendance Allowance is not means tested.

Miriam said...

Best advice I was given when obtaining Attendance allowance for my Mum was 'describe what she can't do on her worst day not what she can manage on a good day'. So please don't play down any difficulties or problems CHS has.

Living Alone in Your 60's said...

Great advice from the above. I hope you get the financial help required.

Pam Monks said...

Miriam's advice is spot on. You cannot get AA until 6 months have passed but you can send in the completed application at any time. I think that the mental difficulties following stroke are under-reported and I find are more difficult for us carers to understand and deal with. The effects of a stroke are on both of you but we, the carers, are often ignored. Keep your chin up.

Rambler said...

Losing 50% of CHS' wage is a huge hurdle to overcome, so it's good that you can cut down on the things you mentioned. But I agree with stressing the difficulties that CHS faces - not able to go anywhere alone because of the possibility of falling, etc., or getting lost because of confusion. Needing transport, meals, help with certain jobs (showering, for instance) literally everything that his stroke has made impossible or difficult to manage.
It's all very well to think that you can do it all, but you NEED as much help / financial assistance as possible in order to live a reasonable life.

Rambler said...

One of the biggest problems is that he can no longer move the boat or get the coal - that must be taken into account, surely?

Linda said...

You are a great landlord to have included the TV licence in the rent!

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