To ask how people afford plumbers or new fridges?

I got more than 6 sessions on the NHS. I'm in Scotland. I suffer from ptsd. I saw the psychologist for around 8 months. I did say there was a waiting list in my case in an earlier post and at no point did I suggest she dropped out of therapy - just that she could ask her GP to make a referral to psychological services.

The OP said she was working through trauma - it was just a suggestion. I wasn't suggesting she drops out of her counselling.

Firstly there is no guarantee the GP will agree that you need formal MH involvement from the NHS, not everyone in therapy privately would meet the criteria for that

Secondly there will be a very long waiting list and in my experience, and I know this differs, you get a piss poor offering of CBT, 6 session, only really 4 are done because the first session is getting to know each other and the issues, and the final session is finalising it and endings. Useless. And if you need more and if the gP agrees to re refer you, you're waiting another 6 months to carry on where you left off except with someone new and with another load of stress and poor MH because it didnt meet your needs.

If OP already has a working relationship there is no way unless she really had no choice she should drop out of her own therapy.

I've just posted about this. I'm aware that psychologists and psychiatrists involve a wait on the NHS but it was my GP who referred me to a psychologist. They also have other mental health services that people can use as well that a GP can make a referral to

Some of these replies about her current outgoings, utterly crazy

Counselling/therapy is usually around £75ph at least here, havent seen many for less than that. Its not recommended just to go as and when, no one knows where in the therapy stages OP is, so just saying skip it for a month or two shows you know nothing. Ditto the advice to use the welbeing services at work, in my job, which is touchy feely frontline public services, you get 6 sessions of a 20 min phone call, that is not therapy. Ditto advice smugly posted about accessing NHS psychotherapy. Where is that then?

A third of your income on a mortgage is not 'high', its not low either but largely a lot of people are paying about a third.

Insurance could well be linked to the service charges, house management fees suggest a leasehold, buildings insurance and ground rent/service charge isnt negotiable in that case. Equally if its not linked to any leasehold, she might have made a claim in the past, which is why I avoid trying to make a claim and certainly its poor advice given on this thread to claim on the insurances for a blocked drain which would probably only cost about 50 quid if a handyman comes out

Many posters suggesting to get the FF on credit and equally posters are criticising that she has a credit card, we dont know what she bought on it for what reason.

Running a car is often people's only option if they live where there is no public transport or routes to work cant be made by that. Equally many employers charge for parking permits.

Lastly the lovely smug 'why dont you move closer to your job or get a new job'

Yeah just like that. Incur thousands in stamp duty, solicitors costs, estate agents fees, stress of moving. Just like that.

Jobs are ten a penny arent they, just get a new one

@Roobarbtwo If you are watching catch up on iPlayer (BBC) you do need a licence.

Hi everyone, thanks for your replies. As @GinSwiggers deduced, I've been at work all day and unable to post until now.

To clear a few things up:

The TV licence is £29.08 because for the first six months the payments are higher. They reduce to the standard £14.50ish per month after six months, and I haven't reached that yet. It's also categorically not an option for me that I would just watch TV without paying my TV licence - that would go against all my values and own sense of integrity.

I always use comparison sites to secure the best deals. For the home insurance, I live in NI which unfortunately has the highest home insurance prices in the UK. This news article from earlier this year states that the median home insurance price in Northern Ireland is £427, which means that my policy isn't excessively out of that range.

I can't go without the counselling because, as some posters have pointed out, I wouldn't be able to work or function without it. There is a long waiting list for the 6 CBT sessions that the NHS offers in my area and personally I don't believe it would meet my needs anyway because I've experienced a lot of trauma in the past that I'm working through.

The car parking costs £3.70 per day for a car park that is 15 minutes' walk already outside the city centre where I work. A monthly train ticket would be £113 per month so actually costs more and I would still need the car to drive to my local train station. I may have overestimated slightly the £150 per month on petrol but it is at least £100 because it costs £50 to fill my tank and I'd be doing very well to make it to two weeks before I need to fill up.

The fridge I need to replace is an integrated fridge/freezer because that's what was in the house when I bought it. There isn't really space for a separate freestanding fridge. I've been quoted £460 for the replacement fridge and then £70 for removal and installation. I want to look myself for a cheaper fridge but from a quick look online already I get the impression that it's going to be several hundred pounds at least.

Those who stated that I can't really afford to have a dog are right, but unfortunately I had to take him on because he was originally my mum's dog and there was nowhere else for him to go. It's such a shame because he's a lovely wee dog but I've been on waiting lists for various rescues and shelters since June. I've been told that because there is such a demand for spaces, they won't be able to offer me a space until next year at the earliest.

The clothes and shoes - I haven't bought any for at least six months but the one pair of trainers I own and wear most days are getting really worn out. I have three outfits for work that I rotate and I need jumpers now that we're coming into winter. I'm definitely not a shopaholic and I don't care about brands, supermarket clothes are great because you get clubcard points too.

Don’t worry, it took no time - I appreciate your concern though :)

Apologies if I’ve upset you with facts - I was just interested in making sure the OP wasn’t misled, not scoring points against other posters ;)

Only £60 a month for fuel. Wow! I live alone and pay £120. I hardly have the heating on

Hi everyone, thanks for your replies. As @GinSwiggers deduced, I've been at work all day and unable to post until now.

To clear a few things up:

The TV licence is £29.08 because for the first six months the payments are higher. They reduce to the standard £14.50ish per month after six months, and I haven't reached that yet. It's also categorically not an option for me that I would just watch TV without paying my TV licence - that would go against all my values and own sense of integrity.

I always use comparison sites to secure the best deals. For the home insurance, I live in NI which unfortunately has the highest home insurance prices in the UK. This news article from earlier this year states that the median home insurance price in Northern Ireland is £427, which means that my policy isn't excessively out of that range.

I can't go without the counselling because, as some posters have pointed out, I wouldn't be able to work or function without it. There is a long waiting list for the 6 CBT sessions that the NHS offers in my area and personally I don't believe it would meet my needs anyway because I've experienced a lot of trauma in the past that I'm working through.

The car parking costs £3.70 per day for a car park that is 15 minutes' walk already outside the city centre where I work. A monthly train ticket would be £113 per month so actually costs more and I would still need the car to drive to my local train station. I may have overestimated slightly the £150 per month on petrol but it is at least £100 because it costs £50 to fill my tank and I'd be doing very well to make it to two weeks before I need to fill up.

The fridge I need to replace is an integrated fridge/freezer because that's what was in the house when I bought it. There isn't really space for a separate freestanding fridge. I've been quoted £460 for the replacement fridge and then £70 for removal and installation. I want to look myself for a cheaper fridge but from a quick look online already I get the impression that it's going to be several hundred pounds at least.

Those who stated that I can't really afford to have a dog are right, but unfortunately I had to take him on because he was originally my mum's dog and there was nowhere else for him to go. It's such a shame because he's a lovely wee dog but I've been on waiting lists for various rescues and shelters since June. I've been told that because there is such a demand for spaces, they won't be able to offer me a space until next year at the earliest.

The clothes and shoes - I haven't bought any for at least six months but the one pair of trainers I own and wear most days are getting really worn out. I have three outfits for work that I rotate and I need jumpers now that we're coming into winter. I'm definitely not a shopaholic and I don't care about brands, supermarket clothes are great because you get clubcard points too.

I think I made it crystal clear what I was clarifying up post and why, and that it was not applied to the OPs specific circumstances, but to incorrect information posted by others non relevant to OPs circumstances 🙄 None of it was misleading or incorrect. And there is a lot of contradiction in your latest. "Technically correct....but misleading at best...wrong at worst" What?! 😅 Whilst it must have taken you ages to put that together it was an embarrassing waste of time. The benefits system "is unhelpful if one is single and has no children" is also wrong, as a blanket statement, particularly if they have health conditions. However, I'm definitely not going to waste my time putting you straight on that one, as you are obviously right no matter what facts someone offers you. And in future, read everything, not just the parts that send you dashing gleefully to your keyboard for a generalised fact light speech👍

I need a plumber to look at a drain blockage in my bathroom (have already tried to clear it myself to no avail) and my fridge has broken so needs replaced. But I’m wondering how I can even afford these things. I earn £1979 per month and my bills are as follows:

Mortgage £620.48
Council tax £125
Income protection insurance £17.48
Car tax £16.62
Gas £20
Electricity £40
Broadband £23.99
Mobile phone £10.50
TV licence £29.08
Counselling £100
Petrol £150
Parking £80
Dentist £20
House management fee £20
Car insurance £45
Home insurance £43.25
Credit card £200

This leaves me with a total of £417 per month to feed myself and a dog, to buy clothes, shoes and toiletries. I can’t save any money each month and I have no idea how I will pay for a fridge (£530) and plumber. AIBU?

Integrated fridge freezers for £350 on AO this morning.