Shit time of year - overwhelmed

[tearsandtiaras]

Anyone else think this is a shit time of year actually worse than January? AIBU?

Single parent, zero help, 13 year old DD who is fab. New full time job. Totally overwhelmed by it and monotony of home life. No pay for 6 weeks so flat broke.

DD has tests at half term at school so revision being piled on already. Cold is drawing in. I really can't see anything to look forward to at the moment. Im not one for "snuggles and hot chocolate " on the sofa - too lonely as a single parent. Plus i like the summer.

Everything feels like a slog, and with cost of living crisis, winter feels like doom.

Anyone else? What is there to look forward to if anything? May/ summer seems a long way off

[Suddenlypoor]

Same situation here. I have 3 DD. Single. Full time teacher. This year I got a promotion in the hope that the extra income would help but now it means I won’t get universal credit top-up so I’m actually no better off 😔. I hate winter and the cold with a passion and will be depressed from now until April time.
many ideas on how to keep sane/going until then?

[Suddenlypoor]

*any not many

[Always4Brenner]

UC is the shittiest benefit known to man people who work are worse off, people not in work live in fear of the dwp whip especially the disabled now.

[tearsandtiaras]

Im waiting to find out if my UC top up will be cut, in which case I will be no better off. 15 hours commute a week on top of full time professional work is hard going. I wish my rent was cheaper. At £1400 a month for a place thats falling apart its a hard pill to swallow

[Popaholic]

Mine is a different situation, same blues.

Have a DP who is great and count my blessings for him being the "not useless" kind of DP.

Have no clue how you single parents survive... do you all secretly have an extra pair of arms and a requirement for only 3 hours sleep a night?

New FT job, and SO busy trying to make a good impression.

Battling tidal wave of unnecessary emails from school (WHY is everything embedded in a sodding pdf with an email subject like "important message" ?).

Trying to swap over summer/winter clothes as wardrobes are all messed up.

Trying to figure out how to get through anniversary of my mum's death without collapsing in a defeated heap.

And it is DARK when I get up and DARK by the time we've got DC2 in bed. And it's cold when I climb into bed.

Summer seems a long way off, I agree.

[Allywill]

I thought UC had a taper rate - so for every extra pound you earn you only lost 55p of UC - to ensure people were always better off working? Sorry if that’s not right?

[Caroffee]

@tearsandtiaras

Im waiting to find out if my UC top up will be cut, in which case I will be no better off. 15 hours commute a week on top of full time professional work is hard going. I wish my rent was cheaper. At £1400 a month for a place thats falling apart its a hard pill to swallow

Wow. £1400 a month! That must be in London ...

[tearsandtiaras]

It is yes. Extortionate. I am literally mentally killing myself working to pay it plus bills

[mtuwtfss]

dreading christmas and festivities this year. it's not going to be a fun time. wish i could crawl under a rock until spring when finances should be better. am grateful for all the good in our lives but am so tired of slogging it day in day out. little chance of respite until the spring for several reasons.

[Kissingfrogs25]

I miss the summer too op.
I used to love autumn but don’t anymore.
Can you plan to have a friend or two for dinner and sparklers etc.
I have decided the only way I will get through the winter is spending more time with people I am close to, that make me laugh and feel happy.
hygge on steroids!

Winter ends when the first daffodils 🌼 appear for me, usually the end of February/beginning of March. Spring can be warm.