Christmas now unaffordable

[purplepentagram]

Is there even any point in me bothering with the tree, decs and all that goes with it. When I can’t even afford to do any shopping.
all you see in the news is all about how those on benefits are so better off and living a life a luxury…. Well can someone point me in the right direction cause our life sucks.
things were ok till my husbands health took a turn for the worse.which is also starting to effect our marriage - for that might as well be over an all. He is now under investigation due to neurological tremors and a few other things. I’m also disabled with physical and neurological issues. I get some pip and my husband gets carers.( he’s not applied for pip due to believing all the nastiness that’s currently going round) Our universal credit is 1085 a month after deductions. Our rent is 700 of that. So we’re living off less than 500 a month. By the time Iv paid all the bills there is nothing left. So what’s the point in even carrying on anymore. Things were manageable even after our youngest child dropped off our claim. ( he’s still in college full time and at home) my daughter has left and gone to uni. My eldest 2 have their own life’s. Am I wrong in telling them not to bother coming home this year and asking my son if he can find a friends to go to instead. We’re down to 2 meals a week, minimal heating due to the amount that British Gas is asking for each month. Iv cancelled everything I could from insurance policies to subscriptions, internet ( that’s due to go off any day now) life is miserable and I can’t seem to find anyway out. We can’t afford to move, or even get on the council list. All the local help has stopped applications and I can’t even get a food bank referral. There is nothing left in our town and trying to find work is impossible. Just keep getting refused. So no Christmas for us this year and the kids have all been told not to bother since there is nothing. I just feel that the only way would be if we wasn’t here to be a burden. We don’t have any other family or friends. So that’s not an option either. Rather fed up on life and how the news is portraying things when it’s way far from reality.

So your husband would rather his wife starves to death than apply for benefits? Because that’s what will happen if you are only eating two plates of food a week.

Only eating two meals a week, sure.

When I started claiming child benefit again after not claiming it due to the high income charge I had it backdated 3 months

Op when you get through on the phone for the gp, if all of that day’s appointments are gone, are you not able to book a routine appointment for say the next week or two?

you could still continue to try each day but you would know that you already have an appointment in hand anyway ( which you would cancel if a daily one was secured.)

Ours doesn't let you book in advance- same day only. Also no online booking or triage. You can't go to reception either for an appt. I'm guessing op's is similar

According to info this week from Wes Streeting, 98% of GP surgeries are using online booking and also consultations.

Not in Scotland. We have an entirely different NHS system, as does Wales and N Ireland. No app for a start.

My GP is a large practice in suburban Glasgow, there is no online anything. Everything is done on the phone, or face to face.

The victim mentality seeps through your posts op.
You're in a shit situation. But you could also change things.

The bullying mentality seeps through yours. You have a shit approach to advice but you could change that. People only become desperate when the extensive efforts they've made to change things have all failed. If you've never been there, count yourself very lucky.

Is OP in Scotland?

I can’t believe your husband has waited over a year for a biopsy to check for cancer!! There’s a two week pathway for cancer. I’d be kicking up a fuss about that.
You can get yourself added to bid records as being able to talk on his behalf so I strongly advise you do that for each other. It makes things so much easier if one of you is very ill.
You may find you have to register separately at the GP and hospital - we did.

No online booking at our GP (England).
It’s there on the ap so probably ticks the box, but it’s always unavailable.

Your dietary requirements are complex but if your husband and DS can get out and about and one is close enough to you then there may be many places they could eat for free. I volunteer in such a place and for 5 days a week different churches and a community centre in my town offer free food. I work at the biggest one that gives out a 2 course dinner for up to 100 people. No religion required. Have a look online. We also have people come from CAB, housing services and other agencies sometimes set up to give advice.

Who knows. But it is not fair to assume she is and confidently state that the NHS works in a particular way, when it may not.

It's tough being poor - I'm not making light of it. My late husband and I lived off lentils and potatoes for months in our most broke periods, and just kept one room warm in the evenings.

But I keep being surprised when people make helpful suggestions, that you dismiss them: CAB never open, that didn't work etc. For example if your husband is waiting for tests for cancer, then he should be seen more quickly. Those are the rules. If you need to see your GP, the receptionist can't stop you. It's almost as if you don't want solutions. They can be hard - going places, waiting, filling in forms etc - but that's how it is. You have grown-up children who could help you with this.

I'm sorry, but this constant rejection of possible ways to get help makes me a bit sceptical, tbh.

@Tekknonan when someone hits rock bottom, that’s the difficulty, they can’t see a way forward.

OP has an external locus of control. That’s what’s contributing to the lack of motivation/initiative and victim mentality. OP, only you can help yourself and work on becoming more resilient. Even one small step can make you feel more in control of your life. Is there even one positive or strength you can find in your life? Maybe build on that.

@purplepentagram
Citizens advice- England 0800 144 8848
(Monday-Friday 9-5pm)
citizens advice- Wales 0800 702 2020
(Monday-Friday 8-7pm)
Citizen advice- Northern Ireland 0800 915 4606
Citizen advice- Scotland 0800 028 1456

Help through hardship (food bank vouchers & wider support) 0808 208 2138 (freephone)

Op, save these numbers, l know it’s a big step to make that call, they will understand you not being able to go there, will signpost, help you over the phone.