forced to sell Rabbit

[ladybgemini]

Hi All,

God I have had a bad night. I went to bed about 11pm last night after having a chat with my hubby about our current financial situation. We are stoney broke as is everyone in Jan, or so I thought.

I had been in bed for about 10 mins when I heard him calling me from downstairs so I went down only to find him physically trembling. He said that his bank account was over it's overdraft limit and he still had the rent to pay. The bank has charged him at least £90 in charges for being over his overdraft which has not helped matters. I have never seen my hubby cry but he did last night as he was so frightened about how we are gonna cope.

I have been unable to work properly since August bue to my back problems so have no money other than tax credits and child benefit.

We are 2 months behind with our council tax and I hate the feeling. I have never been late with bills in my life but we just dont have the money to pay it.

We made a list of things that we need to do to get ourselves out of this mess, one includes giving up smoking which in itself is a frightening thought but we both want to give up anyway, this is just the incentive to actually do something about it.

We have a dog and a rabbit, the rabbit we have only had for a few months and my hubby actually said last night that he thought we were gonna have to let the dog go to a good home as we cant afford the dog food at the moment but conceeded in the end that we couldn;t cos she has been part of the family for 4 n half years and my little girl would be heartbroken to see her go.

The rabbit on the other hand has only been in the family for a few months and whilst he doesn't cost alot, at the moment we just cant afford it. I have enough food and bedding etc for him to last a couple of weeks but after that I cant replace it all. If it were not for our dire situation I would give him and all his stuff away for free, I am struggling with him due to bad back and have been thinking for a while that I am not paying him as much attention as he needs.

Due to the current situation he has to go. I feel sick and am in tears writing this but is there anyone out there that wants a castrated male 9 months old mini lop. He comes with a hutch, toys, straw, hay, disinfectant, food, bowls, water bottle, grooming set, snuggle safe disc (only bought it last week £20) and we are asking £70 for him. He is ready to go, a lovely pet who will sit on you knee for hours on end, he used to be a show rabbit and has been handled regularly, he is a quiet little bunny.

He does not need a run in the garden due to the fact that the breeder never gave any of his show rabbits greens and a large amount of grass could kill him. He has food twice a day and I occasionally give him oats, branflakes or a digestive biscuit as a treat. he likes dandelion leaves but only one or two a week. He is quite happy in his hutch and spending quality time with the family at least once a day.

Thanks to anyone who can help me and my bunny.

Rachel

 

[becki x]

Oh hun,i feel so bad for you.

It's a long way for me to travel for a rabbit,and even though we don't want any pets if you were closer i would have taken it to help you out.

I know it's hard for you right now,but you will get back on top of things,give citizens advise a ring,they might be able to give you some advise in regards to the financial difficulties you are having right now. :hug:

 

[HappyHands]

I,m really sorry to hear about your probs hun. and i really wish i could help, the only thing i can say to you is there is a light at the end of the tunnel, i have been there myself, we were very fortunate to have kind and loving neighbours at the time that would feed the kids for us.. I know its hard to see ahead of the troubles but please try.. i really hope that you find a home for your bunny and things get better for you real soon..

sending you and yours big huggs:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:

 

[pinkmummy]

Hi Rachel,
Sorry I can't help you with the rabit, but it does sound gorgeous.
Try this link, and you & your hubby can claim back some of your bank charges. The banks are only compounding a problem for you.
If you need any help with your animals try the PDSA.
As someone has already said try the CAB, theywill help you to organise your finances and see if you are ellegible for any more help.
Take care.:hug:

BBC NEWS | Business | How to claim back penalty charges
PDSA - Eligibility

 

[Sals]

So sorry I can't take your rabbit. I'm going through an horrendous financial situation at the moment too, so can empathise. Have a look at the National Debtline website. They're really helpful. :hug:

 

[xniceyloux]

first off sorry to hear your having a bad time.:hug:

as regards to your rabbit, why dont you advertise him in the local paper or shop window.

i know it all sounds a bit cheesy but someone in your local area might just be looking for a loving pet.

it really is the pits when things go wrong in life but...there is always a light at the end of the tunnel..even if its as dim as a 2 watt bulb at the moment.
it will be glowing bright again for you soon.

sending love and light your way:hug: :hug:

stay positive good things will happen xxx

 

[ladybgemini]

So sorry I can't take your rabbit. I'm going through an horrendous financial situation at the moment too, so can empathise. Have a look at the National Debtline website. They're really helpful. :hug:

At the moment we dont actually have debts. We just dont have money to pay the bills but we are not behind in any payments as yet. I dont think debtline can help with this can they? Or am I thinking of someone else.

Rachel

 

[bubbabinks]

My sister got herself in quite a mess a few years back and my mum took her down citzens advice.

They went through all her outgoings with her, worked out where she could be saving money and then on her behalf they contacted the companies she owed money to, to sort out payment plans.
She now owns 2 houses.

Whatever you do dont make a rush decision i.e. loans - the short term gain is not always right for the long term.

Sending :hug:

 

[ladybgemini]

A loan is definately not an option. We did that a few years ago and then before we made one payment on it we found out I was expecting a baby and when we took the loan we were both planning on being in work etc etc so I will not be doing that again.

Rachel.

 

[fats28]

Hi hun, I'm sorry to hear about all your problems. If you were nearer I'd take the rabbit to help you out. Have you tried ringing the bank and explaining, they can waive some or all the charges they have made to you in some cases.:hug: :hug: :hug:

 

[ladybgemini]

Hi hun, I'm sorry to hear about all your problems. If you were nearer I'd take the rabbit to help you out. Have you tried ringing the bank and explaining, they can waive some or all the charges they have made to you in some cases.:hug: :hug: :hug:

My hubby called em at 7am this morning but there was no-one there that could help, the guy was just a call centre operator, helpful aint it. He has logged a complaint over the bank charges. If they credited the bank charges he would no long be over his overdraft but I bet they wont see it like that.

Well, I am off to boil the chicken carcass to make a soup for tea. I am feeling a little better now, we just have to find £500 in the next two weeks to pay the rent and we can manage just about.

i will certainly look at advertising the rabbit in a pet shop or something. It kills me to think that we cant look after him but I would never knowingly harm him so it's better that he goes so I know he is fed and watered.

We could certainly drive to meet someone half way with him to try and get him a good home that way.

BTW as an added bonus, he is fully grown and only weighs 2lbs. He is a mini variety so tiny and black and cuddly and does that lovely snuffly noise with his nose. You can see that I'm trying hard here lol.

Thanks for all your kind words. I'll let you know how things go

Rachel xx

 

[mandz]

Arrr, hun that is so sad. have you not got a mate who you can ask to look after your bunnie for a little while whilst you get sorted out.
Have you got no nail bits you don't use you could put on geekbay, or anything you think may get a bit of money on ebay?
I hope you sort your problem out!!!
Sending you lots of love and :hug:'s
xxx

 

[Sals]

At the moment we dont actually have debts. We just dont have money to pay the bills but we are not behind in any payments as yet. I dont think debtline can help with this can they? Or am I thinking of someone else.

Rachel

They give all sorts of advice, hun. They can help with working out budgets, etc. They also make you feel it's not the end of the world, which will really pick your spirits up. If I'd phoned them months ago, I wouldn't be about to go bankrupt. :cry: Give them a go. Hope it all works out for you, sweetie.

 

[fats28]

Thats a good idea hun, have you got any bits you don't use or want, get them on geekbay I'm always after stuff.:hug:

 

[ladybgemini]

I did say to hubby last night that I have a whole drawful of Fabric# bits n bobs that I dont use anymore, from POW to activator spray, silk, resins, the works.

I can always find things to sell lol. My tumble dryer is going on ebay or in the local bargain pages this week, I have not used it in 4 months and its stuck in my bedroom. We also have a stainless steel mandolin for the kitchen that we have used only once, cost me £50 from beatties. There is loads of stuff that we can sell and believe me it will be sold.

I just had a letter through from the car insurance and they are adding £200 to our premiums cos my hubby has not sent the proof of no claims through. God I could kill him, he said "I thought I had done it" when what he means was "I know I have not done it but I'm not admitting it". We have 10 days to send proof of no claims, which we have, or they add the £200. Just what I wanted to hear today NOT!!

Anyway, calling all culinary whizzes, I am making a cheapy chicken soup from left over roast chicken for dinner. I thought that I was good at making budget meals but when I look at what we spend on groceries in a week it's obvious that I am going wrong somewhere.

Can you help me come up with tasty ideas for cheap meals? My hubby not like things that taste of garlic. He not mind it in things. He wont eat most veg, carrots, green beans, swede and potatoes are all he will eat. I'll eat pretty much anything.

In my freezer I have a bag of pork chops, a bag of belly pork, 2 whole legs of lamb (bargain £4.99 each), plenty of mince beef. A whole cupboard of spices to make curries with.

I have just come accross a pack of mini ring doughnuts that went OOD yesterday. They are a little stale, but apart from that OK. I cant just throw em out lol.

What can I do with them? I had thought maybe a doughnut n butter pudding maybe? Any more ideas gratefully accepted.

Do you think it might be better to start a new thread with this?

Thanks
Rachel xx

 

[pinkmummy]

Do you have any farm shops nearby? I get alot of my fruit & veg from ours, much cheaper! I buy a huge sack of spuds for £5.50. When money's a bit tight we have spuds with everything. My son even found this joke song in my honour.:lol: Flash » Mashed Taters (Potatoes)

Their fave spud recipe is 'Mollocated Potatoes'.
Bake enough potatoes for everyone in a microwave.
Place them on a baking tray, cut a cross into the spud.
Bash them with something hard like a rolling pin (mollocated is how they now look.):lol:
They should be kinda splattered across the baking tray!
Drizzle olive oil all over them, then season with salt & pepper.
Roast off in a hot oven for 25-30 mins.

Lovely, and healthy cos they've still got their skins on, hubby & kids fill up on them!:lick:

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

I am sorry to see you are so distressed. I put financial difficulties up there with death, divorce and moving house. The stress is unbelievable.

Don't know if this will help but there was a very interesting section on Lorraine Kelly's show after GMTV a couple of months ago. She was interviewing this guy who helps people claim back rediculous bank charges. One needs to follow the advise on his website so I will now take a look and see if I can find a link. Back in a mo.......

 

[ladybgemini]

I have seen something similar but it was a company that went back 7 years and got all your charges back but charged you 25% for the privelage.

Hubby has never had bank charges before, this is the first time ever so he is hoping they will either credit them or drastically reduce them.

Thanks

Rachel

 

[pinkmummy]

In my earlier post I put up a link to the BBC's advice on this, with letter templates and everything, so you can do it yourselves.

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

Had trouble posting the link but you will find it on Google under 'LK Today + Bank charges' or 'Martin Lewis Money Saving Expert.com' as he is the guy she interviewed.

Banks overcharge hideously and some people have managed to get a considerable amount back from them just through following his advice. You don't have to go to court and it should cost you nothing if you follow his plan.

Sorry I can't be more help and it's not an overnight solution.:hug: