Well, I haven't been in here for a while.  Just couldn't think of anything to write about that I found interesting enough to bother with!  . And in any case, the news I have to tell is pretty depressing

The trouble is that we are still broke (no, worse than broke .... whatever that is we are it ).  It got to the stage a couple of days ago when we only had food for the children and dogs - nothing left for us!  And no money to come in in the forseable future (all money coming into our accounts is snagged by our banks to pay the overdrafts, direct debits, etc, etc...).

Now I am a resilient person.  I have been in this type of situation before and have found ways around it.  In fact I pride myself on always being able to find a way out of any sticky situation .  But this time I nearly gave up hope.  We had called in all loans we had made to anyone (it's funny how people react when you ask for your own money back isn't it? ).  We had cancelled all direct debits we were able to (sod the bills - we have to eat!).  And we had sold all CDs and DVDs we had to spare.  But nothing was left.

Then at last I had an idea.  We have a little money in a European bank account which my partner had put there in the vain hope that we would move abroad in the near future.  It isn't much, and it is supposed to stay there to keep the account open.  We are not supposed to be able to draw on this account from the UK, but we found a way , and we raided that.

What a relief to have some food in the cupboard again!

The trouble is, it won't last long, and my partner still hasn't found a job, despite his very best efforts and my work won't allow me back for at least another week.

But as for giving up smoking - well, we have had no choice!

(But it's surprising how good an old cigarette stub tastes when you are desperate ).

And I live in hopes that one of us will be working properly again soon.

No other choice but to hope really .......

Things have got to get better soon.  I found myself crying to 'Puff the Magic Dragon' today, and I usually can't stand the bloody song!

Now that is sad! 

Ive been there...and i cant say done that, cause i think im still in the same "broke level" you are at. me and my boyfriend broke up and left me with all this bills. though he offered to help me...i dont want to. (read my journal. start at jan 2nd entry) im only working as a part timer in retail...and now that its january...the bussiness is really slow..no hours for all the part timers. now..i have to pay fone bill (which is i only made 2 over seas calls and the rest is his), digital box (which i only watch 3 movies and the rest of 50 movies is his) and credit card (i know this one! LOL!) on top of it, my fare for work, my student freaking loan...and my celfone bill! all in all....PAY CHEQUE=BILLS. huhuhuhuh!

i can relate totaly in ur experience at the moment. just dont lose hope. you will get thru it and you will be suprise how tough you are. just hold on. everything is going to be ok. think positive, though i know its tough to be an optimistic in rough times but you have too.

i can totally relate when u mention about cigarette buds. what i do is...i will buy rolling papers, then try to remove all those tabacco inside the buds and put it in the rolling paper and start rolling em like weed. (FYI: just learned it from a friend during our tough times of niccing out! LOL) 3 buds would make a roll of ciggie. then there you go! newest ciggie!!! LOL!

Hope that I made u smile thru my simple comment in your journal. hang in there!

take care!

I spent my childhood in homeless shelters and foster homes I know broke and hearing that your going through it breaks my heart. I hope you guys can find a way out of it. Do you know if your city has a "rent bank" program for parents who are in need of it? it's worth checking out, also food banks are good if you run low again (it's mostly kraft dinner and penut butter though), what about Welfare? It's not much but you'll get a start up cheque and that's at least $700. Hmmm... Church's also sometimes have money to donote to struggling families, see if your town has a "project warth" it's a charity that provides heat for low income families. If I think of any other idea's I'll let you know. Until then I wish you guys all the luck in finding a decent job. Take care.