Jobseekers Allowance Pay Day

So, according to my stand-in advisor last week, today is the day I will receive two weeks of jobseekers allowance, which is £140. 

Last night, I was thinking that this is great timing, as I looked at my bank balance (shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit) on Monday and saw that I was just within my overdraft limit. Phew.

That was, until the bank then decided to choose this very week to withdraw its interest payment of £8.34.

It didn't look at my situation, think "Hmm, we will leave this until this transaction WONT tip her over the edge and incur further charges". No, the bank took money out of imaginary money that I don't have. Thanks, Barclays. The bank with a heart. 

So, I have now gone over my overdraft. Then, two more things came out. A magazine publisher tried to deduct £25 - the quarterly fee for a magazine I signed up for. Only, I didn't sign up for subscription of the magazine. About three months ago, I signed up for three issues at £1 each. 

But apparently, they automatically hook you in as a subscriber unless you tell them otherwise. And they know that, three months on, it is unlikely that you will remember that you need to cancel a subscription that you didn't apply for. Thanks also to the magazine publisher.

Then, another direct debit was deducted that I did not anticipate coming out until the 18th.

So, I thought, I cannot wait to get this jobseekers payment tomorrow, almost two weeks after my claim, it is much, much needed and will stop another day of bank charges mounting up.

Also, I have not been able to pay my rent, council tax or bills yet this month, so still owe the money for these things.

I checked my bank account this morning. No jobseekers allowance has been deposited. 

How did I know that would happen?

Apparently, a chap called Robert Lowell once said the following regarding optimism:

"If we see light at the end of a tunnel,
It's the light of an oncoming train".

Signing (on),

YAC.