Help me change my life? I want to move out of London, (amongst other things).

[KesAnd74]

Hi farming folks,

I'm hoping someone can help me. In return for your help, I'm (naturally), willing to return the favour with helping you.

My backstory is that I'm SICK to DEATH of living on benefits, I want to tell the Job Centre to stop my benefits - in order to pursue a life of being USEFUL and creative, something I've been at pains to enjoy/do here in London.

I realise this is a drastic change I'm wanting, but frankly, living on benefits is slowly but surely killing me, plus, having grown up in the countryside, (Cornwall, Penzance/Newlyn), for most of my formative years, (which I miss immensely), I'm finally, acutely aware of how much I detest life in London; I tried to give it a decent chance but it's been nothing but a problem for me.

So, here's my idea, (I'm still kinda forming it to be honest at the time of typing this), but, essentially, I want to:

• Come off all my benefits, (housing, Universal Credit), as soon as possible.
• Move out of my current flat here in North London, to a rural area, as soon as possible.
• Start work helping you where possible in order to earn my keep and save up some money to buy materials for an economically friendly, (but respectable and functional) home that I want to design and build.
• Create and sell abstract art, and/or make pottery for you to sell your produce in at farmer's markets, and/or make something else that can be sold on a frequent basis to make sure I have money and you get something worthwhile for my living on your land in a quiet corner.

I can help you with lots of things: computers, (building them, installing/uninstalling parts/peripherals/software), help with emailing, photography, (people, animals, landscapes etc etc), some basic/intermediate graphic design, image retouching, help with animals, (I haven't much experience, but if you show me, I'll do it. I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty especially if I know there's a good shower nearby).

I can also help with typing duties, proof-reading, making/taking phone calls, working a till, paying bills at banks / post offices, restocking shelves etc. As if all that wasn't enough, I can also cook meals, (I do a mean roast beef/lamb/chicken/pork, very tasty lasagne and a super-duper bread n butter pudding).

There's even more I can do! I know basic first aid, food hygiene, and a little risk assessment, though with these things I admit I could do with a refresher on the skills involved.

Although I'm not an artist as such, (despite studying photography professionally at Falmouth School of Art in the early/mid 90s), I can create abstract art, (I actually sold work at my first ever community exhibition at Crouch End library back in October of 2016). I can also make pottery on the wheel, so if you and/or your other half makes delicious sauces or chutneys or jams/preserves etc, I could make little pots/jars for them; though I'd need somewhere to make, store then fire them.

I ought to make it clear that I can't drive, (I'd love to be able to though), it probably goes without saying, but I don't have any vehicle licenses either.

If you're still reading, (I hope I've not bored you), I'd like to offer you my long-term and committed help in return for helping me change my life, to allow me to live somewhere where I'll be healthier, happier, needed, wanted and made to feel human again by my skills being of use to someone and to make some decent money, for once in my life.

My primary reason for wanting to do this is because I need to improve my life, but also because I really want to design and build, (maybe with hands-on help from others), my own home; nothing excessive or opulent, but a relatively austere but attractive, cosy one that would certainly turns heads which is also comfortable, clean, beautiful and functional to live in. I may even want to Airbnb (rent out on a weekly basis) a few spare rooms of my home to bring in some extra money, (income for you and I alike).

The home I want to build will not be breeze blocks and concrete, (I'm skint), but mud, (cob), straw, wattle, wooden beans/joists etc with curvy, well-proportioned, lime-washed walls, recycled double-glazed windows/doors, internal soil-regulated temperature-control, solar panels, reed-bed sanitation, vegetable/fruit plots, composting toilet.

I'll need help with setting foundations and finding/getting then installation of utilities, but the basic designing bits I can (I think) do myself; maybe an architect could do the important bits if I can later afford it after saving enough money from working for you. It'd be a ground floor building with various rooms, such as bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, lounge, studio (inc' kiln/wheel space). It'd have 3-4 bedrooms in total, 1 of which which would be mine, the other bedrooms would be on a separate area of the site for POSSIBLE renting out, pending further discussions with you).

We can discuss my ideas on the design/build and chat about the potential for repeated 1-week Airbnb rent-outs of a few spare rooms in my design/build? Having lived and spent many years in Cornwall, I realise the importance of tourism, so if I help generate income for the local community by renting out rooms in my new home for a week at a time, then it's all good, right? The place will look terrific when it's finished, I'm a stickler for good design and aesthetics.

Is an acre of land an acceptable amount? I don't much care where in the country it is. (from Cornwall to Cumbria to Kent), so long as the nearby land has lot of natural clay deposits to use and where the tourism flow is high.

I believe that discussions between us are vital, communication here is essential because I don't want there to be any misunderstandings - if there's something you don't like or don't understand, please ask or tell me, I'm extremely flexible.

I hope I can very soon say goodbye to my benefits, get some help to get me started, borrow a little money when I'm gainfully employed by you and finally make a good life for myself. Ca you help me, please? I want to get started before the beginning of Summer 2017.

Important: I may, HOPEFULLY, be able to scrape together a thousand pounds (or there-abouts), to get me started but I'd need confirmation in writing that you will be helping me with my plan because once I start saving, my tenancy will surely be terminated within 2 or 3 months - I'd have nowhere else to go. I'd have to pay all the money back to my Housing Association landlord AND another thousand to HM Government if you accept to help me with my plan. In short, I'd have to divert my rent money from the Government funds (to help me change my life) - I have no other means of making that kind of money in such a short space of time until I'm working for you.

Here's hoping to hear from you soon. Many thanks for reading this rather lengthy post. You can contact me on here and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Please get in touch if you can help me help you. Thank you.

Best regards, Kester.

 

[RWG Contracts]

How much are you willing to pay for this acre of land?

 

[JD6920s]

I didn't manage to read past half way.
But my first thought is, if you have all these skills you talk of, why have you not just put them to good use instead of taking these benefits you say are making you sick to death?
Maybe you could better yourself to start with and not expect someone else to do it for you.
I think you will find it more rewarding in the long run.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

All I will say is, every man and his dog wants to build their own home, even if it's a few m2.

Whilst your intentions and ambition are impressive, I would aim a touch lower - get a job and re aclimetised to the world and stand on your own feet, then move on to house plot hunting

Best of luck

 

[KesAnd74]

All I will say is, every man and his dog wants to build their own home, even if it's a few m2.

Whilst your intentions and ambition are impressive, I would aim a touch lower - get a job and re aclimetised to the world and stand on your own feet, then move on to house plot hunting

Best of luck

and

I didn't manage to read past half way.
But my first thought is, if you have all these skills you talk of, why have you not just put them to good use instead of taking these benefits you say are making you sick to death?
Maybe you could better yourself to start with and not expect someone else to do it for you.
I think you will find it more rewarding in the long run.

That's just it: No one's OFFERING me a job. I've got 4 CVs, each one covers a handful of skills that I'm good at - instead of 1 CV with a well-honed set of skills that I'm brilliant at. I figured that, as my skills (esp' with a lack of recent experience) aren't exactly professional grade, no companies want me, I'd go this route instead. Basically, I have lots of general skills that I'm good at, not one professional-worthy skill/trade that I'm brilliant at - which is most likely why I'm getting no offers of jobs. I've had several interviews this past year but they've come to nothing. Anyway, I'm a creative guy, not a professional / academic.

I'd pay roughly a thousand to a thousand five hundred for the acre if it was well situated with water, (not on a flood plain), with trees, clay and good access and if the other help and work was guaranteed. How I paid it (installments, wage-clippings, lump-sum, helping with a farmer's market shop etc) would be up to us to discuss.

Here's a handful of questions for you: How's the tourism in your part of the country? Busy? Business is good at your local farmer's market shops? Also, what are some of your local attractions or places of interest? Care to give me some knowledge about your nearest? How could I help you? What needs doing? What needs producing? Want any ideas of new products to sell? What could I do to help improve your income/fortunes?

 

[Doing it for the kids]

and



That's just it: No one's OFFERING me a job. I've got 4 CVs, each one covers a handful of skills that I'm good at - instead of 1 CV with a well-honed set of skills that I'm brilliant at. I figured that, as my skills (esp' with a lack of recent experience) aren't exactly professional grade, no companies want me, I'd go this route instead. Basically, I have lots of general skills that I'm good at, not one professional-worthy skill/trade that I'm brilliant at - which is most likely why I'm getting no offers of jobs. I've had several interviews this past year but they've come to nothing. Anyway, I'm a creative guy, not a professional / academic.

I'd pay roughly a thousand to a thousand five hundred for the acre if it was well situated with water, (not on a flood plain), with trees, clay and good access and if the other help and work was guaranteed. How I paid it (installments, wage-clips pings, lump-sum, helping with a farmer's market shop etc) would be up to us to discuss.

Here's a handful of questions for you: How's the tourism in your part of the country? Busy? Business is good at your local farmer's market shops? Also, what are some of your local attractions or places of interest? Care to give me some knowledge about your nearest? How could I help you? What needs doing? What needs producing? Want any ideas of new products to sell? What could I do to help improve your income/fortunes?

If you are allowed to build anything on it add two more £00's to your valuation.

Like I say, see my previous post. If your skills are as valuable as you think they are, someone would have snapped you up by now, margins are tight out there, folk would want to take you on for minimum wage if you were worth it to exploit you.

 

[RWG Contracts]

and



That's just it: No one's OFFERING me a job. I've got 4 CVs, each one covers a handful of skills that I'm good at - instead of 1 CV with a well-honed set of skills that I'm brilliant at. I figured that, as my skills (esp' with a lack of recent experience) aren't exactly professional grade, no companies want me, I'd go this route instead. Basically, I have lots of general skills that I'm good at, not one professional-worthy skill/trade that I'm brilliant at - which is most likely why I'm getting no offers of jobs. I've had several interviews this past year but they've come to nothing. Anyway, I'm a creative guy, not a professional / academic.

I'd pay roughly a thousand to a thousand five hundred for the acre if it was well situated with water, (not on a flood plain), with trees, clay and good access and if the other help and work was guaranteed. How I paid it (installments, wage-clippings, lump-sum, helping with a farmer's market shop etc) would be up to us to discuss.

Here's a handful of questions for you: How's the tourism in your part of the country? Busy? Business is good at your local farmer's market shops? Also, what are some of your local attractions or places of interest? Care to give me some knowledge about your nearest? How could I help you? What needs doing? What needs producing? Want any ideas of new products to sell? What could I do to help improve your income/fortunes?

 

[Doing it for the kids]

He can work on sales for you! Free up time in your office, keep your hands crack free

 

[RWG Contracts]

He can work on sales for you! Free up time in your office, keep your hands crack free

Have to be a hard worker only taking home £1.80 an hour working 100 hours a week for the next year if they want an acre for a £1000

 

[multi power]

and



I'd pay roughly a thousand to a thousand five hundred for the acre

Sadly an acre you would be allowed to build on would cost £100,000 at the very least

 

[spin cycle]

anyone who mocks the op should remember..however naive the op may seem....a lot of us have so much and by the grace of god we go

 

[KesAnd74]

It wouldn't be MY home per se, a form/type of lease perhaps or I'd make and sign an agreement with you so I couldn't sell it or that when I left I'd have to demolish it. For me, it's not about 'market value', it's not about making it a home I'd give to my kids (if I had any, I don't), it's purely just for me to live somewhere and live a healthier, nicer, more active lifestyle, (as I said in my original post), a home to enjoy and to be creative too. I'd not be buying the land, rather I'd be paying for the privilege to use it to build a home on, a home that wouldn't be permanent but I'd have the right to live in it.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

I tried offering sensible advice. Yes, some of us are very lucky to be asset rich.

Sadly this world is evolving in to folk being scared to actually be truthful. Afraid I don't subscribe to that.

If someone thinks he has the potential of buying a build plot for 1% of its market value then he needs to be told straight so he can realign his life's ambitions.

If I was him I would be knocking on doors localling offering my services for free In exchange for experience, not trying to relocate his life off the back of his skills which no one seems to value but him.

Sorry but truth can hurt. Maybe I am evil though

 

[borderterribles]

anyone who mocks the op should remember..however naive the op may seem....a lot of us have so much and by the grace of god we go

Absolutely this, peeps! I hope that the OP is successful in their aspirations. There are a good many on here who have never even had to apply for a job, let alone survive in London on benefits!

 

[ladycrofter]

Just curious, if your were West Country, how did you end up in London?

Here's an idea for you. Get yourself onto a picking gang (soft fruit, veg, apples, whatever). Then you will be actually getting on farms, have a (caravan) roof over your head, money for food, company, etc. From there you will be able to make contact directly with farmers and IMO much more likely to find what you are looking for. It is easy to just say No to someone, but by making a good showing of yourself word gets around and maybe somebody knows somebody who's looking for help with . . .

Best of luck.

 

[KesAnd74]

Absolutely this, peeps! I hope that the OP is successful in their aspirations. There are a good many on here who have never even had to apply for a job, let alone survive in London on benefits!

Trying to live in London, on benefits is hell. No money to do much else apart from pay your BASIC bills, pay for food and a bit of localised travel every so often. When you're ACTIVELY looking for work but getting no job offers, no nothing, there comes a time when one has to reevaluate your priorities.

Just curious, if your were West Country, how did you end up in London? . . . Best of luck.

Thank you. I lived in Cornwall for many years, mainly studying and working, (mainly agricultural work; picking/packing flowers/bulbs), but came to London to see if I could get a proper job; it didn't materialise. So, here I am, looking at what realistically is my last opportunity. I don't have any assets, I don't have family who'd help me, I don't have many friends, (very few in fact), and I don't have any savings, (hence the potentially taking 3 months' rent money to help get me started if that's what I have to do), but only IF there's a solid offer on the table here.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

Trying to live in London, on benefits is hell. No money to do much else apart from pay your BASIC bills, pay for food and a bit of localised travel every so often. When you're ACTIVELY looking for work but getting no job offers, no nothing, there comes a time when one has to reevaluate your priorities.


Thank you. I lived in Cornwall for many years, mainly studying and working, (mainly agricultural work; picking/packing flowers/bulbs), but came to London to see if I could get a proper job; it didn't materialise. So, here I am, looking at what realistically is my last opportunity. I don't have any assets, I don't have family who'd help me, I don't have many friends, (very few in fact), and I don't have any savings, (hence the potentially taking 3 months' rent money to help get me started if that's what I have to do), but only IF there's a solid offer on the table here.

Forgive my ignorance but are you saying that there is no work available in London at the moment?
I was under the impression that someone with the right attitude could pretty much walk in to a McDonalds, Sainsburys etc and be working the next day.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Some Suffolk jobs in pleasant places that may suit your skill set; https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/SearchResults.aspx?ocg=985
SS

 

[wilber]

Just curious, if your were West Country, how did you end up in London?

Here's an idea for you. Get yourself onto a picking gang (soft fruit, veg, apples, whatever). Then you will be actually getting on farms, have a (caravan) roof over your head, money for food, company, etc. From there you will be able to make contact directly with farmers and IMO much more likely to find what you are looking for. It is easy to just say No to someone, but by making a good showing of yourself word gets around and maybe somebody knows somebody who's looking for help with . . .

Best of luck.

The best bit of advice here.

Get out of London, and into mundain poorly paid labour jobs on farms/agriculture, it might be a big hit to your standard of living but if you truly wish to achieve your goal this will be the best route. You will have the chance to meet and mix with people who will pay you for your skills.

I honestly cant see a single person on here willing to sign that type of agreement with you when they dont know you from adam, that type of trust would take years to build.

 

[Robigus]

Try offering a Vespa in exchange for a free acre of building land, or you could branch out into dead horse removal.