Now we're in the poo!

Hootie19 · 30 August 2006 at 11:18PM

I posted my soa and debts recently, and had some good advice etc.

However, I forgot to take into account the overdrafts that we each have on our current accounts. And the trouble is, my husband was off sick for 2 weeks last month (a hernia operation) and therefore didn't work any overtime. So his wage was down £400 on it's usual amount. And his overdraft wasn't down.

We both got paid on 25th of August, and today my husband couldn't get any cash out of the bank to put diesel into his car (essential for work - no public transport and way too far to walk) so that's scary on its own.

My overdraft facility is £600 and my current account tonight sits at -£442.19. I have about £40 on debit card payments to come out of that too.

My son goes back to school on Tuesday and he has NO school shoes, NO school trousers (teenagers!! why do they insist on growing they way they do) and NO football boots (probably not essential, but the other two things are) (he's 14 btw and very tall).

I also have to feed 5 of us for the next 4 weeks plus find money for diesel for my husband to get to to work. Fortunately, they are very short staffed at the moment, so overtime is coming at him left right and centre. He worked all over the bank holiday weekend, which equates to at least another week's wage next month . . . . but that's next month and it's this month I have to deal with.

I also have to find £177 to pay my accountant for the last three years' accounts, before he will complete the accounts and negotiations with the IR. Without these accounts, I have no idea of my income last year and therefore haven't got a P45 in order to get a tax code for my current (new) employers. I also have to pay £100 to the Inland Revenue (slap on the wrist for not registering as self employed - although I thought I had).

The plus points (and there aren't very many of them) is that I have enough food in for packed lunches for us all for the rest of the month (thank goodness THAT bit of forward planning was done - and frozen!) and I'm pretty sure I can feed us with all the single portions of stuff that's been frozen in the past couple of months, as well as some other stuff that's been lurking in the bottom of the freezer.

I have calculated that we have, taking into account all the credit cards and bank accounts, just over £6,000 in potential reclaimable bank charges etc. The problem is, we haven't got all the statements, and we don't have the £50 we'd need to be able to send £10 to each of the providers to get copies of past statements or lists of charges from each of the providers. That would at least be a starting point, although it wouldn't solve the immediate month's problem.

I have car booted to DEATH the last 2 months since giving up childminding, and have just about cleared everything out, so there's nothing there to sell on.

On 7th September the child benefit of £163.40 will be paid into the bank, and on or around the 8th Septmember will be the princely sum of £10.62 in tax credits (I think - they never seem able to make their minds up).

We have a RUBBISH credit record, and I have previous applied for an increase in my overdraft (for two days only) and was refused. My husband has tried the same, with the same results.

Not even sure why I'm posting this - I can't really see a way out of this. It's my son's back to school stuff that I'm really worrying about.

Can I do this? Will I get to the end of the month without going over my overdraft limit?

Have I missed something that could be a potential money-getter in the short term?

littlestar1981 · 30 August 2006 at 11:31PM

One thing I've learned in my addiction to MSE is there's ALWAYS something that we can do. :j

I don't know if this applies to very tall 14 years olds, but aren't the supermarkets getting ultra competitive over school uniforms? The adverts on TV seem to suggest you can kit out a child for about £10!

La_Tristesse_Durera · 30 August 2006 at 11:33PM

Evening, I'll see if I can help... but my advice will probably be useless!!

Re food and petrol situation; I know it's not a good idea, but can you just write a cheque? I know they'll bounce and make you further overdrawn, but you can claim the charge back... and at least you'll have food and petrol for the month which - after mortgage - are the next priorities. Maybe your partner can ask for an advance on wages possibly?

Re school kit; No idea... last year's for the next few weeks? Then when you get paid next the items might be reduced?

Re accountant; Is it priority? (Sorry I don't know how it works!) Maybe you can come to an arrangement.

Also, it might be worth opening a new account so wages don't get sucked into charges etc? I know the charges / overdraft will still be there, but rather than say £400 of next months wages being sucked into it, you can have your full salaries paid into a new account that your current bank can't touch, then you can arrange a repayment plan with them maybe?

I know that most companies ask for the £10 DPA statements, however, if you try it, some might give this info to you for free. Amex did with myself under a 'Goodwill gesture'. Failing that just contact one or two banks at a time.

Hope that helps a bit :beer:

Hootie19 · 30 August 2006 at 11:45PM

thank you for the speedy replies - I didn't really expect any replies this late!

littlestar - thank you. I must admit I've just glazed over at the uniform advertising during the holidays lol. However, I think you're right, and I will take him to ASDA and Tesco at the weekend. Hopefully, we'll be able to pick up at least a pair of trousers (getting ones to fit is the problem, and unfortunately, I'm utterly useless with a needle and thread, so alterations are out of the question). One pair will do him for the time being, I think, as they wash and dry really well these days, don't they.

The shoes are a problem, as I am one of those who will NOT buy cheap shoes. I did it once and it was the biggest waste of money ever.

I also forgot to add in that he needs a new school jumper. They wore polo shirts in the summer months, but when they go back next week, it's back to shirts/ties and jumpers. And the school jumpers of course, can ONLY be bought from the school and cost a mere £20 each. Ripoffs! But it's an essential, and he will NEED one from the uniform on the first day back. (Dont quite know what happened to his old one, but when I went to wash it to freshen it up a coupel of weeks ago, it had ENORMOUS holes over it, so it had to be binned.

La Tristesse Durera - I didn't dare mention writing a rubber cheque out in my OP - I thought I'd be jumped on from a great height! However, I think it might have to be done.

I'm definitely going to open a new bank account though - it's recommended to do that when you are claiming back bank charges in case your bank closes your account when they've paid back the charges (see - looking positive here!)

I'll send off the letters to the credit card companies anyway. It's only going to cost me a stamp, and if they write back and say I have to pay, then I'm no worse off, am I, cos I wouldn't have been getting the statements any sooner as I don't have the money to send off now anyway (I hope that makes sense lol. It's getting late, and it made sense in my head.)

I think the accountant IS a priority as he is my go-between with the Revenue, and they're making rumbling noises. I'll have to sort something out soon with him.

again, thank you both for the speedy replies. I'm quite blown away by how supportive people are, especially when you hold you hand up and admit to being a fool with money!

liberty23 · 30 August 2006 at 11:46PM

Hi, I'm new to this forum, but I'd like to help. I run a clothing business and if you let me know what size shoes, trousers & anything else your son takes I can see if I have any in his size. I can't promise anything as I have limited stock for teenagers, but I wouldn't expect any money and I can post them directly to your address.

msmicawber · 31 August 2006 at 12:01AM

I've sent you a PM, Hootie.

crawley_girl · 31 August 2006 at 12:04AM

liberty23 wrote:

Hi, I'm new to this forum, but I'd like to help. I run a clothing business and if you let me know what size shoes, trousers & anything else your son takes I can see if I have any in his size. I can't promise anything as I have limited stock for teenagers, but I wouldn't expect any money and I can post them directly to your address.

Oooooooooooooh how lovely!

Karma67 · 31 August 2006 at 12:34AM

not much to say but best of luck..i wish i could help re uniform!! sorry!

I wouldnt bounce any cheques (been there done that!!)..but could u ask your bank to increase ur overdraft for one month until the next payday?? that would stop any charges added to your account.

btw pressed Thanks button for liberty23 offer...very kind and in MSE spirit...

lavidaloca · 31 August 2006 at 7:42AM

Presume you are now employed and not self employed, if so your new employers should give you a form P46 to complete and if this job is your only job they will put you on the emergency code.

Thefunkygibbons · 31 August 2006 at 9:21AM

Do you have any other support networks? Church, family that can be tapped for a few £ as it sounds like you are just in a very temporary hole

gingerdad · 31 August 2006 at 9:43AM

Silly point possibly, but the school i went to you had to wear there jumpers, but the did do a uniform swap at the start of each term and people could sell their old uniform and they also sold the lost property thus keeping costs down, it may be worth asking at the school

GD

Now we're in the poo!

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