Advice desperately needed please

Fizz_Bomb wrote: »

Thank you for your response.

I spoke to both payplan and Stepchange last year who advised IVA and have since spoken to another IVA firm who have said the same, although they are looking at proposing a monthly repayment of as little as £80 per month because of my high outgoings and relatively low income.

I unfortunately don't get maintenance from the children's father.
I will do a SOA tomorrow when I can get on the laptop.
Can't thank you enough for replying.

If this is still for the same reasons as previously - that he has the children a couple of nights a week, then he still should be giving you something. At the moment you can't make ends meet - the children's quality of life will suffer. he needs to step up to the plate, frankly. I believe there is a tool on the CSA website that enables you to see how much he *should* be paying, allowing for the time he has custody, etc. If it were me, I'd take that figure, knock 20% off as a goodwill gesture, but tell him he needs to start giving you that amount. Do tell him that from the kindness of your heart you're not asking for what the CSA would stipulate, too - it's amazing how well that focuses the mind!

Sanctioned_Parts_List wrote: »

Oh yes, if the boards did a "robbing Peter to pay Paul" badge, I'd have two!

As EH says, do a Statement of Affairs for yourself. I've linked it directly, because I'm nice

:rotfl::rotfl: I quite deliberately don't - the very act that someone has top put the effort into going to look for it indicates a willingness to sort themselves out.

mum2one wrote: »

youve done the hardest step, just check that any company you work with are free ones such as Stepchange / payplan - others are fee paying, xx

Agreed.

well done - comments in red as usual...

Fizz_Bomb wrote: »

Here is my SOA as promised, It's bleak


Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 0
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 808
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 1058
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1866
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 500
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 75 This includes single person discount? Do you pay over 10 months, or 12? If 10, apply to pay over 12 instead to help with budgeting
Electricity............................. 64.5 This and your gas are very high - join the MSE cheap energy club and see where you can move to that would be cheaper - check both single deals and dual fuel offers.
Gas..................................... 64.5 See above
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 42
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 45 You need to bring this down - you're out of contract now are you?
TV Licence.............................. 12.12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 30.5Nope - ditch it. Sorry but it's a pure luxury in your position, and one which you can't afford.
Internet Services....................... 22.5 Does this include your landline rental?
Groceries etc. ......................... 280 Reduce by £100 as a starting point. The Old Style boarders will help you if you go and have a good browse around in there for inspiration.
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 120This is high taking into account your "other travel" figure - can you elaborate on why?
Road tax................................ 0? - see Petrol/diesel above
Car Insurance........................... 0? - see Petrol/diesel above
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0 ? - see Petrol/diesel above
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 200 ? - see Petrol/diesel above
Childcare/nursery....................... 52
Other child related expenses............ 40 Can you clarify what this is?
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 6 Well done!
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 3 Can you clarify what this is?
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 6
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1563.12

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 0

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Barclaycard platinum...........7200......170.......0
Barclaycard visa...............4647......106.......0
Tesco..........................5256......110.......0
Barclay loan...................4106......141.......6
N power .......................250.......30........0
Next...........................1581......60........20
Barclay overdrft...............850.......20........0
Mint ..........................4200......70........19.9
Total unsecured debts..........28090.....707.......-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,866
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,563.12
Available for debt repayments........... 302.88
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 707
Amount short for making debt repayments. -404.12 That's a massive deficit
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -28,090
Net Assets.............................. -28,090
Created using the SOA calculator at www.stoozing.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.

You're right - it is a bit bleak isn't it. To be honest there are savings, and if I were you I'd look to make them, but I think a further chat with a debt charity and then moving forward into some form of arrangement may be your only option. You MUST do something about it now though - you can see how much worse it's got since you last posted an SOA - imagine where you'll be if you leave action for another year.

Hi,
Are you getting the max council tax benefit you can.

I was in a similar position after my kids left but as others have said you MUST get maintenance from your ex, it doesn't matter if he has them a couple of nights a week, you'd be entitled to less but still some!

I think any debt charity would advise that the TV does go as it's not an essential