DFW Diary

Vashda_Nerada

Hi all, I've been a lurker for quite some time but the time has now come to bit the bullet and get this sorted once and for all.
I'll post a SOA later today once I've found APR's and suchlike.

Just wanted to post this so I've committed myself to posting up my SOA and then I won't back out as I have done for god knows how long.

Feeling quite discouraged too, I'm paying so much out and I feel like I have nothing to look forward to as I can't afford things like days out or holidays and I seem to get no enjoyment from money. Money just feels like an absolute burden to me and I know I'll be riding this out for a few years to come. The end of debt just seems so far away

Horace

Hi and welcome

Post your SOA and then the good peeps on here will be able to give you some tips and advice.

As for days out - check out the freebies board as you may see offers over there for free cinema tickets and the like. To quote the man at Tesco "every little helps".

Vashda_Nerada

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 575
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 600
Other income............................ 75
Total monthly income.................... 1250

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured loan repayments................. 0
Rent.................................... 250
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 90
Electricity............................. 50
Gas..................................... 50
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 20
Mobile phone............................ 40
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 200
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 50
Childcare/nursery....................... 150
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 9
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 921

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

No Secured Debt

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Credit Union...................150.......35........6.8
Credit Card 1..................245.......5.........18.9
Credit Card 2..................198.......15........49
Overdraft......................1250......20........18.2
Council debt...................2200......50........0
Loan...........................5000......80........12
Student Loans Debt.............1100......50........0
Debt Collectors 2..............1010......50........0
Debt Collectors 1..............189.......15.42.....0
Total unsecured debts..........11342.....320.42....-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,250
Expenses (including secured debts)....... 921
Available for debt repayments........... 329
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 320.42
Surplus(deficit if negative)............ 8.58

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total Secured debt...................... -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -11,342
Net Assets.............................. -11,342

Created using the SOA calculator at https://www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission.

======== Enter any other useful information below ========

I'm a single parent and to a 10 year old, no car, no assets to sell, etc.
I'm at a loss as to how I'm going to keep this up with absolutely no disposable income to play with. The whole thing is making me utterly miserable and I can't see how I'll be able to keep this up for years to come

Buffythedebtslayer

hello,

would it impact on your benefits if you got a second job?

you could apply for AQA perhaps, or sell unwanted household stuff (toys, clothes) on e bay? Is there any way to cut back on bills? switch? or shop some where cheaper?

There are always ways! I know it doesn't seem like it but honestly there are

xxxx

Vashda_Nerada

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

hello,

would it impact on your benefits if you got a second job?

you could apply for AQA perhaps, or sell unwanted household stuff (toys, clothes) on e bay? Is there any way to cut back on bills? switch? or shop some where cheaper?

There are always ways! I know it doesn't seem like it but honestly there are

xxxx

Thanks for replying.

Yes, it would have a significant impact on my benefits if I got a 2nd job. Also, I've already looked into this and it's just not possible. I'm a single parent and I live far away from all my family so I have no childcare other than the school childcare club which I am already using to work during the week.

I have started to shop at cheaper places like Aldi and Lidl to cut my shopping bills.

As I don't have a car I can't do car boot sales (which is a proper shame as I love doing them!) but I have started to sell unwanted items on ebay so hopefully that should bring in a little extra

Vashda_Nerada

Just thought I'd bump this for the night owls to see because I've only had one reply. All help really welcome!

amyandjon

Hello there, dont really know what advice to offer because i too have just started my dfw diary..... apart from cutting your shopping billl down.... i shop at aldi and lidl the way forward... at least you dont have car expenses...... i dont know how you can maybe do things quicker, dont be disheartened.... i dont know much about benefits or what you are gettin them for, and i dont know what the allowanc eof hours are before it affects benefits...... childcare is there a friend or neighbour you can bribe for childcare ;-) you could half the cost..... i have no children but didnt realise childcare was so expensive ..... im not much help really eeeek :P justthought id say hello :hello:

savingholmes

Just calling in to say hello - I'm new to all this too!

You have some really high APRs on your credit section.... can you move any of that to lower interest

Also would it be worth talking to one of the debt counselling services (the free ones listed on this site) to see if they can offer any advice or help you get your interest frozen?

Looking at your soa - your council tax seems high if their just you and a child.... don't know if I've misunderstood.... also can you knock your mobile bill down a bit....