The Diary of a reformed Ostrich! (no more head in the sand!)

MrsTinks

petrafyde wrote: »

Thanks, I did mean the ones which hadn't contacted me -- sorry I didn't make that clear!

The goal is to pay everything ultimately, but my credit file has to come last in terms of importance, so anything which has waited six years without contact will not get priority is what I'm thinking.

Yes that would rought be about it Remember that many creditors will sell the debt on a few months before it reaches the magical 6 years - and thus some of our fondest friends pop their heads up with VERY aggressive collection demands If they do come straight here and we'll help you deal with their bully tactics

belfastgirl23

Well done for finally facing up to things!

All I can say is that it will be incredibly scary at this stage but that the unknown is always scarier than the known. So once you know it all, you will start to feel a bit better. And you're right to focus on one thing at a time, if you can get your SOA done today that's a big achievement. If there's stuff missing you can always update it. I'd say put as much on as possible at the minute.

The spending diary is also a good idea, it is amazing how easy it is to fritter money away on things you don't need, and it gives you a sense of having some control as well. What it means is that you write down every single penny you spend and then start looking at how it adds up over time.

Don't look too far ahead, your task for now is to work out your SOA and where you stand. People here will help you with what's around the corner and you will get through it, so don't worry about it for now.

Lots of luck and keep posting.

petrafyde

Hi Saucymare, thanks a lot.

MrsTine - we already had a very nasty visit last year, his dad came to the rescue in the end because they were threatening us with all kinds and to be honest, even though I'm not stupid, I found myself floundering not knowing what to do, they refused to move until they had the money, or the car. His dad paid it off for us, but that's another in the long list of 'gives' from our parents that I hope we can one day repay.

petrafyde

Income, Expense, Debt & Asset Details

IncomeAmount(£)Monthly income after tax0

Partners monthly income 1150
Benefits 940.59
Other income 0
Total monthly income 2090.59

ExpensesAmount(£)

Mortgage 0

Secured loan payments 0

Rent 0

Management charge (leasehold property) 0

Council tax 177

Electricity 103

Gas 156

Oil 0

Water Rates 20.56

Telephone (land line) 40

Mobile phone 0

TV Licence 11.8

Satellite/Cable TV 40

Internet services 22

Groceries etc. 450

Clothing 50

Petrol/diesel 60

Road tax 15.41

Car Insurance 66

Car maintenenance (including MOT) 0

Car Parking 0

Other travel 0

Childcare/nursery 0

Other child related expenses 0

Medical (prescriptions, dentists, opticians etc.) 0

Pet Insurance/Vet bills 0

Buildings Insurance 0

Contents Insurance 0

Life Assurance 0

Other Insurance 13.45

Presents (birthday, christmas etc.)150

Haircuts 50

Entertainment 0

Holiday 0

Emergency Fund 0

Provident 472

School trips etc 40

Dinner monies 74

Total monthly expenses 2011.22

Secured Debt DescriptionDebt(£)Monthly(£)APR(%)Mortgage0(0) 0Secured Debt totals0- -

Unsecured Debt DescriptionDebt(£)Monthly(£)APR(%)

Npower 900 min payment 100

Vanquis1500 min payment 68 39.9%

Unsecured Debt totals2400168- (??)

Asset DescriptionValue (£)Cash0House Value (Gross)0Shares and bonds0Car(s)1500Other assets (e.g. endowments, jewellery etc) 0Total Assets1500

The reason there is no rent/mortgage is because we've moved into a house Ju's dad owns, so that's dealt with thank god. I'm sure I've missed things. Bank charges also -- they're spiralling out of control and sucking up every spare penny (we obviously don't!) have, so DD's are bouncing everywhere, which is the main reason we're in trouble with Npower.

McKneff

:hello:
If you ring the DVLA, speak to them nicely and explain the circumstances they have the power waive the fine. I did this once when my husband was off work with major eye problems and there were other issues but they did waive the fine in my case. It may work, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

petrafyde

Also, we're a family of five. School trip costs are worrying me because we now have all three at the same school. That £40 was because some of them are costing over £100 which the eldest is going on two of (she moves to seniors next year).

I'm thinking to do packed lunches instead of paying for dinners for starters?

Didn't know what to put for bdays/xmas - we tend to just panic buy at xmas so I need to budget for that somehow.

Now that I've found we have literally no money, it all seems much worse than I thought?

sarriep

Income, Expense, Debt & Asset Details

IncomeAmount(£)Monthly income after tax0

Partners monthly income 1150
Benefits 940.59
Other income 0
Total monthly income 2090.59

ExpensesAmount(£)

Mortgage 0

Secured loan payments 0

Rent 0

Management charge (leasehold property) 0

Council tax 177

Electricity 103Are these monthly? So £279 a month for gass and electric?? That can't be right?????

Gas 156

Oil 0

Water Rates 20.56

Telephone (land line) 40

Mobile phone 0

TV Licence 11.8

Satellite/Cable TV 40 Your finances would suggets this has to go - freeview is FREE!!!

Internet services 22 Too high with £40 telephone as well.

Groceries etc. 450

Clothing 50

Petrol/diesel 60

Road tax 15.41

Car Insurance 66

Car maintenenance (including MOT) 0

Car Parking 0

Other travel 0

Childcare/nursery 0

Other child related expenses 0

Medical (prescriptions, dentists, opticians etc.) 0

Pet Insurance/Vet bills 0

Buildings Insurance 0

Contents Insurance 0

Life Assurance 0

Other Insurance 13.45

Presents (birthday, christmas etc.)150 You certainly can't afford this every month.

Haircuts 50 This is too high!

Entertainment 0 You are allowed something for this!

Holiday 0

Emergency Fund 0 You should have something here too

Provident 472 What is this for?

School trips etc 40

Dinner monies 74 I know this is a lot, a dilemma we had. Packed lunches are cheaper....

Total monthly expenses 2011.22

Secured Debt DescriptionDebt(£)Monthly(£)APR(%)Mortgage0(0) 0Secured Debt totals0- -

Unsecured Debt DescriptionDebt(£)Monthly(£)APR(%)

Npower 900 min payment 100

Vanquis1500 min payment 68 39.9%

Unsecured Debt totals2400168- (??)

Asset DescriptionValue (£)Cash0House Value (Gross)0Shares and bonds0Car(s)1500Other assets (e.g. endowments, jewellery etc) 0Total Assets1500

Are all of your figures monthly? Some seem very high. I think you need to make some big cuts in some areas - gas/ electric and birthdays/ christmas especially! There will be lots more advice coming soon.
Sx

petrafyde

Provident is a loan I couldn't put into the debt section because I'm not sure how much exactly we owe.

We are in arrears with gas/npower - because of the issue with the bank charges, some payments were returned unpaid and they've just continued to charge us that rate. £259 has been what they've demanded from us for the past eight months. Electricity is apparently standing at £65 and we aren't due to be billed until December. Gas owed is £900 and growing by the minute.

Like I said, I didn't know what to put in the xmas/bday thing, but we do have three kids who have three birthdays and xmas also so figured I had to budget something, I didn't know what to put in.

Telephone is being reduced as I speak. I've been onto BT who have admitted we're in credit, so that's being sorted. I'll look into changing providers to have BB and phone together.

MrsTinks

petrafyde wrote: »

Income, Expense, Debt & Asset Details

IncomeAmount(£)Monthly income after tax0

Partners monthly income 1150
Benefits 940.59
Other income 0
Total monthly income 2090.59

ExpensesAmount(£)

Mortgage 0

Secured loan payments 0

Rent 0

Management charge (leasehold property) 0

Council tax 177 - ouch is this in arrears?

Electricity 103 - I'm guessing the 900 Npower has something to do with the amount here? You need to look at reducing your actual usage though - things like halogen bulbs just suck electricity... same with fishtanks etc

Gas 156 - ouch ouch ouch - is this arrears? If not then you need to address this big time! Both by reducing usage and by changing suppliers.

Oil 0

Water Rates 20.56

Telephone (land line) 40

Mobile phone 0

TV Licence 11.8

Satellite/Cable TV 40 Gotta go - that is NOT a suggestion btw

Internet services 22 You can definitely reduce this - look at something like Tiscali for combined phone and BB. And try to reduce phone calls...

Groceries etc. 450 Oh boy you can SO reduce this Go to the Old Style board for loads of advice and ideas Things like washingpowder can be made to last longer by doing half and half powder and soda crystals. Halve the amount of conditioner too Do the cupboard challenges and you'll soon reduce this down!

Clothing 50 This needs to be reduced for a while...

Petrol/diesel 60 Think twice before driving somewhere - can you walk or cycle?

Road tax 15.41

Car Insurance 66 OUCH how many cars is this for? Shop around and see if you can't get a better deal and check for cashback on sites like Quidco

Car maintenenance (including MOT) 0

Car Parking 0

Other travel 0

Childcare/nursery 0

Other child related expenses 0

Medical (prescriptions, dentists, opticians etc.) 0

Pet Insurance/Vet bills 0

Buildings Insurance 0

Contents Insurance 0

Life Assurance 0

Other Insurance 13.45 what for?

Presents (birthday, christmas etc.)150 Nope - this has to be reduced - MASX £50 a month allocated to this. For great ideas visit the special occasions and celebrations board.

Haircuts 50 again... this can be reduced. LOTS

Entertainment 0

Holiday 0

Emergency Fund 0

Provident 472

School trips etc 40 The kids can go on school trips but they are going to have to start earning at least half the money themselves. I used to and it didn't do me any harm! It's amazing how much they can earn if they want to... helping neighbours cleaning cars, walking dogs, doing odd jobs and chores

Dinner monies 74 Packed lunches all round from now on. It will probably be more healthy too in all honesty

Total monthly expenses 2011.22

Secured Debt DescriptionDebt(£)Monthly(£)APR(%)Mortgage0(0) 0Secured Debt totals0- -

Unsecured Debt DescriptionDebt(£)Monthly(£)APR(%)

Npower 900 min payment 100

Vanquis1500 min payment 68 39.9%

Unsecured Debt totals2400168- (??)

Asset DescriptionValue (£)Cash0House Value (Gross)0Shares and bonds0Car(s)1500Other assets (e.g. endowments, jewellery etc) 0Total Assets1500

The reason there is no rent/mortgage is because we've moved into a house Ju's dad owns, so that's dealt with thank god. I'm sure I've missed things. Bank charges also -- they're spiralling out of control and sucking up every spare penny (we obviously don't!) have, so DD's are bouncing everywhere, which is the main reason we're in trouble with Npower.

I have made some suggestions above...

sarriep

You should put provident in the loan bit too. Could you ring them up and find out the balance? I know birthdays/ Christmas is expensive (I have 4 children 17, 11, 7 and 5) but £150 each month is really too much. We're going to have a budget Christmas this year!!! At the end of the day I think I worry more about the kids having new stuff that they do!
We've had to really change how we see money and think in a very different way. I'm quite horrified at my own situation, it's very hard to face the reality but feels SSSSSOOOOOOO good when things start getting sorted.
Your gas and electricity makes sense now. I'm not sure what you can do about that. A DMP may be the way forward. We will be paying around £550 each month into ours instead of (not being able to pay) £1100. CCCS are fabulous at advising you. They have an online Debt Remedy form you can use which will give you some idea of the way forward.
Keep visiting here, the advice here really really has changed my life!
Could you Ebay some stuff too?
Sx