Ok, here goes!!!

Lozza001

That telephone includes internet. Yes I am going to look into other packages which combines them all, a couple of other people have mentioned that too, I have overlooked it.
OH has a habit of putting DD bills in the bin and I have confronted him about it, so this next month I will look at the phone/internet, and mobile bills so I can see exactly what we are paying for. Thanks for that suggestion I will check out Quidco.

Merlot

Lozza001 wrote: »

Hi,I have done it... built up the courage to put my SOA on here and face the consequences :embarasse
Monthly income after tax................ 1500
Partners monthly income after tax....... 1100
Benefits................................ 478
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 3078

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 628 - can you go on interest only for a while?
Secured loan repayments................. 766
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 97
Electricity............................. 34
Gas..................................... 75 - This is far to high, are you in arrears? if not, you need to sort this out
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 19
Telephone (land line)................... 32
Mobile phone............................ 45
TV Licence.............................. 11
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 7 - get rid of completely
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 250 - This seems very reasonable to me, but you are sure you are not spending more than this.
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 250
Road tax................................ 20
Car Insurance........................... 73 - This is too high
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 20
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 50
Other child related expenses............ 131 - What is this?
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 22
Contents insurance...................... 0 - No contents insurance, you need this - its far more important than cable/sky
Life assurance ......................... 0 - You need to have this, again this is far far more important than mobiles, sky etc.
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 20
Haircuts................................ 14
Entertainment........................... 20
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Car Payment............................. 220
Total monthly expenses.................. 2804

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 140000
Shares and bonds........................ 100
Car(s).................................. 6000
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 146100

Secured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 129000...(628)......0
Secured Debt.................. 78000....(766)......0
Total secured debts........... 207000....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
CAHOOT.........................3188.5....78........15.93
RAC............................413.3.....10........21.98
HALIFAX (OVERDRAFT)............3800......0.........0
BARCLAYCARD....................3000......77........0
EGG............................3633.4....77........1.67
VIRGIN.........................3188......32........15.93
Total unsecured debts..........17223.2...274.......-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 3,078
Expenses (including secured debts)....... 2,804
Available for debt repayments........... 274
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 274
Surplus(deficit if negative)............ 0

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 146,100
Total Secured debt...................... -207,000
Total Unsecured debt.................... -17,223.2
Net Assets.............................. -78,123.2

Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission.[/font]

======== Enter any other useful information below ========
There are 2 adults, myself and OH. 2 Children (one of which is a teenage dustbin) livingfull time, and 4 children who stay over one day/night a week.We are meeting repayments, but only minimum ones. Is there anything obvious that I can doto free up money to use to clear things faster. CCCS suggest br or a dpp. Br is not anoption as would affect OH employment and I don't just want to jump into a dpp without looking atother options.Any advice would be good. Oh I have applied for 0% cards to tfr cards to.Thanks

I have added comments in above - you are treading water, you need to seek advice from the CCCS or national debtline regarding a DMP, you could of course always do it yourself rather than using a debt charity.

markelock

have you made sure you are getting the right amount of benefits?

I do hear (anecdotal) tales of people being underpaid for years.

The risk is of course that they reduce the payments.

your gas is quite high (as is mine, an old large house, with single glazed windows)

According to British Gas, they have the cheapest rates on the market, it's online only. try some of the comparison sites (tab at the top of this page), where you can not only look at various companies prices, but also get £30 cashback a few months after you've joined up.

your car insurance seems high, I presume it's two cars though.

just for info, my finances are in no way perfect, and I think I may have a serious leak somewhere between my bank account and my pocket.

best of luck

Lozza001

Thanks Markelock,

We are in the process of trying to get some tax credit that we have been underpaid for the last 12 months. However we have been told that they will only pay 3 months of arrears... which I find quite disgusting as they are taking £2000 back off my husband and his ex at £30 each a month for an overpayment they just found from 3 years ago... where do they get off?

Well I am getting a list of things to look at now which is good. I am away with work for 2 days but I will start as soon as I am home on Thu eve.

Thanks all for your feedback so far. x

Lozza001

Ok, found a cheaper option for b/band and landline. Waiting for a code from my current supplier then I am going onto TalkTalk. That will cut my bill by about £15 p/month.

Also we are in the middle of deciding whether we can manage on one car. DH works 12 miles north from home and I work 30 miles south so it may be a struggle, but it will save £30+ on insurance a month and then also on car tax and fuel.

Merlot, the £131 other child related expenses is DH's CSA payment. This has only just reduced from £219 p/month, and knowing them it could change at the drop of a hat.

The mortgage is interest only, we changed it about 3 months ago to try and get ourselves straight.

The gas is high due to arrears as EDF reduced our payments to keep us as a customer, but the amnount they were charging to our account didn't change so we ended up in arrears. This is nearly cleared now. At the point when it is cleared I will go onto a comparison site and see if we can save.

We have contents and building insurance together.

Can anyone advise on self-insuring? I know it is mentioned on the main website but I am unsure.

I will look into life insurance. I know I have some with work, but I will do some research.