HERE IS MY SOA - I AM A BIT STUCK....... Can you please help me

--Gem--_3

Mol it could be so much worse. Dont beat yourself up it will not get you anywhere. ok honey?

How much do you need this car? Whats the current value and the current balance outstanding.

Have you considerd a run-about a to b car. You can pick a car up on ebay for under 200 with 12m t&t. I promise.

Thats under 2 car payments. What do you think?

mollygrub

Just wanted to say how wonderful you all are for taking the trouble to ponder on my problems and bother to reply
Thanks so much

mollygrub

Hi Gem, I have my car currently on autotrader - i am very proactive and dont give up easily!!!! It is probably worth about 4.5k but the outstanding balance of car loan maybe a bit more but i have to weigh up the pros and cons etc etc. I have to get to work from a rural area and am a bit concerned as my car is so, so reliable and only costs 35/year to tax and is so cheap to run - bit worried but i have advertised it to see what happens - no calls as yet so a bit worried it wouldnt sell anyway!

--Gem--_3

Honey you are so welcome. :-)

So the car? Fancy an extra £120 a month less stress??? x

GeorgeUK

Have you considered taking in a lodger? On some posts i've seen that it can bring in about £4kpa

mollygrub

Gem - yes i hope the car sells then i will buy an old banger and hope that i get on okay with it! Fingers crossed

George - I have an advert in tomorrow for a lodger

I am so, so proactive and have done all i can think of!!!

--Gem--_3

You really are mol, well done for facing this head on.

I only i came to my senses like you. It took me six months of going overdrawn and touching 19k of debt to realise where i had gone wrong.

My OH used to tell me all the time & i never listened. I think you really have to hit rock bottom yourself. You have to realise that things cannot get much worse (financially) before you can start to make things right.

You hae already done so much and should be proud of yourself.

mollygrub

Thanks again for being so kind. Off to bed now - at least sleep is free!!! Night everyone - you are wonderful and supportive -what more can I say but thanks!! xxxx

Jesthar

Hey Molly,

Well done on having the courage to face up to this!

Just a couple of queries from me:

Groceries - really £125? I'm a single lass living on her own, and I rarely spend even £80 in a 'bad' month on food an other basic household items. Is it possible for you to give some idea of how this breaks down - food, cleaning products etc? Nothing too detailed, just a rough idea - for example I see you have a pet, so I'm guessing pet food is included in groceries, so what does that cost you a month? £20 - £30? Whatever the answers, I'm sure the good people here will be able to suggest some savings - one lady on here recently fed her family (2 adults 2 children) for a whole month on under £30 and the existing contents of her kitchen cupboards after a cashflow crisis! Check the Old Style Money Savers board for plenty of ideas.

Secondly, you say you don't feel able to ask your son for a contribution to his expenses? I can understand this, but perhaps you could maybe try being honest with him about your finances being difficult and ask if he could maybe consider perhaps paying for one a grocery shop to help you out? It's embarrasing, I know, but better than worrying about it, and if he can manage it then every little helps. You may even find he is eager to help!

Anyway, keep your spirits up!

~Jes

petrafyde

Also - go to the shopping forum I forget what its called but there's loads of coupons and voucher codes you might be able to use for delivery of online shopping (saves petrol).

Example:

Today I did an online shop to stop me spending more cash. Concentrated mainly on the most basic brands or the BOGOFFs. I spent £41 plus delivery and used a £4 code I'd found on one of those threads = free delivery! Also got enough bread, milk and cheese to last us (family of five) for a month. Another thing - there's a website that works out when the supermarkets do their main reductions (what time of day etc) you could go then and see what they're reducing?

Focussing mainly on shopping because I reckon if you go careful you could get that £125 right down.

I already mentioned two ways to earn extra ofc, but what about arts and crafts? I know for a fact there are certain things which cost less than 5p a piece and sell like hotcakes on eBay. Beads! People go mad for beads. Or maybe something you could make yourself? Do you bake? Wedding cakes sell for a lot. There's a lot out there just waiting for you Molly You're so obviously really resourceful too - its just a matter of time before you're sorted I reckon.