Struggling ... and now boiler has been condemned

izoomzoom

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1200
Partners monthly income after tax....... 600
Benefits................................ 259
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2059

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 520
Secured loan repayments................. 0
Rent.................................... 125
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 115
Electricity............................. 56
Gas..................................... 50
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 55
Telephone (land line)................... 45
Mobile phone............................ 0
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 22
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 290
Clothing................................ 20
Petrol/diesel........................... 60
Road tax................................ 25
Car Insurance........................... 37
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 25
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 35
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 5
Life assurance ......................... 57
Other insurance......................... 27
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 45
Haircuts................................ 7
Entertainment........................... 48
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1681

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Virgin.........................5525......25........0
M*S............................920.......23........18.9.....now 607
Car............................1330......190.......7.9
Boiler.........................500.......50........0
Family Emergency...............700.......50........0

Total unsecured debts..........8975......338.......-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 2,059
Expenses (including secured debts)....... 1,681
Available for debt repayments........... 378
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 338
Surplus(deficit if negative)............ 40

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

======== Enter any other useful information below ========
Other debts which I haven't look at repaying:
Overdraft £300 (costs me £2 interest per month)
Uncle £1000
Mum £ 1900
Eon £460 (the put a cr on our acc instead of dr)
HMRC £350 (so that DH qualifies for pension - not sure if we need bother - still need to check

izoomzoom

We are having a particularly difficult month and when I thought things couldn't get worse, they have.

DH missed two separate weeks of work last month so we were £500 short on his pay packet. Our fridge packed up too, so that has been an extra we have had to find but the worst is that our boiler has been condemned and we need to get a new one, and I don't have the money for it. In a hut shell our debt is as follows:

Car £190 till next June
CC £5500 0% till next Mar
CC £1000 about 18%.

Biggest problem before the boiler was that we didn't have enough cash to last the month, so have been adding to the last mentioned CC. I should have a few extra hundred pounds in my chq this month for holiday pay that was owing but with Xmas etc there just isn't enough money.

Boiler is going to cost about £2800 (cash) and although I don't want to get another loan, I don't feel I have a choice. We have 3 children, 1 is a baby still and our gas is disconnected so no hot water, heating or cooking (though National Grid did give us a two plate stove and some little heaters).

I believe we have a good credit rating (never missed payments etc) but it does just seem to be getting harder and harder and harder.

Don't even really know what I am asking, but at least I have officially entered this part of MSE.

Naomim

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Are you sure that is the best price for a boiler. I had a new one put in and it cost £1300.00 including labour which was more or less a whole day. Call around and get some quotes.

Once you've posted up the SOA we can have a look and see what we can do to help

Naomi x

Jesthar

Hi zoom,

*hugs* What a nightmare!

I agree with Naomi, are you sure that is the best price you can get for a boiler? Do some shopping around, and ask your friends/family for recommendations for suppliers/fitters etc. You also want to make sure you get a good make/model of boiler - it might cost you more now, but it should save you money and last longer. I think Worcester and Bosch come pretty well recommended, but don't take my word for it.

You may also want to check if you are elegible for any grants towards this - not my specialist subject, but I'm sure someone around here will have some ideas.

Oh, and for cooking - have you got a slow cooker? They are excellent ways to make cheap and tasty meals whilst still getting on with life, and would likely use far les electricity than the electric hob.

Really hope things start going better for you.

~Jes

laura2481

Same thing happened to me after christmas, we ended up paying £1600 to a local chap who did it for cash (but legit, recepits and guarantees and everything) So have a good look around. But make sure you get a decent make or it's a false economy. Worchester Bosch are apparently very good. British Gas quoted us £2500, and our guy did the same one for £1600.

izoomzoom

We phoned 7 people yesterday, 2 came same day and I have got £2800 and £2500 quotes from them. There is a bit of repositioning of the boiler in that its current position is in the kitchen and the exhuast thing is too low, so it has to be moved. someone else is coming tomorrow, and one other is too busy, other 3 didn't bother calling back.

okay off to find some more numbers to get more quotes.

Cerisa

ask for a fridge on freecycle. sorry i cant be more help.

Tashja

Hi hun

I am not a lot of help but if you are on certain benefits/low income I think you can get a new boiler on the Warmfront Grant. They have just given us £2,800 to have a whole new CH system fitted.

T xx

TITEASCRAMP

Do you have an electric shower? Just wondered if maybe if you had you could manage with a Gas fire and shower until you have manage to save a bit more money towards the cost of a boiler.

izoomzoom

Thanks for suggestions. British Gas quoted £4200, but a friend just used someone local and although he hasn't come back with a fixed figure, he did say it would be in the region of £2000, so I think we are going to go with that. A friend is going to lend us £1000 (returning a favour) interest free, and I have £400 so probably only need about £700 (will need to build a cupboard for boiler but been on moneysupermarket and rates seem to be credit card rates cos amount is low-ish and i don't want to do it over too long a term (definitely less than a year). However suppose I really need to get SOA up cos I don't know what we are going to be able to afford.

Fridge is sorted now (but now I need to buy food cos we have NOTHING left)

izoomzoom

TITEASCRAMP wrote: »

Do you have an electric shower? Just wondered if maybe if you had you could manage with a Gas fire and shower until you have manage to save a bit more money towards the cost of a boiler.

sorry no electric shower nor gas fire