acceptable budget for CCCS

ozzyfan_2

Hi everyone

As you can see I'm a newbie, I've been reading all the very useful info that you've all been posting over the last few months & have now rang CCCS to sort out my debt problem currently about £21000 (3 unsecured loans,OD & a a catologue) :eek:

What I would like to know is if you think that this would be an acceptable budget for me to go on a DMP?

Incomings

wages 823.77
tax credit 211.68
child benefit 68.00

total incomings 1103.45

budget for CCCS

rent (council house includes contents insurance) 232.16
council tax 12 payments by payment book 82.00
water rates 12 payments by payment book 32.57
phone/internet bb telewest 68.00
tv licence 10.99
food 200.00
clothes 40.00
everything else includes christmas/birthdays/emergency fund etc 139.73
electric 60.00 key meter (electric storage heaters can only afford to keep one on as its so expensive.
gas 8.00 card meter

this leaves £230 to offer CCCS for DMP but will it be enough?
also I am up to date with payments at the moment & am worried about what the banks will do when I send my token payment & letter at the end of the month as my appontment with CCCS is not till beginning of feb.
was advised to get another bank account due to overdraft which have managed to do.
having a battle with DLA at the moment as have disabled son was getting it till last year along with CA but thats another story.
have been living on a low income for so long problems mainly caused by consolidation loans has just been getting more & more unmanagable.
got rid of car & sky last year to save money.

I think thats about it, thanks for reading, any advice would be welcomed.

bank_of_slate

Hi Ozzyfan,

Welcome to MSE and well done for taking the bull by the horns and posting.
You'll get lots of help and advice on here!

I do have one suggestion RE your storage heaters. £60? That does seem expensive. Are the heaters old and need servicing to help make them more efficient? Or perhaps you could buy a cheaper heater from Argos for example that uses very little electricity.

Good luck and keep posting, you're never alone when you're on here!
...Linda xx

ozzyfan_2

thank you for the welcome

the storage heaters are ones put in by the council about 7 years ago & unfortunately because we have them they won't put central heating in which would be alot cheaper! they haven't been serviced since we had them. the one I have on is on the lowest setting too.
I will definately look into buying another cheaper heater or two I hadn't thought of that, thanks.

bank_of_slate

I would also recommend that you ask the council to service the ones that you have. They may be running less efficiently than they should be.
Is the house adequately insulated? If not you could be eligible for a Grant for the work to be done. Badger the council! You don't get if you don't ask
...Linda xx

BobProperty

Linda has beaten me to it. Insulation deals are available at present to bring houses up to current standards. Your council should have a deal with someone to do it at a big discount.

Bargain_Rzl

Your Telewest subscription seems very high at £68 even if this is all-inclusive of phone, broadband internet and cable TV. Is there anything you can do about this?

Edit: in fact, as you have kids, £40 seems low for clothes for all of you so maybe see if you can get Telewest down and re-budget the savings for clothing? I'm sure the CCCS would allow a higher figure for clothing - it's not as if you're only having to clothe yourself, you've got growing kids.

ozzyfan_2

thanks for the replies - much appreciated

re the insulation - we have loft insulation & cavity wall insulation but it is still freezing! one of the bedrooms in particular is really damp & the walls get wet I have spoken to the council but they just say leave the window open in the day to let the air circulate. they are pretty useless. but I will be on their back to get the heaters serviced.

re the telewest this isn't even for cable! just the bb & phone. I had a freeview aerial put on & a freeview box when we cancelled the sky. do you know anywhere that I could find a good deal on these.

if I could knock £20 off this then I will do as you suggested & put it on the clothes budget. its really difficult knowing what figures will be accepted by them & I also want to pay off my debts asap but I think its going to be about 8 years if the interest is stopped. pretty depressing.

I got my new bank details in the post just a minute ago so I am busy getting payments/dds transfered, at least its a start.

bank_of_slate

ozzyfan wrote:

thanks for the replies - much appreciated

re the insulation - we have loft insulation & cavity wall insulation but it is still freezing! one of the bedrooms in particular is really damp & the walls get wet I have spoken to the council but they just say leave the window open in the day to let the air circulate. they are pretty useless. but I will be on their back to get the heaters serviced.

re the telewest this isn't even for cable! just the bb & phone. I had a freeview aerial put on & a freeview box when we cancelled the sky. do you know anywhere that I could find a good deal on these.

I pay £68 for Telewest phone, braodband AND supreme digital tv package!
Check your bill and compare it on the telewest website with what a new customer would pay for the same service. (Also check out alternative qoutes for the same service from other providers)
If it's less, phone them up and quote your figures, tell them that you should also get this rate as a loyal customer and tell them the alternative quotes that you have.

Don't stand for the damp either, get advice from Environmental health!
Also check in your rental contract with the council about their obligations to keep the property habitable and safe. keep badgering them, to have you in a damp house in UNACCEPTABLE!!!!
...Linda xx

ozzyfan_2

I am just really really worried that £230 will not a good enough offer on a debt of £21000 to go on a DMP. Its just the waiting for the appointment thats getting to me, I still have 3 weeks to go & am so worried.

bank_of_slate

I know it's easy for me to say as I'm not in your position, but why are you worrying about something that hasn't even happened yet?
You're already stressed out enough without adding to it.

Ask yourself the following questions...
1, Is there anything else that you can do about it right now at this point in time?

If the answer is no, then keep reminding yourself that you have taken control, and taken the first important steps to sort the problem out. No it's not going to be sorted out overnight but you have faced up to your situation

2, Have you worked out your finances accurately and realistically?

If the answer is yes, then all you can do is wait for the appointment. you have worked out a reasonable budget, if they say no then it'll take a bit of re-jigging, take it one step at a time!

The cardinal rule...Don't get stressed about that which you have no control over.

....Linda xx

ozzyfan_2

thanks Linda

I know you're right I can't do any more at present.

I've tried so long to keep things going paymentwise & now I feel angry with myself & a failure but hopefully things will look up soon, I have had money worries for so long I can't see things in perspective sometimes.

I will try & take things day by day.

ty xx