SOA - Trying to make cut backs!

schueys_girl

Just to help on your Sky and phone rental dilemma...i have just sorted with Sky to have Sky + with basic entertainment package (16.50) plus news and events package (£1 this has british eurosport on which we use to watch the motogp, british superbikes and world superbikes), phone and line rental (with free evening and weekend calls) £10 and FREE broadband...

...all for £27.50 a month so you are paying way too much! Speak to SKy! I understand what you mean about the luxury it is ours too - we dont smoke and i have a tiny mini bottle of wine once a month and fiance has 4 cans of fosters once a month lol we have had freeview and couldnt knock it other than there is no motorbikes on there live and this is our passion so we pay for it..give sky a ring!:)

slummymummyof3

Can your husband put up some cards in the local supermarket/newsagents etc offering his heating/plumbing services? Surely there will be lots of people with heating problems at the moment or worse still burst pipes.
With regards to your Sky package - if you really need to keep it - phone them and threaten to leave as your husband has been made redundant and I'm sure you will be offered a substantial saving. Also look at the cash back sites (topcashback.co.uk, cashbackkings.com, quidco.com) as they often havecashback from Virgin media etc.

Debt_Free_Chick

NuttyBird wrote: »

Hubby has some work coming in now -(he is a Heating and Gas Engineer!) He was working on new build housing sites but as the builders have now slowed down (or stopped building) there is very little work.

He would almost certainly do very well doing private work! He might even make more money, but you need to do some careful research on what the going rate is in your area. You could do this by being a "mystery shopper" and phone some local engineers - ask what they charge for an annual service. Do they have a minimum charge? Do they have a call-out charge etc etc. Hubby will give you the questions to ask.

Advertising - look for free or very lo-cost ads e.g. cards in supermarkets, shop windows. Do you have a free Parish/local magazine?

This is not a good time to be relying in house-builders. It may be OK now, but look forwards for 3-12 months - what then?

When things were good I was able to save all my wages. So we do have saving to fall back on. I know they wont last for ever. A lot of the big expenses (house ins/car ins) I have just paid for the next year. I have a christmas and birthday fund for the next year.

The car will be paid off in March so that is another payment off the list.

I use the car once or twice a week thats it (petrol costs me about £25 per month)

I have a very full food cupboard (I think it could keep us going for 3-6 months!) Its a bit of a joke in our house! with us just buying Milk and bread, eggs and veg. I cook from scratch (mainly vegitarian foods)

Phew! :T

Do you think I should clear off the credit cards with the savings?

Are they 0% interest? If yes, then don't pay them off, but see if you can manage to pay more than £25 a month. Aim to pay them off before the 0% deals run out - easier after March once the car is paid off.

If they're not on 0% interest, then yes - pay them off as soon as you can. Use the car loan payment from April onwards and simply get rid - apart from the interest, you don't want the burden do you and when times are lean, it's one/two less things to worry about.

Cut the cards up or put them away. Some people put them in the freezer so they're not easy to get at :rotfl:

Don't panic and stay in touch here - I think you'll be fine as you seem very grounded :j

lynzpower

Also Op has your OH seen/ been using my hammer" where he can bid for private jobs?

Forris

Just to repeat what others have said re. Sky costs - how much!!? What are you getting for this?

You say on your SOA that you have cash assets of £12,000. I know you are probably loathe to do so, but can you not budget to take a bit from this each month to make up any shortfall in your OH's income in the lean months?

I agree also about your OH finding other work. There may not be much contract work about but Can he not just advertise locally and drop his prices to suit small jobs?

The good new is that you are not in any major debt, you are just spending more than you currently earn, and you are tackling the problem early so you have a great chance of getting back on track quickly.

Pinky15

Hi there nutty bird - just wondered whether you had contacted tax credits yet?

NuttyBird

Hi, Thanks all for your help.

I have contacted the Tax Credits to let them know what the situation is - I'm not sure where to go for other benefits we may be intitled to - Does it make a difference because Hubby is self-employed?

Lucascain_2

Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly.. .APR
Mortgage...................... 44478.8..(425)......4.04
Secured Debt.................. 0........(313)......0 What are you paying this for? Sorry if it's been answered already.
Total secured & HP debts...... 44478.8...-.........-


£45 is a savings plan I took out when I first started working. £12 is my hubbys National Insurance Contribution he pays (he is self employed) £12 is Life insurance. = £89

£45 plus £12 plus £12 equals £69, not £89.

NuttyBird

Lucascain wrote: »

Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly.. .APR
Mortgage...................... 44478.8..(425)......4.04
Secured Debt.................. 0........(313)......0 What are you paying this for? Sorry if it's been answered already.
Total secured & HP debts...... 44478.8...-.........-


£45 is a savings plan I took out when I first started working. £12 is my hubbys National Insurance Contribution he pays (he is self employed) £12 is Life insurance. = £89

£45 plus £12 plus £12 equals £69, not £89.

313 is the car load (which my final payment is in March)

I missed out the £20 I pay each quarter to the alarm maintenance people for our house alarm.

Lucascain_2

Oh, ok, no problems.