My Soa Not Pretty Reading!

System

RAS wrote: »

Sell the S--ding car. It is huge mill stone round you neck and you could probably repay much of the debt from the proceeds. Then get a banger possibly.

How far is it to work?

10 miles away, We wouldn't get that much for it now anyway, needs repaired for MOT, has paint spilt in it aswell, How much would you get for a 2005 Vauxhall Meriva? I know !!!!!! all about cars, Infact I don't drive, the OH escorts me around, story of my life, couldn't afford lessons

System

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Taking out credit that you could not afford to pay back resulted in you requiring a Debt Management Plan. Taking out more credit that you cannot afford is not solving the underlying issue, it's creating more stresses for you. You must start living within your means or you will be in even more debt at 39 than 29.

Christmas is not an emergency - especially at £550 - and the car (£3000 a year!) is not paid for, you have just transferred the debt from one place to another. Do you really need to run a car? Is it not possible to car share or use public transport or cycle in, do you live in a remote village? Why do you have three telephones for two people? Can you and your partner work different hours to one another so you don't need to pay childcare?

Na we didn't spend all that at Xmas, Thats a micxture of Christmas and peoples birthdays and all the rest over the past year or so, We do need a car, no car no work, We do live in a remote village yes, and work is in an even remoter village, As for phones, 1 is a pay as you talk phone, 1 is a contract which is almost up and the other a landline, For working hours we have tried that, I can't change mine, my OH might, she works in a supermarket and there are no vacancies for evening shifts at the min, they can't just swap her apparantely, For now Childcare needs paid anyway whether the child goes or not

smegs1978

Would you not be better off if your OH didn't work and looked after your 1 year old.
Try filling in the form on entitledto.com to see what your tax credits might get.
I earn about £100 a month more than you and we get £200 a week tax credits and £46 a week child benefit, although we have 3 children and not 2.
Might be worth looking at this option.

RAS

nirelandguy wrote: »

I know !!!!!! all about cars, Infact I don't drive, the OH escorts me around, story of my life, couldn't afford lessons

Look

I was born slightly !!!!!! - absolute nightmare with hand/eye coordination and problems with my legs.

I passed my test when I was your age. It took OH best part of four years to teach me. We started by learning to drive in a straight line and make one gear change. Eventually I could drive round the block and change up and down into first and second gear...... When I appled for my test, I had to indicate whether I was impaired and was advised to let the examiner judge it.

I had FOUR lessons before I took my test, and passed first time (to my complete astonishment). And OH's.

Ok so there is a the theory test these days, but if you started to take positve action to improve your life, you could do this too. maybe even get a driving job that pays better?

Or could you get a little 125cc motorbike and a learner's licence?

sheba

About upping your income- are you or your wife signed up to any survey sites? I am no expert on Money issues (see my own thread/SOA) but have managed to make upwards of a £100 on various sites in a year. That could make christmas a whole lot nicer for you all. Globaltestmarketdotcom is a good one- have had 2 cheques of £25+ and have another on the way and they seem to like mothers with children under 18 so could be good for the wife to do. Also lightspeed- can get paid in paypal credit or other rewards- I tend to get amazon credit as cheaper in points and then spend on dvds etc for chrimbo, last one I do is valued opinions- again can get vouchers (tesco etc) or amazon- hardly takes any time and not as labourious (I find) as daily click sites- but I would consider these too in your position. Ask about for other recommended survey sites and you could start to make some nice little amounts that soon add.
I know it can feel hard to 'budget' when you feel you have nothing to budget with but it does allow you to see what your financial requirement is for living (and enjoying) life and then you can work on making up that shortfall.

RAS

Yep

Read the whole of http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/make-money

And you could both find another £30 per month there that does not affect your benefits.

Olliegami

The majority of people on this board have a 'Lightbulb Moment' when they post here - and they realise that they need to make some serious changes if they want to get out of debt.

The advice that people have given you is very sound. If you're really interested in getting yourself out of debt you really need to make these big changes.

It isn't so much about not spending the money you have left over (or don't have left over) It's about reducing the bills you currently have.

Watching the food you're buying, whether you could bulk-cook which seems to reduce spending, and bills.

I don't have a car myself, but I know that it's not the most cost-effective thing to have, but also understand that for some people it's important for travel.

Paying £40 for TV/Broadband and Phone is a lot, especially seeing as you spend £30 on mobiles as well. If you could get a better package when your contracts run out you can save yourself a little money.

And yes, those childcare costs are sky high. If you compare the amount your partner gets paid for 16 hours p/week, compared to how much you're paying childcare for her to work those hours, you're left with £76.

I hope you manage to get enough ideas to help yourselves pay off those debts.

System

RAS wrote: »

Look

I was born slightly !!!!!! - absolute nightmare with hand/eye coordination and problems with my legs.

I passed my test when I was your age. It took OH best part of four years to teach me. We started by learning to drive in a straight line and make one gear change. Eventually I could drive round the block and change up and down into first and second gear...... When I appled for my test, I had to indicate whether I was impaired and was advised to let the examiner judge it.

I had FOUR lessons before I took my test, and passed first time (to my complete astonishment). And OH's.

Ok so there is a the theory test these days, but if you started to take positve action to improve your life, you could do this too. maybe even get a driving job that pays better?

Or could you get a little 125cc motorbike and a learner's licence?

I passed the theory first time last year:D Got a couple of lessons for my birthday but they where bloody £26 a go, Its something I do want to get back to and will in the summer again, well out with the missus anyway.

Would you not be better off if your OH didn't work and looked after your 1 year old.
Try filling in the form on entitledto.com to see what your tax credits might get.
I earn about £100 a month more than you and we get £200 a week tax credits and £46 a week child benefit, although we have 3 children and not 2.
Might be worth looking at this option.

I've wondered this myself you know as we'd also get housing benefit, entitledto doesn't work over here in Northern Ireland however on Monday we are going to CAB for a benefits check up, I'm sure they would know all the ins and outs.

System

Olliegami wrote: »

The majority of people on this board have a 'Lightbulb Moment' when they post here - and they realise that they need to make some serious changes if they want to get out of debt.

The advice that people have given you is very sound. If you're really interested in getting yourself out of debt you really need to make these big changes.

It isn't so much about not spending the money you have left over (or don't have left over) It's about reducing the bills you currently have.

Watching the food you're buying, whether you could bulk-cook which seems to reduce spending, and bills.

I don't have a car myself, but I know that it's not the most cost-effective thing to have, but also understand that for some people it's important for travel.

Paying £40 for TV/Broadband and Phone is a lot, especially seeing as you spend £30 on mobiles as well. If you could get a better package when your contracts run out you can save yourself a little money.

And yes, those childcare costs are sky high. If you compare the amount your partner gets paid for 16 hours p/week, compared to how much you're paying childcare for her to work those hours, you're left with £76.

I hope you manage to get enough ideas to help yourselves pay off those debts.

Yes its expensive I know but as I say contract phone is up now in March so thats another £30 less

Fire_Fox

nirelandguy wrote: »

Na we didn't spend all that at Xmas, Thats a micxture of Christmas and peoples birthdays and all the rest over the past year or so, We do need a car, no car no work, We do live in a remote village yes, and work is in an even remoter village, As for phones, 1 is a pay as you talk phone, 1 is a contract which is almost up and the other a landline, For working hours we have tried that, I can't change mine, my OH might, she works in a supermarket and there are no vacancies for evening shifts at the min, they can't just swap her apparantely, For now Childcare needs paid anyway whether the child goes or not

You haven't answered all my questions. Why can't you cycle to work - it's only ten miles? Can you car share, either walking to meet the person so they don't go out of their way or making a contribution to the petrol costs (may well be grateful as we are all feeling the pinch)? I didn't ask what the phones were, I asked if you needed three phones for two people?

When does the childcare contract end? Can you give one or two months notice stating that you are on a DMP? Why are you spending an average of £50 a month that you don't have on gifts? Can't you agree with your family just to buy for kids, then a card and a homemade cake or truffles for an adult?

What we are all saying is that you have enough money coming in for essentials and to pay off your debts but you are choosing to spend it on luxuries. There is always a good reason why we 'need' this or 'need' that, but you cannot afford it. Something has to go - the childcare, the car or the TV, mobile phones and internet connection.