Really Worried And Don't Know What To Do!

calmgirl

I will try and condense this a little, basically we are about 6-7k in debt and I realise this isn't a huge amount but we are finding it difficult paying our monthly payments to our creditors. My husband has been self employed as an odd job man since oct so we do not have a set income each month so although Payplan have advised us a little they can not do a dmp for us because we do not know from month to month how much money we will have. They have advised us to write to our creditors and ask them to take a token payment of £1 a month until my husband gets another full time job but I am worried about doing this because the companies will prob want us to be backed up by someone else if you know what i mean, ie we could refer them to payplan and say they are dealing with it. So we tried to see CAB today and there were no advisors in and they were booked up all week. I am afraid the companies in question will add lots of other charges to what we owe already. As it is we will find it hard just to pay the standard bills like rent and utilities so I really just need some advice. I will post our soa so you can see the state of play.

calmgirl

Incomings each month(definate) £118.44 and £17.50 tax credit etc weekly and£159.20 child benefit( we have 3 kids)

Outgoings

rent £430.00 monthly
parents £40.00 monthly
swalec £38.00 monthly
btel £55.00 monthly(incl b/band)
sky £ 18.00 monthly
welsh wtr £47.32 monthly
car ins £18.94 monthly
b/gas £40.00 monthly
c/tax £128.00 monthly


Creditors
Littlewoods owe approx £2500
simply be £390.62
Vertbaudet £ 66.63
Studio £ 243.91
Next £360.38
b&q storecard approx £350
metropolitan(hsbc card) £850
Andrew james collection £681( for council tax paid £20 a week)
Black horse £500


family debt £650


obviously each week there is also fuel (about£10)
and dinner money for school ( 7.750


I haven't included shopping money cos we dont shop for food every week cos we cant afford it.
I think thats about it , if anyone could help that would be great.

calmgirl

sorry school dinners 7.75 a week1

Willsnarf1983

can you get a part time job?

Will

bonnie_2

i find it very strange that you dont buy food, do you not eat. also have you tried claiming housing benifit i didnt think id get it but we got £27 a week. pay your bills and your food first the creditors can wait do as she says and send a £1 a month.i think id rather do without sky and eat.

calmgirl

well thanks bonnie, I didn't say we never buy food, of course we do but we tend to do a decent shop at the start of the month, stock up on buy ones get one free cos we have a chest freezer and then shop for things as we need them ie milk etc, the sky we cant get out of at the moment cos we signed up for it in september when my hubby had a fulltime job and the contract isn't up yet. i don't know whether we will be entitled to housing benefit cos my other half is self employed. Also we are looking to relocate and he is looking for a job there so i don't want to send in paperwork get the housing benefit set up and then have to change it again a few weeks later. I don't want to get a part time job at the mo cos I have a 5 month old baby who is breastfed and dependent on me and two other children. To be honest I am a little bit upset at your tone , maybe I am taking it the wrong way I dont know.

Willsnarf1983

to be fair she made a decent pt, why have you got sky if your strugglinh to pay for things and to pay for food? It may not be what you wanted to hear but its a serious point. Also have you looked at working from home

ie ironing at home?

etc

Will

Willsnarf1983

ok just re-read bout sky but can you get it on a lower package?

Will

bambam00

hi, its not really for us to judge i guess. i try not to as everybodies circumstances differ and we cannot get a full view from the snippets people post here.

i would recommend that you do apply for housing benefit tho, it may seem a lot of hassle but if it means you get a few quid over a few weeks before you change (it may be it takes a little longer for you to move) and its better in your pocket enabling you to pay for the exras you need.

gas and electric seems quite expensive, have you looked at uswich to see if they can offer any savings with alternative suppliers. again i know its a pain for short term, but if you can gain thats waht this is all about. another possibility for home working is childminding, a friend of mine does this and is registered, once youve registered though even if you move i guess you could transfer this job with you just finding new clients.

im sure if your incomings have been pretty low also for past few months you may well be entitled to other benefits. id certainly push to get into CAB see what can be sorted.

not a great help i know, but food for thought!

good luck

jx

scottishspendaholic

Hi calmgirl,

I think you are very brave posting your soa - something I have never had the nerve to do - so well done!

You must be run ragged breastfeeding and 2 other children and money worries and a house and your OH on top of that! I don't think a part time job is the solution at the moment until your kids are a wee bit older.

Could you maybe think about selling old kids clothes or other bits and pieces on eBay/Amazon? I don't know if you already do this - but its really easy to set up. You might be surprised and with a wee bit of effort, make £100 or so a month.

My only other suggestion would be to ask if your family debts can be put on hold/you could pay a token payment for a few months until your OH gets a full time job/more work or until you can get some work too. Family debts should be the last to be paid according to Martin's book (I don't mean you shouldn't pay them back - just be allowed to not pay or not pay so much for a few months until you get back on your feet).

I'm sorry I can't help with your creditors/CAB questions as I've no experience of them. Maybe you could go to the next nearest CAB if there is one with appointments sooner?

I hope I've been some help. :heartpuls

scottishspendaholic x

philb120

It may also be worth asking the school about how to apply for free school meals.