My Journey

savingholmes

hi bevan - sorry you are feeling so wiped out. I think Januaray is hard on everyone. Really hope you feel better soon - is there anything you can do for yourself that would lift your mood?

Jo_R_2

Aw <<<hugs>>> sorry you haven't been feeling great. I know what you mean about the debt-busting going out of the window - for me January has been the opposite of a New Year's Resolution - maybe we could do February's resolutions instead??!!:D

bevan840

Hi SH & Jo

Well, after a very quick chat with Mum, decided to start using my Anti-d's again for awhile, just to try and shake the empty/no feeling side of things, body has given up on me for now though and is extremely painful, didn't help matters by fighting with DH! Didn't sleep till after 2am, which is probably why body so painful now had to text DH to ask him to come back home and take me to work, which he did, as usual for him he seems to of completely forgotten about last night, where I suffer the consequences!!! :mad: 2 more days of work and 1 night of college and I can rest

I think I'll leave the resolutions till March hehe

Hope your all ok xxx

savingholmes

hi bevan - I think taking tablets again seems sensible. I have stayed on mine which helps me weather life's various storms.

Hugs

bevan840

Well, thought I'd try and do an SOA, although now I've done it I wish I hadn't! Had bad weekend being stuck in bed with a migraine, at work today but with sunglasses on as light is still a big No No.

I've decided to do things a little differently, instead of working out the average etc I will count the weeks and put in the amounts for each month (eg this month there are 4 pay days and 4 rent days etc) I pay TV licence straight off, as well as breakdown cover, got a bargain with that one this time Been ringing AA as it should of been automatically renewed in October, but no payment ever went out and I never received any paperwork! Been ringing since then, they were supposed to take it again as the first failed, kept trying to ring through most of Jan but never got anywhere because of all the snow, loads of breakdowns etc I couldn't even get through to an operator!!! Finally spoke to someone on Saturday and found out it had lapsed on 9th Jan, nice of them to tell me!! But, was a good thing as I was hoping it would, it was going to cost me £53 to renew just for me, went to the website via topcashback and got cover for both me AND DH for £58.10!! And for using topcashback I got £21 cashback, so all together it's cost me £37 Very happy bunny, just waiting for paperwork to come through now.

CSA also finally got their a*ses into gear! But also stung us for high backpayments!!! Threatening court action etc etc if we didn't pay it. DH rang up and spoke to them, while they were helpful the payment they wanted was still too high, so I rang up as he has put me on as a 'third party' to discuss things instead of him as apparantly I'm better at it (lol I just blame plenty of practice) I explained the situation, that it wasn't our fault the CSA had cocked up and hadn't kept us informed at all, DH rang 3 times while they were still trying to decide and all he could get out of them was it's still under investigation they wouldn't even tell us why, I asked when I spoke to them and it was under investigation because the system cocked up (yet again, not our fault!) So, after a little chat with them, he went and spoke to a supervisor and got the payments down to something more suitable, Jan we paid £5, this month is a higher amount and after that it settles down till Jan, and then should go back to normal payments, we've asked for it not to be taken out of wages again as we found out later that DH's last employer was taking it from his wages, but not paying it to CSA! :mad: So, DD set up and should go smoothly from now on

I know it doesn't look good, but I have paid off the overdraft so we do have something to fall back on and the spreadsheet doesn't show a minus over £100 so we should weather out february ok (hopefully)

Have become a little obsessed with Twilight recently, both me and Sis are, and we both blame Dad, if it wasn't for him 'suggesting' to watch it with Sis neither of us would of been bothered, but we're now crazy hehe I read all 4 books in a week (and the 4th was not a small book!!) I've posted the first down to Sis already, need to post 2nd today as she has finished the first already! Was hoping she'd read slowly and not have to post the 4th down as it's quite big and heavy as it's a hardback but I think I'll be posting it down as well lol When I go down in March we already have plans lol The Monday night we have the Peter Andre concert and Tue I get to watch the 1st and 2nd film on blu-ray I haven't seen the 2nd yet so will be good to see it on blu-ray first time

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household............ 2
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned........................... 2

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax........................ 809.8
Partners monthly income after tax....... 920.4
Total monthly income....................... 1730.2

Monthly Expense Details
Rent..................................................... 448
Council tax........................................... 88
Electricity.............................................. 40
Gas........................................................ 60
Water rates........................................ 29.37
Telephone (land line)........................ 35
Mobile phone...................................... 70
Groceries etc. .................................... 250
Petrol/diesel...................................... 200
Car Insurance................................... 121.74 *Inc Breakdown cover @ £58.10*
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 25 *Oil change for mine*
Car parking........................................... 20
Other child related expenses............ 213.75 *CSA*
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 10.25
Pet insurance/vet bills..................... 20.06
Contents insurance........................... 16.2
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 25 *Christmas account*
Entertainment.................................... 3.99 *Gone back up thanks to VAT*
Holiday.................................................. 10
Total monthly expenses.................. 1686.36


Assets
Car(s).................................. 2500
Total Assets....................... 2500[/b]


No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
CC1............................1948.53...52.47.....20.9
CC2............................851.74....30........17.8
Sofa...........................946.4.....31.55.....0
Littlewoods....................176.......40........0
Car............................2750.7....91.69.....0

Keeps knocking the bottom off of the copy, basically there is a shortfall of £200 Hope next month works out better!! DH is off to Austria again next week Saves us money on petrol and food but I get very lonely on my own, he'll be gone for 10-11 days not looking forward to it! Need to get the bundles on his phone for ringing while abroad, will put the phone bill up but not as much as if he didn't have the bundles on there!

Debt at worst - £12,600.55
Current Debt - £10,373.37
Total Paid Off - £2227.18
Percentage Paid Off - 17.68%

I took the tablets for a few days and felt myself perking up, don't know if it was tablets of just myself but stopped taking them and been 'ok' since.

Recently had another letter addressed to DH about debt being owed somewhere, came straight on here and asked for advice, thankfully HellsGranny was around and told me about the 'Prove It' letter, checked DH's credit report and it wasn't on there, so sent the letter by recorded delivery on saturday, now need to wait for the 'proof' of this debt actually being his, find it unlikely if it isn't even on his credit report :cool:

Hope your knee isn't too painful today SH and you manage to get something sorted with your workplace
Hope your ok Jo, I read about your Mum and I hope she's doing better

If anyone else is reading hugs for you all too xxxx

savingholmes

hi bevan - at least your debt is going in the right direction - well done! Hope you have a better month. Personally I would stay on the tablets - they reckon any initial feeling better is a placebo effect.

My knee is still bad and I am still off work. If I lived closer I could work but everytime I drive it really badly effects my knee so with my long commute it is just not doable... So have had to majorly cut back to try and stay within our new income restrictions with me now only getting about £80 a week sick pay!

realshannon

just a thought, expect you know, but as a migraine sufferer, ask your doc for Maxelt Melts. They dissolve on your tongue, dont taste horrible and within 1 hr mine feels better and allows me to carry on, albeit slower, no more being stuck in bed for days and wearing sunglasses. Hope that helps

bevan840

I didn't know about them actually realshannon, will mention it to Dr next time I see him and ask if they are ok to take with all the other tablets I need Thank you

Sorry to hear your having problems SH, I hope things get sorted quickly so you can relax a bit more

Well, managed an evening without glasses but going to bed now as hoping an early night (or atleast earlier than usual) will help, was supposed to sort out spreadsheet but got stuck playing FB games hehe

Take care all and sweet dreams xx

bevan840

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 2

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 809.8
Partners monthly income after tax....... 920.4
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1730.2

Monthly Expense Details
Rent.............................................................. 448
Council tax................................................. 0 *Free Month*
Electricity.................................................. 30
Gas................................................................ 60
Water rates.............................................. 29.37
Telephone (land line)........................... 35
Mobile phone........................................... 64.04
Groceries etc. ....................................... 200 *I hope*
Petrol/diesel.......................................... 200 *Hoping it will be less with DH away for 10 days*
Car Insurance........................................ 121.74 *Inc Breakdown cover*
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 25 *Oil change*
Car parking..................................................... 20 *I now have to pay to park as Council/Police are getting tough on the cars parking for free, Damn! I stopped parking there as soon as they left the little 'Warning' on my car, but other cars have been parking there and haven't received a ticket yet!!! :mad:*
Other travel.................................................. 100 *DH money for Austria*
Other child related expenses................ 213.75 *CSA*
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 10.25 *PPC*
Pet insurance/vet bills.............................. 20.06 *Pet insurance renewed this month so went up a little*
Contents insurance...................................... 16.2
Christmas Fund ............................................. 25
Entertainment................................................ 3.99
Holiday............................................................. 10
NUS Extra Card ......................................... 10 *As I'm a student I'm entitled to one of these, just kept forgetting about it, will be able to get discount in cinema's, stationary shops etc as soon as I get it *
Total monthly expenses..................... 1642.4

Assets
Cash.................................... 300 *What I paid into bill account at end of last month, will continue with this idea as it is money I have for the outgoings above*
Car(s).................................. 2500
Total Assets..................... 2800[/b]

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description....................................Debt......Monthly...APR
CC1..................................................1948.53.....52.47.....20.9 *Only paid minimum this month as knew it was going to be a tight month*
CC2..................................................851.74......30........17.8
Sofa.................................................946.4.......31.55.....0
Overdraft......................................25.35.......25.35.....0 *Going to pay this one as soon as I get paid this week*
Car..................................................2750.7......91.69.....0
Littlewoods.....................................176.........56........0 *Paying more than usual this month so that it's £40 all the way to the end, if DH does need more money it will probably go back to £40 and try and overpay next month*
Total unsecured debts......6698.72...287.06....-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.............................................. 1,730.2
Expenses (including HP & secured debts)..... 1,642.4
Available for debt repayments........................... 87.8
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments............. 287.06
Amount short for making debt repayments.. -199.26

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 2,800
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt........................ -6,698.72
Net Assets.............................................. -3,898.72
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.[/FONT]

Re-done SOA as noticed a few things were wrong etc
After looking at Jo's diary (Thank you for reminding me ) I went home and checked the Council tax payment dates and I have Feb and March free My water is 12 months so no free months there unfortunately. I've put in spending money for DH as he will need some while he is away, hoping he gets his overnight money before they go like they usually do but can't guarantee that so might have to give him more than is there at the moment.

Migraine pain is gone thankfully, still tired but still going college tonight and tomorrow, missed last thursday as could barely move and since looking at the work I wish I'd gone in anyway! I managed the first bit on my own but don't understand the 2nd half, so I've emailed tutor to ask if ok to stay behind tomorrow to have a quick catch up on what I missed/don't understand.

Really need to put spends into my spreadsheet, made about £15 from ebay over the last 2 weeks, after the posting and fee's from both ebay and paypal, went in to cover overdraft. Expecting a refund from Zavvi still, rang them again yesterday and apparantly I was given the wrong email address to send the photo's of proof of postage!!! :mad: How many more things could go wrong with that place??? Luckily, the guy on the phone saw how many times I had rung up and said he'd process it and not to worry about sending the photo's again, and received an email yesterday afternoon confirming the refund, should take 3-5 days so keeping my eyes peeled for that one

Expecting gas bill sometime this/next week, the account is £120 in credit so hoping it won't be too high, haven't used the gas as much as we did last year but with gas prices going up unsure of what the bill will say, sent in the meter readings yesterday though so will keep checking the account to find out the amount before we get the bill

Only 6 1/2 weeks till Peter Andre :j Sister text yesterday to say she thinks we both need therapy for our insanity over Twilight lol She was eagerly awaiting the second book which I posted on Monday so started reading the first again then the second arrived yesterday! hehe

Hope everyone is as well as can be xxxxx

savingholmes

hi bevan - good luck with your revised soa - Glad you have peter andre to look forward to. We have booked to go to JLS (me and DS) and to Norah Jones - me and OH later in the year - can't wait!