I have been an a***

RAS

nimpoppy wrote: »

I am in a real mess aren't I?

basically you have two choices

Fess up to CCCS and accept that they may well refuse to manage your DMP going forward.

talk to your OH and agree that the pair of you will knuckle down and cut your expenditure back to the bone for a few months.

As a start the pair of you need to keep spening diaries as I bet there are other costs that you have not even got on the list. Alternatively comb through your recent statements and see what shows up.

nimpoppy

Hi

Just listed the things that you are suggesting that I can cut down on

Car - Unfortunately not as this is controlled and indirectly paid for by work
Telephone landline - As this is a line that has been in for less than 1 year do I still have to pay line rental to BT am I locked into contract?
Mobile - This is a given, Already started process to bring down
Clothing - Again this is a given
SKY TV - This is one bug bear with myself and blokey, he is a keen sports fan and refuses to budge on this. I will give it another go to try and get him to reduce it.
Groceries - You know I think it might be more than 50 per week. As i am constantly popping into shop to get forgotten bits. We do eat quite well in terms of salad fruit and meat etc.. I am aware that this needs to come straight down adn will spend some time on the other boards to do this.
Buildings Insurance - Again this hasn't been running for a year yet. Is this something that I can cancel with them and do with another company?

TotallyBroke

You are not in a real mess, BUT you do need to address the situation you are in and quickly.

Get your OH on board and get on the same page to clear these debts and quickly. Do CCCS do reviews at anytime.
Do a proper SOA together, work out where the money is going and then agree on what can be done to reduce the bills.

Dinah93

nimpoppy wrote: »

It all looks even worse when i have done that!

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household.........
Number of cars owned.................... 2
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1923
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1923
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 531 This is half?! Must be a big house. How about taking in a lodger for a year or two until you clear the debts.
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 180
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 67.5
Electricity............................. 27 Go through quidco for cashback and see if other providers are cheaper
Gas..................................... 27 As above
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 12.5
Telephone (land line)................... 13.5 Too expensive
Mobile phone............................ 35 I pay £25 with O2 for 600 mins and 1000 texts, they've always been very happy to negotiate down mid-contract
TV Licence.............................. 5.5
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 33.5 £67 a month is madness, go to freeview or a basic package
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 200 £400 a month on food for two people is staggering, we cook all meals from scratch and always have our 5 a day and pay this for 6 adults!
Clothing................................ 20 Only getting you further into debt, not worth it atm.
Petrol/diesel........................... 200 High but I assume this is mainly commuting? I do 48 miles round trip a day and couldn't go on public transport as it takes over 4 hours, so if this is commuting not much can be done on this one.
Road tax................................ 23.33 Woah, I didn't know it went this high. Can you sell the car and get something cheaper and more economical
Car Insurance........................... 7 Amazingly good.
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 10
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 7
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 40 When you come to renew shop around and go through quidco for cashback
Buildings insurance..................... 15 Again when renewing, quidco it.
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 12
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 20 Consider doing paid surveys/ reviews to build up amazon/argos vouchers to pay for these. The £20 a month can then go towards the debt instead
Haircuts................................ 10
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1496.83

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 160000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 5000
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 165000

Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 160000...(531)......5.45
Hire Purchase (HP) debt ...... 9000.....(180)......7.9
Total secured & HP debts...... 169000....-.........-
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Consumer Credit................17000.....131.......0
Vanquis........................2100......96........0
Camera.........................100.......15.96.....0
Private DMP with RBS...........4000......28........0
lx direct......................12........260.......0
catalogue......................54........26........0
tv payments....................200.......33.82.....0
sofa...........................50........25........0

I'm confused, you have debts of £12 but a £260 monthly payment? Think this needs rearranging?! Also the catalogue and sofa should both be paid off in 2 months, the extra could go towards the camera at this point, which would then give you £67 a month towards paying off the OD just from these debt payments ending.

Have you considered ways to up your income such as mystery shopping, matched betting, paid surveys etc? Almost all my debt was cleared by these means, and it might help you come out from under this black cloud quicker.

Getting DF is not easy and requires determination and sacrifice, but if you knuckle down to it and confront it head on instead of trying to wiggle around it you'll feel a lot better mentally and financially only a short way down the line.

kindofagilr

If OH refuses to downgrade Sky Sports then get him to give you the money it costs (£12 a month I think)

I really think you and he need to combine forces here.

You state he pays for holidays, entertainment, birthdays etc? I'm sorry but you can't afford these, it would be better for you if he paid that money towards the house bills and helps bring down the total debt.

nimpoppy

Thank you. The groceries part of my SOA is confusing i think. I spend 50 per week on feeding us both lunches etc.. is this still alot?

I am training to be a yoga teacher and already do bridal makeup on saturdays but this year all work has dropped off and hence the things that I could afford last year, I can't afford this year because my extra income from makeup is now non-exsistent.

I have 170 in my quidco account which is being saved for christmas presents. Also been picking things up very cheaply or free for presents for this year. Doing quite well at the moment.

Just phoned O2 and they said that they can't change tariff until the end of the month as I had taken it down already within this billing period.

nimpoppy

Am definately making a stand on the sky now. I can't afford to pay for sport I can't watch, You have given me the umph that I need.

On the birthdays and celebrations front I have just started to say no to things because I can't afford it, There are the inevitable unavoidable ones like my nana and grandads 80th and Mum's birthday where there is no wiggling out of

(Land_of)_Maz

re the bloke and the sky, i told OH he would have to meet the Direct Debit each month as i personally could live with Freesat if i had to... he ended up taking on the sky...

and yes, i admit i do still watch the movies and other pay channels!

joolsybools

You say you only use a few mins on mobile. Change as soon as you can get out of your contract. You can always take your number with you but may have to pay for that.

I've got this one and it does me fine. http://www.virginmobile.com/vm/paymonthlySimOnly.do £10 a month 200 mins, 200 texts or http://www.virginmobile.com/vm/payMonthlyPhones.do £8.50 for 100 mins and 100 texts.

The main thing is don't panic. You are taking steps to sort out your debt. Keep hanging around on here it will keep you motivated. Good luck

Dinah93

nimpoppy wrote: »

SKY TV - This is one bug bear with myself and blokey, he is a keen sports fan and refuses to budge on this. I will give it another go to try and get him to reduce it.

Doubt he'll be quite so firm when you tell him you can't afford your half anymore, so he either pays the full lot himself or cancels it.

nimpoppy wrote: »

Thank you. The groceries part of my SOA is confusing i think. I spend 50 per week on feeding us both lunches etc.. is this still alot? .

Yes, it's a lot for two people. £50 should buy ALL food and drink for a week, not just lunches, or not £50 per person. I'm afraid the reasoning that you eat healthily is rubbish, we eat all our 5 a day, usually more, and take packed lunches which are sanwiches or leftovers, a fresh fruit salad, banana/apple for snack, a large carton of juice, and a treat. 4 of us have packed lunches for work, 6 of us eat on an evening and morning, and unless there is alcohol for any reason it'll be within £50 a week. Stop at farm shops as you drive around, often big veg boxes are £5-£7 and will cover you for the week.