help needed..

clairelg88

hi, i am on benefits as I have just finished college, I have been looking for some part time work as i have a daughter (she's 3) I get tax credits and child benefit, and I used to manage the money quite well. I have made mistakes, and i am now paying for them.

I am really struggling every week to keep my head above the water, i'm in my overdraft every week. I have two contracts to pay each month, one that I took out for my ex and he took full advantage of the fact it was in my name, so I am paying DLC £55 a month! I also have my own contract which is usually about £40 a month and a mobile bb contract which is £23 a month.

Since moving into my house, I have not actually paid a water bill, we have been here a year and last week they threatened to cut supply, so i had to ring them and open a new account, I owe then just under £500, I don't see anyway I could raise this sort of money.

So bassically could do with a bit of advise!
thanks

gettingbetter

hi claire

the real experts will be along soon
can you phone about your ex's contract
and tell them your not paying it any more as he is your ex

are you getting help with you council tax and your rent

post up your SOA and we will all pick it to bits
www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

all the best

kas xx

clairelg88

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned....................
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 480
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 480
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 0
Electricity............................. 25
Gas..................................... 25.5
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 38
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 23
Groceries etc. ......................... 160
Clothing................................ 30
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 50
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 363.5

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

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
dlc............................153.......55........0
water..........................487.......0.........0
Total unsecured debts..........640.......55........-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 480
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 363.5
Available for debt repayments........... 116.5
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 55
Amount left after debt repayments....... 61.5
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -640
Net Assets.............................. -640
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.

i get housing benefit and council tax benefit, so thats all paid for. I have no idea about my water rates as I have just received the bill, so I'm going to have to ring them and ask for some sort of instalment plan, I just don't see that i could afford any more outgoings though..
As for Christmas and birthdays, i don't really budget for them, I just go into my overdraft.

gettingbetter

hi

food looks good but can probs be cut down a bit more
try the os board they have great hints and tips

kas xx

clairelg88

I could probably cut down on my groceries by £5 a week but thats all, as it includes cleaning stuff too. But will check out the os board too

andys15

Who is the 2nd adult on your soa

andys15

It doesnt look to bad to be honest. DLC will be paid of in 3 months. You have £60 left over towards paying the water. The £5 you can save a week can go towards xmas, which should give you over £100 by the time xmas is here. What is your overdraft currently?

clairelg88

the second adult is my partner, he lost his job a few months ago so is bringing in nothing.
My overdraft is only £100 which i seem to be using every week!

andys15

Well I know we are in hard times at the moment, but your partner needs to find some earnings as you both will know. There is always something out there, and it depends on his attitude wether he does it. I had a man and wife team knock on my door last week. He had a ladder and bucket, and offered to clean my gutters. It was a job I had on my list, but I was really moved that they were using initiative and I paid them £30 to clean them all. He had lost his job recently and was doing anything he could do get the pennies in. He came round the next day and mowed my lawn, and he is coming round to do a few of the neighbours work this week.

10past6

clairelg88 wrote: »

so I am paying DLC £55 a month! I also have my own contract which is usually about £40 a month and a mobile bb contract which is £23 a month

You must reduce the payment above to £1.00 token payments until your situation improves, those debts above are NOT priority debts.

This IS

I have not actually paid a water bill

brians_daughter

you must contact the company re water. i would certianlly be putting them at the top of my list if you get hb and ctb
as for groceries have you tried down branding? ie instead of buying flora marg buy asda home brand? I started doing this about 12 months ago and my shopping has gone down by almost a third. as for cleaning products but an all in one... ie something own brand that will clean floors, baths, kitchen worktops etc asda do an all purpose spray. failing that on the os board is great! Also look at family meals youc an bulk make ie chilli, curry etc bulk it out with veg etc and make enough to last you 4-5 meals and freeze. this is great for short dated meat etc, you can freeze and defrost when needed so its not an issue hth