Thought I was getting straight, now its all going wrong.

wishingonastar_3

i need some help, although my debt isn't as massive as some on here, and i feel a bit soft for posting, i'm struggling to get by on my income, and am piling a bit of debt up on my cc, and have used savings i had to pay off quite a chunk of what was on the card, but its adding up again. five or so years ago, i was in debt to about 8,000 and the stress of paying that off drove me beserk, but taught me a lot about being frugal(ler). if i was to post a soa, would someone have a look and tell me where i'm going wrong, i'm trying to work one out as i type this, just realise you normally deal with bigger problems, my problem is more nipping it in the bud before it gets too much of a problem again.

ms_london

Hello Wishingonastar!!

Of course we'll help - post a SOA pronto :0) Dont be silly. People come on here with all levels of debt - and at the end of the day it's still a worry, no matter how much it is!!

Post again and we'll see what we can do to help.

xx

kar

Course we will. Just post it my dear. No debt to small. If your worrying about your budget we will do our best to help.

Lewby

What a great post! I so wish that I had realised that I needed to pull my belt in before we got into such debt. It's brilliant that you have had the 'lightbulb' and most of us on this board have cutback on our outgoings to free up a bit more to throw at the debt.

Posting your SOA would be a good idea. I'm sure there would be lots of advice about how to 'trim' your expenditure.

Good luck with it.

Lewby xx

mom23

Hi wishingonastar
i wish i'd had the sense to take control of my money at 8000 !!
Good luck to you

wishingonastar_3

right here goes

outgoing every month
rent £450
electric £40 (on a meter)
gas & water in with rent
car costs (petrol/tax/insurance) £125
food (inc all cleaning stuff etc) £200-£250
council tax £74
tv license £12
credit card (£987.12 outstanding balance, paying off bout £30 a month)
child care £190 (per month averaged over school and holidays to get average.)
gym classes, brownies & swim lesson for dd £33.56
paper bill £6.45
plus i reckon maybe £20 per month averaged over a year on clothes/shoes/etc

incoming
wages £822
Tax credit £252.22
child benefit £73.61

i seem to end up with a deficit of about £80 each month, which goes on cc, then thats adding up, and its all worrying me cos i don't want to go back to being in debt, and being worried sick.

thanks for your help.

woas.

x

skylight

Is that food bill juist for you and daughter? Get over to the Old Style Board and introduce yoruself - bet they can help in cutting that to half easily.

Do you really have to have a paper delivered? Nice Sunday morning walk with you and DD!

Do you use the childcare vouchers?

Does your rent include housing benefit? Council Tax benefit??

And your SOA is better than mine!!!!

wishingonastar_3

charlotte664 wrote:

Is that food bill juist for you and daughter? Get over to the Old Style Board and introduce yoruself - bet they can help in cutting that to half easily.

Do you really have to have a paper delivered? Nice Sunday morning walk with you and DD!

Do you use the childcare vouchers?

Does your rent include housing benefit? Council Tax benefit??

And your SOA is better than mine!!!!

food bill is just for me and dd, although all the family come round every sunday and i do a big roast dinner for them (between 10-12 of us usually) it includes all washing powder, cleaning stuff and that, plus all toiletries.

i don't have paper delivered, sorry that look misleading, i buy one every day mon-fri to read at lunchtime at work, thats just what it adds up to.

don't know what childcare vouchers are i'm afraid, can you enlighten me?

i'm just over the limit for housing benefit and council tax, althouugh my council tax is reduced by 25% for being only adult.

wasn't sure it was ok that soa, so thanks for that. made my day.

skylight

Really can suggest Old Style and food - we have 2 adults and 4 kids and have managed to get the food bill down to £200-£250 a month max including everything and the dreaded nappies!

We are also on the cusp of the councils limits for housing benefit and council tax. We get a whopping £2 a week council tax and £10 a week housing, but its £50 a month that goes towards something else.

Theres a piece by Martin about childcare vouchers on here somewhere - off to track it down!

skylight

Found it!

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1129566540,79743,

wishingonastar_3

had a quick look at that, we don't have it at work as far as i know, but i can guaruntee monday morning i'll be going armed with the information to our personal department.