More going out than coming in :( Advice please

Ames

Yes, they're one of the organisations that are free and recommended. You might have to wait a while though they're pretty busy right now. It's a great idea to speak to them though.

GeorgeUK

Consolidating is probably not a good idea and i doubt you'll get a rate better than the one you currently have.

Not sure if you answered the query about payment protection insurance (PPI). Do any of the loans have this?

I don't suppose you would even be able to get a mortgage for such a low amount. If you did the rate would probably be about the same. It's generally not a good idea to transfer unsecured debt to secured debt anyway.

Have you checked that you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to? Have a word with CAB to make sure. Also check: http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Are the loan amounts the amount you have left to pay? For the secured loan too?

As hubby isn't working and your wage is quite low, i don't know if you would be able to get a 0% creditcard to transfer the lower loan onto. If you could transfer the full amount, that might still only save you about £75pm (if you could get a Virgin card)

Do you have bank charges or credit card charges that you could claim back?
Is your house in the correct council tax banding?

Nargleblast

Sarahjane

If you can feed yourself, OH and three animals on £30 a week then you are not doing too badly there. You can still try discount stores like Aldi or Lidl if you have one locally, and buy your fruit and veg from markets/greengrocers rather than supermarkets. You can try and grow some veg in your garden (if you have a garden, but a small patch of paving will do to put pots and tubs on). The old style board is worth looking at for menu planning ideas. If either of you smoke then now would be a good time to stop, you can get help from your GP surgery with this, and you will save a fortune. Can you go Pay as you go with the mobile phones? Say £10 a month each, that would be a bit saved. You are fortunate not to have a mortgage to worry about, and you could consider chopping in the car for something cheaper to run and insure.
Please contact Citizens Advice, or CCCS, or Payplan for help - they do not charge any fees for this.
And most importantly, stop arguing. The two of you are in this together and will need to work at it together.

talana

I think in your position I'd consider selling the car and swapping it for something a bit cheaper. Instead of a car worth £7000, go for one at £2500 say. Instant release of £4500 plus cheaper insurance and all the rest.

Also, you're a homeowner with no mortgage to cover, and there's only the 2 of you living there. So again, if it were me, I'd make the house work for me. Take in a lodger for example. That would give you enough of a second income to see you back in the black.
There are other options too.

Sarahjane519

talana wrote: »

I think in your position I'd consider selling the car and swapping it for something a bit cheaper. Instead of a car worth £7000, go for one at £2500 say. Instant release of £4500 plus cheaper insurance and all the rest.

Also, you're a homeowner with no mortgage to cover, and there's only the 2 of you living there. So again, if it were me, I'd make the house work for me. Take in a lodger for example. That would give you enough of a second income to see you back in the black.
There are other options too.

We thought about doing that with the car. But we are not sure if it is on HP or not so not sure if we can sell it? We thought about getting a smaller Diesel .

Sorry I am not to clued up on what we can and can not do.

Pee

I am all for having cheaper cars, but if the car is worth less than the finance package, that isn't really a goer.

I am not surprised that you are arguing. I imagine your OH feels like he is letting you down by not being able to provide and you are feeling the strain of being the breadwinner. I would suggest that you accept these feelings are natural and then try to be extra nice to one another.

Sit down with him and see if there is anything that you can do differently:

Is it an option to look into hospital cars? They charge a set mileage, otherwise the work is voluntary, and your husband could be driving people to or from or even between hospitals. It's not well paid, but the guy that took me said that he did it to keep his car on the road.

Does he do things like the cooking and cleaning whilst he is at home, or is he busy looking for a new job? Are there any jobs out there?

A lodger can be a great source of income, but think whether it will help or hinder your relationship - you may both "behave" better in front of another person or you may find the additional stress too much - this may also depend on the lodger.

Could your husband advertise for local gardening jobs? (I have no idea whether he is any good at gardening.. just some suggestions that may trigger off the right suggestion in you.) Is there a local petrol station or old people's home where he could apply for work?

RAS

You do need to know if the car is on HP or on a loan masquerading as HP. Also have you checked if there is PPI insurance on any of the loans?

Sarahjane519

Thanks for the replies. There is no Insurance on the loans, my other half said it was a con so we did'nt take it out. I think the car may be is a loan, but I will have a good look over the paper work tonight.

He is currently on a new deal self employed scheme. He has had 2 nervous breakdowns in a space of a year and was on Diazapam daily at one point as he was having 4-5 panic attacks a day.

Thanks so much for the help so far I really mean that too

Sarah

Ames

In that case he might be able to claim DLA, it's worth asking CAB about when you go for your initial appointment.

Pee

Ah, so he is busy with the new deal scheme. My apologies. I didn't understand that. Could either of you advertise for and do any babysitting?

I think insurance quite often is a con and if you had it, it may not have paid out.

Are there any benefits he is entitled to? I'm pretty sure on those figures you should be able to get some help with council tax.