Newbie SOA.

Kantankrus_Mare

nickydoo wrote: »

Included in that is my wife's disability allowance, sickness benefit, child benefit and tax credits.

My wife is actually quite poorly. The benefit office know she works part time and she has a letter from them to say it is okay. She would have to tell them though if she gets more earnings etc but she hasn't so far and isn't likely to. Some of this benefit is not means tested anyway I think? The job centre sorted it out for us.

Thanks for answering that for me. Hope she's ok. x

Didn't mean to be personal but your income is very similar to our families (except we have 2 children) and we receive £10 a week child tax credit as well as child benefit. Was just curious. x

david_hellier

Hi,

According to my figures you have £154.21 per week to spend on food or ANYTHING else. I suggest you write this amount in a little note book on a Monday and deduct your spending through the week. If you have any over, use it to pay off your most expensive debts (Argos then RBS).

Good luck.
incomeweeklymonthly
self514.49
partner910.00
Benefits991.29
total0.002415.78 divide by 4.33 £ 557.92 £ 557.92 total weekly spendweeklymonthly
rent/mortgage352.08
council tax115.00
elec30.00
gas0.00
water31.62
secured loans0.00
TV licence11.92
fines0.00
phone land line30.00
mob70.00
cable28.50
petrol80.00
car ins21.43
car maint10.00
childcare56.00
contents10.00
course127.50
barclays352.90
abbey69.42
egg198.70
littlewoods88.00
argos60.00
rbs5.00
dad0.00
total0.001748.07divide by 4.33 £ 403.71 £ 403.71 total weekly spend

Start= income - spend = £ 154.21 per week

Fire_Fox

nickydoo wrote: »

Firefox - 1200 a year on phones - that's awful when you look at it like that. the 30 for landline does include our broadband aswell though. But as we are under contract until Jan i suppose it will have to wait until then.

You still don't need three phones for two adults ... You really need to make some choices. As Martin says
"Do I need it? Can I afford it? Is it cheaper elsewhere?"

It worries me a bit that you say your landline, broadband, both mobiles AND Sky package are all under contract until January. Why did you take on so many new contracts right after an admittedly expensive Christmas, or were these Xmas presents to yourselves? If so you should add the cost of these to your Christmas budget for last year.

I looked at all my outgoings on a monthly and annual basis. I found I didn't want or need certain things half as much when I realised that, in some areas, I was spending hundreds or even thousands of pounds and had nothing to show for it!!

dancingfairy

You appear to be losing 246 pounds a month without really knowing where it is going? o.k some is going on entertainment but it is quite a lot to not know what you are spending it on. Maybe do a spending diary and note everything down - you will then be able to decided what you really need and what is just habit or stuff that you really don't need.

Good Luck
df

P.S Your wife having been ill is a great incentive to sort your debts out. It is great she is well at the moment but having a cushion in case things go wrong would no doubt provide you with some security and if she stays well then you can enjoy some of it and save up for things you would really enjoy.