the harsh reality that is my SOA

dollparts

dollparts wrote: »

somebody?.......anybody?.....

I'll scweam and scweam til I'm sick!

skylight

Evening.


If you're going to be naughty and scream until you are sick, you will get a smacked bum and sent straight to bed. And there will be no going to the park tomorrow for you.

dollparts

skylight wrote: »

Evening.


If you're going to be naughty and scream until you are sick, you will get a smacked bum and sent straight to bed. And there will be no going to the park tomorrow for you.

I'll consider myself well and truly put back in my box! In the meantime can someone please look at my revised SoA?

skylight

dollparts wrote: »

?

Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 1
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 873.21
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 609.18
Other income............................ 80 CHB
Total monthly income.................... 1562.39
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 350
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 75.9
Council tax............................. 97
Electricity............................. 65
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 25
Telephone (land line)................... 10 I would change this to £30 and take off the Sky TV - thats not allowed in an SOA at all. (unless its part of a package that saves money overall)
Mobile phone............................ 20
TV Licence.............................. 11.95 Round it up to £12. Just got my latest bill in today and the DD is going up to £12.12.
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 21.5 Take it off - it wont be allowed.
Internet Services....................... 5 How old is your DD? You could argue its for her educational needs and is required.
Groceries etc. ......................... 350 daughter is on specialist diet due to medical condition I would say its acceptable.
Clothing................................ 15 You could certainly up this. £30
Petrol/diesel........................... 40 This is low for personal use.
Road tax................................ 18
Car Insurance........................... 36.15again, hiked due to car theft claim Its still not a lot, my car ins was about £50 on my SOA.
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 14.7
Car parking............................. 6
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 57.5 hospital visits and dance class-yes I know it's not allowed, I have to break it to her before the new term starts. I would just mention hospital visits, although the OR may ask why its not included in the petrol etc.
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 12 Do you wear glasses? Add £15 if you do.
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0 If you have a mortgage you really should look into getting this.
Contents insurance...................... 46.39hike due to break in claim
Life assurance ......................... 13.64 You can keep this after BR - but you will have to buy it back off the OR - £50 that will cost (standard rate!)
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 12 Erm. Nope. Your not allowed presents or an emergency fund!! However you are allowed a Holiday fund.....
Haircuts................................ 10
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0 40
Emergency fund.......................... 30
Total monthly expenses.................. 1342.73

Now, stop being sick!!

skylight

dollparts wrote: »

btw, how hard is it to rent when you are on benefits? I have spoken to a few LA and they are all conditioned to think I'm some Vicky Pollard clone that is going to trash their investment, start pimping the local teens and sell crack outside the nearest 'yoof' club

Its not easy. Some years before my council re-housed me, I tried to find a private rent for No1 daughter and myself. I was working at the time (part time) and needed some help with the rent (50/50). No-one would touch me with a barge pole. Not a single letting agent in the area. My council put me into a hostel (wasn't the worst place on earth) and 6 monthsish later I was offered the house I am in now.

That was 12 years ago - and I know that things have changed. Councils have their own lists of private landlords that they deal with directly on long term rents etc, who will accept LHA and low/no/helped deposits too. A private landlord is a good idea as they are more acceptable to LHA - there used to be a big section in the local paper for private rents and almost all used to state NO DSS. Now they all state DSS Welcome. Whatever you do, read up the renting guide on the house/rent board first - so that anyone you speak to is left under no illusion that you know your stuff!

dollparts

skylight wrote: »

Its not easy. Some years before my council re-housed me, I tried to find a private rent for No1 daughter and myself. I was working at the time (part time) and needed some help with the rent (50/50). No-one would touch me with a barge pole. Not a single letting agent in the area. My council put me into a hostel (wasn't the worst place on earth) and 6 monthsish later I was offered the house I am in now.

That was 12 years ago - and I know that things have changed. Councils have their own lists of private landlords that they deal with directly on long term rents etc, who will accept LHA and low/no/helped deposits too. A private landlord is a good idea as they are more acceptable to LHA - there used to be a big section in the local paper for private rents and almost all used to state NO DSS. Now they all state DSS Welcome. Whatever you do, read up the renting guide on the house/rent board first - so that anyone you speak to is left under no illusion that you know your stuff!

Thanks for that skylight. Sounds like you have really been through the mill back then in a hostel etc.

Actually, I found a perfect house today. Will be ideal for me and madam. I have put a deposit on and have forms for my sister to complete as she will be my gurantor.

Will have another look at my SoA. Need to hurry along and file, creditors will be all over me by the end of the month and I am stressed at the thought of it.

MummyMoo

Hi all. I've jut read this thread and it offers some bloody good practical advice, not just for Dolly, but for people making a SoA in general. So, thank you

As an aside question though: I notice that some comments have been made that "this can be up to £x" and Im just wondering on what basis is this founded? I mean, is there a specific peice of literature that relates to this, or is this based on personal experience, or what? Im not being rude in the slightes, Im just honestly curious as I'll be doing my own SoA very soon (just waiting for benefits to be approved).

dollparts

MummyMoo wrote: »

Hi all. I've jut read this thread and it offers some bloody good practical advice, not just for Dolly, but for people making a SoA in general. So, thank you

As an aside question though: I notice that some comments have been made that "this can be up to £x" and Im just wondering on what basis is this founded? I mean, is there a specific peice of literature that relates to this, or is this based on personal experience, or what? Im not being rude in the slightes, Im just honestly curious as I'll be doing my own SoA very soon (just waiting for benefits to be approved).

It would be useful to know the answer to that question....anyone help with this one?

philnicandamy

http://intranet/DocumentLibrary/Policy/Excel/Household%20Expenditur.xls

you will need open office or microsoft office to read it as it's an excel spreadsheet (although a little old now and its ONLY to be used as a GUIDE!)

philnicandamy

skylight wrote: »

If you're going to be naughty and scream until you are sick, you will get a smacked bum and sent straight to bed.

I bet you say that to all the boys