One day at a time - A DFW diary

my_mess

Hello All

It's about time I had a proper diary all of my own.

The help and support I have had from others on this board still amazes me - complete strangers offering guidance and good vibes is something that has kept me going over the past few months.



Some words of background.

This year has probably been the worst year of my life. Not just in terms of the financial mess I have created, but due to the sheer horror of my son's accident in February, and the June break-up of my 6-year relationship with S - I am still in a very dark place alot of the time.

Thankfully, my son is fit and well now, and I am 2 months into a 63-month (!) DMP with CCCS.



Here's my current SOA (with some explanations in green) :


Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 0

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1236 (work full time)
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 80 (child benefit)
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1316

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 200
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 85
Electricity............................. 95 (supplier recently upped it - nice!)
Gas..................................... 20
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 45
Telephone (land line)................... 30
Mobile phone............................ 10 (PAYG)
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 15
Groceries etc. ......................... 250
Clothing................................ 10
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 60 (bus fares to work)
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 50 (pocket money for son)
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)...... 20
Haircuts................................ 10
Entertainment........................... 50 (roll-ups for me - yes, I know)
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 40
Total monthly expenses.................. 1002

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
CCCS...........................19237.....314.......0
Total unsecured debts..........19237.....314.......0

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,316
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,002
Available for debt repayments........... 314
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 314
Amount left after debt repayments....... 0

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -19,237
Net Assets.............................. -19,237



It's as tight as a tight thing - but there we are.

So.......... my general goals are as follows:
- keep up payments to CCCS, and see that month-count go down
- take care of my son as best I can until he leaves school (nearly 15 now)
- try and earn some extra money along the way

I'm not sure if I will post every day - but wanted to have an outlet for my various ups and downs along the way.

One day at a time...............

Pippilongstocking

Hiya
just wanted to say goodluck to you with your lovely diary - mine has helped me so much.

We have boys the same age - I am also on my own with the kids (have a DD too - 13)

I wish you luck, focus and good happiness to get over your most horrible year and look forward to a brighter future for you.

hugs and goodluck - nice SOA - might be tight but you are coping, what are you thinking about for extra money?

urg123

Hi MM

Well done for starting a new diary 'subscribes'.

I started my diary early this year and I have found it to be a really useful tool. Sometimes its nice to vent where people don't know you.

You've been through a lot but you are taking steps to make things better - don't forget that!

Your SOA does look tight but the thing that 'screams' to me is the gas and electric. Are you in arrears? Why is the spending so high? Can you swap providers?

Good luck on your journey - you'll go through ups and downs but you will get there!

urg x x

penguin83

Hi there, glad to hear your son is well.

Do you not qualify for tax credits? I not know much about them but from your income it looks like you should get something?

Keep posting, I find a diary really motivates me x x

my_mess

Thank you to all who have read/replied (especially fay) - I really do need the encouragement.

My first entry into what might end up being a personal diary, rather than just a DFW one - BUT I'm not going to apologise for it, as I've spent far too much time apologising over the past 42 tears !

So - today.
Well it's been a bit of a mish-mash, but quite productive, so am giving myself permission to just chill for the remainder.

I've done the little garden jobs. The whole thing is a right mess and I have been working hard over the last month or so to bring it into some semblence of order in the hope that I might actually be able to grow something in it next year ... I can dream......

There's a beef casserole in the oven - great stuff ! - but it might cause a stir in the DS department, as he doesn't like 'things like that'. Ah well - you can't please all the people and all that.

A few other tasks completed - just bits of paperwork and preparation for the week at work really, nothing more exciting.

Next thing to do is get myself a shower, do some stitching (my passion) and think only positive thoughts.

Back to work tomorrow - I'm lucky in that I actually quite like my job. The company is very supportive, people lovely and the work itself is not hugely taxing. Just a shame it doesn't don't pay more .....

I'll be back

Fire_Fox

Welcome to diaryland!

Your SoA does look quite tight, except that electricity bill and the grocery budget. Are you using a tumble dryer a lot or do you have an electric power shower? Are you buying convenience foods as you are work full time? Do you have a slow cooker, could you teach DS to cook basics? If you could work on these that would give you up to £100 a month to pay with. :T

savingholmes

welcome to diary world - hope you find ways to create a bit more income. Have you checked out entitledto (a website) to see if you are getting all the government benefits you can?

Good luck

Pippilongstocking

Glad you are posting on your diary just for you and yours - what a lovely happy start to it all.

Re groceries - I did start to meal plan and as much as I hate it - it works - cut my groceries down from 200+ to less than 100 a month - might be worth a go - but brace yourself as it makes me grumpy

On the other hand - gardening makes me very happy I am sure by next year you can be growiing some stuff - well done on getting some of it cleared - and let me know if I can bung some seeds at you.

Hope you enjoyed the stitching (? what do you make?) - lol I am SOOOOOO nosey

LeeSouthEast

Just wanted to say "Good luck". Stay strong and enjoy seeing the numbers drop!

claire0788

I know this isnt what the parent of a teenager wants to hear but could your son get a paper round ? £50 seems alot of pocket money for a 14 year old specially if money is tight. I know you want to provide the best but then again whats he spending the £50. You could make a deal of him getting one thing like a playstation game or whatever console he has (a shot in the dark that he has one being a teenager =P i make this judgement being not long out my teen years lol) he wants a month (which would hopefully save you money)

Also like another person said, are you not entitled to other benefits ? http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/benefits-check

Sign up to littlewoods and virgin bingo, activate the accounts with the minimum amounts 10 and 5 (the 5 cant come out for 72 hours though) and then you can do the daily free scratch card, two free ones on a sunday on one of those sites. This only brings in 10p each a day as a minimum but thats 20p a day you didnt have before, a minimum extra of £1.40 a week thats like 70ish a year for clicking your mouse

Pippilongstocking

Hiya Claire - Eek my son has £60 a month pocket money - half the family allowance - he uses it for his school lunches (or he can take a free from home packed lunch), he uses it for buses for his clubs, clothes, toiletries and if he's careful with it he can use the rest for anything he wants (usually donuts and warhammar ).

He has to do chores for this money - his washing, filling up the coal and logs, mowing the grass and walking dogs. I am trying to teach him about money, housekeeping and budgeting - to be honest - with school work etc my son can't get a job just yet he has got 8 subjects, various clubs at school and just too much going on in his life. (or am I making excuses?)

Maybe I am too soft? I was reassured when MM was giving her son about the same pocket money - but I know what you mean about it being quite alot of money.

I negotiated my son to have packed lunches at school which freed up most of the money to give him as pocket money.

Ah lifes rich diversity Morning to all - will stop hijacking your diary now MM - SORRY!!