what to do next

budget_2

am very new to this and have been wanting to be debt free but can't seem to get there, money really tight we had pancakes for tea last night as we had nothing else in the cupboard, managed to find something for OH for tonight when he comes homes, the rest of us will make do with what i can find needing some reasurence that this does end somehow,
I have alot of health problems wich means I am unable to work anymore and am getting really desperate am at the lowest of low at the moment as i can't concentrate on anything I used to be really good at this finance thing but have ended up on a long road back up.

the_cat

Hi and welcome

First things first - what do you have in foodwise, including whatever OH has been allocated. Maybe it can be stretched to feed you all (buy the way how many is that?) Maybe post your list of items on the OldStyle board. You will be amazed at what can be made from just a few ingredients

Regards the debt, the first thing anyone is asked for on here is an SOA. The calculator of www.makesenseofcards.com. Basically it shows all your income and expenditure plus the debts/interest rates etc. This info is essential in order to get the help available from the many experts on this site, many of whom have been through exactly what you are right now

Good luck

Ames

If you're unable to work do you get any benefits for it? IB/ESA/DLA?

budget_2

Thanks for your replies I hope that I am doing this right.

I have not much in the cupboard tin of custard christmas pudding small amount of pasta half dozen chicken nuggets small amount of frozen veg onlast loaf of bread last amount of butter mouse size piece of cheese and small amount of milk, manage to find small piece of liver for OH and 2 pots so atleast he can have a proper meal having worked all day, the only benefit I can claim is Incapacity have had 2 rejections on DLA.

budget_2

have now managed the SOA so this may help

[tt]Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 2
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1197
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 900
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2097
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 460
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 125
Electricity............................. 35
Gas..................................... 44
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 19.38
Telephone (land line)................... 20
Mobile phone............................ 0
TV Licence.............................. 11.95
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 79
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 400
Clothing................................ 20
Petrol/diesel........................... 400
Road tax................................ 35
Car Insurance........................... 70
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 20
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 10.25
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 13.77
Life assurance ......................... 20
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 20
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 10
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1813.35

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 2500
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 2500

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
natwest........................1600......35........27
bank loan......................17355.....470.......0
bank loan......................17800.....115.......0
provident......................1100......180.......182
catalogue......................550.......35........0
Total unsecured debts..........38405.....835.......-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 2,097
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,813.35
Available for debt repayments........... 283.65
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 835
Amount short for making debt repayments. -551.35
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 2,500
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -38,405
Net Assets.............................. -35,905
[/tt]

dancingfairy

If you could split the cable/satelite figure down that would be helpful - can you say how much is phone, how much is satelite, any mobiles included, internet? etc. This is a large amount and it is difficult to seee what you are getting for your money.
Electric and gas seem a little high - have you looked at switching? got low energy bulbs, turned everything off when not in use- including lights, etc.
Food - could be reduced a little - check out MoneySavingOldstyle boards for that.

The main thing is that you are overspending by 550 pounds (or more- I suspect it is in actual fact more than that and some gets spent on bits and bobs here and there). I can't see that you can cut your income to save 550 a month to be honest.
The options would be to try and increase your income/decrease some of your expenses or to consider perhaps a DMP (debt management plan) or perhaps an IVA or bankruptcy.
I am sure a debt charity/organisation will be able to talk you through the options - never go to someone who will charge you for this advice/service. Try CCCS or National Debtline or your local CAB or alternatively you will find loads of people on here who will explain the options to you so you can find the best one for you and your family.
Best of Luck
df

Ames

I'll look at your SOA later, I'm just about to go out. Did you have proper help with your DLA claims? A welfare rights officer is worth their weight in gold. If you have a DIAL near you contact them, they'll know the right buzz words and things. For instance, most people would talk about their pain. But to the DWP, discomfort is worse than pain, but how many people would know that to put it in the forms?

dancingfairy

when do you next get some money? as food seems to be your immeadiate problem? You need to eat properly.
Any family or friends that could lend you a little money to get food in or give you a few bits and bobs?
Can you get a crisis loan from the job centre?
Any churches/mosques/salvation army places that will give you an emergency food parcel?
df

the_cat

Will try to go back and look at your SOA later but your immediate priority is to get some food for the next few days. It is much more important to sort this than anything else right now....

What money do you and your OH have in cash to buy a few bits of food? Change jar, down the back of the sofa, available overdraft. Look at absolutely every way of scraping some pennies together. It doesn't need to be a lot, as you almost have the makings of a meal or two already, just a couple of bits would be needed to add to it. Do you collect Tesco/Nectar or boots points? Time to use them up if you have any.

How long until your next pay/benefit hits your account?

budget_2

4 days till pay day and thats already spoken for have 1.15 small change am going to recheck the cupboard incase I've missed something.

the_cat

You need to reset your priorities. There is NOTHING that is more important than feeding yourself and your family.

When payday comes put aside a sensible basic amount for food. (as an example I feed 4 adults very easily on £200 per month). What is left over is what you have available for anything else.