Any suggestions welcome

chrisdeburgh

Hello everyone, I've nearly lost my sight staring at everything on this website and especially the forum trying to get as much advice as I can and I've finally done a SOA and I'm hoping you lovely people might be able to help me out.

I lost my job in June 2009 and have not been able to find any work since. I've applied for more than 30 jobs, had 4 interviews but no job offer yet. I am receiving Job Seekers Allowance and live at home with my parents so I don't have to pay rent or any household bills, luckily.

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 5
Number of children in household......... 0
Number of cars owned.................... 0

Monthly Income Details[/b]
Monthly income after tax................ 241
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 241

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 129
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 0
Electricity............................. 0
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 35
TV Licence.............................. 0
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 0
Clothing................................ 10
Petrol/diesel........................... 10
Road tax................................ 15
Car Insurance........................... 33
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 5
Car parking............................. 10
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
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)...... 0
Haircuts................................ 5
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 252


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


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 0........(0)........0
Hire Purchase (HP) debt ...... 3260.....(129)......33%
Total secured & HP debts...... 3260......-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
HSBC Bank......................6556......262.......14.9%
MBNA ..........................1977......185.......14.1%
MBNA Platinum Credit ..........4850......100.......23.2%
Jacamo Catalogue...............170.......20........30%
Lloyds TSB.....................2716......80........24.9%
Total unsecured debts..........16269.....647.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 241
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 252
Available for debt repayments........... -11
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 647
Amount short for making debt repayments. -658

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -3,260
Total Unsecured debt.................... -16,269
Net Assets.............................. -16,269

Created using the SOA calculator at makesenseofmoney
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.

As you can see my JSA does not cover my debts, I have contacted CCCS and am in contact with my creditors but any other advice anyone may have would be very much appreciated, thanks.

Tixy

Hi and Welcome

Sorry to hear about you losing your job. As you say you are at least fortunate that you are living with parents. Obviously because of this you don't have huge areas where you can make cut backs.

Here are some thoughts
Can you reduce your mobile cost further? drop a tariff if in contract or shop around for a better tariff or better PAYG deal. Even if you are in contract if you speak to your provider and say you need to drop down a tariff as you have lost your job they should be able to help.

Can you really afford to run a car? I know you are probably in the habit of having a car but its costing you a large amount becuase as well as running costs you have the HP. I assume the secured loan is a car HP? How much is your car worth?
If you have to have one how about selling yours and buying a car with cheaper tax & insurance for a few hundred quid (a basic runaround). (Especially as if you don't pay the loan they may reposses it anyway)
With any car insurance you may find it slightly cheaper if you put one of your parents on the policy as a named driver (I used to save about 20% by doing this I think).

What is the current situation with your debts? I assume you are not paying the unsecured ones? Have you sent a letter to either pay token payments of £1 to each or to say you can't afford anything? If not this is probably advisable.

With your income have you included 4weeks in each month or 4.33 weeks to take account of the 5week months?

I know the job market is really tough at the moment but are you looking at lower level jobs as well? Not sure what you used to do for a living but even a part-time 'basic' job such as stacking shelves or bar work would earn you more than JSA.

Good luck

chrisdeburgh

Thanks for the tips, I'll try T-Mobile to see what they can do as I have a Blackberry contract because I used to use my phone for work.

I can't sell my car as it's on HP so they own it until I repay it. I am managing to pay that at the moment and only go out to sign on once a week I cycle or walk everywhere as much as I can. I live in a rural location and need a car to get to interviews as there is only one bus route here.

My car insurance was the cheapest I could find.

I used to be a multi-drop delivery driver and I have some retail experience and clerical experience so I've been applying for any jobs, in particular retail jobs hoping they may be looking for Christmas staff but no luck yet.

Mrs.D

I don't have any further advice on your SOA, but I saw that Royal Mail are recruiting for Christmas workers on their website. Might be worth trying there as you have experience as a delivery driver?

Some of the couriers must be in a similar situation needing extra people for Christmas?

chrisdeburgh

thanks, I applied on the royal Mail website yesterday afternoon so fingers crossed.