Not a happy diary... but a diary nonetheless...

daphne_descends

Last month I posted in DFW about our money situation here

And here is my SOA below, though I will need to update it - I just needed to do something now, which seems to be start this diary, which I'll explain in the next post. For now, the numbers:


SOA
Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 2800 my partner is self-employed so this is a bit of an estimate of the figure after tax
Benefits................................ 80 this is child benefit, we're not eligible for tax credits
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2880

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 825
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 180 :eek: I know
Electricity............................. 50 guesstimate as to what I should be putting aside (and am now doing)
Gas..................................... 50 as above
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 40
Telephone (land line)................... 38 this includes broadband, and is with BT - OH is sort-of keen to switch to either NTL or Sky as we could have TV for a similar price but I am a bit hesitant
Mobile phone............................ 60 we are both on PAYG but OH makes a lot of calls for work - can't get contracts
TV Licence.............................. 15 this is paid quarterly
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 400 ok... have been spending a lot more, see below
Clothing................................ 50 guesstimate
Petrol/diesel........................... 60 the car is for me and DS as nothing is within walking distance, so I use it to go to free activities like the library, children's centre, local farm etc which don't cost anything
Road tax................................ 10
Car Insurance........................... 36 I only have 1 years NCD as only passed last year but should go down next July!
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0 not sure what to budget, car is 20 years old but passed it's MOT with just a few replacement bulbs!
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 420 OH commutes to London
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................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 2234


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
Utilities......................800.......200.......0 Have fallen behind so need to clear ASAP
OU Loan........................600.......200.......0 as above
Total unsecured debts..........1400......400.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 2,880
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 2,234
Available for debt repayments........... 646
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 400
Amount left after debt repayments....... 246

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -1,400
Net Assets.............................. -1,400

Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using Firefox browser.

Bear in mind that the figure missing is the £3000 we don't have for OH's tax bill. So the problem is worse than it looks. And actually I'm scared it will be more than £3000 anyway but we won't know until the end of Jan. So what a joyful time.

daphne_descends

Right, well I hoped that I'd start a diary on here full of optimism and positivity but that's not happening so it was either start one under a grey cloud, or just don't start one, and by avoiding the site I am avoiding everything really. We have to get this sorted because I am worried about so much and feel like we have zero security as a family.

If OH is working, then great, the rent gets paid, there is food in the cupboards. But he is a contractor with a weekly salary - one day out of work makes a difference to things, never mind longer than that. The immediate problem is that he will be forced to take two weeks off at Christmas as the site will close, so we need to have those two weeks worth of bills and food money put aside - currently I have about £80 so not a terrible start but it feels like time is running out. I can't even think about presents yet. At least DS is only little and won't really care. It's his birthday next week and we got a train set from Ikea a few months ago, some books when I was still working, and a couple of DVDs so at least that's sorted.

I just feel very low about it all - I am waking up at night thinking 'what if OH got ill?' we have no savings, literally nothing. We rent privately and my landlord expressed concern earlier this year, just in passing, as another tenant of his lost his job and I stupidly reassured him that we'll be fine. But god, what if we lose our home? I just don't know how we can afford it, to just live normally, to feed us and clothe us and heat the house. I know, I KNOW I am getting into a state that is largely unnecessary - at least OH has a job. At least (touch wood and thank my lucky stars) he IS healthy. At least we are warm and dry. I suppose I just feel like all of that is hanging by a thread.

To top things off, I think I am becoming depressed - though really I would say I have been living with depressing my entire life and it just ebbs and flows. Also we have lost one of our beloved cats this week and are finding it hard to deal with, I won't go on as, well, I have talked enough and this is so joyless I doubt anyone will read - but that's okay - this is very public so I hope that putting it 'out there' will spur me on to do all the things I said I would in my other thread.

hypno06

I know it is not hugely practical on a Saturday evening, but first thing on Monday, please ring your GP and ask for an appointment. Whether to get something to help you feel less depressed on prescription, whether to get some sort of counselling or other "talking therapy" referral, or whether just to get it all off your chest to a non-connected individual.......

,........none of this "what if" stuff will sort itself out until you are in the right "place", IYKWIM, and if the greyness is becoming overbearing, then you may need a hand in shifting it.

Until then, turn on some funky music and dance with your little one - or put on cheesy Saturday night telly and shout at various talent show judges!

Fire_Fox

Welcome to diaryland!

I'm with Hypno, get some help with your depression be that medication, counselling or physical activity (I speak from experience, it's magic!). Remember that if your partner fell ill your rent would be paid by housing benefit, council tax with council tax benefit and food bought with JSA/ incapacity benefit. These would be the priorities and the rest can go whistle! We'd help you write letters to any creditors to offer token payments.

Do you really need three phones for two people? Also do you really need a car, could you perhaps buy a pushbike and child seat instead? Then you'd be getting healthy exercise and saving a fortune - you don't need the car for the supermarket run as you get it delivered.

Thinking longer term, is there a reason you live somewhere that is both an expensive commute for your OH and far from amenities? Doesn't seem very practical - between running the car and the work travel your current residence is costing you a lot more than 'just' £1000 a month (£12K a year!) in rent and council tax. A huge percentage of your OH's wages is going on the basics.