SOA's - are you allowed a budget for entertainment?!!

angelfire

Hi, I posted a few days ago my SOA, which as far as i could see was reasonable. However a few people suggested ways of cutting this down - these included having my daughter stop or limit her activites, wearing glasses all the time and not lenses and using terry nappies - all of them very good suggestions.

But I've since looked at a few other SOA's on this board and some include money for clothes, entertainment, sky tv and private health insurance - when I go to Payplan or similar, will they accept items such as these on MY SOA?

It was just that the other day I'd resigned myself to the fact that basically life would have to be completely limited in order to sort my problems out and that no luxuries would be allowed, yet I'm reading other people's SOA's and they have all this luxurious stuff on!

I'm about to appproach Payplan this week you see and could do with knowing whst is 'acceptable' as an expense...

lady_fuschia

From observation, I'm not one of the real experts on here!
I think it depends on your overall situation. Obviously if you only have £4000 to pay off over the course of two years or so, and have a decent wage, and no kids, you will be able to allow a bit more for things like luxuries (although you would probably cut back on what you had been spending previously). If you have £40,000 of debt, a meagre wage and three kids, obviously more cut backs are going to be necessary. Irritating but true.

Also bear in mind that when people post their SOA's they normally do it because they need help with them- the first bit of advice they normally get is to cut back the luxury items. More often than not they're spending it, but they shouldn't be, and if they're serious about cutting back, these will be the first thing to go.

I wouldn't let it get you down too much. Plus even on a very tight budget you don't have to cut out your entertainment completely. You can still afford to go to a 2 for 1 night at the cinema, or invite a friend round for a cheapo bottle of wine, even if its only once a month. And in the summer there's plenty of stuff you can do with the kids for little or no money.

Hope this cheers you a little. Wish I could be more help!