Time to join in - here goes

pattiemay

Hi - yes I have worked for the same firm for 20 years now, was there from the beginning, working all hours in the office, when ill health started creeping up on me I went to 3 days as they had extra office staff. Got stuck in a rutt I know. I have holidays booked for September (2 weeks) as it is difficult to be off if someone else is due to the job, I am a very loyal person and don't like letting anyone down. (I like to take the extra hols at Christmas to spend time with my grandkids)

lynzpower

Ok a quick look over your SOA from me

Rent 248
Council Tax 100
electric pre pay meter 40 (includes arrears) only allowed pre pay
gas pre pay meter 42 only alowed pre pay
water 28
TV licence 11
land phone 22 ( whats this? DOes it include a call package? It looks like it might have that BT together all evenings & weekends? If so you can get the same thing here for free http://www.planet-talk.co.uk/SaverProducts.aspx?source=saver If you choose this then you can go through uswitch on https://www.quidco.com to get some cash back ( about 8 quid I think)
mobile x 2 25 ( these need to go darl, can you go on PAYG)
internet 18 ( there are cheaper, tesco value broadband is 14. odd)
prescriptions 13.60 (2 a month) ( you can get pre-pay prescriptiuon certs, may work out cheaper)
optitions cant spell it! 18 (approx for 2 of us) ( is this for lenses? Could you get glasses instead?)
car and van ins 47 ( do you NEED both vehicles?)
car and van road tax 30 I think ( again as above)
car and van MOT/Maint 50 ( as above)
Deisel for both 120 (varies, I work 14 miles from home-Hubby varies) ( as above)
contents ins 5 ( thats low...well done)
life ins 39 (for both of us)
Hubbys S/O 65 ( to insolvency people)
food/clothes etc. 340 (inc. Birthday cards, presents) (this is VERY high, you could sve AT LEAST 150 here, many of us have a Xmas box, or use boots/clubcard points for prezzies, and buy bits from the market. We eat, clean and buy toiletries for 100 a month, join in on a challenge on the OS board, loads of cheap meal ideas- do have a nose )
Total £1261.60 ( or less with some savings!!)

So you hubby is self employed? What does he contribute to the pot? You are paying his creditors, surely thats not right is it??

Love
Lynz
x

tawnyowls

pattiemay wrote:

Hi - yes I have worked for the same firm for 20 years now, was there from the beginning, working all hours in the office, when ill health started creeping up on me I went to 3 days as they had extra office staff. Got stuck in a rutt I know. I have holidays booked for September (2 weeks) as it is difficult to be off if someone else is due to the job, I am a very loyal person and don't like letting anyone down. (I like to take the extra hols at Christmas to spend time with my grandkids)

In that case, it sounds as if you are an employee, and you should be getting paid holiday - 20 days for a full-time worker, pro-rata for part-time, so you should be getting 12 days paid holiday a year. I think you ought to check your contract - if you haven't got a copy, speak to your personnel department or your supervisor.

kezbradley

Hi this is my first posting on this board, but hope it helps a little. It may be worth you getting a prescription pre-payment cert as someone already suggested, but if you are paying for the same items every month it would probably work out cheaper if you ask your Dr to prescribe three months at a time instead of just one month, then you will only have to pay two prescription charges per three months, every little helps as someone once said. Good luck

pattiemay

Thanks for your advice, the prescription one looks good - I'll ask my doc.

Also have looked at the phone and internet options, will make a start at the weekend.
We live in a village and the car is neccessary for me to get to work and do the shopping etc. Hubbys van as he is a builder.
The S/O £65 is taken from hubbys bank account but as I have posted everything else joint I included this.
I do go to the market for stuff and charity shops now although find clothes cheaper in Asda, need to travel to get to these also though.
Will go through every thing else and post back.
Thanks for looking

elantan

hi pattiemay, like you i'm new to here to just started tonight infact:D ..and still trying to get my head around alot of things what i can tell you is everyone so far has meant me well ..i think they are being very patient with me:A .. the support you will get here is invaluable and will help you see things in a toatlly diff light:j ..tonght i gave my soa i'm not really doing to badly ( i think i'm doing the ostrich again) i can meet my basic repayments but things are gonna change for me soon (hopefully):j and if it does it will be partly through my own doing ..but mainly through this chat forum ..it feels good not to be alone ..doesn't it? ..and it feels great to stick our heads over the parapet and face what's coming :eek: ..it aint easy but...well for me i feel better than i have done in a long long time ..i can move forward now not back and not stuck and pattiemay you will do the same ...good luck..i wish you well....

pattiemay

elantan wrote:

hi pattiemay, like you i'm new to here to just started tonight infact:D ..and still trying to get my head around alot of things what i can tell you is everyone so far has meant me well ..i think they are being very patient with me:A .. the support you will get here is invaluable and will help you see things in a toatlly diff light:j ..tonght i gave my soa i'm not really doing to badly ( i think i'm doing the ostrich again) i can meet my basic repayments but things are gonna change for me soon (hopefully):j and if it does it will be partly through my own doing ..but mainly through this chat forum ..it feels good not to be alone ..doesn't it? ..and it feels great to stick our heads over the parapet and face what's coming :eek: ..it aint easy but...well for me i feel better than i have done in a long long time ..i can move forward now not back and not stuck and pattiemay you will do the same ...good luck..i wish you well....

Thanks so much , you are right, such support and help on here. I,m stillnot sure what I'm doing really Ive been feeling so ill these past few days.
I hope you keep posting and really wish you all very best and glad you feel better, its hard making the first move and doing the SOA isn't it

EllieB_2

HI PattieMay
Lots of useful stuff here - try to take it easy and not panic - well done for doing your SOA - it is your first step to getting back in control and that is the key.....and we are all here to support you. You say you have an appointment with CCCS and I am sure they will advise you - I do think though that given your income, and that you are renting - with £40k of debt, that bankruptcy is the best option for you. Don't panic about this - it is there to give you a fresh start and this is the best way to think of it. The alternative is struggling to repay this debt over years. I am sure CCCS will advise you further. Take care.

pattiemay

Thanks for your support, I have changed my bank account, although its only a basic one, don't know what I'm gonna do without my debit card tho, I buy cheap things over the net so that will stop. I'm dreading the appointment to be honest, its not made me feel better yet as its a long time to wait and even though i've told the cc companies my ref. number, made a token payment, told them about cccs they still hound me and pressurise me into making agreements with them, I'm afraid I was really nasty back to one of them as i lost my temper.

Thanks for your support - it does make a difference to know people out there care and understand which I will be for ever grateful.

pattiemay

Could someone please tell me which board to go on to have a look at food shopping money saving etc. I called at somerfield on way home from work and really took my time. I noted that I always buy their cheapo beans, tomatoes, sardines and any specials they have on but having got their cheap toilet rolls, coffee and tea for first time, they are vile and will use approx 3 times as much toilet roll lol. help please.