my SOA.......help?

Cherrypie_2

hi all

i do post here more often than my post count says but i have re-registered as my work collegues use the site and i dont want them to know who i am!!!!

so here goes.....

Most common Income

Take home pay £1400 (sometimes more)
Child Benefit £69
Child support received £140
Child tax credit £50 (paying arrers)


Most common outgoings

loan £140 (this is only half the amount as ex pays other half)
Rent/Mortgage £538.04
Water (supply & waste)£39.00
Council tax £74.00
Gas £30
Electricity£30
Building and contents insurance £27.00
Landline £14.00 (for next 3 months)
Internet £10
Mobiles £55
Satellite/cable rental £35
TV licence £11
Childcare £152
Life insurance £27
Road tax
Car insurance £21
Fuel & Parking £40
Food, toiletries & cleaning £150
Clothing and footwear
Hairdressing £20
Professional/union fees £14.50
Sundries and emergencies £10 child saving
+ £100 ciggies (i know!)
+40 xmas vouchers

credits cards:

barclaycard:1215 0% until dec
goldfish:2161.15 7.9% (got to move this to lloyds tsb for 0%)

any suggestions most welcome!!!

oops_a_daisy

how many people are you supporting ? ie. is it just you and a child ?

jessicamb

Hi

Mobile cost seems high - can you do anything to reduce (PAYG etc?)
Sky - do you really need it? Can you switch to Freeview/threaten to leave to get it cheaper?
Union fees look high - do you get value for money? I know some professions such as teaching its necessary.
Hairdressing - switch to a cheaper one/grow your hair for a few months (a bit extreme maybe lol)
Have you got the best insurance deals etc? Presumably so if you've been on the site for a while.
Keep a spending diary to see if you can make any inroads into the £150?

Good luck

oops_a_daisy

Hi Cherrypie

Just a few observations from me

have you looked into switching you gas and electric ? see phones and utilities on the left of the screen. Have you looked into switching your home contents, buildings and car insurance ? again look at Insurance on the left of the screen. Do you really need satellite TV - can you go onto freeview ? Are you paying a mortgage or rent - if on a mortgage can you switch it to a lower rate ? water - are you on a meter ? you have written mobiles does this mean you have more than one ? can you go onto PAYG or at least reduce your contract ? Have you looked at money saving old style threads to save money on shopping, toiletries and cleaning stuff ? can you reduce the payments into your christmas club ? I know you would end up with less but with all you have learned on here you may not need quite as much ?

Im sure others will be along soon with more advice. All the best and good luck

Cherrypie_2

thanks all for the quick response and great advice......

edit for you....

it is just me and a 2yr old

only one mobile (got to change contract in august with orange they wont change till then)

i have got to do the insurences this month

i do love sky+ (ive actually reduced plan and will do more in sept)

cant change xmas club

tied into morgage until sept

will a water meter help?

in my profession (medical) i need the union

thanks

oops_a_daisy

re the water meter - its just me and a 12 year old and my bill is £22.00 per month. If you contact your water supplier they fit it for free and I think you have 6 months to change your mind.

Cherrypie_2

wow thats great ...i'll be on to them tomorow!!! are those flush savers any good as well?

thanks

robnye

Cherrypie wrote:

wow thats great ...i'll be on to them tomorow!!! are those flush savers any good as well?

thanks

yes, i think they claim to save up to 1 litre per flush.........

as you have already mention 'ciggies £100'........ you are not doing your health or your budget any favours........ have you tried patches? nicotine gum?
the cost wont drop initially if you did try them, not until you kick the habit.......

lynzpower

hi there let me have a little nose cherrypie

loan £140 (this is only half the amount as ex pays other half) ( HOW LONG LEFT, WHAT APR ETC)
Rent/Mortgage £538.04
Water (supply & waste)£39.00
Council tax £74.00 ( is that with single persons allowance if you live with you & your child only?)
Gas £30 ( check out https://www.saveenergy.co.uk or https://www.carbontrust.co.uk)
Electricity£30 ( ditto)
Building and contents insurance £27.00
Landline £14.00 (for next 3 months) then it goes to??
Internet £10 ( nice & cheap, whos this with- we always need tips here
Mobiles £55 ( woah, way too high, you are paying for 2 i take it? Why?)
Satellite/cable rental £35 ( i know you are committed to this, but its extra money to pay your debts off with)
TV licence £11
Childcare £152
Life insurance £27 ( is this the cheapest?)
Road tax ??
Car insurance £21 ( again is this the cheapest?)
Fuel & Parking £40 (cna you claim any parking or fuel mileage back from work?)
Food, toiletries & cleaning £150 (this can be brought down if its just you and a nipper, we do 100 a month for 2 adults for this- Needs must and all that) and its really not too big a struggle check out the OS board, im sure you have, use coupons wherever you find them, shop savvy)
Clothing and footwear (
Hairdressing £20 ( this seems a lot, thats 60 every 12 weeks, for a cut & blowdry in london at one of the top salons I only pay 37- when I pay it lol, havbe you over estimated there, or is that what your paying
Professional/union fees £14.50
Sundries and emergencies £10 child saving
+ £100 ciggies (i know!)
+40 xmas vouchers

And thats the end of that!! I reckon theres about 100-150 saving there with dumping the sky, batering down your food costs and possibly a few other savings.