Not Strong enough

Sarah2490

Thank you insideinfo, it's nice to know kind people are out there. I am going to get the courage up to call the right people soon.

Your little statement at the end made me laugh, my daughter still has me up 2/3 times a night . . . All I want sometime is a good nights sleep lol

carrieon

Oh Sarah, My heart goes out to you. Please take the advice from the lovely people on here. They really know what they are talking about. You have gone through a lot of emotional stuff lately and are bound to be feeling down. You will get help though dont be scared to ask. And do keep coming on here. Even if its to have a moan. You'l feel better just by talking and people beeing there for you...which they will. I'l keep coming back to see how youre doing. Just you take care of yourself and be strong for that beautiful baby of yours. Lots of hugs. xxx

savingmummy

Sarah2490 wrote: »

Couldn't get form to work so did it manually -

Monthly Income - 530
Benefits - 630

Rent - 375
Council Tax - 61 - Single person over 12 month
Electricity - 0 ???
Gas - 0 ???
Water - 28.4
Telephone - 0
Mobile - 15 - Still over 12months to go
TV Licence - 11.87
Cable TV - 17 - This is the full package @ staff rates and includes landline and internet

Groceries ext - 260 - includes Baby milk £35, nappies an Wipes £17 & Baby foods £10. Also all tolitries/cleaning products/new baby equipment (bottles/teats/feeding equipment ext)
This can be reduced slightly, drop brands, stick to a list, meal plan, pop over to the old style money saving forum for tips, take advantage of vouchers and coupons. Maybe give baby your food, much cheaper. I staerted my kiddies straight on to `our` food and done baby led weaning i found it cheaper and easier.
Clothing - 10 try and make do for now if you can even just for a few mths
Other Travel - 20 - Buses to baby clinic & baby groups ext
Child Expenses - 15 - New clothes for baby every 3 months
Cont Insurance - 10.88
Presents - 30 reduce/limit for now people will understand £360 a yr is alot for you right now.
Haircuts - 5 - Haven't had one since september now desprate as going back to work so saving up
Entertainment - 20 - Dance class once a week - Have though about stopping but this is the only me time and exersice I get

Debt
Type Amount - Min Pay - APR
Loan 6959.06 - 204.05 - ?
Card 1 1454.73 - 64 -41. 19
Card 2 411.74 - 20.58 - 27.95
Card 3 151.53 - 7.38 30.34
Catalogue 1 1403.67 - 54.23 - 40.9
Catalogue 2 136.23 - 7.13 - 34.4
Store Card 455 - 18.25 - 29.9
These are priority due to higher APR`s so concentrate on getting rid of these

Adults 1
Children 1 - 7months

Total Income - 1160
Expenses - 879.15
Available for Debt repayment - 280.85
Debt - 375.7
Suplus - -94.85

Total Unsecured Debt - 10,971.96

Child benefit? elec? gas? car? isn`t included in there. Do you pay for baby groups etc?
Some sure start centres are free and also include dance/fitness classes for new mums/mums with bumps.
Do you get any help with baby expenses from baby`s father? worth seeing if you can if not to help you with the baby expenses.
I have highlighted just a few things i would change for now, your SOA is very short so not sure if it is 100% accurate but it looks like you are limiting costs right now.
Can you sell on ebay? old baby bits, things you don`t use or need.
Regarding work is there anyone who can help with childcare, a relative or friend even if it is for a few hrs a day just to help out.
You will be fine and things will sort out, for now all you can do is your best.
Good luck x

savingmummy

Forgot to add.
As you can see from my signature my debts were catalogues (all closed and cancelled now) have you contacted them to explain your situation? I contacted mine and found them very good, As i called to say payments would be late alot of the normal charges were stopped and i was offered a different payment to suit me ie, most had to be paid by 16th of each mth they changed it to 25th which helped alot.

Sarah2490

As I am new to paying bills/keeping house (always live in shared houses until just before baby) I did not set up a dd for gas and electric. I have managed to the bills so far as I was still on full time pay. Now I don't have money to set up a dd or put anything aside for when the bill comes. My brother owed me £160 and I have asked him to keep hold of this so I can use for the next bill. I am hoping that by the time I get the next bill I will have some kind of plan in place that allows for a monthly dd

I'm not a big one for cooking but have made my first batch of own made baby food today that I can use when out/for convenience. I do give my little girl what I have if it is something suitable and I have just started to try meal planning/cooking form scratch. It's all new to me but I am giving it a go. Once she is on cows milk (June ish) this will also make a big difference.

I need new boot for going back to work the ones I have let water in , I will cut the £10 after this

I know the present money is high I am trying to cut this but with 2+ birthdays a month and my little ones birthday/Christmas to think about I'm struggling a bit.

I only go to free baby groups as I know I can't pay for any. I have been going to the dance school since I was 4 so really don't want to stop if I can help it

The £630 is child benefit and tax credits. The father does not pay anything, I have not been able to find/contact him since the day I told him I was expecting. 8 year relationship ended in 2 words

I have 2 boxes of book in the attic and have found a site where you can sell them so am going to give it a try and I am going to list some baby things on a nearly new forum for mums to try and raise a bit of cash

insideinfo

Duh, I should have realised about the sleep. I had to look after my Brothers baby last week, never slept as much, synchronised with the nine month old but boy oh boy was I tired after a 24 hr shift. I had no idea that cute babies can sleep so much, wake so much and demand so much. Took my mind off debt advice I can tell you. Sister in law was stuck in the snow, she was forced to spend the night sleeping on the floor at the school where she works, best night's sleep she ever had !! She want's to go out on Valentines Night, any tips on how I could avoid my 24 hr shift responsibilities without scaring her too much ?

I was once on the phone to a client (screaming baby in background) so I politely asked "would you like to tend to your child, I can hold" 17 minutes later she returned and said "sorry! triplets, now where were we"! Keep your chin up.

Sarah2490

Yes they keep you busy but her smile get's me through when I am down and gives me something to make my life better for

Oneday77

I can't advise anything about the baby front they scare me too much I love my 3 neices though.
I can advise on the CCCS Stuff though, don't be afraid in anyway. They have been fantastic with me and make it all so easy. Looking at the debt you have the sooner you get on it the better. All charges will stop and interest may well be stopped. Never promised but a lot either reduce it or stop all together.
Pop to www.cccs.co.uk and fill in their debt advice wizard. Factor in all likely bills and household costs to give an accurate reflection of how much you will spend. If at the end it says you need to speak to them don't fret, it is a very supportive non-judgemental conversation.
I would however get on the case of getting payments from the father. Even if you can't speak to him get the CSA or whatever they call it these days to chase him. Even if he isn't voluntary his wages can very easily be deducted by a court.
However you have a baby to love and worry about. Money is stressful but not worth worrying over. If you had asked me 6 months ago I wouldn't have understood the money bit in the slightest.

PS I can't cook but I know know how to use a slow cooker and not get food poisoning

taxi73

The CCCs route looks the best for you at the moment and will take a lot of pressure off you.
The allowances they alloware quite generous as well...no harm in contacting them.

tealady

Hi sarah. I think you are doing the right thing by going to CCCS. Debt is a problem which can affect us all, and we all could use a helping hand (or in my case a boot up the backside).
Don't feel upset that you couldn't get debt free by yourself, sometimes we all need a little help.
After all you wouldn't try to climb a huge mountain without ropes and stuff, so just think of it not as a failure but as a success, as you have worked out what is best for you, and you are taking the steps to solve the problem.
Good luck