So ashamed please help

chelbel1981

The time has finally come, I NEED/WANT help but haven't got a clue where to start
I have done a SOA 9not sure if it's right )

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 0
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1003
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 904
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1907
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 400
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 75
Electricity............................. 80
Gas..................................... 75
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 40
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 0
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 75
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 300
Clothing................................ 10
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 650
Other child related expenses............ 44
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)...... 10
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 10
Total monthly expenses.................. 1781

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
Water arrers...................900.......40........0
Council tax benefit............1500......0.........0
housing benifit................1900......200.......0
Virgin.........................198.......0.........0
Orange mobile..................202.......0.........0
Total unsecured debts..........4700......240.......-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,907
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,781
Available for debt repayments........... 126
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 240
Amount short for making debt repayments. -114
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -4,700
Net Assets.............................. -4,700
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.


Anyones help is greatly appreciated

DVardysShadow

First thoughts. Bluntly, you cannot afford satellite TV. Is there any way you can reduce child care costs? Will a child start school soon?

RAS

Welcome. I have to go in a few minutes, so am going to be a bit brutal here.

chelbel1981 wrote: »

The time has finally come, I NEED/WANT help but haven't got a clue where to start
I have done a SOA 9not sure if it's right )

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 0
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1003
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 904
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1907
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 400
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 75
Electricity............................. 80 - you should be able reduce this
Gas..................................... 75 you should be able reduce this
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 40
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 0
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 75 - this has to be reduced now and then got rid of ASAP.
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 300 - you can reduce this to £200. Go over to the old style forum for help meal-planning
Clothing................................ 10
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 650
Other child related expenses............ 44 - what is this
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)...... 10
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 10
Total monthly expenses.................. 1781

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
Water arrers...................900.......40........0 - this is a priority
Council tax benefit............1500......0.........0 and this
housing benifit................1900......200.......0
Virgin.........................198.......0.........0
Orange mobile..................202.......0.........0
Total unsecured debts..........4700......240.......-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,907
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,781
Available for debt repayments........... 126
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 240
Amount short for making debt repayments. -114
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -4,700
Net Assets.............................. -4,700
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.


Anyones help is greatly appreciated

Can you check that you could not claim any additonal help with your Council tax?

Do the Council have a liability order? Are they sending in the bailiffs? Can you talk to your local councillor as they may be able to negoitiate on your behalf, but you have to start paying something ASAP.

The water rates are also a night mare.

katsu

chelbel1981 wrote: »

The time has finally come, I NEED/WANT help but haven't got a clue where to start
I have done a SOA 9not sure if it's right ) - because it does not match how much short you are each month? Can you look at bank statements?


Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 2 - how old?
Number of cars owned.................... 0
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1003
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 904
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1907
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 400
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 75
Electricity............................. 80 - are you in arrears? If not this seems very high
Gas..................................... 75 - as elec.
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 40
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 0
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 75 - assume includes phone and internet - still feels high. Can you get cheaper?
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 300
Clothing................................ 10 - really £120 per year or is this a guess?
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0 - you walk everywhere? You have no car, but appear to take no busses or taxis.
Childcare/nursery....................... 650
Other child related expenses............ 44
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0 - if you can cut down enough elsewhere to be able to get back to a surplus you should look for cheap contents insurance.
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 10 - Good figure - can you drop it at all?
Haircuts................................ 0 - never?
Entertainment........................... 0 - never? Nothing for/with children?
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 10
Total monthly expenses.................. 1781

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
Water arrers...................900.......40........0
Council tax benefit............1500......0.........0
housing benifit................1900......200.......0
Virgin.........................198.......0.........0
Orange mobile..................202.......0.........0
Total unsecured debts..........4700......240.......-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,907
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,781
Available for debt repayments........... 126
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 240
Amount short for making debt repayments. -114
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -4,700
Net Assets.............................. -4,700
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.


Anyones help is greatly appreciated

Hope some of the above helps you start off.

doodledo_2

Well done for posting your SOA. Firstly don't be ashamed. We have all been where you are, be proud that you are facing up to your situation :T

My comments on your SOA are:

- satellite is very high - this needs to go or reduced considerably. Or does this included internet etc?

- How old are you children? Your grocery bill could definately be reduced maybe even halfed in all honesty.

Good luck with your journey to being debt free

chelbel1981

DVardysShadow wrote: »

First thoughts. Bluntly, you cannot afford satellite TV. Is there any way you can reduce child care costs? Will a child start school soon?

The cost is for TV, internet and phone
She starts full time school in September that will release £600 per month, still need £50 for childminder

jojitsui

Hello lovely and welcome i'm a relative newbie to money saving so my advice will be very basic, but hope it helps a bit. don't worry tho i'm sure you will have loads of advice soon.

Please don't be ashamed, be proud that you are finally dealing with your debt.

Have you made a typo with your gas and electric payments? £155 a month is shocking. I would also get rid of the sky. This would make up the £114 easily.

There are also some really good threads on here that will help you half your shopping bill.

To shave a bit more off use your council tax free months (Feb and march) to pay towards your debts and do you really need £10 a month for clothes for the time being.

Cheers J x

Icanandwillsavemoney

chelbel1981 wrote: »

The cost is for TV, internet and phone
She starts full time school in September that will release £600 per month, still need £50 for childminder

Are you sure it will release £600. If your childcare costs go down, then so does your child tax credits as you will need to inform them - assuming you get childcare element of child tax credits that is.

chelbel1981

DVardysShadow wrote: »

First thoughts. Bluntly, you cannot afford satellite TV. Is there any way you can reduce child care costs? Will a child start school soon?

RAS wrote: »

Welcome. I have to go in a few minutes, so am going to be a bit brutal here.



Can you check that you could not claim any additonal help with your Council tax?

Do the Council have a liability order? Are they sending in the bailiffs? Can you talk to your local councillor as they may be able to negoitiate on your behalf, but you have to start paying something ASAP.

The water rates are also a night mare.

The gas and electric are card meters and that's roughly what I spend

Sky/TV is for TV, phone and interner, I'm looking at reducing the package to basic sky, phone and internet. I still have 8 months on the contract

Groceries was a guestimate

Other child related expenses is for Childminder and daughters dinners

I caanot get anything towards council tax because 'I earn too much'

All of my debt have bailiffs involved now

Ames

I doubt all your debts have bailiffs involved, most will be Debt Collection Agencies, which are NOT bailiffs and don't have anywhere near the powers. They should be getting £1 a month while you try and pay back the council tax, if they get baillifs involved then it can get ugly, there's still lots you can do even when it gets to that stage, but it's best to avoid it altogether.

chelbel1981

katsu wrote: »

because it does not match how much short you are each month? Can you look at bank statements?
how old?
are you in arrears? If not this seems very high
assume includes phone and internet - still feels high. Can you get cheaper?
really £120 per year or is this a guess?
you walk everywhere? You have no car, but appear to take no busses or taxis.
if you can cut down enough elsewhere to be able to get back to a surplus you should look for cheap contents insurance.
never? Nothing for/with children?
never?

Hope some of the above helps you start off.

I am £1000 overdrawn
Not in arrears but have card meters, thats calendar monthly roughly
Does include everything
Clothes is alot more I suppose
I would say roughly £10 per month, but then there was from October to before christmas when it was roughly £30-40 per month for hospital appointments
I agree with the insurance, I cancelled it cos couldn't afford it
My hair is a treat £10