A difficult decision...

[Deleted User]

Hi Darkconvict,

I have a pay as you go mobile so I only really use it for emergencies - being a single female living in a rural location, its most likely to be needed when my car breaks down!

My hair is short - but I am growing it - it just takes time. My neighbour cuts its every 6-8 weeks for £5 just to stop it looking totally disheveled.

Turning my health around is my priority - and you are right it is more important than worrying about debts, but I also know that I'm probably not going to be able to work full time for quite a while so retraining was my way of trying to secure a better finance in the future.

As for the pet stuff - I have a dog. She needs her yearly booster which is £60, to be wormed and deflea'd. I can't scrimp on that and I'm not prepared to give her up as I've already parted with my cat.

As for my house - well I am trying to find a house share so that I can live in town and not have to drive everywhere. Hopefully that will also cut down on some house costs too. Finding someone who will share with me on benefits as well as my dog is proving trying...

I'm really not bothered by my credit file being shattered - perversely it will hopefully stop me getting into any further trouble!!!

[Deleted User]

Oh and just to say...

There aren't many choices for alternative phone/internet packages where I live as our exchanges haven't been unbundled. I'm likely to go back to BT and use O2 Broadband, but again it always seems to end up costing the same. Very frustrating.

I've got my electricity down from £80 per month to £52 by switching to British Gas. I sold my TV in the summer to pay for the accrued winter bill from last year to try to keep my costs lower.

DarkConvict

In which case, i think you have most things covered. Can you get housing benefit when on ESA to try and bring your rent price down?

[Deleted User]

Yeah I get full housing benefit as I'm unable to work at the mo - that should be shown in the SoA?

I guess I had just wanted to know if I needed to tell M&S about the money or whether I could keep that aside and just ask for a hold on my account until I know what I am likely to be earning etc...

Really appreciate all your help and suggestions.

beanielou

Having looked at your SOA the problem is that on the figures you are showing in your SOA you basicaly cannot afford to run your car.With that defecit as shown in your SOA you will run through the money you got in your payouit very quickly.
I think token payments are the way to go TBH.
Take it M & S is your only debt?

DarkConvict

gin1998 wrote: »

Yeah I get full housing benefit as I'm unable to work at the mo - that should be shown in the SoA?

Whoops i didnt see that :P

[Deleted User]

I think I also need to know whether if it goes to court I'll be in trouble?!

littlemissmoney

Move somewhere cheaper and get rid of the car. I don't see you have much option really. Your energy bills seem high for one person (have you switched recently?).

Wear glasses and get rid of the dog? £10 a month on "emergency" calls seems like a lot of "emergencies"! Be honest with yourself.

Car is costing you £1,659 a year
Dog is costing you £488.04 a year
Contacts are costing you £180 a year
"Emergency" calls are costing you £120 a year

[Deleted User]

I know I can rejig the home phone and mobile costs so I'll look in to that.

As for getting rid of the car well, living where I do its not much of an option. Its three miles to the nearest shop and the buses don't run frequently enough or in the right direction. I do limit my travel as much as possible but not having a car is a huge problem in this area.

I've switched electricity supplier and got a grant for loft insulation as the house I rent didn't have any. That is making a difference, but running a house entirely on electric isn't very cost effective in general. There is no gas in the village I live in and I doubt whether my landlord would fit oil central heating especially as it takes him forever to fix anything around the house and then its done begrudgingly.

I am going to move but the housing cost isn't going to change that much, and in fact all of the rent is covered by housing benefit so its not really an issue. I can't afford to not insure my dog because she's an accident prone Springer Spaniel.

Nope, I think it comes down to having to change the phone/internet provider and axe my mobile costs, as well as trimming down food and diesel. Hard times...

beanielou

But I hate to be blunt based on your current SOA you cant afford a car.
Your payoff will be gone really quickly if you have to eat into it on a regular basis.Is that your intention?