Some advice please...

lauren123

savingmummy wrote: »

Sorry your struggling right now!
Store cards are the killer especially Argos - hope you have stopped using them now.

If your tax credits go in it will pay the overdraft
You need to ensure each month the rent and council tax is paid as a MUST these are priority! If your parents have offered to help you need help right now with your rent - only option unless you have somethings to sell or savings.
You and your OH need to sit down and do the SOA http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html ALL income needs to be included along with ALL outgoings.
Any outgoings you don`t need have to stop for now, you may have to cut back on some if needs be.

Thanks for the reply. Yes I have stopped using all catalogues and cards, and we are trying to cut back only really spending on nappies and formular, we are even making do with really cheap frozen food atm
Have spoke to nationwide and have agreed to give me 7 days to get back into my overdraft limit, which I will be on Friday, just means OH will have to find all the rent money, which he says he can just scrape together.
Keep meaning to sit and do the SOA but we both have so many out goings, we just need to find an hour to get it done. X

Ames

You can batch cook from scratch healthy meals a lot cheaper than the cheap ready meals. Just remember that the banks can't have what you have - the most important thing is to keep yourselves healthy and a roof over your heads, everything else comes second.

I know how you feel about help from your parents though, my dad lent me £400 last year which I'm determined to pay back, even though he said he was 'giving' not 'lending' it to me.

lauren123

Ames wrote: »

You can batch cook from scratch healthy meals a lot cheaper than the cheap ready meals. Just remember that the banks can't have what you have - the most important thing is to keep yourselves healthy and a roof over your heads, everything else comes second.

I know how you feel about help from your parents though, my dad lent me £400 last year which I'm determined to pay back, even though he said he was 'giving' not 'lending' it to me.

There was a time that I would take, take, take from my parents but I think since Ive had my daughter Ive realsied they're not always going to be able to bail me out and I need to sort my OWN problems. X

Ames

That's a great attitude to have, although I'm sure you'd want to help your daughter whenever she needs it. Maybe borrow from them and arrange a repayment plan that you can stick to, and do it. When you post your SOA people will be able to figure out the best way forward.

One question though, is your OH totally on board with sorting your family finances out? It's really hard to manage when only one partner sees the problem.

lauren123

Well before we got together over 2 years ago he took out loans, cards etc and owes alot more than me. He got himself into big trouble and is now sorting through it slowly. So when I was on maternity leave and started applying for cards, catalogues etc he warned me over and over not to get involved BUT i did! :mad: He is very good with money now, he understands we cant have the best of everything and he is happy with that. Just wish Id listnened to him!

kezia_jay

Hi, Lauren,
Could you not meet your parents half way with their offer of help and let them help you pay off some of the loans that have high interest and pay them back with low interest. That would help you and them too?

lauren123

I could but I really want to try and work it out myself. Its going to be a very last resort, my parents work really hard for their money and i dont want to keep taking of them x

kezia_jay

I totally understand and really commend you for your determination to help yourself.

You have really had your "lightbulb moment" haven't you?

I truly hope it doesn't take you long to resolve your current problems.

ciderwithrosie_2

Just wondering, if your daughter is 10 months does she still need to be on formula milk? that would save a few quid. Or have they changed the 'rules' again? It was cow's milk after 6 months when mine were little and they've never suffered any ill effects.

regards

CWR

lauren123

ciderwithrosie wrote: »

Just wondering, if your daughter is 10 months does she still need to be on formula milk? that would save a few quid. Or have they changed the 'rules' again? It was cow's milk after 6 months when mine were little and they've never suffered any ill effects.

regards

CWR

Thanks for reply. They say 12months now lol May well make no difference but Iam going to keep this up 2 more months. X