Facing up to things - rock bottom

L_D_N

Don't dispair! At least you now know what is going where - much easier to deal with when you can identify where the money is going.

You said you husband has a high commute hence the petrol bills. Does he claim points for petrol i.e. Tesco or Nector points which will contribute in a useful way towards your shopping bill. Also, have you tried the websites which post the cheapest fuel in your area? Sorry, can't remember the address but sure it was connected to the Pipeline card site - this will also be an option in the future if it happens.

Have a look at Martins suggestions for credit card tarting - you'll be lucky to find one without a balance transfer fee but having 9 months interest free might be worth it. Alternatively the previous idea of a low long term interest rate would work too.

Best of luck, you are not on your own.

Lorraine

mrs_mug_2

CLAPTON wrote:

as i see it

your income is 2435
you 'normal ' expenses are 1698
available for debt repaymt 737
minimum debt repayment 639 assuming paying only 16 on the overdraft (i.e. the interest)
and you're paying another 120 on the odds for the evening class?

in seems to me you are spending more than your income
in addition there is nothing in the SoA for clothes, emergency fund, anything for xmas/presents or child related costs, going out

so what exactly is included in the 120? can this be scrapped or reduced.

BT bill could be reduced by going for BT basis option 1 and using call1899.com and/or call18185.co.uk or similar.....you can call any 'normal' landline uk numbers and talk for an hour for only 3p (anytime day or night) also calls to mobiles and good value too.

apart from the mobiles i cant see too much to reduce...in fact as i've already said i think your SoA is too tight and in fact you probably spend more

can you increase your income...partime job in the evening or at weekend a few huibdred extra would help greatly.

evening class - getting 3 alevels out of it with a bit of luck I can't not pay this, I'm on the home stretch now anyway. The alevels will allow me to study further and get a career eventually. I need something to live for

We don't go out, we never really have. We do free things with the children at the weekends - walks in the countryside, picnics, taking photos etc (digital camera which was a present so no developing costs). clothes, car tax and such like have always been covered by scrimping even more for a month or 2 before (beans on toast every night for us etc) or by windfalls. We've only been in this dire situation for 18 months though, before that I was working so we had a further £1k a month.

I can't work at the moment, due to my husbands work pattern and not being able to afford childcare. This will change around christmas time though so only a few more months with out another small income to get through.

Thanks for your ideas, like the BT suggestion. I'll be using that from now on..

CLAPTON

best of luck with the 3ALs...most impressed..did mine the easy way...but didn't do any work of course ...youth wasted on the young.

lynzpower

could you do some babysitting or childcare at home?

Or ask the college where you are doing your Alevels to help out out of thier student welfare pot??