SOA from a newbie - not sure I've done it right? Please help!

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi fraja,

If your Direct Debit was increased to £144 per month due to arrears that built up from an earlier Direct Debit being set to low, there is every chance that it can be reduced once the arrears are recovered.

We’ll be happy to review the Direct Debit for you at any time, so don’t hesitate to request this when you have chance.

I’ll do it for you if you’d like, you can contact me by email in my profile.

It may also be of interest that we can offer you lots of helpful information when it comes to reducing the amount of energy you are using and therefore in turn reducing your energy costs! :beer:

When you have a spare few minutes try touring our Interactive House, this is found on the Going Green page of our website. This is great for showing you ways to be more efficient all round the home and for explaining what uses all your gas and electricity.

Our dedicated Energy Efficiency team are also on hand to talk about ways to cut consumption and save money from your energy bills, may well be worth a call to them if you have time.

Brian

pure_dead_dopey

Hi Fraja

Welcome and well done for realising that you needed to take action. Re the groceries, I used to spend around £600 per month (cue gasps of horror!!!) but have now got it down to around £340/360 for 4 adults (including a long distance runner, a rugby player and a veggy) and one very large dog. It has been mostly painless, we don't eat any less or any worse quality but I do throw out very little whereas before I was throwing out lots (wasteful i know). I shop very carefully and pay attention which before I just run round and threw everything into the trolley. I check out what's available and stick to some shops for some things cheaper supermarkets for juice and toilet rolls. Poundstretchers for dog treats and food, etc. Its a bit like having to go back to what our Mothers used to have to do when there weren't any huge supermarkets. I'm the competative type and bet against myself keeping to the budget, woe betide family members who don't get good value on food purchases!!! So it can be done, it just needs a bit of attention and a wee bit more time. Good luck

fraja

Oh, thank you, Brian! I was promised an energy saving monitor thing ages ago, but it never arrived - are you still doing those?

PDD, I'm going to investigate an almost-local Aldi for a cheaper alternative for some stuff. We have a Lidl, but it's hit and miss and the fruit and veg is often shocking quality.

Thank you all for being so helpful and kind.

fraja

Oh and I have just been accepted for an Egg card which seemed to be the best one, interest-rate wise, without opening a new bank account (which is beyond my capabilities at the moment [overwhelmed]!). And I used Quidco, so hopefully should get £35 cashback for that.

Happytogetdebtfree

Hi fraja and welcome to the boards all the best with your dfw journey :-)

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi Praja,

As far as I’m aware the energy monitors were at one stage offered to some customers as part of the sales process, i.e. you just joined us or you had changed to a certain tariff.

Perhaps it had been offered in a compensation type way?

Aside from the above scenarios the monitors were only available to purchase through our website, they still are I believe.

If you email me via the address in my profile, I’ll take a look into why you’ve not received this if you like?

Brian

fraja

Hi Brian

Yes, it was offered as compensation - when we moved house, we were put onto a different tariff from the one we were on at our old house and it was WAY more expensive. I didn't realise at first (though did eventually) and it was offered as compensation.

I will email you now. Thank you.

Numpty_Monkey

fraja wrote: »

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1950
Partners monthly income after tax....... 1594
Benefits................................ 133
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 3677

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 1533
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 206 ask to pay over 12 months
Electricity............................. 70 some good info from EON Brian, also worth checking out comparrison sites and cashback sites
Gas..................................... 74 as Elec
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 36
Telephone (land line)................... 12
Mobile phone............................ 50
TV Licence.............................. 10.14
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 10 a good deal on phone and internet:D
Groceries etc. ......................... 500 others have mentioned ways:A
Clothing................................ 50 reduce for a few months, emergancy replacements;)
Petrol/diesel........................... 200 read Martins Article http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/?tab=16&dd
Road tax................................ 12
Car Insurance........................... 35 any insurance checkout comparrison and cashback sites
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 40
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 80
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 50
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 23.42 as car
Contents insurance...................... 23.41 as car
Life assurance ......................... 21.9 as car
Other insurance......................... 94.4 high, was this sold with your mortgage?
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 50
Haircuts................................ 15
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 30
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 3226.27


Assets
Cash.................................... 500
House value (Gross)..................... 365000
Shares and bonds........................ 500
Car(s).................................. 2000
Other assets............................ 5000
Total Assets............................ 373000


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 218909...(1533).....5.48
Total secured & HP debts...... 218909....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
HSBC card......................5000......100.......15.9
Ulster card....................1388......42........15.75
HSBC loan......................6775......295.......6.9
Total unsecured debts..........13163.....437.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 3,677
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 3,226.27
Available for debt repayments........... 450.73
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 437
Amount left after debt repayments....... 13.73

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 373,000
Total HP & Secured debt................. -218,909
Total Unsecured debt.................... -13,163
Net Assets.............................. 140,928

Created using the SOA calculator at makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using Firefox browser.

I'm joining in a bit late:o
If you can get your gas and electric down, knock £100 of the groceries budget,
gpay the council tax over 12 months (saving £30 pm) knock £20 of clothing budget
If you can make a few savings on your insurrance which is quite possible
espessially the Mortgage protection

I'm not saying its easy and does require you to do the work with our help, but and easy £200 a month savings to be made
t4mof posted a link to the snowball calc, put the numbers in and put in with an extra £200 a month and see what happens:eek::D:D

fraja

Thank you, Numpty (that feels unkind, calling you Numpty, when you've been so helpful!).

I'm finding it quite fun (hmm, I should get out more - no, no, no, not if it costs money, right?!) to see what trimmings I can make to things.

My eldest has just asked if we can go out for dinner. That'll be a no!

Numpty_Monkey

Everyone calls me Numpty (i earned it:p)
money saving can be fun its they new way of spending:j
You're right about the no:A