I have done nothing yet but writting here is the only way that will make me do stg...

Want_to_be_free

It has been a lovely day today, beautiful weather.:p
Where I sit I can hear birds- very tired at the moment due to not being able to sleep but feel like achieved something so that makes me happy.

After sorting out my total debt, I did my budget today. Still baby steps but this is taken a lot of energy.

I didn't use Martin’s budget planner, only because I nly realised that there was a ready made one after completing my own budget analysis. Very business like but life is business…

Here is my lot

Food, cat food, toiletries and cleaning material £320 try to reduce it

Mortgage £263.82 (Interest only no change (this is really bad but I cannot pay anything toward actual debt at the moment)

Capital CR card £205 , no change till August 2010

Car payments £200, no change until August 2011

Petrol £150 try to reduce it

House Maintenance £80 (£55 monthly fee + additional £25 to pay as extra because I have not paid anything since December due to bank error)

M&S CR card £75 , no change till August 2010

Alliance & Leister overdraft repayment £66 no change

Council tax £65 no change- seems like there has been a mistake- find out?

Gas + Electricity £114 - Until the outstanding debt is clear, it will clear up in 11 months time then approx £72. (I have not paid anything since December due to bank error)

Car insurance £43.37 coming to end in July, try to reduce it

Home Phone + broadband £43 Possible to reduce?

Halifax Cr Card £40 Need to pay more, this is my bottleneck

Tax credit back payment £ 40, Will finish in November 2010

My mobile £35 is it possible to reduce?

Virgin CR card £25 need to pay more as this is only min payment

HSBC interest payment £25 need to make an arrangement, going into the bank next week

Water bill £21.87, no change

Income protection insurance £21.73no change

Cinema tickets (4) £20 Reduce it to 2 perr month meaning only once a month???

TV license £12.12 no change

Content Insurance £12 try to reduce it

Car cleaning £12 Clean yourself???

Take away pizza (once a month when it is buy one get one offer) £11 Make it every 2 months? Bake yourself??

My son’s pocket money £10 no change

My son’s phone £10 no change

Lovefilm.com for my son £ 10 no change

Haircut + colouring (me every 6 months) £10 total £60 , £10 per month, can I reduce it?

My son’s Haircut (every 6 weeks) £8 (every 6 weeks it is £12)

Massage £27, this is the only thing I spent for I not want to back up but if the worst comes

Additional bits and odds such as car park , going out, food outside, odd coffee or food at work £80 - This is today’s reality- change???

For personal debt 1 £10 need to pay more but cannot at the moment

I cannot touch the personal debt 2 , which is to my father, he refuses to take it back but when the time comes, I must give him the money because they are not really better off.

TOTAL monthly spent £2060
This does not factor additional costs of living – I will go through those a bit later.


Monthlysalary1752.59
Child benefit81.52
Tax credit 42.18
TOTAL INCOME £1876, 29

I am in red - £190 every month:eek::eek::eek::eek:

God this is without other quarterly, half yearly and yearly essentials... God help me...

Overwhelmed, must have a break:( and think, and think more

mz_grim

Ok im new here myself and im on the other side of the world so I might not be much use to you, but in regards to the international phone calls have you tried a Voip (Internet phone) like skype. I have relatives over in the UK and I use skype to call from Australia only costs about 2c (sorry about the different currency) per min so much cheaper than making calls from a land line phone. I wish you luck on your journey and sorry I cant be of more assistance.

Want_to_be_free

hello mz_grim
My jouney has just started_ I will certainly look into Skype- it is a bit difficult to get my parents to use the technology but I will try. I am not so sure they always access to the internet, never the less I will check ...Many thanks and good luck to you too...

mz_grim

You can call their home phone from skype you just dial their normal number that way they dont have to use technology only you have to I do hope it helps a little

eyeopener2

Hi

Have you considered talking to one of the debt charities? Since I have been dealing with the CCCS I can see the light at the end of a (very long) tunnel.

It might be something to consider, as the online debt remedy is free, takes about 20 minutes and gives you an idea of the route to take. Mine was a Debt Management Plan but the result will be tailored to you.

Worth a go?

Want_to_be_free

Dear mz_grim
I guess I need to learn how to use the technology LOL
Besides my mum was asking me to go to msn yesterday-she said, it will be cheaper when did she learn tall that It turns out, she enrolled to local college- bless her for her determination x

Want_to_be_free

Dear eyeopener2
I think I will have to talk to one of those charities, thank you for bringing this to my attention.

What is online online debt remedy please? And most importantly what is the url so I can check it out.

Many thanks again

mz_grim

http://www.cccs.co.uk/ I think this is the link you would be after sorry to answer a question directed at someone else but i figured you could use the information ASAP

mz_grim

Want_to_be_free

Thanks again Mz_Grim
I have now completed Debt remedy , and it told me to contact debt advisor via phone which I will do on Monday.

Meanwhile, I tried to budget again, I reckon I can reduce my monthly outgoings- watch the space please...

mz_grim

Glad to here that you have got the ball rolling with it hopefullly now you can move on and towards clearing your debt.