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Help needed with SOA and increasing income

Afternoon everyone!

Not sure where to start on here, just signed up as I'm sick of being in debt, whilst there's some helpful advice for people in large debt, I'm struggling to find a way of making ends meet. Does anyone know a decent link for either increasing my income (about 100% more would be nice!!) or for balancing the books.

Thanks in advance!
Today's Debt:
B/Card = £6,410 F/D = £3,190
Loan = £0 Woohoo!
Total Debt = £9500
Debt as of 26-1-11:
Total Debt = £14,325
«1

Comments

  • Geebee
    Geebee Posts: 3,081 Forumite
    clang_uk wrote: »
    Afternoon everyone!

    Not sure where to start on here, just signed up as I'm sick of being in debt, whilst there's some helpful advice for people in large debt, I'm struggling to find a way of making ends meet. Does anyone know a decent link for either increasing my income (about 100% more would be nice!!) or for balancing the books.

    Thanks in advance!

    Hello.. welcome to the Forum. :)

    If you would like help with your budget, you can start a new post with your SOA (statement of affairs) using this link... http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html People will be able to advise where you can maybe cut down.

    There are also various ways in which you can make extra cash, it may not "up" it by 100% though!. :rotfl:

    Try looking at these two links.. one called "A bit on the side" https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/88679

    and the "Up your income" thread...
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/101755

    Good luck!.

    GB
    If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them~Dalai Lama
    How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours~Wayne Dyer
    Let none find fault in others. Let none see omissions and commissions in others. But let one see one's own acts, done and undone~ch4 vs50
  • clang_uk
    clang_uk Posts: 132 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Thanks for these links I'll take a look through them.

    Done the SOA doesn't make pretty reading!

    Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

    Household Information

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

    Monthly Income Details

    Monthly income after tax................ 1650
    Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
    Benefits................................ 0
    Other income............................ 0
    Total monthly income.................... 1650


    Monthly Expense Details

    Mortgage................................ 0
    Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
    Rent.................................... 600
    Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
    Council tax............................. 150
    Electricity............................. 25
    Gas..................................... 15
    Oil..................................... 0
    Water rates............................. 20
    Telephone (land line)................... 20
    Mobile phone............................ 30
    TV Licence.............................. 15
    Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
    Internet Services....................... 0
    Groceries etc. ......................... 50
    Clothing................................ 0
    Petrol/diesel........................... 50
    Road tax................................ 18
    Car Insurance........................... 40
    Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
    Car parking............................. 0
    Other travel............................ 405
    Childcare/nursery....................... 120
    Other child related expenses............ 30
    Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
    Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
    Buildings insurance..................... 0
    Contents insurance...................... 0
    Life assurance ......................... 0
    Other insurance......................... 0
    Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
    Haircuts................................ 0
    Entertainment........................... 0
    Holiday................................. 0
    Emergency fund.......................... 0
    Total monthly expenses.................. 1588



    Assets

    Cash.................................... 0
    House value (Gross)..................... 0
    Shares and bonds........................ 0
    Car(s).................................. 0
    Other assets............................ 0
    Total Assets............................ 0


    No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts


    Unsecured Debts
    Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
    Loan...........................5000......227.5.....8.9
    Total unsecured debts..........5000......227.5.....-



    Monthly Budget Summary

    Total monthly income.................... 1,650
    Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,588
    Available for debt repayments........... 62
    Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 227.5
    Amount short for making debt repayments. -165.5


    Personal Balance Sheet Summary
    Total assets (things you own)........... 0
    Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
    Total Unsecured debt.................... -5,000
    Net Assets.............................. -5,000


    Created using the SOA calculator at .
    Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.


    Help and advice is always appreciated.
    Today's Debt:
    B/Card = £6,410 F/D = £3,190
    Loan = £0 Woohoo!
    Total Debt = £9500
    Debt as of 26-1-11:
    Total Debt = £14,325
  • Krisp_3
    Krisp_3 Posts: 234 Forumite
    clang_uk wrote: »
    Thanks for these links I'll take a look through them.

    Done the SOA doesn't make pretty reading!

    Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

    Household Information

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

    Monthly Income Details

    Monthly income after tax................ 1650
    Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
    Benefits................................ 0
    Other income............................ 0
    Total monthly income.................... 1650


    Monthly Expense Details

    Mortgage................................ 0
    Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
    Rent.................................... 600
    Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
    Council tax............................. 150
    Electricity............................. 25
    Gas..................................... 15
    Oil..................................... 0
    Water rates............................. 20
    Telephone (land line)................... 20
    Mobile phone............................ 30
    TV Licence.............................. 15
    Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
    Internet Services....................... 0
    Groceries etc. ......................... 50
    Clothing................................ 0
    Petrol/diesel........................... 50
    Road tax................................ 18
    Car Insurance........................... 40
    Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
    Car parking............................. 0
    Other travel............................ 405
    Childcare/nursery....................... 120
    Other child related expenses............ 30
    Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
    Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
    Buildings insurance..................... 0
    Contents insurance...................... 0
    Life assurance ......................... 0
    Other insurance......................... 0
    Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
    Haircuts................................ 0
    Entertainment........................... 0
    Holiday................................. 0
    Emergency fund.......................... 0
    Total monthly expenses.................. 1588



    Assets

    Cash.................................... 0
    House value (Gross)..................... 0
    Shares and bonds........................ 0
    Car(s).................................. 0
    Other assets............................ 0
    Total Assets............................ 0


    No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts


    Unsecured Debts
    Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
    Loan...........................5000......227.5.....8.9
    Total unsecured debts..........5000......227.5.....-



    Monthly Budget Summary

    Total monthly income.................... 1,650
    Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,588
    Available for debt repayments........... 62
    Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 227.5
    Amount short for making debt repayments. -165.5


    Personal Balance Sheet Summary
    Total assets (things you own)........... 0
    Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
    Total Unsecured debt.................... -5,000
    Net Assets.............................. -5,000


    Created using the SOA calculator at .
    Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.


    Help and advice is always appreciated.

    clang_uk - you need to post this in a separate post, just to maximise your chance of getting replies from other people. Re-post it and I'll take a look later :)
    :DAiming to be debt-free June 2011 at the latest!! :D
    :jPaid off £6,143 - Egg loan cleared 26 May 2010:j
    :p Save on lunches in June Challenger # 5 - £0 aim/£0 spent!! :p
    :) 8/15 NSDs June 2010 :)
    "I wish dear Karl could have spent more time acquiring capital than merely writing about it." - Jenny Marx
  • Tixy
    Tixy Posts: 31,455 Forumite
    Hi Clang
    clang_uk wrote: »
    Thanks for these links I'll take a look through them.

    Done the SOA doesn't make pretty reading!

    Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

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

    Monthly Income Details
    Monthly income after tax................ 1650
    Partners monthly income after tax....... 0 does the other adult have any income?
    Benefits................................ 0 child benefit, do you get any child tax credits/working tax credits, housing benefit etc?
    Other income............................ 0
    Total monthly income.................... 1650

    Monthly Expense Details
    Mortgage................................ 0
    Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
    Rent.................................... 600 is this competative for where you live? could you downsize?
    Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
    Council tax............................. 150 have you checked you are in the correct ctax band? there is a 5min check you can do online to see that you are. Do you pay £150 for 10months or over 12?
    Electricity............................. 25
    Gas..................................... 15
    Oil..................................... 0
    Water rates............................. 20
    Telephone (land line)................... 20
    Mobile phone............................ 30
    TV Licence.............................. 15
    Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
    Internet Services....................... 0
    Groceries etc. ......................... 50 This looks too low for a family of 3?
    Clothing................................ 0 need to budget a little something here even if only for the child.
    Petrol/diesel........................... 50
    Road tax................................ 18
    Car Insurance........................... 40
    Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0 need to estimate what it costs over a year and budget 1/12 each month
    Car parking............................. 0
    Other travel............................ 405 what is this for? is a car needed as well as this?
    Childcare/nursery....................... 120 is this needed if one adult isn't working?
    Other child related expenses............ 30
    Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
    Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
    Buildings insurance..................... 0
    Contents insurance...................... 0 do you not have this? (you can get contents cover really cheap by shopping around)
    Life assurance ......................... 0
    Other insurance......................... 0
    Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0 budget 1/12 of the annual cost here
    Haircuts................................ 0 never?
    Entertainment........................... 0 nothing ever?
    Holiday................................. 0
    Emergency fund.......................... 0
    Total monthly expenses.................. 1588


    Assets
    Cash.................................... 0
    House value (Gross)..................... 0
    Shares and bonds........................ 0
    Car(s).................................. 0
    Other assets............................ 0
    Total Assets............................ 0

    No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

    Unsecured Debts
    Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
    Loan...........................5000......227.5.....8.9
    Do you have any other debts, overdrafts etc?
    Total unsecured debts..........5000......227.5.....-


    Monthly Budget Summary
    Total monthly income.................... 1,650
    Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,588
    Available for debt repayments........... 62
    Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 227.5
    Amount short for making debt repayments. -165.5

    Personal Balance Sheet Summary
    Total assets (things you own)........... 0
    Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
    Total Unsecured debt.................... -5,000
    Net Assets.............................. -5,000

    Created using the SOA calculator at .
    Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.

    Help and advice is always appreciated.

    Glad to see you are looking for ways to up your income, there is also a whole board called Up Your Income which may be worth a look at. Could you do overtime, work any extra hours etc?

    You do need to include whatever benefits etc you get in to see a full picture, but also you need to budget for some of the costs you haven't included.

    The other travel figure in particular looks high - what sort of travel is this? is it essential and is it the cheapest form of transport (do you buy season tickets etc).
    A smile enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give
    or "It costs nowt to be nice"
  • Krisp_3
    Krisp_3 Posts: 234 Forumite
    clang_uk wrote: »
    Thanks for these links I'll take a look through them.

    Done the SOA doesn't make pretty reading!

    Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

    Household Information

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

    Monthly Income Details

    Monthly income after tax................ 1650
    Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
    Benefits................................ 0 Are you entitled to any benefits, with a child in the house?
    Other income............................ 0
    Total monthly income.................... 1650


    Monthly Expense Details

    Mortgage................................ 0
    Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
    Rent.................................... 600
    Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
    Council tax............................. 150 can you pay this over 12 months instead?
    Electricity............................. 25
    Gas..................................... 15
    Oil..................................... 0
    Water rates............................. 20
    Telephone (land line)................... 20
    Mobile phone............................ 30 can you get out of this if it is a contract and go PAYG?
    TV Licence.............................. 15
    Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
    Internet Services....................... 0
    Groceries etc. ......................... 50 Wow! Is that for 3 of you for a month? That's low! Well done!
    Clothing................................ 0
    Petrol/diesel........................... 50
    Road tax................................ 18
    Car Insurance........................... 40
    Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
    Car parking............................. 0
    Other travel............................ 405
    Childcare/nursery....................... 120 If your child is in nursery, is there any way your OH can work (sorry if this sounds personal, just wondering).
    Other child related expenses............ 30
    Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
    Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
    Buildings insurance..................... 0
    Contents insurance...................... 0
    Life assurance ......................... 0
    Other insurance......................... 0
    Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
    Haircuts................................ 0
    Entertainment........................... 0
    Holiday................................. 0
    Emergency fund.......................... 0
    Total monthly expenses.................. 1588



    Assets

    Cash.................................... 0
    House value (Gross)..................... 0
    Shares and bonds........................ 0
    Car(s).................................. 0
    Other assets............................ 0
    Total Assets............................ 0


    No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts


    Unsecured Debts
    Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
    Loan...........................5000......227.5.....8.9
    Total unsecured debts..........5000......227.5.....-



    Monthly Budget Summary

    Total monthly income.................... 1,650
    Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,588
    Available for debt repayments........... 62
    Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 227.5
    Amount short for making debt repayments. -165.5


    Personal Balance Sheet Summary
    Total assets (things you own)........... 0
    Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
    Total Unsecured debt.................... -5,000
    Net Assets.............................. -5,000


    Created using the SOA calculator at .
    Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.


    Help and advice is always appreciated.

    I know that's not much - but I am sure others will be along soon too.
    :DAiming to be debt-free June 2011 at the latest!! :D
    :jPaid off £6,143 - Egg loan cleared 26 May 2010:j
    :p Save on lunches in June Challenger # 5 - £0 aim/£0 spent!! :p
    :) 8/15 NSDs June 2010 :)
    "I wish dear Karl could have spent more time acquiring capital than merely writing about it." - Jenny Marx
  • clang_uk
    clang_uk Posts: 132 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    edited 2 June 2010 at 3:06PM
    Thank's for the comments. I should really give a little about myself.

    My girlfriend has a kid from a previous relationship, she's not yet working but is on benefits (despite several interviews she's not got a great deal of experience in general office work.), I'm not exactly how much she gets but she pays for 3 weeks shopping (hence the £50 that I pay). As the kid is not biologically mine, I can't classify for childcare vouchers. We've recently moved in together and I'm not exactly sure of all the bills so I guesstimated here at what the previous quarter has been.

    At present, and what has led me to this forum is my bank balance, after two days is now over the agreed overdraft limit, by a few hundred pounds!!

    Another important thing to add is that I have about 2k on the B/card. But this is the only credit card I have....
    Today's Debt:
    B/Card = £6,410 F/D = £3,190
    Loan = £0 Woohoo!
    Total Debt = £9500
    Debt as of 26-1-11:
    Total Debt = £14,325
  • Tixy
    Tixy Posts: 31,455 Forumite
    As you are over your overdraft limit you are at risk of them cancelling your overdraft as soon as your next salary goes in. Therefore I would start by setting up a new bank account with a different bank to pay your wages into and DDs out of - it needs to be a bank you don't owe any money to. Once that it set up you can then set up a standing order to start repaying your overdraft (even if its just say £10 per month).

    Then you really do need to look at www.entitledto.co.uk as a couple. It might be that your partner is entitled to more money /housing benefit etc. At the moment your rent & council tax are so high that it is eating a very large proportion of your income.

    The other cost that is really strangling your finances is the travel. If the £405 other travel is you commuting to work then could you get rid of the car saving in all of those running costs?

    Does your girlf have debts do you know. If its quite a new relationship then it can be difficult to broach the subject of how much income she has and what she is spending it on, but you do need to know as in terms of benefits etc you will be assessed jointly. Eg does she get maintenance for her child from the father as if so that should be contributing towards household bills as well etc.
    A smile enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give
    or "It costs nowt to be nice"
  • clang_uk
    clang_uk Posts: 132 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Thanks for the help and support!

    The £405 is my season ticket into work (Yep expensive!!), really do need the car, although have thought about selling it, we live in a very, very rural area (there's only 3 shops!). The father of the child is jobless, (and a few other things which I won't post here) so not paying any maintenance.

    There are various debts as a result of her moving in, a elec bill for £650 (which her mum is helping with) a water bill for £150 and £160 for leaving BT?!

    We do get £54 a week in tax credits and £20 in child credits.

    I do like the idea of changing banks, I did this about ten years ago and took me ages to get off natwests books, I would like to be pro-active with it this time and try and tackle this head on.
    Today's Debt:
    B/Card = £6,410 F/D = £3,190
    Loan = £0 Woohoo!
    Total Debt = £9500
    Debt as of 26-1-11:
    Total Debt = £14,325
  • If you are responsible for the care of the child you should be able to get salary sacrifice childcare vouchers - worth checking again with your employer, as the test isn't a biological one but a 'real world' one.
    Mortgage Free thanks to ill-health retirement
  • dancingfairy
    dancingfairy Posts: 9,069 Forumite
    Hopefully a bit of upping your income and maybe being eligible for more benefits will see you straight. However if that doesn'tr work then you may need to look at other options - perhaps a dmp - o.k it will trash your credit rating but then you will be paying what you can afford to the loan.
    Another idea is trying to refinance that loan - maybe by 0% credit cards/low life of balance credit cards - etc as you clearly can't make ends meet the way things are at the moment.
    A combination of upping the income and restructuring the debts would preserve your credit rating but obviously it all depends on how things work out.
    df
    Making my money go further with MSE :j
    How much can I save in 2012 challenge
    75/1200 :eek:
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