I don't know how to work out what my expenses are for my SOA

Sarsie

I've been reading posts with peoples SOA and I know I'm soon going to have to do one. I'm just waiting on the copies of my credit file to arive

Thing is I actually don't know what these things cost me, I have a poor memory (faulty for medical reasons) and a lot of them I don't have records for. These were the ones I thought I wouldn't know.

Electricity- My electricity comes through a pre-payment meter and I am also repaying a debt to the electric company this way. Should I list what I actually put on the key or separate the debt payment?
Gas- Same as electric.
Water rates- What if I haven't been paying them at all for a year and I have a debt there too? What shall I even start with?
Mobile phone- PAYG and I don't keep a tally, would Orange tell me if I asked do you think?
Groceries etc.- Again, no mental tally.
Clothing- Entirely variable.
Petrol/diesel- No idea, same reason.
Car maintenance- how does one quantify that over a year when nothing might go wrong or everything might go wrong?
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc)- Can I include private psychotherapy?
Pet insurance/vet bills- Does pet food go here or grocery?
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)- No idea!
Haircuts- No idea
Entertainment- What does this actually include?
Emergency fund- Does this include expenses incurred responding to medical crises? Does it have to be some pot or account I pay into in advance or does it mean when I have to pay £80 for a taxi back from A&E at 4am?

Can anyone tell me please should I...

• Just guess?
• Start keeping a little notebook at all times of every penny I spend so I can make an informed guess?
• Is there a set of general norms to refer to anywhere?

Sorry.

andy40

Keep a notebook of everything you spend then go back and add it up for the month.

MatyMoo

Or go back through bank statements and see if they help?

Or a rough guesstimate for now that you can amend/adjust once you have kept a spending diary for a little while.

Electricity- My electricity comes through a pre-payment meter and I am also repaying a debt to the electric company this way. Should I list what I actually put on the key or separate the debt payment? - Put what you spend for now
Gas- Same as electric. - Ditto
Water rates- What if I haven't been paying them at all for a year and I have a debt there too? What shall I even start with? Add the debt in with your debts but put in the monthlky figure to keep this years up to date
Mobile phone- PAYG and I don't keep a tally, would Orange tell me if I asked do you think? - You must have an idea £5/week £50/week:eek:
Groceries etc.- Again, no mental tally. Can you remember how much you spent last time? Times it by 4 if weekly, it will be a start
Clothing- Entirely variable. - So put £10/month for now
Petrol/diesel- No idea, same reason. - Same as phone really
Car maintenance- how does one quantify that over a year when nothing might go wrong or everything might go wrong? - You have to plan something, maybe £10 month just incase
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc)- Can I include private psychotherapy? - Yes
Pet insurance/vet bills- Does pet food go here or grocery? - Grocery
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)- No idea! - £10/month to start?
Haircuts- No idea - How many times a year do you go and what does it cost each time? £10 each time, three visits a year would be £2.50 a month on average
Entertainment- What does this actually include? - Takeaways, cinema, days out, weekends in Littlehampton
Emergency fund- Does this include expenses incurred responding to medical crises? Does it have to be some pot or account I pay into in advance or does it mean when I have to pay £80 for a taxi back from A&E at 4am? - It is there so that you can afford the £80 taxi!

Hope this helps

Maty

randomer

I understand what you're saying Sarsie it is quite dificulat and daunting.....maybe do the best you can and refine it as you go along.