Advice on SOA

cycloneuk

She buys the Pampas brand, he will only need 1 tin of powder a week now since going onto food. He is very big for his age, weighed 10.2lb at birth and is now the size of a 8 month old, not chubby just really long and well built. We are both over 6ft so expect him to be really tall lol. She does buy clothes off eBay so could probably come down on that budget i agree.

Business will pick up towards Christmas, it is quite seasonal with probably 30% of my turnover between Nov 15th and Dec 10th. I work 40 hour weeks so it isn't paying a fair wage but will have to struggle on.

cycloneuk

My OH isn't happy atm that she will be paying towards my debts so don't want to spring to much change on her all at once. I will not be putting any further funds into the business and have made some changes with it to save some ££ each month. I have looked and don't appear to be able to get help with the council tax, my gas and electric are clearly lower atm but have kind of averaged it out to take account for winter bills. We have cavity wall insulation along with loft and it is cold in winter without the heating on most of the day, must be because we are detached and have 4 heat loss walls.

It was very cold last year and our average monthly bills were around £75 gas and £80 electric.

I have spoken to PayPlan and have a telephone appointment booked for next week to go through everything.

rachelet

cycloneuk wrote: »

She buys the Pampas brand, he will only need 1 tin of powder a week now since going onto food. He is very big for his age, weighed 10.2lb at birth and is now the size of a 8 month old, not chubby just really long and well built. We are both over 6ft so expect him to be really tall lol. She does buy clothes off eBay so could probably come down on that budget i agree.

Business will pick up towards Christmas, it is quite seasonal with probably 30% of my turnover between Nov 15th and Dec 10th. I work 40 hour weeks so it isn't paying a fair wage but will have to struggle on.

I know what its like to have big children, my smallest was 7lb 11oz at birth and the largest was 9lb 2oz. None of them are fat, just very long and they all grow quickly so I know where you are coming from! My oldest has just turned 8 and is wearing clothes for age 10/11. She is almost as tall as me and is wearing my shoes already. I am only 5ft 1 but my husband is quite tall so the kids obviously take after him! My son is just 18months, but is wearing aged 24 months clothes and they won't fit him for much longer. Definitely try ebay etc for clothes as kids don't stay in them long and there is no point buying expensive clothes for them as they tend to ruin them quickly. My kids get a nice outfit for their birthday and for Christmas each year from a more expensive shop, but the rest of their clothes are either second hand from ebay etc or from cheaper shops such as Asda, Matalan etc.

I would ask your OH to just try a cheaper brand of nappies as I think they are just as good as Pampers. If you don't get on with them, then at least you have tried. Also once your baby reaches six months, they can go onto follow on milk which is normally cheaper than the first age milk. The one I buy goes down by about £1 a tin which definitely helps!

Hopefully your business will be able to pay you a decent wage soon then if the business picks up.

BAILEYS6904

do youuse a cashback site for shopping etc

Honestly, sign up to topcsahback or quidco, and see how much of normal shopping can be done online. That way you can make sure you see all sepcial offeres, see exactly how much you're spending before you pay etc. Once you get the hang of the cashback, it then becomes an addictive challenge, and great way to save money for big events etc.

I know this is gonna be tough for you and your partnet, but so much better now, then when you have Debt collectors bothering you etc

cycloneuk

I have used Quidco before when changing gas providers and usually look for voucher codes when buying anything but could get cashback as well.

I havn't actually missed any payments but will do this month, been struggling for past 6 months so decided to get help now rather than leaving it months. No doubt some will go to dca but at least i'm offering some payment each month i suppose.

MyLastFiver

cycloneuk wrote: »

We are on a water meter and do 2 loads of washing a day

14 loads of washing a week for a family of four? That's mental and I would look at how you could organise this better.

I run my own business so can't go full time, the business is turning a profit but can't take any more than that wage at present.

I take it you have an e-commerce business working from home? Forgive me but once again, looking at the big picture, this is not providing the income you need for the lifestyle you want. Therefore, you need to ask yourself if this is the best way you have of making money.

Also - the monthly P&L might be in the black, but when you factor in the capital injections you have made (by taking out person loans) this business sounds far from profitable. The cost of servicing these loans, and repaying the capital, needs to go into your business accounts. I think you will get a shock. Sorry.

Preparing a packed lunch wouldn't save a great deal

Yes it would!

As for the groceries bill, maybe it's time to look at your diet, your kids' diet and see how cutting out expensive pre-prepared food can get your bills down.

tbourner

We do less than 1 load of washing a week!! There's only 2 of us but still.

cycloneuk

Yep, eccommerce, i havn't put anything in for nearly 16 months. The majority was to get the business going, i did put 20k of my own money into the business to begin with and the HSBC loan was 6 months after to keep me going until it turned a profit.

This is the only way i can earn an income at present.

iamana1ias

cycloneuk wrote: »

This is the only way i can earn an income at present.

I doubt that very much. You just don't want to help yourself.

iamana1ias

cycloneuk wrote: »

Her SMP ends this month so iv'e not included that, baby is 5 months

How?

SMP is paid for 39 weeks, so even if she claimed it as soon as she was able to it should last at least until the baby is 6 months old.