We're very confused!

Ajworth

Can I ask why you slightly prefer CCCS please?

fatbelly

Ajworth wrote: »

Can I ask why you slightly prefer CCCS please?

You can ask (and I've hinted already)...

But I don't want this thread to turn into an argument about the merits of each. They are both fee-free and have many happy customers on this site.

Either of them would be 100 times better than the best of the fee-charging companies.

Fang_3

Ajworth wrote: »

mum has told me they've been left with approx £600, which is for food and cleaning materials for 3 of us(as I live at home and contribute as much as I can to the household budget which Payplan have been told about..thankfully none of us smoke and drink (although mum does love a diet coke)and we all take packed lunches and drinks from home for during work. So from that £600 they also have to deduct mum's car expenses (dad has a company car) their clothes and shoes, grooming expenses and hair (but mum hasn't had her hair done since 15th December last year because she hasn't been able to afford it) dentist and optician expenses. They allowed dad £120 per yr for his gardening hobby but nothing for anything else - which they haven't got now anyway because they can't afford anything. They never go out because they haven't got anything left When they saw the CAB they were told that although they wouldn't have a great deal they would at least be able to afford to have 'a life' which they don't have now. I know they realise that this problem has to be dealt with and its been so hard for them to admit they have to had to ask for help. I know at the moment they're up to date with all their payments and have never missed one mortgage payment but this month is the month they've run out options and have now been forced to ask for help. I'm hoping someone can tell me if it has to be this bad for them.

£600 a month sounds ample! Why is your sister not paying for her and her children's meals herself? Where is the father not?

beanielou

I have to say I too think £600 is a lot.

pure_dead_dopey

Ajworth

like I said before no harm in filling in the debt rememdy with CCCS to check what figures they suggest. We sound about the same age as your parents and ran into similar trouble last year. We've been on a DMP with CCCS for 6 months and it has made a massive difference. You have to budget carefully but you also MUST change your outlook. My previous shopping in pre DMP days for 4 adults and one very large dog was around £600/700, I do it for around £350 and it could go down more if I really tried harder. You have to pay attention to what your buying and meal plan a bit. CCCS or any debt management charity will not make allowances for your parent s to feed your sister and her children as they should have their own budget. Could they not bring around a meal or the basic ingredients and cook at your Mums? I know it all looks a bit harsh but in reality it is a liveable budget. I make lists, take off all of the priority payments at the beginning of the month and then live to the budget that is left. I have even managed to put some by for an emergency fund which I would say they really need to have (appliance breakdowns, car stuff etc, it all happens). Have your parents told your sister about their reduced circumstances, if not perhaps they should, we've told our children and they have been nothing but supportive.

CCCS does allow you an allowance for haircuts and a small entertainment budget, ours is £120 per year. The bald truth is that if you have to live in workhouse conditions, it will not work, you have to have a bit of a life, no one is suggesting 5 star holidays but you have to be able to let go just occasionally. Try CCCS and its still not a bad idea to post up their SOA, its amazing what you forget to add in in the first panic of a DMP, lots of old heads on here that can help.

josephine82

You should find out if there is a beauty college nearby that teaches hairdressing- if so then they will most likely need models to practice on- I go to my local college and get mine done- they cut exactly what you want- and it costs £3.50 a time.

Do your mum and dad qualify for help with NHS costs (like dentist and optician?) Worth looking into.

Food can be done very cheaply by being a bargain hunter, going to the supermarkets near closing times to get reduced items (for freezing etc) or shopping online, or using Aldi/Lidl for some items. It takes some practice, but grocery spend doesn't have to be massive, especially if you are able to freeze a lot of stuff.

It is possible to cut right back on clothes and shoes and you can get some stuff for cheap these days- Tesco and Asda and Sainsburys have good clothes ranges and its not too cheap looking, and mostly survives quite well. Good when you need a pair of black trousers/jeans etc and not much to spend.

Might be worth getting Mum and Dad to make a list of all the monthly household expenses that £600 has to cover and then you will get an accurate picture of how tight it will be.