Im bogged under here, where do I start?

dearme

Ok I guess I should introduce myself....im a plonker when it comes to money and need to shape up FAST!
Everything seems to have happened all at once and I really dont know what to do.
I have a summons for court on wednesday as my rent is £1000+ in arrears.
I have been on sick leave from work and only getting min pay.
I have other bills I cannot pay.
I am a single mum.
I dont think I will return to work due to a greivence against my boss (hes a tyrant) but no word from management about ending employment. Dont want to hand in notice as will affect benefits???
Have gone into debt since starting work after being on benefits for 11 years....better off on benefits!
So scared it makes me ill that i will lose my council house. No family or friends to help me out financially.
where oh where to turn now?
I do know from reading here that there are people worse off and I salute them for all their hard work and frugal ways to be debt free! I also applaud the help and support they receive from the fab responses.
My head literally hurts trying to find a thread of where to start here.
any suggestions greatly appreciated.
x

sparklymessygirl

Oh Dearme - welcome to the boards - you are taking a brave first step - so well done.
Don't panic and please don't worry about the fact of going to court (although I agree the worry about the outcome must be dreadful) - you must think of court simply as a place to resolve issues

Look at this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/107280 and do a statement of affairs (SOA).

Get in touch with CAB re your court case and one of the free debt services about the whole financial picture. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2077631

Sending you masses of hugs for continued courage,

Sparkly

dearme

How very rude of you to assume I want a hand out!!! I have never ever even thought that. I wrote that friends and family are not an option as when I rang CB that was their first question to me "can you borrow from family members"? NO and I would never expect that. I was also making a point of saying that I was better off on benefits as I got more help (not just financially) I didnt want to be on benefits but I had to be at home for my son (learning difficulties). He is now 12 and being supported at school rather than at home.
I DO NOT want a hand out or sympathy. I just needed to know where to start to get better advice than I did when I went to CAB.
I am hurt that you think like otherwise. I feel helpless as I have never had these problems before, just wanted a little practical advice. Sorry if I offended anyone and gave the wrong impression. Am I in the wrong place???

sparklymessygirl

Gosh - I never suggested you wanted a handout. I don't see why you are offended.

I wanted to quickly tell you good luck, not to fret about the court action unduly and to try and get much needed advice. I think you are misreading my post. I think you are going through a tough time with your health, work and raising your children. I was reaching out to you.

That'll teach me.

Sparkly

dearme

sparklymessygirl wrote: »

Gosh - I never suggested you wanted a handout. I don't see why you are offended.

I wanted to quickly tell you good luck, not to fret about the court action unduly and to try and get much needed advice. I think you are misreading my post. I think you are going through a tough time with your health, work and raising your children. I was reaching out to you.

That'll teach me.

Sparkly

NO NO NOt you Sparkly! Someone else left a reply but has obviousley removed it! It made me very sad. I really appreciate your reply and am doing the statement thingy (slowly but surely). Very sorry about that.
Best regards

sparklymessygirl

And harmony is restored

Good luck,
Sparkly

dearme

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 0
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 300
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 480
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 780
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 16
Rent.................................... 280
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 80
Electricity............................. 30
Gas..................................... 30
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 48
Telephone (land line)................... 50
Mobile phone............................ 10
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 280
Clothing................................ 20
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 10
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 10
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.................. 876

Assets
Cash.................................... 58
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 58

Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 0........(0)........0
Hire Purchase (HP) debt ...... 350......(16).......35
Total secured & HP debts...... 350.......-.........-
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
shop a check...................280.......40........0
Total unsecured debts..........280.......40........-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 780
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 876
Available for debt repayments........... -96
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 40
Amount short for making debt repayments. -136
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 58
Total HP & Secured debt................. -350
Total Unsecured debt.................... -280
Net Assets.............................. -572

dearme

Oh Cripes I just dont get that! Did I do it right?
See what I mean...im a plonker with lists with money in it!

sparklymessygirl

Comments inserted in blue

dearme wrote: »

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 0
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 300
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 480
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 780
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 16 What is this item? TV? high interest rate
Rent.................................... 280
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 80 includes discount?
Electricity............................. 30 start switching things off, avoid tumble dryer etc
Gas..................................... 30
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 48 high - paying arrears?
Telephone (land line)................... 50 high - do you need this? get cheaper? can you skype people?
Mobile phone............................ 10
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 280 reduce - see old style board
Clothing................................ 20 for the moment buy only for son if necessary, and then only essentials, charity shop etc.
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 10
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 10
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.................. 876

Assets
Cash.................................... 58
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 58

Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 0........(0)........0
Hire Purchase (HP) debt ...... 350......(16).......35
Total secured & HP debts...... 350.......-.........-
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
shop a check...................280.......40........0
Total unsecured debts..........280.......40........-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 780
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 876
Available for debt repayments........... -96
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 40
Amount short for making debt repayments. -136
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 58
Total HP & Secured debt................. -350
Total Unsecured debt.................... -280
Net Assets.............................. -572

Well, you are certainly not frittering it away!

Are you able to claim more benefits related to your son's disability? (I know, you've probably checked this already)

Wondering aloud here - so bear with me - can you get off sick, return to work and then things will come to a head, and then you'll now where you stand? This reduced pay situation is unsustainable.

Amend the statement to add in the rent arrears too.


Someone else will be along with much better advice, I'm sure. I learn something new everyday on here




Sparkly

dearme

Oh you are lovely sparkly....a light at the end of the tunnel. Will address the highlighted areas. No benefits for son but he is statemented and gets fab support at school (priceless).
Work....havent had reply to letter asking them to make a decision about me going back.

Just another quickie...I am filling in and ticking boxes in cccs website (from your link) is a contractual payment what you are already paying????
thanks again hun x

NotJustAny...

Dearme - I wouldn't expect your employer to tell you yes / no as regards your continuing employment.

If you have put in a grievance, you should get a reply to that which addresses the specific issues you have raised, but they will not make the decision that you should return / not return to work - that is your decision and yours alone (with advice from your GP, of course).

Are you looking for other jobs at the moment?

Good luck with your debts.