is there anything we can do...

molly29

Council tax............................. 193 is this your annual figure divided by 12 or is it what you pay each month for 10 months giving you two "free months" to allocate this to debt busting? It’s what we pay each month for 10 months so yes, we do have 2 ‘free months’
Electricity............................. 139 Two of us in a 2 bed semi are on less than half of this for dual fuel (more like £50-55pcm) and we are both out at work all day too. You need to get onto this. Get your bills and work out what is your electric and gas usage. The utilities board here might give you some idea of regular consumption figures for similar properties? Check you are on the best deal through comparison sites and use a cashback site like Quidco or Top Cashback if you want to switch.
Thanks, this looks useful, will get onto it today – been put off transferring as think we have to clear outstanding balance with NPower 1st, perhaps we don’t. One problem is we have an Aga, which costs a lot to run but is needed to warm house in winter. We turn it off in the summer.

Turn everything off. Stop using standby, fit energy saving bulbs, don't use the immersion heater on your water tank etc. Yes we have done this
Your local library might be able to lend you an electricity consumption meter to measure your usage and see how you can cut down. Thank you
Gas..................................... 0 see above.
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 45 consider a meter - again I pay less than half what you do (I have a washing machine, take showers not baths). Ooh, tried water meter before and actually cost more – put us off.
Telephone (land line)................... 41 Look at how you can cut this - use the "say no to 0870" website, cheap deals for international calls etc. This is excessive for a landline phone Sorry, should have explained, this is for the landline and broadband only. Phone call are free through Sky
Mobile phone............................ 40 not bad - assume this is two phones? Yes
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 45 get a freeview box. I know this is an option but choice restricted compared to Sky. Already cut down on Sky but see this as replacement for going out (much cheaper by comparison!)
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 380 You will be able to cut this with meal planning. Look at the Old Style board for tips. This is an area where I'm waaay not perfect I'm afraid Thank you, I think maybe I spend too much on vitamin supplements! We don’t eat much at all so God knows what we’re spending it on. Possibly need to use supermarket instead of local butcher’s and grocer’s as unfortunately they cost much more.
Clothing................................ 0 try and work out what your spend has been on these things out of your surplus so you get a better picture of your spending habits.
We haven’t bought any clothes for 2 years.
Petrol/diesel........................... 160 making any non-essential journeys? can you cut down on short trips of less han 2 miles and walk instead or cycle? Don't drive to the shope for a bottle of milk etc.
Thank you. We only use the car to get to work and we travel together although occasionally working hours differ then we need to travel separately. Live in town centre and don’t use car at all at weekends as would affect our budget!
Road tax................................ 40
Car Insurance........................... 50
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 125 every month? Over £1k in maintenance costs - you could buy a car for that! are you actually saving this up each month?
This was an estimate - 2 x MOT (£90)+£800 for my car (have spent £3298 on it in last 4 years, don’t buy a Rover) + approx £450 this year on husband’s car, so perhaps £110 is more realistic and no, we’re not that organised so clearly we have more money some months then hit crisis point when work needs doing.
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 71 Would a pre-payment certificate work out cheaper if it is prescriptions? If it is medical or dental cover check if you can get it cheaper.
Dentist is NHS and usually 2 course of treatment each a year and medication is not prescription but recommended to buy from chemist by doctor, however, until now have used Health Shop alternatives which are more expensive.

Pet insurance/vet bills................. 65
Buildings insurance..................... 30 I assume this includes contents? Use comparison sites at renewal time to check prices and coverage, then use a cashback site to purchase. Yes it does, thank you, will do.
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 57
Other insurance......................... 18 what is this? check all insurances are best rates.
AA membership – with cars like ours you can’t take any risks!
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 40 You said this is a minimum! You can cut this in half, easily. I spent £180 on 23 people for last christmas and no-one thinks we are cheap. I use sales all year round, bargain deals (check the grabbit board most days), cheap shops and charity shops - they sell great new goods if you hunt them out.
You’re quite right – saw the word Christmas and thought of general expense, including food shopping. We only gave presents to the young children in the family last year and to our in-laws, who were staying.
Amount left after debt repayments....... 226 start by working out what you really have left each month. If you are spending on entertainment etc then add that up and put it in above so you can get a realistic picture where you can cut down.
Will do.

Thank you also to talana - car maintenance prob high because cars are old and of little value. We’re in a trap here as can’t afford to change them.

And very helpful comments from foxgloves we have grown veg this year and have been more successful with some than others. I’d love to know what your cats eat, cat food is so expensive and yes, we’ve tried all the cheaper options, Purina etc.
Didn’t realise Economy 7 still existed – will find out about it. Thank you.
Also to Jes for encouragement.
And to podperson:
Electricity............................. 139 - really high, check comparison sites, look at things being left on, if not on dd see if this would be cheaper - we pay £60 a month for both, that includes extra for arrears and OH and flatmate are home all day so tvs, computers etc on all the time. Yes we are on DD. I’m going to check comparison sites.
Telephone (land line)................... 41 - very high, again shop around, does this include internet since that's at 0? If so look at getting a cheaper phone/broadband and even sky package (I get all 3 for £30 a month on basic package) This is interesting, will look into this too.
Mobile phone............................ 40 - could you drop a package on these? Possibly.
Groceries etc. ......................... 380 - could be cut down, we spend about £150-200 a month for 2 of us, including cat food, toiletries, cleaning stuff etc. and know could reduce more if made more of an effort with batch cooking etc. See above
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 160
Road tax................................ 40
Car Insurance........................... 50
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 125 - this seems high even for 2 cars. I agree, see notes above.
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 71
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 65 - is this every month or have you had vets bills recently? If just insurance shop around Insurance is only £15 per month for 3 cats, cat food is £45 and also need worming tablets, flea tablets etc, also expensive.
Buildings insurance..................... 30
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 57
Other insurance......................... 18 - what's this? AA
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 40
Haircuts................................ 15
Entertainment........................... 0 - nothing for this? wouldn't say budget a huge amount but this is going to be a long term plan and no one expects you to never go out again till the debts are paid Prefer to treat selves to cheap wine at home than spend a fortune to drink in a pub, although I know it’s not very sociable. We do have visitors from time to time though!
Amount left after debt repayments....... 226 - this is good but does it usually happen? If not keep a spending diary to see where it's going to.
We’re going to do this
Ok the good news is that you have enough for the major bills and should technically have a bit left over. Also some savings could be made which will up this amount. Would suggest throwing this extra money at the high interest ccs first. There's a snowball calculator where you found the soa that's worth having a play with. Good luck with it x

You have all been so kind to spend your time looking through it all and making suggestions. Thank you so much – we’ve got some real points to work on here. M