Scared,Excited, Delving into the unknown

angelsam1984

LewisC wrote:

You appear to be spending way too much on your mobile phone and internet - have a look at new providers or downgrade the service.

I really dont think so as the internet is my main communication to the outside world - It actually saves us money and both me and my OH's familys are 250 miles away for the extra 15/month to have 8 to 2mb broadband means that we can both use the internet connection at the same time with no probs, my OH does online gaming too instead of going to the pub and such which means that we can still have a social life.

The mobile phone is his main port of communication when he goes away - for example hes away for two weeks from fri and because he will be out in the field there is no other way to communicate to me. He is away most weekends and i dont have a mobile so he cant just text me - he does to the house phone.

The tarriff he is on means that he doesnt get an excessive bill as it covers him for the amount that he uses and he still has 15 months of the contract left.

I have thought about this but the two factors of OH away alot and living in the middle of nowhere would mean if i lowered it or stopped it I feel I would become depressed and we would spend more on petrol to see people etc.

Sam

lil'H

On your broadband, you say it's 2mB, NTL are upgrading their basic to 2MB for £17.99 a month and you get first 3 months half price, they are the first ones I looked at but you can probably get some even cheaper.

Also re baby foods, the powedered ones and even most of the jars really are useless in terms of nutrients and natural fresh goodness, making your own is easy and so much cheaper, see if you can get one of Annabel Karmels books out of the library she exaplins reciepies really well.

£60 on househould products, whats this? Seems a lot.
And whats the fruad prevention insurance?

Looking at your figures, there is a lot to play with, you just need to decide priorities, would you rather be debt free sooner, or paying over £380 a year on the internet. Why not sell one computer and share the other one? There are lots of ways to do it, you juswt need to decide whether to do it on your own at a slow medium or fast pace, or whether to let cccs handle it. Only you can now how much you are willing to cut back to pay the debts off.

GOod luck,
Lil'H

Dr.Shoe_2

chevalier wrote:

HI there
What is Hp Uniform 100? Are you in the forces? I thought all the kit was free

Not for officers. The Mess Bill was a give-away...;)

angelsam1984

On your broadband, you say it's 2mB, NTL are upgrading their basic to 2MB for £17.99 a month and you get first 3 months half price,
Unfortunatley only AOL or BT here (BT is capped)

Also re baby foods, the powedered ones and even most of the jars really are useless in terms of nutrients and natural fresh goodness, making your own is easy and so much cheaper, see if you can get one of Annabel Karmels books out of the library she exaplins reciepies really well.
will do but I am learning slowly - not a brill cook

£60 on househould products, whats this? Seems a lot.
Everything from dishwasher tablets, washing powder,stamps, envelopes, paper, toilet roll, bin bags, bleach, smelly stuff (dog), hoover bags (cant reuse otherwise dog hair doesnt some up) cling film, foil, dishwasher salt, starch, all purpose spray, floor cleaner, polish, washing up liquid, cistern block, occasional stuff fr repairs and maintenance like paint, sealent, superglue etc
I really dont think I will have the time to 'make' any of the household stuff and it always has to be quick and easy cleaning in case any one from the regiment, housing pops round
And whats the fruad prevention insurance?
Fraud prevention insurance means that if anyone uses his name to gain credit any amount will be covered and I can keep a monthly look on what the creditors have put on the credit report - mainly for use with the getting charges back
Looking at your figures, there is a lot to play with, you just need to decide priorities, would you rather be debt free sooner, or paying over £380 a year on the internet. Why not sell one computer and share the other one?
Well ones a laptop which was purchased over 6 years ago and spends the same amount of time away with my OH for his office roles in the field, entertainment when on tour so no its not an option sorry

Well heres a two new SOA been updated from OH pay statements


Bill Cost Sept 2006 Cost Feb 2007
Petrol 150 150
Fraud prevention insurance 4.99 4.99
Mess Bill 30 30
Car Insurance 38 38
Internet (AOL) 32.5 32.5
Child Maintenance 350 350
BT 20 20
House Insurance 11 11
Barclays Account fee 5 5
Overdraft Protection 0.8 0.8
Tv Licence 11.07 11.07
Electric 40 40
Gas 45 45
HP Uniform 100 0
Mobile (Orange) 33 33
Car Tax 15 15
Glasses 15 15
Food 240 240
Baby Nappies etc 120 120
Rent 150.64 150.64
Personal Insurance 18 18
Household products 50 50


Total 1480 1380

PAY 2100 2180
Benefits 120 120


Total left for creditors 740 920

This would mean that in 12 months we could be DF if there was no more charges/interest
This is why I think it maybe easy to do it myself

Sam

angelsam1984

oh and possible break down of money owed etc - only an estimate as still dont have true figures nor does it include any pursuit of refund of charges

Creditor owed Oct1st 2006 GP agreed Payment owed End Oct 06 proposal from nov 1st 06 owed april 07 proposal from may 07 owed oct 07
HFC 2500.00 62.36 2437.64 170.00 1417.64 237.00 -4.36
HFC 400.00 15.18 384.82 31.00 198.82 33.00 0.82
DLC 2000.00 61.73 1938.27 150.00 1038.27 173.00 0.27
DLC 200.00 5.00 195.00 15.00 105.00 18.00 -3.00
GE Money 937.50 26.32 911.18 65.00 521.18 87.00 -0.82
Orange PLC 200.00 6.43 193.57 15.00 103.57 17.50 -1.43
Capital One 900.00 26.56 873.44 61.00 507.44 84.50 0.44
CitiFinancial Europe 1700.00 42.33 1657.67 131.00 871.67 146.00 -4.33
Monument 900.00 19.30 880.70 74.00 436.70 73.00 -1.30
Argos 100.00 5.00 95.00 8.00 47.00 8.00 -1.00
Index 400.00 11.54 388.46 30.00 208.46 35.00 -1.54

10237.50 281.75 750.00 5455.75 912.00 -16.25

justruth

Why are you paying a Barclays account fee? Get rid of the premium account and go back to a standard one as you do not appear to have and overdraft with them, and the reducued APR with the advanced account is often less than the account fee. I know it's only £5 a month but that's £60 a year! It all adds up!

rog2

angelsam1984 wrote:

I really dont think so as the internet is my main communication to the outside world - It actually saves us money and both me and my OH's familys are 250 miles away for the extra 15/month to have 8 to 2mb broadband means that we can both use the internet connection at the same time with no probs, my OH does online gaming too instead of going to the pub and such which means that we can still have a social life.

The mobile phone is his main port of communication when he goes away - for example hes away for two weeks from fri and because he will be out in the field there is no other way to communicate to me. He is away most weekends and i dont have a mobile so he cant just text me - he does to the house phone.


Sam

Get yourself a VOIP phone - Skype costs approx £15 - £20 from Currys, Dixons etc. It works like a payg in that you have to pay for credit, but, if your families (250 miles away) have broadband, they too can get Skype and you talk for free - otherwise costs to landlines virtually anywhere in world are around 1 - 2 pence a minute (there are some exceptions - explained on website). Calls to mobiles are around 10 - 14 pence a minute. You can text on skype.
If your husband is in say Germany get him to buy a German SIM, then calls from VOIP will also be around 10 - 14 p and he will not pick up any roaming costs.

angelsam1984

my oh wont always have internet access though- and if he did that would cost more too

Yes we have skype but still mainly use msn

Hubby mainly in UK and contract is for europe too on same tarriff

He has a vodafone payg for iraq and afganistan just to text me from

I usually use free text websites and that works

The £5 barclays account fee also provides free green flag road assistance, insurance on his mobile phone and an £8 reduction per month in house contents insurance............

Sam

oo we have £100 overdraft for OH functions etc