Second Opinion

Dolly_Smith

if you can walk, do! forget the clothes for a while, get rid of the mobile. I haven't used one this year and haven't missed it at all (quite a relief not to be instantly available actually!)

is there no way you can earn some money? I used to work at Sainsbury's on the checkouts over ten years ago now. I did Saturdays and evenings and overtime and could take home over £500 a month - and that was then!

you can snip your bills here and there but the rub is, you need more money coming in

moozie_2

Hello Labrynth and welcome

Well done on posting your SOA, that can be daunting by itself! Let's have a look then...

Labrynth wrote:

OK... heres my SOA

Monthly Incoming

Job Seekers Allowance = £228

Monthly Outgoings (debts included as I still have those)
Bills
Bus Fares = £50 (I just worked that out - think I might walk from now on! Good idea!)
Clothes = £20 Do you need this every month?
Phone Bill = £10
Food = £80 This can be reduced, have a look at the old style board
Pet Food = £20 How many pets is this for? What about other costs related to looking after them, vets etc?
Total (without savings & other, see below) = £180

Income - bills = £228 - 180 = 48

Debt repayments
Bank Loan = £316
CC = £77
Total (minimum) = £393

Debts

Bank Loan = £12,500
Overdraft = £500
Credit Card = £2,500
Missed Payments on Bank Loan = £316
Missed Payment on CC = £25

OK I think that just about covers it.

Thanks

There are things missing from your SOA such as haircuts, prescriptions, presents/cards, any subscriptions etc etc. Any reputable debt advice company will ask you to include those too.

As what you have left over after paying your bills is only £48 for the time being, you need to make contact with CCCS, payplan or national debtline as soon as possible. You did the right thing by contacting the CAB but I am not sure how equipped they are to deal with a debt management plan. Someone that has experience of that perhaps can advise

You are doing the right thing by wanting to take control of your situation. I would suggest that you write to your bank and advise them that you can't meet your minimum repayments at the moment. Offer them £1 token payment per agreement and let them know that you are seeking advice from the CAB or whomever else.

Best of luck.

Labrynth

Thanks both.

I have been thinking about taking up a part time job instead of living off benefits. While I am at college though it will be hard to earn enough still, so I would still have to make arrangements to pay less than I am.

OK, cut out the clothes, I can live with what I have for now, and I can walk. I have 3 cats to feed, and believe me it can be costly! None of them visit the vets regularly, and they are all staying indoors while I live with mum , so no insurance is needed for them right now. My phone is pay as you go...so I think I will just have it as an incoming only phone!

Thanks for all your time and replies!

Dolly_Smith

well I have one big cat and one extremely hungry kitten so I'm nearly there!

kathfisch

I think Moozie has covered everything I thought of! I think that the CAB do administer debt management plans for people... I'm not sure whether they are equivalent to CCCS, Payplan etc given that they don't specialise in debt advice. They are certainly a good source of advice and support, if they can't arrange what you need then do contact one of the other charities.

I would suggest starting a spending diary to see where your money goes. Just write down everything you spend and what its on, then total it up each week or whatever. It can really help you to see where your spending needs to be cut down (e.g. a couple of quid each day on lunch really adds up - take packed lunches if possible!) and to highlight any things that you might have forgotten to include in your soa. It also helps me to avoid spending on unnecessary things because I know I'll have to face up to it by writing it in my diary!!

Labrynth

hmmm a spending diary sounds like a great idea actually. It reminds me of going to slimming world, you wont eat that bar of chocolate as you know you are going to be weighed and get caught out! I think I'll start one of those as of tomorrow!

southernscouser

Hi Labrynth and welcome to MSE!

What hours do you attend college and what course are you studying?

I'm not being nosey but we mightbe able to suggest a part-time job that would be good for the course you are doing in regards to experience and stuff!

At the moment you are only getting £52.62 a week jobseekers allowance. If you only worked 11 hours a week at £5 an hour you would be better off. :think:

Labrynth

My course is 14 and a half hours per week, thats monday, tuesday, thursday and friday 9:45am - 3pm. I'm doing a course in Social Work. I know thats not too many hours but I get a ton of homework, so please account for that!

Thanks

southernscouser

Labrynth wrote:

My course is 14 and a half hours per week, thats monday, tuesday, thursday and friday 9:45am - 3pm. I'm doing a course in Social Work. I know thats not too many hours but I get a ton of homework, so please account for that!

Thanks

OK here comes my ignorance!

Is social work a course to become a social worker?

For example would working in a old peoples home be of any use experience wise! :think:

idiot_3

Are you actually entitled to JSA if you are at college, and so therefore not actively seeking a job?

I'm not being nasty, but the last thing you would need now would be for the benefit people to twig and demand repayment of benefit as well.

You could also enquire about EMA. It's only about £30 a week, but as Tesco says, every little helps. :beer: