My Updated SOA - Still struggling

Butterfliesarepretty

themull1 wrote: »

you can buy £10.00 car tax stamps from the post office i think, to use towards the car tax when it is due.

I asked at the post office today they dont do it anymore. Gave me a leaflet for a budget card so each month I will put £20 on it for next time.

I budget on a lot of my bills and cant get any cheaper now.

HappyMJ

Butterfliesarepretty wrote: »

i didnt put any money aside for the tax, i had to put it in the soa to show what it would have worked out monthly.

I have just paid today by cheque my car tax for 6 months cause I cant afford it.

Well there's £2 missing as you've put £17 down when it's £19. I'm still sure there is a lot missing. You've got an MX5 it's very uneconomic on the petrol. I think only about 30mpg so your £60 for petrol would only take you no more than 350 miles in a month. 80 miles a week. You work 4 days a week so thats about 3 miles to work taking into account your monthly trip to Chester and a bit for shopping. It's not much so I don't think it's correct. Would a bike be a lot cheaper?

NorthernLas

Have you had a look to see if you are entitled to working tax credit?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check

Also, if you have an overdraft, put it in your SOA as a debt. You need to take into account any overdraft charges as well.

Is there anything that you can ebay or car boot? Any chance that you could take a lodger (have a look at spareroom.co.uk)?

Do you do on-line surveys or use quidco/top cashback? (search for eagerlearners thread on daily clicks for info) OK, the money takes 2 or 3 months to get back to you, but people do good pocket money doing it.

Butterfliesarepretty

HappyMJ wrote: »

Well there's £2 missing as you've put £17 down when it's £19. I'm still sure there is a lot missing. You've got an MX5 it's very uneconomic on the petrol. I think only about 30mpg so your £60 for petrol would only take you no more than 350 miles in a month. 80 miles a week. You work 4 days a week so thats about 3 miles to work taking into account your monthly trip to Chester and a bit for shopping. It's not much so I don't think it's correct. Would a bike be a lot cheaper?

No there is not a lot missing, I dont spend a lot on clothes etc. the mx5 I have is 17 years old and does 35mpg to the gallon, and I travel to bolton from bury every day for four days. I dont drive far for shopping either. I dont go trafford centre any more and if I go to manchester which is very rare its the tram. And some food shopping i walk to the nearest netto. Also walk into bury if I need things. I have a cycle for exercise on the canal but I would never cycle on a road its too dangerous these days. I value my life.

Butterfliesarepretty

NorthernLas wrote: »

Have you had a look to see if you are entitled to working tax credit?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check

Also, if you have an overdraft, put it in your SOA as a debt. You need to take into account any overdraft charges as well.

Is there anything that you can ebay or car boot? Any chance that you could take a lodger (have a look at spareroom.co.uk)?

Do you do on-line surveys or use quidco/top cashback? (search for eagerlearners thread on daily clicks for info) OK, the money takes 2 or 3 months to get back to you, but people do good pocket money doing it.

I will put the overdraft in as debt, I have no spare stuff to ebay or car boot. I only buy what I need, never been a hoarder like my dad was. I cant have a lodger at all, as its my daughters bedroom and you have to walk through her bedroom to get to bathroom so no privacy. I live in 2 bed terraced house. I used to do quidco but dont buy anything until xmas comes thats when I use quidco. I used it for my breakdown cover, but I have got rid of that because I never have any money to renew it. Online surveys etc I just dont have enough time to do them Im always finishing jobs in the house.

My cv is being looked at the moment so the only way I can improve my situation is to be in a better paid job, thats the big problem. I have always budgeted, never behind on bills, gas and electric always in credit for winter.

RAS

Butterfliesarepretty wrote: »

. But when I travel to chester to pick up my daughter its around £20 goes in the car once a month.

It is only a tiny amount but I think that if your travel to see your daughter costs more than £10, you can ask for the extra to be disregarded (reduce your CSA by that amount).

Check in the Child Supoport forum.

Butterfliesarepretty

RAS wrote: »

It is only a tiny amount but I think that if your travel to see your daughter costs more than £10, you can ask for the extra to be disregarded (reduce your CSA by that amount).

Check in the Child Supoport forum.

Thanks for the tip but been there done that, have to travel far more miles to have a variation. And also I should know cause I do csa work.;)

NorthernLas

If you have paid 6 months tax this month, then I can see how it is going to be really tight for this month. But as you are budgeting with your gas and electric, then maybe it is a cashflow thing in the short term.

I would look at working tax credit because Martin's article says if
you earn less than 16k you may be entitled.

Also there is another article on breakdown insurance http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/roadside-recovery and breakdown can be found very cheaply. Just thinking when you next get paid you might want to look at it.

If you managed a survey a week at 70p, you would make £35 over the year.

Also, really good that someone is looking at your CV. Keep going, that job will come in for you

RAS

Ok

So given your work pattern, you will find it hard to get a second job as such.

have you considered whether there is anything you like doing that would earn a few quid? It might be sewing, baby-sitting, gardening?

And have you signed up for freegle or freecycle?

caeler

Good Luck, asking for help is the first step! So many people here have gotten themselves into a better position and I'm sure you can too.

You mentioned that you tried doing overtime but it was too stressful. Is this something you could reconsider? I appreciate you need the rest between weeks and it will be less time to see your daughter but just to boost your income for a bit could you try to find a way to cope?