Driving lessons or debt free...

Sharon87

I'm trying to become debt free, but I really need to learn to drive to progress for my career in TV. Getting a job as runner in TV or Film mostly requires a driving license, which is why I've been getting jobs in post production, I want to work in production.

BUT I have almost 3 grand of debts, credit card, overdraft and family.

Currently I have about £400 of my overdraft spare - pay day's Friday, I get paid every fortnightly. But I don't know how long this job's going to last for. Could end this week, could still be there in a month.

I started to learn to drive at uni, but then I moved to London and couldn't afford them anymore. So what does everyone else reckon, shall I take a hit in my debts for a better career move? shall I wait until I've paid off more of my overdraft before getting lessons, so I wont have to stop lessons when I become unemployed again, resulting in having to take more lessons to catch up?

I really dont know know what to do!

happyharry2007

sorry I cant offer any real advise, but I would say can you do a bit of both?

BTW I've always wanted to know what does a runner do?

Tixy

If you took lessons and passed your test would you realistically be able to afford a car and insurance etc? Or is it just the licence that you think will help you career not actually having a car.

Is it likely this job will end soon? is it a contract job rather than permanent? If your income is uncertain then it does seem like concentrating on getting the debts as low as possible is a sensible way forward. If you 'become unemployed again' will you be able to service your debts as they stand at the moment?

What will lessons cost you? £160 per month or so?
How about if you do a statement of affairs as things stand at the moment and see how long it will take to repay your debts at current levels.
And then recalculate it if you are spending X per month on driving lessons and see how much longer it will take to pay off all your debts. Then you can assess if its worth it or if you want to clear more off the debts first.

As you've started to learn before and so I guess know the basics is there anyone in your family who is near enough and has a car that could start teaching you again instead of paying for lessons?

pinkarsenalprincess

Personally I would throw a lot more money at the debts at the moment. I ended up spending lots of 'extra' money on my driving lessons due to the ridiculously long waiting list for tests. Clear some debts, then look at lessons, perhaps even the intensive courses (but you would need to book the test first and work out dates so that you are ready).

As Tixy said...is it just the license you are after or do you need to be driving your own car? Driving is a very expensive game! Getting the car in the first place, MOTs, Service, Road Tax, Insurance, fixing things that go wrong....on top of that the petrol!

Sharon87

happyharry2007 wrote: »

sorry I cant offer any real advise, but I would say can you do a bit of both?

BTW I've always wanted to know what does a runner do?

Mostly we make tea and go out for errands, picking things up, picking up clients and picking up people's dinner, and doing anything else needed for the job.

I just need the license, not a car, can't afford the insurance in London!

I'll do an SOA in a bit, just off to Sainsburys now.

I started doing a spending diary last month, but I kind of stopped doing it, so I'm picking it up again now.

I do extra things like surveys and jackpot joy free plays, but can't really rely on them for income

My debts aren't that bad and can afford the monthly repayment/interest each month (about £28 this month). Anyway I'll head off to Sainsburys and do my SOA in a bit.

Person_one

Do you know any good drivers who might be willing to teach/supervise you for less than a driving instructor? Family, friends etc. Someone in the police/ambulance/fire service maybe? Then get copies of the highway code and roadcraft and try not to pick up their bad habits!

ReadingTim

Errr...have you seen job adverts for runners/ entry level positions that pay a reasonable salary (for the sort of job it is and the skills required) but require a driving licence, but not a car?

I ask because entry level jobs in film or TV are notorious for being badly paid, if paid at all. Why would a company pay someone to do something that many people seem to do for free to gain "valuable work experience". I'm surprised you think that the lack of a driving licence is a greater barrier to a career in film / TV than having to support yourself whilst working (essentially) for free.

I would therefore suggest you need to clear your debts and get yourself some savings, so you can cushion yourself if you're asked / expected to work for free, or find that your outgoings are greater than your income. The driving licence issue is a bit of a red herring, given the above, and besides, what use is a licence if you haven't a car to drive? Do you think a TV/film company will insure a runner to drive a company vehicle if they're unwilling to even pay them?

Sharon87

ReadingTim wrote: »

Errr...have you seen job adverts for runners/ entry level positions that pay a reasonable salary (for the sort of job it is and the skills required) but require a driving licence, but not a car?

I ask because entry level jobs in film or TV are notorious for being badly paid, if paid at all. Why would a company pay someone to do something that many people seem to do for free to gain "valuable work experience". I'm surprised you think that the lack of a driving licence is a greater barrier to a career in film / TV than having to support yourself whilst working (essentially) for free.

I would therefore suggest you need to clear your debts and get yourself some savings, so you can cushion yourself if you're asked / expected to work for free, or find that your outgoings are greater than your income. The driving licence issue is a bit of a red herring, given the above, and besides, what use is a licence if you haven't a car to drive? Do you think a TV/film company will insure a runner to drive a company vehicle if they're unwilling to even pay them?

Well as for 'work experience' companies in the TV industry are not allowed to not pay their workers unless they're in education. Or they'll be breaking the law. So I don't need to worry about that. And I've had numerous calls for jobs from companies browsing my profile on this certain website and I haven't been able to take them because I cant drive.

Some jobs require your own car, most don't. The production company hires cars. On one of my last productions (as a night runner) they hired 2 cars for the duration of filming. The day runners had to be able to drive, but me the night runner didn't have to.

Given my experience on various productions I am employable, and would not take illegal unpaid work, it's just 1 thing holding me back. I don't want to end up like my brother working in post production for 3 years and not enjoying it all because I didn't learn to drive.

Sharon87

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 976
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 976

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 510 - inc all bills
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 0 - inc
Electricity............................. 0 - inc but may need to pay more soon
Gas..................................... 0 - same as elec
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0 - inc
Telephone (land line)................... 0 - inc
Mobile phone............................ 23 - contract
TV Licence.............................. 0 - inc
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0 -inc
Internet Services....................... 0 -inc
Groceries etc. ......................... 110 - about average
Clothing................................ 30 - this can be cut down
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 70 - oyster top up, average use per year
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0 - really need to go for new eye test so I should put something here really
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 30 - trying to spend less this year
Haircuts................................ 0 - haven't had one for ages lol.
Entertainment........................... 40 - sometimes more, sometimes less depends on how much money depends how much spare cash I have
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 813


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

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
HSBC OD........................1100......15........19.9
Halifax CC.....................1400......14........0 - 0% deal for another 10ish months
family.........................900.......30........0
Total unsecured debts..........3400......59........-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 976
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 813
Available for debt repayments........... 163
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 59
Amount left after debt repayments....... 104

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -3,400
Net Assets.............................. -3,400

Created using the SOA calculator at https://www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.

This is based on me working, if I don't work I'll get approx 646 a month in jsa and housing benefit, so I cut down on things. So far this since I started working in TV in February I've had about 6-7 weeks unemployment altogether.

I also overpay on debts with that remainder of my wages, whether I just leave it in my overdraft, pay more to family or my credit card.

tasha-debt

Could you look for a second job and then use that money to pay for driving lessons?

I would also look at an intensive course (where you drive intensivly for a week or more then take your test....

money_honey

I had a kind of similar situation to you earlier this year. I needed to learn to drive to take my daughter to places in the day as we stuck in the house all the time while my husband was at work and it was driving me mad! I decided to go for it and pay for the lessons even though I have a lot of debt, because I was really struggling without a car. However my husband was able to take me out driving in addition to the lessons, so I had to pay for a lot less that way, and in the end after I'd had about 6 lessons I booked my test, did 3 weeks of fairly intensive lessons (4 two hour lessons a week) and took my test and passed first time (luckily).
I think if you've got someone else who can take you out driving alongside your lessons, it makes all the difference and you save so much time and money. (And I'd definitely recommend intensive lessons but only once you feel comfortable with the basic driving.)