Affording to Live - NOW WITH SOA

BAILEYS6904

As another poster has already stated, surely you should receive a resettlement grant or something similar?

seraphina

Are you sure you wouldn't qualify for housing benefit or housing allowance, if you rent privately? I'd definitely double check this, ideally through the CAB or a benefits advisor.

sp1987

Your car costs are large in comparison to your income.

Petrol/diesel........................... 100
Road tax................................ 26
Car Insurance........................... 120
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 24
Car parking............................. 10
HP £249
= £529 a month. Over 25% of your income.

I kept meaning to swap my own car for a newer one but never actually got round to doing it so still have it now. It is a 2000 fiesta. You can get them now for about £800. I have had mine for almost 6 years now. It has only failed to start on me once. It was just one wire that needed replacement so was free as partner did it. It flies through it's mots and has been a lovely little car. It is a 5dr so baby car seats are easy to get in. If you need a bigger one, a small engined focus would do a fine job of the same thing.

I think you are missing a good money saving option. You have £10,000 worth of HP debt you don't need to have because an older, well maintained car would do the job fine. If you are getting a payment later on this year I think you would be mad not to return the HP car, buy a cheaper one and bank the difference. You could get some instant savings there to help tide you through. Also, when you are on maternity leave, surely you would not need the extra car as you would not be travelling to work or nursery yourself? Even the money saved on tax and insurance during a period you don't need it will all help, even if the car itself is kept until you return to work.

You can't do anything about having to pay the CSA, but have you checked that the extra child you will have soon will lower your payments?

MFWannabe

gembaxter wrote: »

Hubby is on the right tax code. We have childcare vouchers deducted as part of a salary sacrifice. I forgot to note that on.

I have a 7 mile journey taking my son to nursery and then on to work so not an option for me to cycle and hubby is looking at a potential 40 mile round trip for work so same again. The only other option is for me to drive him in the morning, go to do my nursery run and job etc then picking him up later but not sure if this will work. - Seriously consider this as running one car will be cheaper; although it might feel like a right pain at first. How much of the £120 per month car insurance is for your husbands car? Is there anyone that your husband could car share with?

Hubby is due compensation around June/July time so will be paying the car straight off. Apparently this was going to be a surprise until I broke down in tears last night and told him I was handing it back. My car is the family car. It is newer so requires far little work doing to it for a few years. It will also be big enough for a family of 4 plus is really economical on fuel which has already saved us a fortune. I know it makes sense but I don't think he will hand her back. - Again seriously think about this. If your husband is getting approx 10k compensation then wouldn't it be better to pay off the loans and bank the rest so you have a nice little savings as back up should anything go wrong in the house; washing machine breaks etc. Then you will have savings to pay for these and won't have to go anywhere near debt to be able to afford any emergencies. You'll have much better peace of mind knowing you have some savings in the bank. If you buy a cheap runaround then it's not going to cost 10k in running costs over the number of years that you own it.

Going to call all of our suppliers today though an see how we can reduce.

House phone and internet are not due to end until next Nov. BT tied us in again because we had to move house. Will see if they can reduce though but do bear in mind that is internet and unlimited calls all day every day. We were spending £20 a month contacting 0845 numbers so this has actually saved about a tenner already. However now almost all debts are paid this is no longer needed I suppose.

The mobiles are not getting charges. We stay within our usage. I cannot reduce my contract as it is cheaper for not taking a handset and only £17 for unlimited texts and 600 minutes. Hubbys is a bit more as he has blackberry but will call them today and see what they can offer and when the contract expires.

Clothes are only budgetted in as a habit from being on a DMP. The only one I will need clothes for is likely to be our son but def not this much each day. I always put it in as my "safety" blanket.

He de-kits in Jan but already asked insurer and they said no - is this something I can cancel and just buy new at a better price? - Helpful aren't they?!! Check comparison sites to see how much it would be when your husband de-kits. Then ask your current insurer if there is any 'penalty' to leave early. May still be worth doing

The vehicles are used every day but we are now only able to drive to work and back. The cost of fuel has gone up so much that at the mo this is all we can afford. I shop online to save the fuel costs and the delievery charge outweighs the impulse buys too!

Thanks for some starter points guys - feel exhausted today after no sleep but ready to make some calls at least.

xxx

You can do this. Please look after yourself and get some sleep x
Pop on here anytime you want some moral support

DancerSupreme

I have been very un-proactive this weekend. Have just wanted to sleep and while hubby is around I am totally making the most of being able to. He is heading to agencies on Tuesday to register and start looking for work and he should also hear from a couple of interviews by the end of next week so hopefully I will have a better idea of what is going on.

Have talked about getting rid of a car and hubby is completely against it at the moment. He will not consider it until we know where he will be working. If he gets one of the interviewed jobs we will be moving to the area so then we can get rid of his car no problem but if he ends up doing agency he could end up literally anywhere at any time of day or night.

I will still need my car once on maternity leave. I live out in the sticks and don't live near any playgroups or anything and so I need to be able to get out and about. Plus our son will still be attending nursery one or two days a week so he can keep his place and also so I can have some time alone with the new baby. I don't think I will be off for much more than 6 months anyway. The cars are our biggest issue but until we get Jan out of the way there is no reasoning with my hubby just yet. Will still do all the necessary research though ready for sitting down with my hubby.

He is a bloody stubborn thing which can be extremely frustrating!

curlytop12

hi,you can cancel your insurance any time if you find a better deal.
go through a cashback site too!
if you are having to move anyway,could you not move to factor in being near shops/playgroups etc,then you could lessen the car outgoings?
G

BAILEYS6904

OP, how many years service does he have, as you could get a resettlement grant which could completely change your situation and put your mind at ease???

lvm

Hey,

Sorry if I've misread but did you say you have 2 cats and a lizard? If so, surely they will be costing you a small fortune in food, litter, insurance, heating for lizard, vet bills etc.

Especially with a new baby would you be able to consider giving them (or even selling!) to a nice new home?

Hope you work things out x

rising_from_the_ashes

Has your hubby considered a small motorbike (125cc)?

They are really cheap to run (everything is chepaer - tax, fuel & insurance) - this would be fine for the journey to work & still leave your car as the "family car".

He'd be able to start as a learner straight away as he's got a driving licence.