Trying to sort my life out!

carlih1

Hi

I am trying very hard to sort out my finances once again as the council have halved my rent and council tax benefit.

I know i have a few things to do i need to downgrade my sky and cancel a few bits and pieces that aren't essential.

I am going through martins budget planner as i speak

Any tips would be appreciated.

Carli

tryhard_2

hello carli,
if you post the budget maybe people here can give you some useful tips

RACHIE77

Hi Carli,

Looks like you are in the same sort of boat as me, good luck hun!!

Rachie

carlih1

Monthly Incomings:

My salary - £554.40
Benefits - £816.00
Child Benefit - £126.31 (paid into another account for car maintenance xmas etc)

Total - £1496.71

Monthly Outgoings:

Mortgage/Rent - £250.20 (keeps changing see post under council benefits?)
Council Tax - £159.56 *they say they have overpaid me, this will go down eventually)
Gas - £40
Electric - £40
TV License - £26.30 (next month £11.05)
Sky £52.00 (tied into 12 month contract, need to get down)
Phone and internet - £10.00
Mobile £40.00 (down from over £100 changed tarriff)
Food - £200 (down from £350)
Car Insurance - £22.74(down from £35)
Petrol - £50 (down from £80)
House Insurance £9.87
Childcare - 231.67 on 4 week month
ICS £52.00 (need to find some way of cancelling)
Littlewoods £60.00 (will be paid off soon)
[STRIKE]French club - £24.00[/STRIKE]cancelled

Total: £1244.34

Debts

Underpayment of council tax last year £72.00 apprently!

Overpayment of housing benefits - £1022.52 - £10.00 a week

Capital one - Interest frozen - £872.24 - paying £1.00 a month (trying to reduce due to unfair charges

Littlewoods - £60.00- Limit £650 some items on buy now pay later - credit avaliable £84.00, don't know interest rate. (as above)

Topshop card - £132.86 - limit £150.00 minimum payment (roughly £5.00) Interest unknown prob about 26%

Argos Card - £280.00 interest frozen - £1.00 per month. - trying to reduce due to unfair charges.

Unpaid childcare fees £752.01 - £50.00 per month starting this month.

Comet - £276.75 - Interest frozen - £1.00 per month
trying to reduce because of unfair charges

Vertbaudet - £350.00 - Min payment - Interest 2.200%

Additions- £125.39 - Interest Frozen - £1.00 per month - trying to reduce due to unfair charges

Diamond car insurance - £162.80 - no interest paying £1.00 per month.

Onetel - £87.27 - no payments being made, as they will not respond to my letters.

Broken_hearted

Have you phoned sky to tell them there is no way you can afford to keep it.

carlih1

Not yet,

I have seen a post on here about sky saying that they aren't offering any deals at the moment.

Phoenix79_2

carlih1 wrote:

Not yet,

I have seen a post on here about sky saying that they aren't offering any deals at the moment.

Sky are always offering deals. Give them a bell and see what you can get out of them

RACHIE77

Hi Carli,

Not sure if you are nervous of phoning sky or not as I was when I phoned them before... When I was still tied in to my contract they allowed me to change my package, so for example the £52 one that you have could be reduced to a cheaper package, such as £15 or £20 or something? I just looked at their website and it says that you can upgrade online (http://mysky.sky.com/portal/site/skycom/products) I am not sure if they will also allow you to downgrade/change your package here??

This would save you from talking to anyone if you don't like making phone calls (sorry, thats something that worries me but not sure about everyone else! LOL!) but to be honest you would probably get a better deal if you speak to someone, when I was tied in they offered me all sorts of 'added extras' such as movie channels free for 3 months etc etc... It may be worth a go??

Can't believe I am helping you when I am in a mess myself!! LOL! I have a freeview box now and still in debt tho - eeek!

RACHIE77

What is ICS by the way?? I have had a look through other debts and stuff but am afraid I have not much of an idea what else to suggest?

carlih1

RACHIE77 wrote:

What is ICS by the way?? I have had a look through other debts and stuff but am afraid I have not much of an idea what else to suggest?

It's the home learning company, another waste of money. Paid for an interior design course never did it and pay £50 a month for it, it finishes at some time but not sure when will have to look it up.

RACHIE77

carlih1 wrote:

It's the home learning company, another waste of money. Paid for an interior design course never did it and pay £50 a month for it, it finishes at some time but not sure when will have to look it up.

How about you email/write to them asking for them to tell you the remaining amount you need to pay, and due to the fact that you have not been able to use the product (the course) would like to cancel with them and ask if this would incur a cancelation fee etc? you never know, they may agree to you cancelling??

They have a 'live chat' option on their website (link is on the bottom left on my screen even tho they say its on the right??) (http://www.icslearn.co.uk/home-study-distance-learning-help/) - if these are the same people?? that maybe you could ask someone what their policy is??

rachie