Don't even know where to start- making me ill!

curlytop12

hi there,good start.
no pressure but if you use the "make sense of cards" (sticky at top of DFW page) it will give us all a clearer picture,also any APR's?
think you are doing so well-i am single mum to one and work only 3 days a week,really admire you!!
G

cleggie

Hi Gem, thanks for the reply..i am being a bit thick maybe, but cant find the "make sense of cards" sticky??

The only APR is the Capital 1 credit card (no longer have it, i cut it up) and the APR on that is 30.340%- yikes!

curlytop12

hi, click onto the 6th post down on debt free wannabe,sorry,i don't know how to do links!!
good luck
Gem

cleggie

Hi, me again!

I am not all that good on navigating this site and still cant find the "make sense of cards"..i take it thats all about what credit cards you have and the APR on them?
I dont have any cards except a debit card, and have no APRs except that capital one. I did have credit cards in the past, but have cut them all up a couple of years back when i first started getting into trouble paying everything back (the only 1 sensible thing i did back then!!).

RAS

Hi

This is the link to senseofcards http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html.

You need to "format for MSE" and then, edit the little bit of text at the bottom of your file, because it has a link to MSE. As a newbie, you are not allowed to post links and need to remove that little bit.

cleggie

Thanks RAS,
having had a look at it, i have decided not to do one, as everything that goes in or out has already been calculated in my SOA that i posted.

RAS

cleggie wrote: »

Thanks for the reply RAS.

The SF figure is inclusive of the PLA and childcare. Not sure what the dependants allowance is??

It is now lumped in with the CTC allowance.

The £250 p/m for groceries are for me, my 11yr old son and my 7 yr old son. both of them eat a LOT. I have managed to get that down from £480p/m so far, so am pleased with that, but am open to any suggestions of how to get it lower if poss!

That is pretty good, although people here would reckon you could knock a bit off that. There are folks on Monay Saving Old Sytle who could knock a lot off that actually, so do go over and have a chat with them.

Car Insurance- i only have 2 yrs no claims and live near the city centre, so it pushes the price up. I only have a 1.2. The insurance company i am with came out cheapest for me on the price commparison sites and also when i shopped around.

Do you absolutely NEED a car?

Did you fully explain to Uni how much you are behind on some priority debts?

And do you not get any maintenance for your children from their father?

cleggie

Thanks RAS,
i must admit that having a car is a bot of a luxury really, as i dont use it much, but only passed my test 2 yrs ago and just LOVE driving. I kow its not 100% practical, but i honestly think that IF i can manage my money without it (starting from now) then i will, but i am fully prepared to sell it if things get worse rather than better.
Maybe that can be my bargaining chip with myself- If things get worse i have to see the car, if they improve i can keep it?

Thanks for telling me about the old style board, i must admit that i am trying to have a look around the boards more but am finding it hard- i guess i just have to practice more, lol!

cleggie

Sorry RAS, forgot to answer your last 2 Q's!
Yes, i told the uni about my priority debts and that i am behind with them, but again they wont budge on it at all. They say (quite rightly) that i will ONLY get an emergency loan from them if i literally have £0 in the bank and can show where all my money is gone (meaning that i cant just take all my money out of the bank and then ask for a loan- and besides, i dont want to borrow money with my situation being as it is).

I dont get any money from the Kids Dad. He is a total *BEEP* and the CSA are worse than useless!!

cleggie

Hi Guys, i just want to say thanks to everyone who replied to this thread.
It may not seem like i am hugely in debt, but i guess its all relative according to how much income you have (and i have very little). Although the situation hasnt massive;y changed, i feel more in control of it now, and more in control of my spending, which is a HUGE step for me.
I know that realistically i wont be able to save much (if anything) until i get my debt cleared, but thats fine, its a sacrifice i am willing to make in order to clear the debt.
I think this site is going to be a life saver for me!