My sorry SOA!

dancingfairy

At the moment you are overspending each month by 250 before any debt repayments. That's where you need to focus your attention first.
Are you entitled to any more benefits as a household?
Can you cut the food shopping down at all - every little is going to help right now.
The main thing that sticks out is the car - is there any other way for your partner to get to work? (I presume that's what it's for?). Can he car share? get the bus? walk? downgrade the car for a cheaper one?
Can you get a lodger? When you are at least breaking even or have a small surplus you can consider debt repayments -perhaps a dmp etc.
Best of Luck
df

HappyMJ

You need to drastically reduce your lifestyle. I can only imagine you had at one time enough income to support a mortgage of £80,000 and now you don't. When well paid jobs go then all the luxuries must go as well. Including the mobile, the sky, entertainment, presents, half the groceries, etc... otherwise you'll just be borrowing £250 more every month until you get that well paid job back again.

getmore4less

You need to make sure the unusable car is SORNED and cost cut to the bone till you an afford it.

cars are costing £342pm, 25% of your income

Look at repackaging you phone, TV, internet should be able to get them down to £30-£40 inc mobiles, thats from £93 6% of income


Easy to say but not so easy to fix, if you are getting bigger then you are eating too much so spending too much of food

One big issue here is income,

min wage 35 hr week is around £900pm gross or take home £789

So neither of you seem to be full time.

second /better jobs that is a bit active could tackle a few areas at once, bit of income, less free time(reduces dependancy on TV) less time to snack and a bit of exercise.

Loobeyloop

Thank you for your responses, it's greatly appreciated,

Joolzred and Dancing Fairy, I have done a 'rekky' of the freezer so I know exactly what I have in it, and bought bits needed from aldi so appart from milk I really shouldn't have to go grocery shopping for a few weeks, it's one of my weaknesses, sad I know, but I am the only cook in my house and always felt the need to provide my family with sort of elaborate meals, so was regulary visiting the supermarkets, buying what I really didn't need, including copious amounts of alcohol to try and bury my worries and forget them, but that's not happening anymore...
OH needs his car, he has to drive 90 miles for his job, it's a diesel and probably only worth a tenner

We're not entitled to anymore benefits infact OH working tax has gone down by £100 pm and I'm waiting to find out if the child tax has gone down too (is due to be paid this thurs).

Happymj, you too are so right, although I am no longer using my CCs I am digging into an overdraft to live, and OH is using his CC more than he used to. Mobile phones are his dept and altho I said payg would be cheaper he's just gone into a new 24 mth contract :wall: Sky is also his dept and he has battered them down (he has the full package as he loves the motor racing and boxing he says "what am I living for if I can't have something I like" or something along those lines!) :wall:
I don't actually save anything for pressies but just spend (usually CCs or OD) as and when. was DS b'day and had to buy him something and do him a little party tea, but nothing like we usually would.

Getmoreforless, sorning the car would be great but it's on the road :wall: OH used to own his own car lot, we have a couple of cars in our back garden :eek: so there's no room for it, (no wonder the neighbours don't talk to us!) I keep on at him to just get rid of the cars but he says he can't cos he'd have to mot them 1st and can't afford to...:mad:
We are looking to repackage internet/landline etc, but we seem to be stuck in a package with aol (his account) re jobs yes we are both part time, he is only 16 hrs pw (he is looking) and I am 27, I am applying for jobs but have not heard anything back, apart from one rejection But will continue searching I am determined I will get out of this debt... Although I have put a joint soa we have very separate finances, bank accounts etc
Thank you again, you even though I know I need to get a better job/stop spending etc, having you tell me makes it more real, do you know what I mean? :T