just getting things off my chest

TOOMUCHWORRY

Thanks for your reply. I will try to respond to some of the points you raised but bear with me because I dont know how to use the quote thing!

Child at uni lives at home when not term time. She budgets maintainace loan and grant very well and does not expect us to contribute but is always extremely grateful when and if we do. She does alot around the house and helps with her sister so I feel that is payment for her 'keep' when she is home.

I cannot do more hours in my job but I am looking for a saturday job - dont mind what.

£800 is a rough guide for husbands earnings at the moment. Sometimes itis less than this, sometimes more. Yearly earnings, last tax year £11500 after deductions for self employed allowance, then is taxed on this plus NI This is what is going in bank. tax, national insurance, is payable on this. Tax twice a year (no we dont budget for it) NI once a month £10.20

Gas and Electric on a tied in arrangement - until sept 2011 so will look into that soon.

Food bill - I agree that is alot but I cant seem to get it down, stopped shopping at tesco and sainsburys, now go to asda but still spending too much and coming home with not much to show. Daughter very picky , so tend to rely on convienience for her, wont eat meat unless its processed - need to address this. I hate the daily battle with what to cook.

Diesel is for my car and my husbands van. Both need a car - have eldest daughter on my policy too. Have looked at insuring only when she is home but it is £25 admin charge each time to change. 3 of us on tht policy including 1 @under 21 for £800 per year - cant beat that quote, nearest is £1500:eek:

Other insurances are for business - public liability, accident and sickness (wont pay out for chronic illness) life insurances cover mortgage for me if hubby dies during mortgage term. Falls short by £50000 tho' if I die first.

Downsizing - tricky one. As we are only paying interest only our mortgage repayment is £88.00 per month. Fantastic mortgage rate, tracks 0.19 above bank base rate - if we downsized , we would still need a mortgage of around £90000 to stay in this area. We wouldnt be able to get this mortgage rate now and also be unlikely to be accepted for this size of mortgage now , so would be worse off - higher payments monthly for less mortgage.

made an error with other expenses. Credit card on 18mths 0% monthly payments £150 total owing £10000

Bank loan -£12000 - £287 per month for 5 years - 5 years left!

I know I havent accounted for absolutely everything but I cant bear to. This is all bad enough.

I will see where I can cut down further.

TOOMUCHWORRY

Just wanted to update here. Since origonally posting I have been really active in trying to reduce outgoings. The support and advise on here is fantastic. Thank you for making me realise that although times are hard, my life has not ended just because we have debts.
I have managed to save £25per mth on broadband, sold some gold jewellery (had no emotion attachment to these particular pieces), reduced shopping bill fro £120 per week to £68 per week (fantastic, can't believe how easy that was once I started to plan meals in advance and drop a brand.) Daughter with Fibro has helped plan meals and is much less fussy because I am cooking from scratch and the meals are really tasty. Yes, it does take longer to prepare but we are all mucking in so it doesnt feel like a chore anymore. I know exactly where each penny is going and any surplus, YES! SURPLUS! is going on cc payments. Last month it was an extra £4 over min payment. Not much but its £4 less that we owe. I feel so positive that I am buzzing and I feel that I am setting a better example to my children by budgeting and saying 'sorry, we cant do/have that this month rather than feeling guilty that I cant give them everything. Hubby still short of work but hopefully that may improve.
I am so glad I found this site. It has changed my outlook completely. New DF date : MAY2016 bring it on!

rebeccatom

Well done!! That is a great start, taking control of it is the first step!

QueenB.

:T Congratulations. It is always hard when we first face our debts and the details can make us feel all sort of emotions, but when we start those little steps we start to feel a lot better. Keep up the good work:)

dell33

Well done to you, what a positive turn around. Keep up the good work.

SOT2011

Fantastic! Sounds like you are reaping the benefits of this site which is great and chipping away at the debt.

Good luck with it all, keep posting as would be great to hear how ur getting on :-)