Prob a very stupid question!

Whataflippinmess

I am currently in a substantial amount of credit card debit, which I am unable to pay, so will need to consider my next move. However, one concern I have is when completing my SOA, as I want to include my son's swimming training fees. He trains everyday (sometimes twice) and has done for 7 years. The prob is the cost of this and other stuff that goes along with it, near on £70 per month. I have a horrible feeling I would not be able to inlcude this

Could I justify against maintenance payments from their father? Asking him to pay for it direct is not an option as he would end up not paying!

Can anybody advise?

Pinkbunnie

Post an SOA...there may be other places you can save

topcat9

Hello - two thoughts about your son's training costs:

1) From the amount of time he spends on training I'm assuming he must be pretty good (county team etc?) - would school, team, county etc contribute? My son is a county standard runner and his school pays for county kit and travel costs for schools events (well in theory; they need to be chased which I usually don't bother doing!) It's worth asking his coach and other officials what help there is - you might be surprised at what is available.
2) I agree with the earlier comment about posting an SOA and looking for savings, but if you can't save elsewhere or add the costs to dad's maintenance costs then be creative with your SOA - add on a little bit here and there in other areas to cover them. I wouldn't normally suggest this but I'm not sure that creditors would be sympathetic to such costs so you've got to do something to cover them!

soccermom

Hi OP I am an ex competitive swimming mum and was there all the time and travelling all over with nationals etc so I can sympathise.

While there I had a friend who claimed quite a lot of her sons swimming fees through the govt gifted and talented scheme.

She worked full time and was on tax credits also a single mum can you look into any funding from the council. It's worth a try. Every little counts.

Does the pool offer discounts through cards with the council.

Where my son swam there was 3 different levels of payments for anyone on benefit it was a minimum amount if you had a standard leisure card (through the council) you got a discount of 10% I think.

Have a word with the coach they should be able to give you an idea of whats available, but definitely go to the council dept.

Good luck

Koicarp

No offence to others but personally I wouldn't go telling coaches etc unless it's a last resort. I would put together your SOA with assistance from CCCS (or similar) and ensure that you can show you make savings elsewhere- CCCS were quite happy for me to pay £56 to virgin for telly/broadband for instance, £20 for hair do's, £15 for magazines, but you perhaps don't have these sort of costs?
I also added a couple of quid to some of my costs, and cut my own hair with clippers, a bit dodgy I know, but it meant we could have a holiday and when you're in a dmp for 8 years as we were, you feel like you need one.

Whataflippinmess

That leads me to my other problem, I have a court order for maintenance from ex and some of it is for maintenance for me, which I waivered years ago when I went back to work. The court order was for £750, he now pays £500, which he has missed payments recently, and some months only paid half of it. He claims he can't afford it, and has put his business in his new wife's name to keep it safe. He threatens me with if I go to court for it, it would get reveiwed and I would end up with hardly anything, cos he only claims a basic wage! So, not sure how to show this on my SOA?

Pinkbunnie

Maybe post one not including maintainance and then count that as extra money to throw at debts?

Whataflippinmess

Monthly Budget SummaryAmount(£)
Total monthly income 2,100
Monthly expenses (incl. HP & secured loans) 1,764
Available for debt repayments 336
UNsecured debt repayments 600
Amount short for making debt repayments -264

Household Information

Number of adults in household 1
Number of children in household 2
Number of cars owned 1
Income, Expense, Debt & Asset Details

IncomeAmount(£)Monthly income after tax 1300
Partners monthly income 0
Benefits 300
Other income 500(Not guaranteed)
Total monthly income 2100

ExpensesAmount(£)
Mortgage 200
Secured/HP loan payments 405
Rent 0
Management charge (leasehold property) 0
Council tax 80
Electricity 50
Gas 80
Water Rates 40
Telephone (land line) 20
Mobile phone 25
TV Licence 12
Satellite/Cable TV 30
Internet services 20
Groceries etc. 300
Clothing 40
Petrol/diesel 100
Road tax 12
Car Insurance 40
Car maintenance (including MOT) 20
Car Parking 0
Other travel 0
Childcare/nursery 0
Other child related expenses 80
Medical (prescriptions, dentists, opticians etc.) 10
Pet Insurance/Vet bills 10
Buildings Insurance 10
Contents Insurance 10
Life Assurance 25
Presents (birthday, christmas etc. 30
Haircuts 25
Entertainment 30
Holiday 40
Emergency Fund 20
Total monthly expenses 1764

Secured & HP Debt DescriptionDebt(£)Monthly(£)APR(%)Mortgage 60000
Secured Debt 12000
Hire Purchase (HP) Debt 9000
Secured & HP Debt totals 81000- -

Unsecured Debt DescriptionDebt(£)Monthly(£)APR(%)Credit Cards 27000
Unsecured Debt totals 27000

Pinkbunnie

Gas seems high, do you have appears on it? Phone, internet and TV could all come down, sky do a basic package with phone and internet for 20 a month. Groceries could come down, the old style board will be able to help with that. Haircuts and holidays may have to go for now. Could you 'declutter ' and sell stuff on ebay?

Whataflippinmess

Yes, gas in in arrears, so that will not be able to come down. Holidays I can prob do without, but do need to get haircut, as do have look reasonably smart for work. I can cut down cable/phone/internet bill. Thanks