OK My SOA

safeashouses

lynzpower wrote:

If hubby "always has overtime" how much is it, usually. I know its a good idea not to include it into a SOA as its not guranteeed, but just for our benefit. As surely this money could be shuffled to debt- as its currently completely unaccounted for ?

Um well anything from £40 - £200 - Xmas was more (busy time for chefs), this month will be quiet probably.

sharronloves2spend

wow your outgoings and income are almost identical to ours! we too are a family of six with two cats and a new puppy, we have decided that this is the year we will get sorted our debts are around 18k . we have just cancelled sky cos the only thing that gets watched is nick jnr!! so we taped aload yesterday its only ever re runs anyway saving 180 a year can you not cancel it? you will still receive the freeview channels anyway. Two cars? maybe get rid of one!! we did this at the end of last year and hubs uses a bike for work use the capital from selling the car to pay off your debt with the highest interest first maybe the next card (everyone knows store cards have an extoercinate?? rate) we also cancelled mag subscriptions scaled the kids hobbies down to one activity a week per child and put the animals on cheaper food. we also cleared out dvds/ps2 games and some unwanted xmas pressies(god that sounds ungrateful) and are selling them on ebay proceeds to be paid off credit card debt at 14.9% we also cancelled a life insurance policy that was no good anyway . these little changes should save us around 2,300k to go off debt as well as regular payments per year. hope this was useful for you good luck!!:rotfl:

safeashouses

sharronloves2spend wrote:

wow your outgoings and income are almost identical to ours! we too are a family of six with two cats and a new puppy, we have decided that this is the year we will get sorted our debts are around 18k . we have just cancelled sky cos the only thing that gets watched is nick jnr!! so we taped aload yesterday its only ever re runs anyway saving 180 a year can you not cancel it? you will still receive the freeview channels anyway. Two cars? maybe get rid of one!! we did this at the end of last year and hubs uses a bike for work use the capital from selling the car to pay off your debt with the highest interest first maybe the next card (everyone knows store cards have an extoercinate?? rate) we also cancelled mag subscriptions scaled the kids hobbies down to one activity a week per child and put the animals on cheaper food. we also cleared out dvds/ps2 games and some unwanted xmas pressies(god that sounds ungrateful) and are selling them on ebay proceeds to be paid off credit card debt at 14.9% we also cancelled a life insurance policy that was no good anyway . these little changes should save us around 2,300k to go off debt as well as regular payments per year. hope this was useful for you good luck!!:rotfl:

Thanks Sharon, We might cancel sky but we were in arrears and my husband agreed a repayment deal for 6m factored into our payment so we are not sure where we stand on that.
We cannot get rid of the cars - 1 is actually owned by my parents, the other has finance on.
I have sold everything we don't need now :rotfl:

I think the DMP is the best solution - others don't agree - what do you think?

sharronloves2spend

sorry im a newbie whats a DMP?????

safeashouses

sharronloves2spend wrote:

sorry im a newbie whats a DMP?????

Sorry - it is a Debt Management Plan - we have started to arrange one through CCCS. It would mean we can afford our living costs and start to pay debts off..

sharronloves2spend

erm.. i think it would be a good idea it just means you have to be really disciplined but you may be paying yor debt off for many many years and the intrest would be awful. and you would have to be careful not to relief spend and get yourself into more trouble. dont ever secure anything on your house though unless you have a lot of equity. dont worry about your kids just explain to them that times are a bit lean but its okay cos you all love each other its love children remember not how much cash mum and dad have to spare . keep it in perspective and dont let it rule everything i know many people who are in a lot worse aposition than you are, you have earning potential could you not work?? i did a local paper round once a week for about £30 per week and this was my grocery budjet at one time the kids used to come with me so no childminders needed!! hope this helps:rotfl:

safeashouses

sharronloves2spend wrote:

erm.. i think it would be a good idea it just means you have to be really disciplined but you may be paying yor debt off for many many years and the intrest would be awful. and you would have to be careful not to relief spend and get yourself into more trouble. dont ever secure anything on your house though unless you have a lot of equity. dont worry about your kids just explain to them that times are a bit lean but its okay cos you all love each other its love children remember not how much cash mum and dad have to spare . keep it in perspective and dont let it rule everything i know many people who are in a lot worse aposition than you are, you have earning potential could you not work?? i did a local paper round once a week for about £30 per week and this was my grocery budjet at one time the kids used to come with me so no childminders needed!! hope this helps:rotfl:

Thanks Sharron - yep I am hoping to return to work if I can find something thta fits in with the children - have 4 under 8.

sharronloves2spend

have you got a proffesion?? or could you do evenings at the local supermarket
or is that not an option cos of hubs job. could you not ask around your childrens school for anybody who needs their child picking up or dropping off in the morning?? you could agree a fee thats less than they are already paying what about dinner lady?? at your childrens school. My children are 12,11,7,4 and i have now just got myself a regular job (well two days a week school hours only) or maybe you could babysit on evenings when you husband is home for other mums. okay ill shut up now, good luck:rotfl:

safeashouses

sharronloves2spend wrote:

have you got a proffesion?? or could you do evenings at the local supermarket
or is that not an option cos of hubs job. could you not ask around your childrens school for anybody who needs their child picking up or dropping off in the morning?? you could agree a fee thats less than they are already paying what about dinner lady?? at your childrens school. My children are 12,11,7,4 and i have now just got myself a regular job (well two days a week school hours only) or maybe you could babysit on evenings when you husband is home for other mums. okay ill shut up now, good luck:rotfl:

Thanks Sharron, my husband works varyin hours so I cannot take on evening work as he is sometimes out.
I cannot collect or drop off children as that is illegal unless I register as a childminder (was once!).
I hope to return to social services in the leaving care team where I was before. That depends on what they have available though as my youngest is not at school yet.
I babysit for https://www.sitters.co.uk which brings in a little

sharronloves2spend

good luck with your journey and keep posting!:rotfl: