Do we always need to ask for a person's SOA?

lynzpower

glitch hell this moring innit!

skylight

I have my own SOA and spoken to Payplan and CCCS about it, but I do not want to share it here! (like Batfink!)

But I am more able to gleam the advice and make my own decisions about what to do, I have skimmed right down my budget and have actually been able to start a savings account for my budget money to go into AND NOT SPEND IT!!!!!

But, a SOA can be useful for some. Just because you have a lightbulb moment and realise you are spending too much, accepting in what areas you are spending too much is another step on the debt free road.

Me_Myself_2

Ha ha very funny Batfink. LOL

Most people seem to be in agreement so far, that an SOA is not always necessary.

Lynzpower, the question you set is not a simple one as I suggested and of course I agree then we would need a lot more information and an SOA would be in order.

Me_Myself_2

Not sure if it was deliberate catowen, but your multiple posts were very funny as well!

lil_me

I've never posted an SOA because I didn't want to, I have it at home, but didn't wish to post it, when someone wants help with bill reduction it's a good idea, but noone is forced to.

thesaint

Don't laugh at catowen, He/She may have a speech impediment.:o

Kevicho

I dont think that leaving out an SOA means you cant get advise on here, but personally i think that getting out of debt requires all the information you can get and requires that person to become highly organised.

Also i think filling out an SOA gives people the opportunity to get that shock factor as well, also to see how much money they waste.

The information on this forum is a 2 way thing, everyones situation is different, nobody can cover every option, thus soas are really important in that respect, how can people help if we have no information.

I usually give advise then suggest people post an soa, i mean whats the point if we help someone, with a minor issue, while the real issues (easily spotted in soas) go ignored and un-addressed.

The SOA is crucial for someone who is SERIOUS about getting out of debt, this is not a quick fix, the opportunity for a life changing experience is available for all here.

nearlyrich

I have deleted the duplicate posts in this thread...

moozie_2

My view is that we don'task for SOAs without good reason.

I think apart from the fact we need all the details before we can give advice, it is also invaluable to new people coming on here to see what their actual spending is like.

Although I was never asked to do an SOA when I first came here, when I actually did it for myself I was shocked to see how many clothes and beauty treatments I was having yet I thought little money was going on 'personal' spending

So, I think it is important for anyone to do an SOA, whether they choose to post it here or not is another matter and entirely up to the individual.

kathfisch

I think an SOA is a crucial part of facing up to the truth about your finances, as moozie says. Until people see their 'little' spends in the context of a full SOA they are more likely to carry on spending all the 'little bits' on things that they 'need' IMO.

As for us asking for one, I think a lot of questions are asked without enough background information for us to advise properly. 'Should I do an DMP or an IVA', well obviously we need more information than that. But even a general question about keeping motivated, or resisting urges to spend, I think an SOA can be a valuable insight into a person's situation and where their money goes. Our advice to someone struggling to cope with debts caused by relationship breakdown or redundancy would be totally different than if they were massively overspending on non-essential luxuries, perhaps because of self-esteem/emotional issues. An SOA can provide a quick glimpse of someone's circumstances.

Lynz hit the nail on the head though really...

lynzpower wrote:

Lots of people come here going these are my debts, what am i going to do about them?

The obvious answer, without seeing a SOA is "pay them off"

see, doesnt work does it?

The issue about people not posting their SOAs is interesting, dfw is not a judgemental place on the whole, that is its strength. I suspect that some who do not want to post for fear of 'judgement' are simply reflecting their own inkling that they're not doing everything they could be. There's no need to be embarassed, everyone has their own priorities and speed at which they are comfortable to pay debt off, but its easy to feel inferior to some vocal hard-liners! Its hard to have the confidence to say 'I spend this because of x, y and z and that's that!' for fear of being criticised (fairly or unfairly) and this can put people off posting their SOAs I think.