Our SOA

HappyMJ

ChefBungle wrote: »

Defensive...though it might be.

What do you recommend to reduce your own spending then?

Don't want to sell at any price. Can't turn the Rayburn off because it's too cold and can't drive around in a banger...

Sorry I don't know what else to suggest.

In terms of the unsecured debt - would a DMP be a realistic option for us?

Yes, but the allowances will not allow such high gas bills on Rayburns you must reduce that to near averages. They will not allow you to spend so much on hire purchase on a car that must go back.

A DMP will destroy your credit rating. Cancel the mobiles before you even consider it. Cancelling a mobile contract before time has the same affect as defaulting on credit agreements.

BlushingRose

HappyMJ wrote: »

Can't turn the Rayburn off because it's too cold

To be fair, a Rayburn is just like an Aga - which means there is no other heating or cooking options in the house. It is effectively his boiler and cooker all in one. Can't really expect him to tun it off in December.

HappyMJ

BlushingRose wrote: »

To be fair, a Rayburn is just like an Aga - which means there is no other heating or cooking options in the house. It is effectively his boiler and cooker all in one. Can't really expect him to tun it off in December.

My electric heating is cheaper than a Rayburn. A microwave and a slow cooker can cook.

£150 a month will get 1,500kWh of electricity

Swans1912

Need to make sure that the £8,000 goes towards your debt. This should make things a little more manageable... just.

Telephone (land line)................... 35

Does this include TV/Internet also? Why not bin the landline, TV and internet given you have such expensive mobiles which I assume gives you a huge allowance and its a smart phone!

Tixy

If you can reduce your debts with say £6-7k of the total £8k, then that would put you in a position where you at least wouldn't have a shortfall each month. Which is a starting point and does solve a big chunk of your problems. Then you need to review how you can make other changes to improve your finances so you can pay the debt off quicker.

Obviously you need to somehow resolve the issue of your house - and speak again to your ex about the property to try to get her to agree to rent it out or some other plan.

I'm really surprised that the gas rayburn is costing so much, although I only have experience of wood and oil variants - are you sure its going to cost that a month through the winter? Have you checked its being run correctly? been serviced recently etc?

As to other savings - your elec looks high at £50 a month if that doesn't include any heating - could you shop around to see if you can find cheaper or try to reduce usage a little. Perhaps you could reduce groceries a bit, try the downshift challenge and try meal planning before you go shopping. Maybe aim for £200 or £180 a month here.

How long do the mobile have left? have you phoned to see if you can drop a tariff whilst still in contract?

rising_from_the_ashes

HappyMJ wrote: »

My electric heating is cheaper than a Rayburn. A microwave and a slow cooker can cook.

£150 a month will get 1,500kWh of electricity

What about hot water .........

ChefBungle

HappyMJ wrote: »

Is the £115,000 your share of the debt and the £120,000 your share of the capital? Or are they half as well? You are throwing away £293 a month for no reason. Reduce and sell.

As the mortgage is joint between me and my ex, I didn't want to halve it for the purposes of the SOA.

I'm well aware the mortgage payment is being wasted just now, hence why I want to rent it out.

Out of the two offers we had, one of them was for 113.5k and we were going to sell at this price, and pay the shortfall. Selling for anything less than this and we couldn't afford to pay the shortfall between the mortgage and the final sale price.

ChefBungle

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

What about hot water .........

Without the Rayburn, the house would be absolutely freezing and we would have no hot water. I cannot switch it off in the middle of December.

What I have done is reduce the heating times down to the absolute minimum so it is running as little as possible.

I will have to check with our landlord as to when it was last serviced.

rising_from_the_ashes

Sorry Chef, I was meaning Happy - not you ......

I would never suggest turning a Rayburn off if it's the only (and often is) source of heat / water / cooking.

I know a few people who have them and most seem to cost a small fortune to run.

ChefBungle

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Sorry Chef, I was meaning Happy - not you ......

I would never suggest turning a Rayburn off if it's the only (and often is) source of heat / water / cooking.

I know a few people who have them and most seem to cost a small fortune to run.

Hey, sorry - my reply was meant towards Happy......

I didn't think it would swallow as much gas it does!