Lotte123's DFW diary

lotte123

Monthly

Income:
Earnings: £833 (this is what I am aiming for - up to now has been more like £500 - am self-employed so hard to be specific. But basically with tax credits the earnings and benefits combined nearly always come to the same total)
Benefits: £255
Maintenance: £300

Total: £1388

Expenditure:
Rent: £550
Council Tax: £95
Gas: £50
Electricity: £30
Water: £10
TV license: £10
Food and housekeeping: £250
Pets: £60 (2 cats, 1 dog and a horse)
Car: £60 (although a lot of mileage is covered by business I have had some major repairs recently and last night it actually got totalled outside the house by a drink driver. Brilliant!)
Kids stuff: £30
Clothes and shoes: £30
Cinema and going out: £20
Mobile phone and internet: £60 (some is covered by business expense but not all - seems very expensive...)

(Above figures are all round and about - am going to start actually recording what I spend in attempt to figure it out. Spreadsheets at the ready ...)

Total: £1255

Leaves: £133

Debts: see below

Currently repaying:
first direct: £60 (£48 of which they are charging in interest)
HSBC: £10 (this is a joint account - ex OH is on a DMP but this debt is not included in it)
AA loan: £10
BoS: £10 (have kindly suspended interest)
La Redoute: £5
John Lewis: £10
Total: £105

I also have a month's arrears on the rent and about £200 council tax arrears. Plus an unpaid electricity bill of £300 and £150 outstanding on my gas.

I am going to be moving out of this house into a room in a shared house at the end of this month for a few months which will substantially reduce my outgoings - rent will be £385 or so all in. However it is not forever and at some point I will be back in a house again with outgoings back to the same amount. But right now I need to really get a grip on the situation and this house just seems to be eating money.

I have contacted HSBC and first direct asking for information about my charges with a view to reclaiming those. Am also selling lots of things on ebay. Hopefully my car will be written off and I will be able to buy a cheaper car.

Anyway, that's where I am at right now. Hoping drastic measures will serve to get me heading back in the right direction...

crawley_girl

Hiya

Can I just ask... you mention 'kid's stuff' - how many kids and adults does your SOA cover?

:heartpuls CG :heartpuls

lotte123

It's me and my ever growing 9-year old. Just the two of us (and our menagerie of course!).

lotte123

This might not be the best place but I would like it on record that this site has just about saved my life. Felt like I was the only one on the planet with such problems but now I feel like whatever happens I'm not going to be going under - you guys have completely inspired me!

anniestar

Hiya its very late so apologies if this doesnt make any sense(no change there them!)The kids stuff is very high;House keeping also very high. If you are stuck for idead as how to cut down can I reccomend the OS tboard(on this site) its wonderful. Also do you need clothes/shoes every month? Try chairity shops frreecycle Primark Tesco and ASDA. Also going out can you cancel this for a bit? Honestly it might sound drastic but you will be amazed at just how quickly things canbe built up and just how little you miss things that you used to take for granted. I probably sound very stern-I'm not honest!!! Regerding your animals-enjoy them and NEVER EVER feel guilty about spending ANYTHING on htem. They sound delightful. Anyway, good luck and keep strong. You will get far better advice than mine on here but I just wanted to try to give you some advice. A XXX

lynzpower

what other costs do you have in respect of the horse?

anniestar

Lynz there are probably loads but when those big brown eyes look at you it makes your heart melt.......(Sorry I know I'm a hopeless case) Glad I have managed to catch you Lynz just wanted to say good luck for your new job. You will be fantastic hun.

hypno06

Hi Lotte, and welcome. You are in the right place here!

When you move out, use it as an opportunity to have a clearout and get as much as possible on ebay. Kids toys, outgrown clothes and loads of junk stuff (see other threads on here) will sell, giving you that much needed cash plus less stuff to move/throw away.

You could set yourself a target - raise enough from ebay to clear the smallest of your debts and get rid of one completely? Or raise enough to clear your back log of bills so you leave this house with a clean sheet, so to speak.

hypno06

edited - double posting all over the place today. Need another coffee I think!

hypno06

Edited as double post - fingers not working in conjunction with brain at the moment!!

Poppy9

Rent: £550
Council Tax: £95 Are you getting discount for being solo adult in household?
Pets: £60 (2 cats, 1 dog and a horse) What happens to these when you move into a shared house. Do they have to go? I'm not an animal lover so I don't think I can give you the advice you want here:rolleyes:
Car: £60 (although a lot of mileage is covered by business I have had some major repairs recently and last night it actually got totalled outside the house by a drink driver. Brilliant!)Does this include car insurance, road tax etc?
Kids stuff: £30 assume this is activities for your son. Discuss with him to make sure he really wants to do what you are paying for.
Mobile phone and internet: £60 (some is covered by business expense but not all - seems very expensive...) My mobile is on 100% cash back from www.mobileoutlet.com also look at www.themobileshop.com and www.e2save.com. Internet I pay £9.99 for BB with AOL. Do you have a landline as well?

I also have a month's arrears on the rent and about £200 council tax arrears. Plus an unpaid electricity bill of £300 and £150 outstanding on my gas.

Will you have a deposit back when you leave your rented house which will cover your rent arrears? Contact the council now about your CT arrears and tell them your position. Also contact your utility suppliers before you move out.

I note you say you are self-employed. Could you earn more per hour working while your son is at school?