advice/support please -finally facing up to it/ how to convince husband?

BrownBear9

Hello again...

I have just taken a quick look at your 'Statement of Affairs' and a couple of things...

Satellite £40 a month = £480 a year -this is not an essential living expense.

Mobile Phones £65 a month = £780 a year -are you getting the best deal ?? For example, I have an Orange PAYG (no landline) and only spend £10 a month- they have something called 'Magic Numbers' so you can phone another Orange user and it only costs 20p for up to an hour.

RSBP membership £5 a month = £60 a year and equivalent to a week's shopping. I am all for supporting charity- especially animal ones- but you are broke!

Weight Watchers £20 a month = £240 a year. I use to go to Slimming World but found it was too expensive, I have discovered 'Calorie Count' online- it's completely FREE and I actually prefer it to Slimming World.

Grocereis £300 a month seems a bit expensive to me especially as you said in your original post your children are only small (one in nursery and one just started school)... can this be reduced- more cooking from scratch- going to the supermarket late at night and seeing what has been reduced- sometimes you can fall on some fantastic bargains and items can be frozen- don't need to be eaten that day.

Could husband give up ciggs- better for his health and your wallet??!!

I have learnt from my mistakes and now I am being a very careful shopper- making savings wherever I can, making sure I always get the best deal, only paying for essentials....

Please don't take my post the wrong way- I am just trying to be as helpful as I can!

Best Wishes

MOGGYMALONE

I found good vet insurance with animal friends for about a tenner per animal - of course you might need to pay more given your dog's health condition but the AF company plough some money back into animal welfare so if you could redo your insurance you'd be helping a charity too and then cancel your RSPB too. Charity begins at home is my motto but at least you are still helping animals.

Birthday presents - i've given up on those as I have too many people to buy for now and I have just told them all that I'm not buying any cards or presents anymore because of the recession. Solves that problem! and i think to be honest the others are relieved becuz they struggled too to buy gifts etc. so a win win situation.

I'm off to check that online free sliming class - sounds like good advice

Hope these help a little and don't wanna sound patronising but i think everyone is trying to tighten their belts these days and its good to share ideas.

All Best wishes, moggy

TotallyBroke

muddywinter wrote: »

Statement of Affairs
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 1
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1960 I guess this is take home after all rent etc is paid out ??
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 155 - child benefit & tax credit
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2115
Monthly Expense Details
Rent.................................... 0 -from husbands wage b4 paid
Council tax............................. 0 -direct from wage
Electricity............................. 100 -incl repaying arears
Gas..................................... 100 - incl paying arears How much is arrears? put that down as debt with amount being paid. Then you can pay a lesser amount over longer

Water rates............................. 0 - direct from wage
Telephone (land line)................... 28 -includes internet look for cheaper, cancel payg dongle
Mobile phone............................ 65 - both our mobiles look at reducing tariff
TV Licence.............................. 13
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 40you could have internet and calls and sky for this price
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 300 look at other boards to reduce this
Clothing................................ 50 only buy what is desperately needed, car boots, charity shops, children only
Petrol/diesel........................... 175
Road tax................................ 20
Car Insurance........................... 90
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 50
Other child related expenses............ 0 - would like to give pocket money but dont yet
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 16 is this every month
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 60- insurance (need this as has ongoing conditions and dog is old, and pay vets £20 p.m. towards the excess) again arrears should be in the debt section
Contents insurance...................... 18
Life assurance ......................... 0 - direct from wage
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 30 - i dont put this away yet but obviously should budget for it. you can't afford gifts so apart from something small for the children at christmas and birthday everyone else has to go without
Haircuts................................ 15 if you can cut the hubbies and children yourself great, if not check out colleges so much cheaper and try and go longer between cuts
Entertainment........................... 20 -kids swimming
Holiday................................. 0- we go camping but only if spare cash
Emergency fund.......................... 50 - see presents
rspb membership......................... 5 cancel... the rspb wont help you when you are in serious trouble
husband ciggs........................... 35 is this a true reflection of monthly amount. I'm guessing at that price roll your own
husband work expenses (unavoidable)..... 35
hughes- dishwasher rental............... 11 get rid you cant afford, wash up manually.. then save the £11 and buy outright.. or check out freecycle for your area you may be given one free
weight watchers membership.............. 20 again get rid... ww online is free (I think)
Total monthly expenses.................. 1346

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 1000
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 1000

Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
current DMP ...................23000.....337.......0
vanquis visa...................800.......35........0
pounds to pocket loan..........1500......168.......0
payday loan....................375.......375.......0
payday express.................450.......450.......0
wonga..........................1400......1400......0
halifax overdraft..............300.......25........0Is this who you bank with..
mum............................300.......50........0 can you ask for a break on this for a bit, even a couple of months.
Total unsecured debts..........28125.....2840......

Monthly Budget Summary

Total monthly income.................... 2,115
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,346
Available for debt repayments........... 769
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 2,840
Amount short for making debt repayments. -2,071

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 1,000
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -28,125
Net Assets.............................. -27,125

You are in a bit of a pickle but it can be worked around, you just need to juggle a bit more. Extending your overdraft and using that money and the money you pay your mum could for a few months get rid of 1 payday loan. Asking the utility people to reduce their monthly amount can make things a bit easier and that money can be put towards stopping using the payday loans.

Its not going to be easy and will take a lot of time and real hard work but it is possible

MOGGYMALONE

ww online ain't free i'm afraid but that other one mentioned above might be worth checkin out.
oh btw there are websites where you can buy nearly out of date food online delivered to your door for cheapo can save a bit on groceries just google them or maybe someone here can post the link i don't know how to
best rgds, moggy

wants.to.be.debt.free

Yes approvedfood.co.uk is very cheap and if you spend over £30 on your first shop you get free delivery.

Some items are out of date - like curry paste - 12 pack for 1p and a lot is short dated for a lot less than supermarkets

Try lidl especially half price weekends but go early because they go quick