Can I minimise this debt?

RainbowDreamer

My current income is a short term situation. Should be back to normal in around 2-3 months.

But I will list my current incomings and outgoings, and see if you think I can cut back anywhere?

Incomings..
HB £200 monthly
JSA 354ish a week? (not started being paid yet so not sure of exact amount)
CTC £100 a week

Outgoings...
Rent £500 monthly (£200 in arrears)
Water £40 monthly
Gas £40 monthly
Electric £40 monthly
Sky £27 monthly (one more payment due & then its cancelled)
Gym £20 monthly (12 month contract & will be in position to pay it in a few months)
Food & household (including clothes) £80 weekly
Tv License £12 monthly
Mobile £30 monthly

Going to try hard to cut back on the food shop. And hopefully gas will be less now its warmer?

freshstart11

best to do the full SOA really - easier to see

RainbowDreamer

Where do I find one of those? Sorry didn't think of using one.

freshstart11

that would have helped sorry

http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

HappyMJ

Why is HB only £200 a month and your rent £500 per month?

You get a bedroom for yourself and 1 for your child. The 2 bedroom LHA rate in my area is £450 a month. You can check yours here --> https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx

JSA is £56.25 per week for under 25's and £71.00 for over 25's. Why is it a short term situation? Do you have a job lined up? I said my situation would be short term back in September 2009 and I am still not in full time PAYE employment.

Your water is very high and as a short term measure you can stop paying that.

You already know Sky should go. What will you do for landline and internet? Would cancelling Sky really save the full £27 as that includes landline and internet?

RainbowDreamer

Basically I was claiming IS, CTC, HB & CB. My ex has been given temp residensy (solicitor has admitted it shouldnt of happened and is his fault for not checking details).
Because of this I informed CB due to him having the children an extra night to me.
We are back in court in 2 weeks to change this.
Because I declared to CB they have suspended my claim whilst they look into it and decide who will get paid the CB.
I informed anyone who pays me income which has resulted in me signing on for JSA. I am only entitled to a bedsit or 1 bed flat rate due to not claiming CB (at the moment neither parent recieves it).

I am 99% sure this will all be resolved in 2 weeks... and then maybe 1 or 2 months for the change or circs to go through and so on.

But in the meantime I am struggling to pay the rent and cover the bills without getting into debt.
I have been looking for jobs and applying and have so far not had any luck with interviews.
And yes sky is £27 for landline, tv and internet. I need my internet, as have a research project to do next week.. but am hoping I can get that completed before my cancellation period ends.

RainbowDreamer

SOA says I am £156 under to meet all the bills. So if I can cut back even more then hopefully once everything is sorted I can play catch up.