We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

No outgoings taken into consideration?

1246729

Comments

  • sniggings
    sniggings Posts: 5,281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    mazza111 wrote: »
    Not excessive but probably a bit on the high side. BUT they could be running a tumble dryer a lot for the incontinence issues. Prepaid meters aren't the way to go if you're a high user in all honesty.

    Mine is about £100/month for both, which I think is pretty high, but I'm at home all day and do keep the place warm, especially in winter. I think there are some things that could be cut though.


    Like the sky and internet could be found for a smaller price etc.



    I do think you need to get that watermeter checked though, cos something doesn't sound right there.

    There are other benefits claimable though like ESA that we don't know if the OP is in receipt of.


    So £5 more than you and as you say the OP probably uses the washing machine a lot and drying/heating too.

    I believe most meters are charged at the same rate as a bill now, I think the law was changed or something.

    I have a gas meter and bill for electric, |I was told I'm on the same rate as I would be if I chose the bill option.
  • Spamfree_2
    Spamfree_2 Posts: 584 Forumite
    Chrissiew wrote: »
    Our total weekly income is £305 per week, there is just myself and husband living in the flat, our rent is £96 per week, it's a HA place with 2 bedrooms.

    Gas is £15pw
    Electric £15pw (both pre paid meters)
    Petrol £15pw
    Water £25pw
    Loan £25pw (morses, rather like provident)
    Phone and Internet £10pw
    Mobile £3 pw
    Council tax £20pw
    Tv licence £6pw
    Sky £6pw
    Medical prescription £5.43pw ( get them monthly but divided it weekly to go with every thing else)
    Hp for furniture £17pw

    That comes to £162pw plus £96 rent =£258 out goings leaving £47pw for food and clothing.

    My husband had a full time job when we moved in 3 years ago but due to the firm losing a lot of work his hours and pay were dropped, we can't get WTC, I applied for HB but it was refused, I appealed but the appeal was not even considered as they said they don't take any outgoings into consideration just earnings and the amount coming in is more than enough to live on.

    A money advice lady from the HA came to see us and said we have to stop paying the loan and the HP, as all that will happen is it will go to a debt collector, maybe court and we will be ordered to pay maybe £5 a week but will get a shot credit reference, she said as far as HB are concerned people shouldnt have a tv, phone, Internet, mobiles or anything that's non essential to living, as long as you have enough money for food and rent that's all they consider.

    I find this incredible in this day and age and think it unfair that people are expected to have nothing to make life a bit more pleasant, no wonder there is so much depression in this country.
    Paying to have a roof over your head is far more important than internet, mobiles, tv etc. Half the country thinks the other half of the country owes them a living and they can have the luxuries in life and someone else should pay their rent for them.:mad:
  • OP

    why do you need a car?

    Is this is another luxury you could consider binning?

    And please tell us your FULL income....

    And i appreciate it was more of a rant than a request initially - which i sympathise with - however the world has become a much tougher place these last few years.
  • mazza111
    mazza111 Posts: 6,327 Forumite
    But there's discounts available if you're getting them both from the same supplier too. My washing machine is on constantly, teenager in the house :/ Although I have got rid of my tumble dryer in the hope to save money, pity I did it on the wettest summer ever lol.

    Think people aren't really understanding about the job situation at the moment either, there isn't a lot out there.

    Without exact figures it's really quite hard to say whether there may be other help available.

    Edit: BTW I still think mine is way too high and could be cut down a lot if people learned to switch things off!!!
    4 Stones and 0 pounds or 25.4kg lighter :j
  • quintwins
    quintwins Posts: 5,179 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I know it's frustrating that people who don't work have more than you, however you do have nearly £200 a month for food and clothing while still servicing your debts and that is completely do able.
    DEC GC £463.67/£450
    EF- £110/COLOR]/£1000
  • Spamfree_2
    Spamfree_2 Posts: 584 Forumite
    Isn't there some kind of yearly prescription pass that costs £120 or something?

    Your water is WAY too high!

    You need to get off the pre-payment meters and get a better deal.

    Are you saying you get £305 a week PLUS all the disability benefits/car? Or is that included in the £305?
  • sniggings
    sniggings Posts: 5,281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    mazza111 wrote: »
    But there's discounts available if you're getting them both from the same supplier too. My washing machine is on constantly, teenager in the house :/ Although I have got rid of my tumble dryer in the hope to save money, pity I did it on the wettest summer ever lol.

    Think people aren't really understanding about the job situation at the moment either, there isn't a lot out there.

    Without exact figures it's really quite hard to say whether there may be other help available.



    Edit: BTW I still think mine is way too high and could be cut down a lot if people learned to switch things off!!!

    So the OP should get a discount but you shouldn't ;)

    I take it you both do and as said £5 extra from what you are paying is expected when someone is disabled.
  • Spamfree_2
    Spamfree_2 Posts: 584 Forumite
    Other posts from the OP say that her husband is currently off work on the sick for chest pains but has been diagnosed as having a fatty liver. It seems he is on basic wages.

    Is the £305 a week his basic wages?
    How much extra are they getting with the disability benefits?
  • BigAunty
    BigAunty Posts: 8,310 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Chrissiew wrote: »
    ...
    I applied for HB but it was refused, I appealed but the appeal was not even considered as they said they don't take any outgoings into consideration just earnings and the amount coming in is more than enough to live on.

    ...

    I'm surprised you appealed a means tested benefit simply because you weren't aware that it is based on income, not expenditure. Claimants get means tested (income related) benefits based on what is coming into their household, not how good/bad they are at budgeting their personal spending.

    Debts and personal expenses have never been taken into account for any type of benefit. Clearly, there are a number of ways your personal budget could be massively improved, and as such, shows why it is entirely wrong for benefits to be calculated on what a household spends.
    Chrissiew wrote: »
    ...


    A money advice lady from the HA came to see us and said we have to stop paying the loan and the HP, as all that will happen is it will go to a debt collector, maybe court and we will be ordered to pay maybe £5 a week but will get a shot credit reference, ...

    ...

    Your disposable income would be almost double if you could get on top of your debts. The previous posters have given moneysaving advice for how to reduce your energy, water and telecoms bills which could even treble your disposable income.

    Download the MSE budget planner and work through the website to identify how to slash your living costs.

    The Direct Gov website has good info on debt management and the HA lady is right - your loans and HP payments are considered non-priority debts compared to others that have greater impact if they go unpaid, such as council tax or the rent. It is not necessarily the case that your creditors will take you to court or employ debt collectors - some will be happy to renegotiate lower repayments.

    See the following links for info on your options or post on the Debt Free Wanabee board on this website.

    http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ManagingDebt/index.htm
  • sniggings
    sniggings Posts: 5,281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Spamfree wrote: »
    Other posts from the OP say that her husband is currently off work on the sick for chest pains but has been diagnosed as having a fatty liver. It seems he is on basic wages.

    Is the £305 a week his basic wages?
    How much extra are they getting with the disability benefits?

    Oh didn't realise it was the same person, in that case I think I saw the OP say he was on £235pw.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 245K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.4K Life & Family
  • 258.8K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.