Enough is Enough

liz105

Gemqueen wrote: »

MY 1ST ATTEMPT AT AN SOA:


Monthly Incomings:

My salary - £532.95 - looking for another job to supplment my current 24hrs per week
Benefits ie: Housing Benefit/Council Tax: Applied for

Total - £532.95 at present

Monthly Outgoings:

Rent - £350.00 - but this should go down with rent rebate once it is instigated
Council Tax - £90.00 - but this should go down with council tax rebate once it is instigated
Gas - £40.00 does this include arrears?
Electric - £40.00 does this include arrears?
TV License - £12.00
Sky £37.00 - just negiotiated a drop to £21.00 can you really afford this? get rid completely and watch the free to view channels via your Sky box.
Phone - £50.00 is this a landline on top of broadband? this needs to be cut down useage wise or find a better deal, we pay £11 per month line rental and have no call charges at all
Food - £60.00
Monthly Bus Pass - £55.00 - now its summer i will walk to work!!
Medical Prescriptions - £7.00 - finding out about prescription charges for low wage earners
AOL - 25.00 - just negiotiated a drop to £19.99 again, if this is necessary then cool, but is it the cheapest? try uswitch etc, Pipex do cheaper as do others

Total: £744.00 (eeekkkk)!!!!

Debts: MBNA 5,000
RBS 7,000
Barclaycard 12,000
AMERICAN EX 7,000
BRITISH GAS 100.00
SKY TV 80.00
NEXT 81.00
DEBENHAMS 500.00
THAMES WATER 65.00
BANK O/D: 1372.00

OOOMMMMGGGG.. I AM DEPRESSED AGAIN!!!

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE DONE SO FAR:

1. NEGIOTIATED A DECREASE FOR:
A) SKY TV FROM £37.00 TO £21.00
AOL BROADBAND FROM 25.00 TO £19.99

2. CONTACTED THE COUNCIL FOR COUNCIL TAX AND HOUSING BENEFIT

3. CONTACTED PAYPLAN FOR ADVISE

OK, HERE'S WHAT I PLAN TO DO NEXT:

1. WALK TO WORK
2. CLAIM BANK CHARGES
3. SELL ITEMS ON EBAY (do you have a free-ad paper? itll be cheaper to sell in that)
4. CHASE HOUSING BENEFIT/COUNCIL TAX
5. CONTACT CCCS
6. FIND ANOTHER JOB TO MAKE UP HOURS TO AT LEAST 37HRS are there any supermarkets/bars/shops you could work in at the weekend?
7. ASK CURRENT EMPLOYER FOR MORE HOURS
8. CONTACT BRITISH GAS FOR LOWER MONTHLY INSTALMENTS
9. CONTACT BT FOR LOWER MONTHLY INSTALMENTS
9. FIND OUT ABOUT PRESCRIPTION CHARGES FOR LOW PAID

CAN ANY1 ELSE SUGGEST ANY OTHER TIPS ON SAVINGS?

THANKS E1. XXXXXXXXX

I think there are savings to be had here, and yes it is scary seeing it written down, but only in a good way as it will help you to see clearly.

hugs x x x

Mrs(no)money

Hi Gemqueen,

I have only just read this thread so forgive me for being a little late!

You've already had loads of good advice so I really just wanted to say Welcome and dont you dare go away now!

Lots of suggestions have been made about your SOA but I couldnt see how many people your food budget is for and if its just you, then theres loads of savings to be made. Check out the Old Style board for loads of cheap and easy recipes and ideas. Also, have you signed up for Quidco and pigsback? Every little helps you know!;)

Good luck and keep posting.

dancingfairy

I am so glad you are o.k GemQueen. I was really worried and practically burst into tears to hear you were o.k. Can't believe you done so much in such a short space of time- it's amazing. If the health costs form thing says you're not entitled to any help (I don't know whether it will or not) you can get pre-payment certificates for 3 months/a year at a time which can work out cheaper than buying them each time.

mrsspendalot

Just wanted to add my support GemQueen ... debt drove me to some extreme reactions a few years ago and I wish I had had access to a site like this then because I would have been able to manage things a lot better. Do you live alone? If so, make sure you get your 25% single occupant discount on your council tax too.

MSE_Martin

Gem Queen - Im very pleased to see you posting your SOA.

Let me say something as plain as I can - I have NEVER seen a debt problem that's insolvable. Yes it can take time. Yes it could mean bankruptcy. Yes it isn't easy - but there is always a route.

Im very happy to read you tackling your SOA - you may also want to see one of the free non-profit debt counselling agencies like CAB or CCCS. But well done you for being on here. I hope to read of your money scenario gradually improving as your get on the road to being debt free - like I have with so many others.

Best of luck and keep posting

Martin

jackie_w

HI GQ,

I hope your feeling better today, everyone on here is very very helpful, and will be with you every step of the way.

I know exactly how you feel. Away back in 2000, I was in debt any im afraid to say my OH didnt know about it. I was too scared to tell him, and when I realised things were getting out of control, I thought the only way out was well you know, to end everything. This site wasnt up and running then, so I couldnt get the help thats available now. However, he found out about it BEFORE I did anything about it. When I told him exactly how I felt, he was devestated, and so upset, and that is exactly how the people in your life will feel too if you did anything silly. I know it wont seem like it just now, but, its only money, love and friendship are worth alot more than all the money in the world.

So no more talk of doing anything silly please. Youve taken the first step thats the most important thing. All the people on here will be able to give you so much advice.

Keep posting, and most importantly, keep smiling with your head held high, youve got nothing to be ashamed about.


Jackie

TrikerAndBiker

GQ

We both just wanted to wish you the best of luck. You've made the first positive move,:T just keep the momentum going and you'll soon have your finances under better control.

Love
Him & me

smashedbooboo

Hi all, Have noticed that gem queen has not posted today. Has she pm anybody. Just checking peeps. Sorry if i have missed a post from her whilst i have been scanning through. Let us know how you are hun. Please. We do tend to worry and fret about each other. Hope you are feeling a bit better. If you get really stressed and you dont want to post then if you want to pm anyone then i am sure noone will mind. We will help all we can. xxxxxxx

smashedbooboo

sorry, bump. Just worried thats all. Will check in tomorrow to see if gem queen posts then.

freebird65

Hey gemqueen - just wanted to add my support to all the others.

You've done the hardest thing - holding your hand up and saying you're in trouble and you've got off to a fantastic start by tackling your SOA and a few other things immediately. It really can only get better. As has already been said - it's only money. Your health and wellbeing are SO much more important.

In no way are you "taking up space" - that's what this place is for!! Please keep coming back to post - this place is full of inspirational people from all walks of life, which proves that it can happen to anybody. Nobody here is in any way judgemental - just full of great advice, help and encouragement. It's like having your own personal cheer-leading troupe!

Keep us updated...... :grouphug: