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!

Lightbulb moment has happened

Hi all,

I've been on here a few times but never really dealt with my debt, unfortunately had a bad year so far so just had lots of other things to focus on.

Anyway I have decided now I want to focus shifting my debt. It was jointly acquired by myself and my son to be ex husband but I will be paying it off alone.

I am a single mum on benefits so will be paying it off via this money. I want to shift it asap so I can save for my sons and my future.

I haven't missed any payments but am on a payment plan with Barclaycard so that instead of 22% interest rate its 12.9%

I want to sell my engagement and wedding rings and am thinking of getting them valued so I know exactly how much they are worth just so I know a rough idea of how much to sell for them (I will aim lower) They have been replated so look brand new :)

I have 2 old broken laptops so will need to get rid of them once I work out how to remove data!

Otherwise I'm ebaying, sold 3 items so far and made over 50pounds :)

I'm going to include a SOA, please don't judge me too harshly

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Income Details

Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 609.2
Other income............................ 301
Total monthly income.................... 910.2


Monthly Expense Details

Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 100
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 0
Electricity............................. 0
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 27
TV Licence.............................. 0
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 0
Clothing................................ 20
Petrol/diesel........................... 60
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 10
Car parking............................. 15
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 40
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 10
Haircuts................................ 10
Entertainment........................... 20
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 312



Assets

Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 2000
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 2000


No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts


Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Barclaycard....................5040......109.2.....12.9
Nationwide.....................518.......40........20.9
AMEX...........................480.......12........19
Overdraft......................1400......40........16
Total unsecured debts..........7438......201.2.....-



Monthly Budget Summary

Total monthly income.................... 910.2
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 312
Available for debt repayments........... 598.2
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 201.2
Amount left after debt repayments....... 397


Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 2,000
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -7,438
Net Assets.............................. -5,438


Any advice would be great please. I am going to try musicmagpie I think but my cd's have some scratches so I don't know if they'll accept them.

Thank you
«1

Comments

  • Oh and I've just paid off 300pounds towards the Nationwide so this is the new amount in the SOA above
  • In my experience musicmagpie doesn't pay an awful lot for cds - could you put them on ebay instead? I tried selling cds through musicmagpie and was offered 20p a cd. Didn't even make a fiver so I decided to put them on ebay instead!

    I can't see anything on your SOA that you could cut back on. Have you looked at the Up you Income forum? There are ideas on there that you could do from home to boost it a little bit although I don't know how this would affect your benefits.

    Sorry I couldn't be much more help!
    DEBT TOTAL: £7609.44
  • Hi kellansmummy, another newbie here. Good luck on your journey :T
    March NSD - 0/10
  • Hi all,


    Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

    Monthly Income Details

    Monthly income after tax................ 0
    Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
    Benefits................................ 609.2
    Other income............................ 301
    Total monthly income.................... 910.2


    Monthly Expense Details

    Mortgage................................ 0
    Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
    Rent.................................... 100
    Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
    Council tax............................. 0
    Electricity............................. 0 - no utility bills?
    Gas..................................... 0
    Oil..................................... 0
    Water rates............................. 0
    Telephone (land line)................... 0
    Mobile phone............................ 27
    TV Licence.............................. 0
    Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
    Internet Services....................... 0
    Groceries etc. ......................... 0 you need something here
    Clothing................................ 20
    Petrol/diesel........................... 60
    Road tax................................ 0 if you have a car, you need something here
    Car Insurance........................... 0 - and here
    Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 10
    Car parking............................. 15
    Other travel............................ 0
    Childcare/nursery....................... 40
    Other child related expenses............ 0 - any other expenses for your child?
    Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
    Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
    Buildings insurance..................... 0
    Contents insurance...................... 0
    Life assurance ......................... 0
    Other insurance......................... 0
    Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 10
    Haircuts................................ 10
    Entertainment........................... 20
    Holiday................................. 0
    Emergency fund.......................... 0 - need something here
    Total monthly expenses.................. 312



    Assets

    Cash.................................... 0
    House value (Gross)..................... 0
    Shares and bonds........................ 0
    Car(s).................................. 2000
    Other assets............................ 0
    Total Assets............................ 2000


    No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts


    Unsecured Debts
    Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
    Barclaycard....................5040......109.2.....12.9
    Nationwide.....................518.......40........20.9
    AMEX...........................480.......12........19
    Overdraft......................1400......40........16
    Total unsecured debts..........7438......201.2.....-



    Monthly Budget Summary

    Total monthly income.................... 910.2
    Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 312
    Available for debt repayments........... 598.2
    Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 201.2
    Amount left after debt repayments....... 397


    Personal Balance Sheet Summary
    Total assets (things you own)........... 2,000
    Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
    Total Unsecured debt.................... -7,438
    Net Assets.............................. -5,438


    Any advice would be great please. I am going to try musicmagpie I think but my cd's have some scratches so I don't know if they'll accept them.

    Thank you

    Heya, I've made some comments above - you seem to have a lot of missing expenses? Groceries, utility bills, council tax, phone/TV etc. I don't know your circumstances so you may not be paying these for a reason, but just need to check!! If your ex-partner pays some of these, you may need to check whether this will continue when he is officially your ex!! :)

    I used musicmagpie to get rid of old CDs and DVDs, I'm sure they had scratches on but they were all accepted! However, you can get a LOT more money through ebay, you just need to be less lazy than me :rotfl:

    Good luck! One tip I'd give is to make sure you are tackling the highest interest debts first (e.g. clear Nationwide then Amex before you tackle the others).
    Savings target: £25000/£25000
    :beer: :T


  • katy_ann
    katy_ann Posts: 1,094 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Welcome and good luck on your DF journey :) x
    Debt free once - Back again | Current debt: £2479.50 - January 2025 | Make £2025 in 2025 #11 - £41/£2025
  • Hi all,

    I've been on here a few times but never really dealt with my debt, unfortunately had a bad year so far so just had lots of other things to focus on.

    Anyway I have decided now I want to focus shifting my debt. It was jointly acquired by myself and my son to be ex husband but I will be paying it off alone.

    I am a single mum on benefits so will be paying it off via this money. I want to shift it asap so I can save for my sons and my future.

    I haven't missed any payments but am on a payment plan with Barclaycard so that instead of 22% interest rate its 12.9%

    I want to sell my engagement and wedding rings and am thinking of getting them valued so I know exactly how much they are worth just so I know a rough idea of how much to sell for them (I will aim lower) They have been replated so look brand new :)

    I have 2 old broken laptops so will need to get rid of them once I work out how to remove data!

    Otherwise I'm ebaying, sold 3 items so far and made over 50pounds :)

    I'm going to include a SOA, please don't judge me too harshly

    Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

    Monthly Income Details

    Monthly income after tax................ 0
    Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
    Benefits................................ 609.2
    Other income............................ 301
    Total monthly income.................... 910.2


    Monthly Expense Details

    Mortgage................................ 0
    Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
    Rent.................................... 100
    Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
    Council tax............................. 0 no bill here/
    Electricity............................. 0 no bill here?
    Gas..................................... 0 No bill here?
    Oil..................................... 0
    Water rates............................. 0 No bill here?
    Telephone (land line)................... 0
    Mobile phone............................ 27 you need to reduce this
    TV Licence.............................. 0 if you have a tv you HAVE to have this?
    Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
    Internet Services....................... 0
    Groceries etc. ......................... 0 what is your food spend a month?
    Clothing................................ 20 reduce this for a couple of months,see how you get on
    Petrol/diesel........................... 60 do you really NEED a car?
    Road tax................................ 0 how much a year divided by 12
    Car Insurance........................... 0 how much a year divided by 12
    Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 10
    Car parking............................. 15 is this necessary?
    Other travel............................ 0
    Childcare/nursery....................... 40 is this necessary if you are not working?
    Other child related expenses............ 0
    Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
    Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
    Buildings insurance..................... 0
    Contents insurance...................... 0
    Life assurance ......................... 0
    Other insurance......................... 0
    Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 10
    Haircuts................................ 10
    Entertainment........................... 20
    Holiday................................. 0
    Emergency fund.......................... 0 you need to put away something here,even a tenner a month
    Total monthly expenses.................. 312


    Assets

    Cash.................................... 0
    House value (Gross)..................... 0
    Shares and bonds........................ 0
    Car(s).................................. 2000 sell the car??
    Other assets............................ 0
    Total Assets............................ 2000


    No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts


    Unsecured Debts
    Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
    Barclaycard....................5040......109.2.....12.9
    Nationwide.....................518.......40........20.9
    AMEX...........................480.......12........19
    Overdraft......................1400......40........16
    Total unsecured debts..........7438......201.2.....-



    Monthly Budget Summary

    Total monthly income.................... 910.2
    Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 312
    Available for debt repayments........... 598.2
    Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 201.2
    Amount left after debt repayments....... 397


    Personal Balance Sheet Summary
    Total assets (things you own)........... 2,000
    Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
    Total Unsecured debt.................... -7,438
    Net Assets.............................. -5,438


    Any advice would be great please. I am going to try musicmagpie I think but my cd's have some scratches so I don't know if they'll accept them.

    Thank you


    Hiya, think you need to go through the soa again,there is a lot missing.so we can't tell what figures you actually have to play with
    it took me 3 or 4 tries before i got a true picture of mine!!

    good luck to you,keep posting
    LIVE SIMPLY * GIVE MORE * EXPECT LESS * BE THANKFUL

  • cwal
    cwal Posts: 127 Forumite
    100 Posts
    Hi
    I wouldn't try music magpie, I sent them some items about 5 weeks ago and never head from them again nor got any money. I would definately suggest ebay.
    Good luck with your debt free journey!
  • cwal wrote: »
    Hi
    I wouldn't try music magpie, I sent them some items about 5 weeks ago and never head from them again nor got any money. I would definately suggest ebay.
    Good luck with your debt free journey!


    oh,i would get in touch with them! i've used them a couple o times now,thought it was a really good service.
    LIVE SIMPLY * GIVE MORE * EXPECT LESS * BE THANKFUL

  • Good luck with your journey. Your SOA is confusing as you mention petrol costs but nothing for road tax or insurance. If these have already been paid for the year that's fine but you should be trying to save a bit each month towards them. Divide the estimated cost by 12 and save that much each month.

    I would echo what people say about music magpie. If you see them as a quick and easy way to declutter that's fine. If you want to make money to clear debts ebay is better as you'll make more though obviously it's more time consuming. By the way music magpie take a while to pay up.
  • DCFC79
    DCFC79 Posts: 40,641 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    cwal wrote: »
    Hi
    I wouldn't try music magpie, I sent them some items about 5 weeks ago and never head from them again nor got any money. I would definately suggest ebay.
    Good luck with your debt free journey!

    Music magpie have been fne for me, always received a cheque not long after they received the items.
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.