Art_student's SOA

art_student

The problem is, I got the form and when I filled in all their criteria for income and outgoings it actually looked like I had plenty of money to spare each month because it didn't allow for everything. I know CC problems don't mean you have frittered your money away and in my case I haven't at all - my husband came with debt included!! However, it seems that unis are unwilling to take loan payments into consideration.
I don't intend to pull out of uni at all. I am confident that we can scrape through - it is only a couple of months now!
I do understand where you are coming from with this though and thanks again.

TTMCMschine

Can I ask you a question please - it's just curiosity & not meant to offend, but if you're an art student why are you applying to be a prison officer?

I mean what was the point of studying art, not working & building up debts whilst doing that, only to then go into a job that has nothing to do with it?

I'm not getting at you, just seems to be that people feel the need to go to uni/college & then never end up using the qualifications they studied for?

cookie9

Sorry I think the Sky should go. After 3 months you would have saved enough to pay for the £40 initial charge then you will save £14.99 a month which will help pay off the debts. I know you said you use it to avoid going out but couldn't you
join a DVD free trial rental?

Have you managed to work out your APRs?

Good luck with your reduce food bill!

art_student

TTMCMschine - I had every intention of going in to exhibition design but after doing a number of work experience placement I decided it wasn't for me as I didn't like being in the corporate environment. I may still use my skill in the future though - I could do an MA in Art Therapy and use that in the prisons environment. I entirely understand your point of view.

Cookie9 - if it was just me, I would cancel Sky. I know it is a luxury but my hubby couldn't live without it!!!! The £40 initial charge is for the free Sky broadband so to get that I would have to remain a Sky customer. I think I will cough up for that anyway as you are right that I would save the money in 3 months. The food bill is coming down - I reckon I could manage £150. Thanks for your support!

TTMCMschine

The wife did a course on interior design, but found out it would be hard to get work with that qualification so did a building & construction diploma instead because that'd apparently make it easier to get into interior design, then ended up working at the Abbey National in customer services!

warburtonrichard

Advice from me:
1. Speak to water company and ask them to split the rest of they year's payment over 12, not 6 months, this could free up £20 a month or so. They can only say no.
2. Is the council tax on a 10-month or 12-month payment plan? If 10, you can speak to them and ask them to split it over 12, most councils do this no problem.
3. Can you skip a month or two on the pension? If champagne tomorrow means catfood today, you'll forgive yourselves. Plus when you are earning you can pay it back.

Hang in there, you're only in the red for a couple more months....

Warby
xx

this_year_2

Is the out going's for your household bill's weekly or monthly...The best advice i can give is buy yourself a book and write all of you outgoings in it and i mean everything the amount you have coming in and all of your bill's whether they be weekly or monthly and have a space at one side for extras like car tax, mot, birthdays stuff like that... Get yourself online banking with your bank and go through your account looking at your direct debits and standing orders to make sure they are right, when you both get paid go online and check that all of the D/D's & S/O have been paid and mark them in your book I have been doing this for about 3 yrs now, helps me keep a track of my spending...It will be difficult at first I have just started this year to get a grip of our finances set yourself goals ones that you know that you can meet and stick to them.......

EVERYONE ON THIS SITE WILL BE BEHIND YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WE ALL HAVE OR ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING AS YOU SO THINK POSITIVE THAT LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL MIGHT ONLY BE THE SIZE OF A PIN BUT THE LIGHT IS STILL THERE ...

art_student

TTMCMschine - well, as long as your wife is happy , that's most important! We learn alot about ourselves along life's little path! I have learnt that although I really enjoy art, maybe I prefer to have it as a hobby for now.

warby - thanks, good advice, will talk to people and see if I can get payments down.

this year - yes, I have been trying to get on top of all my finances as lack of orgainisation has been a major issue. The main problem has been trying to get on top of my hubby's finances as he is the one with the most debt, the most income and most of the bill payments. After weeks of nagging at him to get online banking he finally decided to get it sorted only to realise that he had registered years ago and his passcode was in his file (not v. secure!!!). Honestly! anyway, I have done a spreadsheet of our incomings and outgoings which is helping.
And thanks for the support!

poodlehorse

I don't really understand the charges on your current accounts. CAn't you change accounts to one that doesn't have a charge? I had a massive to-do with RBS as they insisted on upgrading our accounts to Royalties Gold or something that came with a charge per month and gave us discounts on loads of things we don't use and can't afford anyway:rolleyes: . I won. It was that or they lost our custom altogether. I would have a go at the bank about this, all they can do is say no (and then you keep arguing until they say yes or you move;) IF you can) especially as you are paying two lots between you. Good luck with the next few months and I hope you get your prison job.

art_student

oh yes - I rang my bank today and they said I don't have a charge on my account. I thought I did as I saw something a while ago on my statement that said "service charge" next to it but, to be honest, I haven't seen it again so I rang up to check and they said there was no charge.:T So that is good.
My husband could get rid of the charge on his account but the interest rate on the overdraft would then be so high that it only makes 6p difference a month. When I get a job and we can start actually paying off the overdraft then I reckon we will do that.