Revised SOA for 2007/08

mystery07

david_hellier wrote: »

subscribed

mrsspendalot

How many points are you dropping down to with OU? You can get funding for courses as low as 10 points depending on circumstances - but at £275 I am guessing you are doing a 30 pointer? Even at 30 points you should get funding if you qualified for it before, unless your income has gone up loads since last year?

david_hellier

Hi,

According to my figures you seem to be doing ok. You have £219.70 per week to spend on food, clothes and anything else. I suggest you write this in a little book on a Monday (a spending diary) and keep a note of what you spend by deduction. If you have any over at the end of the week use it to throw at your most expensive debt. Cap 1 should be paid off with your savings. You are not in a position to save with these debts; it's costly and illogical. Do not use CCs for any more purchases, use a debit card or cash.

I note no TV licence, MOT, service or overdraft in your figures.

Good luck, the figures are as follows;

income weekly monthly
self 1942.00
partner







total 0.00 1942.00 divide by 4.33
£448.16

£448.16 total weekly income

spend weekly monthly
rent/mortgage 475.00
council tax 60.00
elec 25.00
gas 22.00
water 15.00
secured loans 0.00
TV licence 0.00
fines 0.00
car ins 39.00
car tax 10.00
fuel 65.00
broadband 15.00
home phone 20.00
mob 30.00
next 130.00
cap 1 49.00
littlewoods 35.00















total 0.00 990.00 divide by 4.33
£228.46

£228.46 total weekly spend

Start= income - spend = £219.70 per week

RAS

mystery07 wrote: »

Hi Thanks for respoce PK...

£600 per year xmas/birthdays. Well i have 4 adults to buy for each year xmas & birthdays...which I worked out @ £160 per year.....then I have a 3 year old to buy for (& Im the only "real" buyer for him) so I worked that out to be at least £300/£400 plus xmas food, so Ive probably been a bit conservative with that estimate to be honest! I dont think that is too much??!

Really, £160 per adult for BDs and Xmas and £300 for a 3 year old is lots given your circumstances. I go for about £40 for BDs and £60 for Xmas and would think £100 for Christmas for a child at that age was fine. My income is higher than yours and I have no debts, and savings. But I am a cheap skate.

Other = Ive left £10 a week, Oh, books/CD's in there too!

Clothes....I put in there £10 a week, for both me & 3 year old, to buy all summer/winter clothes coats/jackets/shoes (his feet grow like mad & I will only buy clarkes shoes!!) Do you think this is a lot to spent on 2 people per year? It will work out at £500!

Have you signed up for https://www.freecyle. org. You do have to put up an offer as your first post. However, there are always masses of bags for kids clothes and some decent adult stuff, free. No-one will know your son is in second hands and he will not care at this age. Not that I am suggesting shoes from there unless they are as new.

This is also a great place for books and CDs and bits of household stuff

QUOTE]

mystery07

mrsspendalot wrote: »

How many points are you dropping down to with OU? You can get funding for courses as low as 10 points depending on circumstances - but at £275 I am guessing you are doing a 30 pointer? Even at 30 points you should get funding if you qualified for it before, unless your income has gone up loads since last year?

Yes 30 points. You certainly know your stuff
OU have already told me, that I wouldnt qualify for funding this year, because of not enough points, this year Ive done 60 for said reason & its about killed me!!!

Thanks for this I will get back onto them.

mystery07

david_hellier wrote: »

Hi,

According to my figures you seem to be doing ok. You have £219.70 per week to spend on food, clothes and anything else. I suggest you write this in a little book on a Monday (a spending diary) and keep a note of what you spend by deduction. If you have any over at the end of the week use it to throw at your most expensive debt. Cap 1 should be paid off with your savings. You are not in a position to save with these debts; it's costly and illogical. Do not use CCs for any more purchases, use a debit card or cash.

I note no TV licence, MOT, service or overdraft in your figures.

Good luck, the figures are as follows;

income weekly monthly
self 1942.00
partner







total 0.00 1942.00 divide by 4.33
£448.16

£448.16 total weekly income



total 0.00 990.00 divide by 4.33
£228.46

£228.46 total weekly spend

Start= income - spend = £219.70 per week

Hi David
Thanks for your reply. No TV licence (Dont watch Tv, TVL peeps say I dont need to pay for it!!) No "real" car costs, I have a car but MOT/service I pay very little for if anything! No overdraft & no partner either!

As said, finances only just settled this month, for me to be comfortable paying any large amount off anything, hence the savings.

As, at the moment, im still thinking, that I have £275 in OU fees in sept. What should I do to pay these if I have a) no savings or b) no CC ???

Already keeping a spending diary! I was amazed how much I have been spending!

Jules

mystery07

[QUOTE=RAS;4920710
Really, £160 per adult for BDs and Xmas and £300 for a 3 year old is lots given your circumstances. I go for about £40 for BDs and £60 for Xmas and would think £100 for Christmas for a child at that age was fine. My income is higher than yours and I have no debts, and savings. But I am a cheap skate.


Have you signed up for https://www.freecyle. org. You do have to put up an offer as your first post. However, there are always masses of bags for kids clothes and some decent adult stuff, free. No-one will know your son is in second hands and he will not care at this age. Not that I am suggesting shoes from there unless they are as new.

This is also a great place for books and CDs and bits of household stuff

QUOTE][/QUOTE]

Hi Ras

£160 is for 4 adults for bday's & xmas' not 1 adult. Ie 8 presents @ £20 each. This is actually a lot less than I have evr spent, But decided I must tighten up a little & this really should be plenty. £300 for My sons xmas & Birthday, again in the last 12 months (Xmas & birthday) Ive spent more than double that. I wont spend less than £300 per year, he needs plenty of toys in my opinion. Id rather spend nothing all year & make sure he got this!

Freecycle is great (tbh Ive just got some plants from some1 & I didnt post an offer on before, I didnt realise you were meant to?!). Will post anything that I have that I dont want on there too in the future. As for clothes from there, Im not keen on that either & dont feel that things are so bad that I can not afford new clothes for us. I think I would need to be very poor before i put my son in 2nd hand gear.

Thanks for your suggestions

mrsspendalot

mystery07 wrote: »

Yes 30 points. You certainly know your stuff
OU have already told me, that I wouldnt qualify for funding this year, because of not enough points, this year Ive done 60 for said reason & its about killed me!!!

Thanks for this I will get back onto them.

I don't know why they've told you that, the form clearly states it is for 30 points or more :mad:

Anyway, here is a link to the ready reckoner, input your details and pick the option for 30 points or more and it will tell you what you should get.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/coursefinance/

I would apply anyway. What kind of courses are you doing? I am in the last stage of health and social care degree.

mystery07

mrsspendalot wrote: »

I don't know why they've told you that, the form clearly states it is for 30 points or more :mad:

Anyway, here is a link to the ready reckoner, input your details and pick the option for 30 points or more and it will tell you what you should get.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/coursefinance/

I would apply anyway. What kind of courses are you doing? I am in the last stage of health and social care degree.

Ah, thanks for that. I cant believe I missed that one. It woudve cost me £275 as well!

Im doing a psychology degree. Cant wait to get it finished...but only just going into 2nd year (will have 90 points in just over 12 mnths of a needed 360, so a way to go yet!!) But enjoying it, as much as I can. Dont know much about social care...what job were you planning on when you finish?

mrsspendalot

mystery07 wrote: »

Ah, thanks for that. I cant believe I missed that one. It woudve cost me £275 as well!

Im doing a psychology degree. Cant wait to get it finished...but only just going into 2nd year (will have 90 points in just over 12 mnths of a needed 360, so a way to go yet!!) But enjoying it, as much as I can. Dont know much about social care...what job were you planning on when you finish?

Ooh I am converting to psychology in October, DSE212. I love studying, and the health and social care courses have been fab. I don't know about a job yet, probably something health related as I don't enjoy the social care side of the study. I would love to get involved with sure start or something, but just don't know yet, concentrating on graduating first!