Can you quickly look over our soa?

lynzpower

Hi there all

I know im usually pretty good at SOAs but wondering whether you lot could look over this and see what its looking like, if theres any better deals out there as I feel like Ive been a bit of a moneywastingexpert over the last month or so

My brief flirtation with estate agency is over, and I have just been told Ive got another job which I was interviewed for today. :money: with a proper salary!

Apologies if we look a bit comfortable here- its not my intention to do anyones head in, only to make sure we have the best deals going.

INCOME

Me 1500 ( plus bonus unclear what this is as yet)
OH 885.88 ( plus bonus, unclear what this is as yet, he started the job fairly recently, bonus paid monthly in arrears )

TOTAL 2385.92

OUtgoings ( 2 adults one dog
rent 758.33
Food 125 ( meals, lunches & toiletries)
electric 40 ( estimate we havent had a bill yet)
water 35 ( again estimate, we cant go on meter due to being on private rd)
council tax 125
travelcards on oyster 210.60 ( one each)
tv licence 11
internet 9.99
phone line + calls 15.00 ( dont seem to be able to get primus 2 here in the new house?)
my mobile 35 ( with 150 redemption cashback)
Oh mobile 30 ( with 120 redemption cash back)
Contents insurance 8.37

---

TOTAL OUTGOINGS 1403.29

DEBTS
mine
LTSB 6.5% 400 ( an overdraft, im clearing bit by bit)
A&L 0% (£124, these are charges, im claiming back)
egg 1500 0% ( paying min for stoozing purposes)

OHs
Cahoot OD 800 10%
A&L 600 ( 0%)
owing me 300 ( 0%!)

Savings - not to be touched!! Ive paid off some debt with these savings, but the rest is stoozed)
Me 27k @5,5
ME Isa 3000 5.25

Any thoughts. come on IA and others- do your worst!

immoral_angeluk

The only thing I can see is your contents insurance.. we pay £4.47 for ours through legal and general...

immoral_angeluk

Also if you get a water bill ask for it to be spread over 12 months instead of 8 or whatever your water people do. We managed to cut off £8 from ours by changing how many months we paid it.

lynzpower

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

The only thing I can see is your contents insurance.. we pay £4.47 for ours through legal and general...

ours was the cheapest we could find ( london premuim I bet :rolleyes:) and we are getting (apparently) 125 back from quidco for the privilidge :rolleyes:)

thanks for the tip on water tho, I had no idea, water was included in the SC at the last flat.

Toto

Congrats on the new job Lyn. I am chuffed to bits for you, what is it? Still estate agency?

As for your SOA, I wouldn't dream of suggesting anything to the queen of SOAs (besides I can't find anything, did you honestly think I would?) No one is going to think anything other than bloody fantastic that things are looking better for you (I thought I had annoyed you for the same reason the other day). Anyway, tell all about the job.

Bestthingsinlifearefree

Hi LP,

Just want to say congrats to you and your OH :beer: on your jobs. I hope things are really looking up / going in the right direction now.

I have read many of your posts and think if there was ever a list made of the all time, best / most helpful / genuine / good advice posters on MSE you would be at the top of it.

You should get the debt forum medal of honour for all your excellent posts .:beer:

I wish you well.

lynzpower

Toto wrote: »

Congrats on the new job Lyn. I am chuffed to bits for you, what is it? Still estate agency?

As for your SOA, I wouldn't dream of suggesting anything to the queen of SOAs (besides I can't find anything, did you honestly think I would?) No one is going to think anything other than bloody fantastic that things are looking better for you (I thought I had annoyed you for the same reason the other day). Anyway, tell all about the job.

Hun, why on earth would you annoy me - you know you are one of my favourite Msers :A

Aww shucks Best , thanks

Well job is still in estate agency, of sorts, I will be a consultant on Home Information Packs. Should be plenty of fun- dealing with the state of play in the industry at the moment! No one seems to care about these just yet LOL

tryhard_2

lynzpower wrote: »

INCOME

Me 1500 ( plus bonus unclear what this is as yet)
OH 885.88 ( plus bonus, unclear what this is as yet, he started the job fairly recently, bonus paid monthly in arrears )

TOTAL 2385.92

OUtgoings ( 2 adults one dog
rent 758.33
Food 125 ( meals, lunches & toiletries)
electric 40 ( estimate we havent had a bill yet)
water 35 ( again estimate, we cant go on meter due to being on private rd)
council tax 125
travelcards on oyster 210.60 ( one each)
tv licence 11
internet 9.99
phone line + calls 15.00 ( dont seem to be able to get primus 2 here in the new house?)
my mobile 35 ( with 150 redemption cashback)
Oh mobile 30 ( with 120 redemption cash back)
Contents insurance 8.37

---

TOTAL OUTGOINGS 1403.29

DEBTS
mine
LTSB 6.5% 400 ( an overdraft, im clearing bit by bit)
A&L 0% (£124, these are charges, im claiming back)
egg 1500 0% ( paying min for stoozing purposes)

OHs
Cahoot OD 800 10%
A&L 600 ( 0%)
owing me 300 ( 0%!)

Savings - not to be touched!! Ive paid off some debt with these savings, but the rest is stoozed)
Me 27k @5,5
ME Isa 3000 5.25

Any thoughts. come on IA and others- do your worst!

Hi Lynz
Congrats on the new job. few thoughts -
1 what about other things in SOA - gifts/christmas/days out etc?
2. are your mobiles the cheapest possible - even with cashback?
3. your OD has 6.5% and your OH od is 10% interest so why not clear it with savings and then put some money away each month to build it up
4. you should be able to put another 3000 in this years ISA allowance - go with barclays at 6.5% - martin had recommended it in his weekly email
good luck!

tesuhoha

Well done on the new job Lynz :beer: Your SOA looks pared down to the bone to me. Seems to me that your new income will allow you a few more luxuries if anything and why not as long as you are not sinking into debt again. Or maybe you want to save for something you want; you are in a position to do that too without scrimping. Come on girl, you've been struggling for such a long time. Pay your bills, save a reasonable amount and then enjoy yourself a bit. Life is short.

lynzpower

our mobiles arnt the cheapest possible, BUT we cant downgrade them or we lose the cashback offers- not bad i suppose we both get well over 1000 inc minutes & free texts.

thanks for the tip on ISas, I have to say Im feeling pretty rubbish with my savings at the mo, I just banged them in anywhere as I was so worried about spending the money!!!

tesuhoha

Actually, just thinking about stoozing and I was thinking about this a couple of weeks back when considering our future debtfree state, with all 0% accounts now you have to pay a BT fee. I am just wondering if the interest you are going to get on the Egg account makes it worthwhile, taking into account the fee you have to pay.