Don't think I'll ever be debt free

Newlywed_Saving_Ninja

Jemma, have faith you CAN do this We have all felt despair at our debt, but you will get there in the end. You have had lots of good advice, and also great news about your OH's job so now you can get WTC. Join us over on this thread, you will get lots of encouragement and chat over there

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4358035

foxgloves

It does sound as though Sky are trying it on if you seem to end up with a new contract each time you speak to them. I'd really try & get out of this.....you can complain about them if it looks like you've been swizzed into new contracts you didn't want. £40 a month just for some extra tv channels just isn't viable when spare money needs to be going towards those debts. We stopped paying for tv channels & went Freeview & we don't miss the other channels at all. Obviously these big companies like Sky market their pay-for packages as though they are essentials & what everyone has....well they're not. Before we cancelled our package, we went through every channel & said whether we watched it or not & whether we would honestly miss if it it went.......by the time we'd done that, all I can say is that we both knew we'd been wasting our money! Don't let them fob you off. Good luck with it all x

nPower

JemmaM91 wrote: »

Only a token payment to npower (but they are so hard to contact! I owe around £1000 but they've not even bothered sending a letter since sept last year?!? and I've asked for a prepayment meter, but they keep saying they'll phone me to let me know when someone will be round but they never do.)

Hi JemmaM91,

Would you like me to look into this for you and see if we can get your meter changed?

I'm over on forumresponse@npower.com if you can send the details.

Best wishes,

Adam

JemmaM91

Hi everyone
I'm sorry I don't update more often.
Just thought I'd let you know that I've rung tax credits, and I seem to be entitled to waaay too much working tax credits. They estimated approx £69 a week just of working 5 extra hours. That can't be right can it?

If it is then I can now see a light at the end of the tunnel as it would mean I could make real payments to everyone and not just tokens.

Thanks everyone for their advice

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Hi

Have you considered mystery shopping?

Good luck with getting sorted

HHx

Trajal

Jemma, please don't think that extra a month should go on bills necessarily.

You need to be able to budget properly. What that means, in real terms, is that you need to be able to set aside a small amount every single week for clothing/car/prescriptions/emergencies as well as just managing on the absolute minimum.

My heart goes out to you and your partner, you both sound like hard working young people who want to do the right thing. The benefits system is absolutely for you and you should make sure that you are claiming everything to which you are entitled.

My suggestion, other than to make damn sure you set aside things for the future, even if it's only £5 a week, is that you arrange an appointment with someone from the local benefits agency and ensure that you do claim everything for which you are entitled.

I am sure that when childcare is out of the way, you and your partner will both be working and paying tax. Use the system now, when you are young, to make sure that you have that future available to you. Don't feel too proud. It is there for you, use it.

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Mystery shopping may be worth considering too

HHx

specialkaye

Hi JmmaM91,

Yes Tax credits can sometimes work in weird ways but if you are worried then ask them to double check as they can ask for any overpayments back.

If you aren't recieving any help with HB or Council Tax then apply as losing the house due to arrears is going to knock you back. If you are already receiving help you need to let them know about your partners increasing in hours. I will mean you are entitled to less but as with any government help overpayments can be reclaimed.

Also you can ask for your Council Tax to be spread out over 12 months if that will help with your budgeting.

Also see if you can knock anything off any bills for paperless billing.

Sky is quite a good company to haggle with but you have to be firm it seems with them. They shouldn't just be renewing your contract. Get them rung!


With the car, I guess its hard. I would be looking at things like trying to combine serveral things in one trip. Does your partner pass any supermarkets on the way to work? etc. I would also do some research into how to reduce fuel consumption. This way you can make it go further. Also do you both need to be insured?


Also I would agree with catalogue sales reps like Avon etc. I did it for a while and have a chat with someone else local who does it and im sure theyd help you set up. IF not Avon there are loads of different companies from selling homeware to makeup to chocolates to baby products. Do you get any through the door yourself? If not then there is a gap in the market.

Have a good declutter, see what you can sell on - FB have a lot of local groups now for that. Also try freecycle to see if you can upgrade any electrical items for free. Childrens clothes also come up quite a bit.

I would also have a look around to see what grants you can get for insulating your house for free, a lot of councils work with energy companies so you could try there.

Food budget could be looked at, are you making all meals for the 3 of you from scratch? If not that could be one way of making saving, not always, but a lot of the time.

Those are my ideas for now. Hope they help

matttye

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

Mystery shopping may be worth considering too

HHx

And market research panels. I've done a few.. £30, £30 and £50 for a couple of hours of giving my opinions

NinjaSavingKat

Jemma - just started readying your thread. Looks like things are getting better for you already. In regards work - have you thought of Tesco / Asda / Sainsburies etc - or even Aldi and Lidl's... you will no doubt get staff discount on food and with Lilds I have heard the food that is usually "yellow sticker" at Mr T or Asda go straight to staff only? You gotta kill two birds with one stone as you mentioned Grandparents not being overly helpful with baby!

Also you are heading to early to the stores - try 2100 - 2200 when your partner gets home.. especially on a Satuday night when most people don't want to go near a supermarket..(or is this just in my area?)... I get loaves for bread for 12p / fruit in little tubs for 22p etc..

You seem to be on the up though and things seems to be pulling together for you - so a massive well done!

Onwards and Upwards!