New here

ssteer

Okay, I'm struggling to get out of debt so here's my incomings/outgoings.

Monthly Incomings:

Incapacity Benefit - £392
Housing Benefit - £160

Total - £552

Monthly Outgoings:

Rent - £290
Council Tax - £28
Water - £20.60
Gas - £20
Electric - £45
TV License - £11.50
Phone/internet - £40.50
Food - £60-100
Bike Insurance - £16.52
Credit card - £1
Abbey Loan - £19.90
Littlewoods - £39.64
HP - £17.71
Mobile (contract) - £35

Total: £642.27

I get help my from mum to meet my rent occasionally but other than that I struggle to live on what I've got and am permanently living on my overdraft. I can't work at the moment because of my mental health issues (psychotic depression) and my physical health isn't in the best of shape either. I have cut back on my spending with a lot of things mostly my weekly shopping of which I buy Asda Smart Price which saves some money. I probably shouldn't have got a new contract phone in hindsight but I was spending more than it would cost for the monthly contract on topping up. I'm still tied into a 12 month contract with my phone and internet provider, Virgin Media. I'm hoping to move in the next couple of months into council accomodation and hopefully save on my rent and other bills. I've looked into installing an electricity pre payment meter but the actual meter is in such an inconvinient location in the cellar coupled with the fact that I should be moving in the next couple of months I don't know if it's worth it. I'm still paying for my bike insurance even though my old bike was scrapped months ago. I've been on the phone with them many times and each time they've told me it'll be a £30 cancellation fee plus 40% of my premium which will be over £100 which I simply haven't got. Of what I'm paying at the moment, there is absolutely nothing that I can cut out, bar my food shopping. I'm on a payment programme for my credit card, I've already refinanced my Littlewoods account, and I've written to HFC Bank and Abbey to reduce the amount I'm paying and they've both said they can't accept my payments which I offered of £1.

Sorry to waffle on but I just wanted to give an overall idea of what my situation is.

Triker

Hi there, welcome to MSE.DFW, I'm not so good at working out where you can cut back so I'll just say hi for now :wave:

Ytaya

:hello: Evening, ssteer!

There's a few areas you can probably improve. Have you checked on https://www.entitledto.co.uk to see if there's any other benefits you can claim? Council Tax Benefit and Disability Living Allowance, for example? Maybe even income support, I'm not sure.

Negotiate with Virgin. You should be able to get phone and internet cheaper than that - they offer a package on their website for phone, net and tv for less than that, for example! Also negotiate with your mobile phone provider - try and get moved to a cheaper tariff.

I don't know if it's worth checking around for potentially cheaper electric/gas suppliers if you're moving soon, I don't know if they tie you in to contracts when you switch. Somebody more knowledgeable will doubtless be along in a minute to say!

You could also consider giving someone like CCCS or Payplan a call (or go to their website). Or talk to someone at the Citizens Advice Bureau. They'll be able to negotiate with your creditors on your behalf to freeze interest, get you on a repayment plan you can afford, etc.

Hope that helps to start with! Good luck!

ssteer

Ytaya wrote: »

:hello: Evening, ssteer!

There's a few areas you can probably improve. Have you checked on https://www.entitledto.co.uk to see if there's any other benefits you can claim? Council Tax Benefit and Disability Living Allowance, for example? Maybe even income support, I'm not sure.

Negotiate with Virgin. You should be able to get phone and internet cheaper than that - they offer a package on their website for phone, net and tv for less than that, for example! Also negotiate with your mobile phone provider - try and get moved to a cheaper tariff.

I don't know if it's worth checking around for potentially cheaper electric/gas suppliers if you're moving soon, I don't know if they tie you in to contracts when you switch. Somebody more knowledgeable will doubtless be along in a minute to say!

You could also consider giving someone like CCCS or Payplan a call (or go to their website). Or talk to someone at the Citizens Advice Bureau. They'll be able to negotiate with your creditors on your behalf to freeze interest, get you on a repayment plan you can afford, etc.

Hope that helps to start with! Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. I'm already getting council tax benefit but I still can't afford my council tax. I've applied for Disability Living Allowance as well but they said I can't have it, likewise with Income Support.

Sweety83

Hi Ssteer

I agree with Ytaya, contact the CCCS, payplan, the citizens advice bureau or National debt line. They will be able to give you some really good advice. I am on a DMP with the CCCS and they have been fantastic.

If you have anything around the house that you don't use any more etc you could try selling on Ebay to earn yourself some extra money.

Sorry I couldn't be more help. Keep strong, and let us know how you get on- Sweety

misspoppy

Hi

when did you apply for housing benefit as there is a large gap between the benefit and actual cost. Can you reapply or appeal?
Can you call your mobile provider and ask to be dropped to the lowest tarrif and then try not to use your phone.

teecee152

Bump............

James&Shell

Just wanted to say good luck and i hope it all goes well for you.

are you entitled to counicl tax benifit?

Storm

Hi :hello:

As you've already made payment arrangements with your CC for £1 a month I would guess that your credit rating already has gone down, so with Littlewoods and Abbey I personally would send them a letter sayign that you are unable to meet all your current obligations, and are investigating a DMP - enclose £1 token payment, and say that you will continue to send them £1 a month until a DMP has been arranged.

Could you contact your local branch of MIND for some support? They may well be able to write to your creditors too, explaining that you should not be contacted by telephone as this will distress you & exasperbate (sp!) your condition. They will also probably be able to accompany you if you want to interviews with CCCS/PayPlan/CAB if you want some support.

With the bike insurance - cancel the DD, and then phone them to cancel the policy - ask them to send you a statement showing anything still owed, and then start sending them £1 token payments too - you can always get the CAB or someone to read over the agreement to check what they're saying is correct.

Also, speak to the benefit office etc showing them your SoA as they may well be able to speed up the process for claiming more as you're currently running at -£90 each month.

Don't get a pre-paid meter put in as these charge more than paying monthly or quarterly per unit

Good luck, and keep posting