I need help please - financial crisis

saving4life

I usually buy books from the book people. You can buy book collections which can be split. For example I bought 8 Julia Donaldson books for about £9 which are normally 6.99 each. There you have presents for 8 kids for just over £1 and it looks like you have spent more. Same with adults too. They have a good sale on and delivery is free when you spend £25. Sounds quite a bit upfront but you could get a years worth of gifts for this.
Good luck with everything.

debtdawg

I'm sure the benefits bit must be wrong - if you are getting £300 a month HB, plus WTC plus child benefit (which should be £188.40 a month) then you should be receiving more than £547 a month.
Your groceries are high, you can cut this. Shop at your local butchers, lidls, aldi etc. Try the grocery challenge on the old style money savers board for tips.
Your gas and electric are too low, I am worried you will be getting a larger bill through after this winter that will throw things out on your budget.
You should qualify for a lower council tax rate as a single parent.
Pursue your ex through the CSA, tough luck if he says he cannot afford it, it's his duty to provide for your children as well.

Derwent

Using CSA rates at Basic Rate maintenance, if your partner is earning ~£30k (based on you saying that he earns 3 times what you do) then he'd be liable to pay you around £110 per week (£475 per calendar month) for 3 children (i.e. 19% of his gross income figure).

Also, is the benefits received figure right in your statement of affairs ? As a single parent on low income with 3 children I'd have expected you to be getting at least £200 per month in WTC and CTC, then you are receiving £300 in HB and should also be getting ~£200 per month in Child Benefit. Your figure seems low.

secondtoughest

Hi, I just wanted to say well done for posting and welcome to the boards. I'm in admiration of you trying to tackle this! Many posters have great ideas for thrifty living and so many people on here (including me) have turned their financial fortunes around. Good luck!

LannieDuck

Hi, Just another popping in to say well done for taking control of your finances like this. It sounds as if things will be a bit confusing and up-in-the-air for a month or two, but you're already making good progress

I think you said you wanted to revisit your SOA, so I'll hold any comments until after that, except to say that I agree with the others about contacting the CSA. (And don't spend any money he promises for the kids until you see it....)

kb_soma

BeingMe wrote: »

I have included in the birthday presents section the cost of buying presents for children whose birthday parties we are invited to. Has anybody got any good ways of reducing these costs please?

Hi! The pound shops such as pound land/pound world etc have some great branded toys and gifts, keep an eye on them when you can.

re snacks: Maybe you could bulk bake healthy home made snacks such as flapjacks? Keep in a bag of raisins and put them in a little bowl when the kids are peckish, home bake crisps in the oven - my mum used to do these, yummy! you could have veg crisps.

Good luck with everything, come over to the frugal challenge forum too, we are sharing lots of money saving ideas. Also, if you haven't get in touch with National Debt Line, they were so helpful with helping me set up my debt management plan. xx

[Deleted User]

BeingMe wrote: »

I have included in the birthday presents section the cost of buying presents for children whose birthday parties we are invited to.

How many of these parties do you attend, per year?

BeingMe

Hi everyone. I'm so grateful for the warm welcome I've received. I was very upset yesterday and I couldn't see a way out, particularly as the council were telling me I couldn't pay the council tax bill in instalments and they wanted the money in a lump sum.

I've been thinking in more detail about where I spend money and I plan to keep a spending diary to see where I can really cut back.

When the children have gone to bed, I will get out my files and fill out an accurate statement of affairs. Should I post on a new thread or post it here?

I have called the CSA today so that's one step at least.

I'm feeling much calmer today so once I have a plan of action, I will start having a look around the boards to really take advantage of the best ways to cut our spending.

My children are invited to around 20 parties a year and I usually spend around £10-£15 each time including gift, card and wrapping paper.

My spending has been unusual in the last few months as I have worked to make our new home nice for the children. It is much smaller than the marital home and I had to completely furnish it as I was unable to take much with us when we moved. I am also realising that much of my spending is emotional in that I try to over compensate for our situation by buying the children nice things and expensive activities. But ideally I would like to show them a good example of financial responsibility and that starts now. I have buried my head in the sand for too long and things need to change.

I am hoping that maybe I might be able to use the snowball method to clear my debts but I will let others advise me as to whether this is feasible once a clearer SOA has been posted.

I will be back soon.

Frugalsod

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

How many of these parties do you attend, per year?

Possibly thirty times a year per child depends on class sizes. Though some will be over the holidays so some savings there. :-)

[Deleted User]

Frugalsod wrote: »

Possibly thirty times a year per child depends on class sizes.

So your child goes to the birthday party of every child in their class?

Presumably, your child's birthday party is also attended by every child in their class?

That must cost more than a bob or two.