Natlie's debt diary

natlie

Hi Im nat UPDATED BELOW
Im a lurker more than a poster but I really need to pay off most of my debts by August next year. I am getting married in April 2009, Im 28, I have two children age 7 and 19 months. I haven't raised my debts since 2004, but I haven't paid much off either. I have my own house, and I am planning on adding £30000 to my £50000 mortgage next year to pay to have the kitchen done, the back and front gardens, a conservatory, new fitted wardrobes in the master bedroom and new carpet throughout, we can then get more for our house and buy ourselves a bigger one.

here is my SOA

Debts-
Joint:
Car loan with Lloyds TSB 11% £2400 - finishing next March £233 per month.


Mine
Barclaycard -(£4000 limit, £3900 balance) £89 min 29.9%
Abbey Card - (£2500 limit £2499 balance) £25.80 min 0%
MINT - (£2450 limit £2461 balance - ooops) £21 min 0%

Overdraft - up to limit £2500

Total currently going out on debts each month: £268.80

Monthly outgoings (house bills etc)
Mrtgage £378
Council Tax £69
Tv license - £11.99
Water- £35
Childcare - £785

Virgin phone + broadband £14.99 8mbps no download limit free evening and weekend calls
Gas and electric - £58

Car insurance - £33
House insurance - £13.80
Food - £320 - total including formula milk and nappies
Petrol - £200 take eldest daughter up to severn bridge to meet dad twice a month (£80)


Money in (as of November 06)-

My wages £1200 including travelling expenses
Child benefit - £69 4-weekly
Tax credits - £700 per month
Maintenance - £100 per month

my partner pays for all the food shopping only - our money is kept seperate apart from that.

total to pay off ASAP


£11360 :eek:

I am on no spend day number 15. I have some items on ebay - currently up to £45, I have more to list. I have just switched my broadband and home phone and my gas and electric and my home insurance, car insurance and bank account. I have £111 on the way from quidco and another £52 validated and £150 worth of enquiries.

Any help and advice would be great, I also have just joined NOP mystery shopping but will only be able to do this in my lunch break really.

Thanks
Nat
x

natlie

forgot to add mobile
PAYG - £10 a month, just applied for three free sim cards, one from O2 300 free texts when you top up £10 and 2 orange with £5 credit on each, will save me a bit.

Social life I pay £5 on gym about twice a month, £4 on sunbed 3 times a month, apart from that no social life have two girls to look after and another 34 yr old baby lol

nicola1982_2

Are you getting leapfrog or busy bees vouchers for your childcare? And have you declared childcare costs when claiming tax benefits? They give extra towards care now to promote parents being able to return to work.

Also - sunbeds? Naughty naughty, have you thought about buying some of that tanning moisturiser instead? Much cheaper and much safer!

natlie

Hi
my employer is starting vouchers in Jan next year, I work in local government - they ave all these wierd procedures to follow.

I have claimed childcare on tax credits.

I do have that tanning stuff - maybe shoukd start using it instead - thanks
Nat

nicola1982_2

Is daughters dad contributing to the cost of your petrol? I know it can be difficult, I'm in the opposite situation OH's ex won't contribute to transportation for her son to come stay with us and it really adds up when you pay both ways.

Once your employer sets up childcare vouchers you should notice a great difference in your income.

natlie

My Daughters dad pays £10 per month which covers petrol and I put other £20 towards her after school club, I should have claimed maintenance when she was born but his family were really funny about it, plus his mum is loaded and she buys the big things we need like bed and horse riding lessons and equipment, she also looks after her in summer holidays and she always helps out with school uniform etc so I am not really loosing out.

I can't wait for our vouchers to come, I have been trying to get it implemented for 2 years now.

Nat

Prudent

Get an estate agent to give you a guide as to how much your house will go up in price with these additions. Conservatories often give a poor return, not always making back their cost. Kitchen and bathrooms are a better investment. You may do all this work and not get a full return, plus you will have the hassle involved.

Your tax credit seems high given you have a partner - check its correct as you may need to pay back money if its not.

You do not seem to be getting a fair deal in maintainance in relation to costs. Your ex should pay 20% of his take home for two children. Mum in laws contributions doesn't count in that assessment. It might be worth finding out if this is more than the value to you of the riding lessons etc.

nicola1982_2

Goodness yes I've just noticed that - my OH will pay more for one child even when our child is born and his salary isn't particularly huge. Your maintenance sounds very low.

natlie

:mad: Hi just updating my soa, had a bad yr last year, dishwasher broke down, boiler broke down, all the stuff that happened meant that I didn't pay off anything at all really, this year I am determined to clear some of my debts, I have a poor credit rating so can't change any of my cards unfortunately but could do with lots of inspiration.

Debts-


Mine
Barclaycard -(£4000 limit, £3899 balance) £89 min 29.9%
Abbey Card - (£2500 limit £2499 balance) £25.80 min[strike] 0% [/strike] 15.9%
MINT - (£1450 limit [strike]£1452 balance[/strike] [STRIKE]£1360) £21 min 0%[/STRIKE] £500

Overdraft - [strike]up to limit[/strike] £2400 of £2500 limit

Total currently going out on debts each month: £[strike]126[/strike] 150

Monthly outgoings (house bills etc)
Mrtgage £461 ( just changed rate as fixed rate ended feb)
Council Tax £69
Tv license - £11.99
Water- £38
Childcare - £700

Virgin phone + broadband £14.99 8mbps no download limit free evening and weekend calls
Gas and electric - £58

Car insurance - £36
House insurance - £13.80
Food - partner pays for groceries [strike]I probably spend £30 on lunches[/strike] £12 lunches
Petrol - £240 take eldest daughter up to severn bridge to meet dad twice a month (£80)


Money in (as of November 06)-

My wages £1400 including travelling expenses and £243 childcare vouchers
Disturbance allowance - £78 - work just changed offices
Child benefit - £69 4-weekly
Tax & Maintenance- £700 per month
-
my partner pays for all the food shopping only - our money is kept seperate apart from that.

total to pay off ASAP


I am on no spend day number 2008 30. I have some items on ebay, I have more to list.

My biggest expense and problem at the moment is the car - which I will be changing in May - petrol is costing me a fortune, had to buy 2 new tyres last month £110 had to tax last month also £112 for 6 months - the cam belt needs changing but thats £378 eeeek. Insurance is £37 a month.

will be changing to a [strike]yaris[/strike] smaller car insurance £19 a month, petrol £70 a month insurance £55 per year

Thanks
Nat

natlie

P.S. I am not getting the conservatory done, I am only doing the kitchen now which will only cost about £2000 thanks for your advice on that!

MrsBartolozzi

I notice that your child benefit is only £69 every 4 weeks - if you have 2 kids it should be £120.80.
MrsB.