fluctuating income and other questions

National_Debtline

Hi again Claire

cam6278 wrote: »

Thanks guys, you are making this much smoother for me.

I have got my application for the co op yesterday and am going in branch tomorrow to complete that.

I have booked my court date today which had me shaking so goodness knows what i will be like when i go which is towards the end of august. Is there a thread or rescource on what to expect etc

A good few of the posters on here have been through the process and out the other side. You can find plenty of accounts of their experiences just from generally browsing the forums, but of course much of what happens is subjective - you can understand all the processes, forms etc., but you might just feel very different about it to the next person.

cam6278 wrote: »

Also have started recieving phone calls from my creditors - it was a voice mail. Do i just ignore them ?

Yes, I would give their phone calls a wide berth for now.

cam6278 wrote: »

Also is there a resourse available that shows what the aveage adult should be spending - i want to make sure i am be realistic

The figures should be a reflection of what you spend in reality, not what you think you are supposed to spend. There is really no such thing as an average adult! If the Official Receiver feels that your outgoings in certain areas need to be capped or curbed, they will let you know.


Dennis
@natdebtline

owlet

With regards to your SOA,

Haircuts seems low. Do you really only spend £15?

Nothing in emergency fund either.

Yes, ignore creditor phone calls. Whatever you do, don't tell them you are going BR. They will hound you to try and get more money before you go BR!!

owlet

Another point..... remember to make a list of changes that will be happening soon to discuss with the OR, eg your youngest starting college & paying for travel.

I would be inclined to work out the travel costs now and add it to your SOA under child related costs. You will also have other expenses related to this in getting her kitted out ready to start college. Will there be any field trips or regular college expenses to pay for?

cam6278

Thanks again.

I've started working out the travel cost for her and will look into other college related stuff - thank you .
She has a Saturday job - would it be expected that she contribute


As for haircuts - I'm not sure , tend only to go every 3 months or so. This was why I was asking about averages. I want to make sure I am being fair to myself and family.

Emergency fund - what would this be for ? How much should it be ? Is it per person or family unit ? We are council so wouldn't have emergency repairs.

alastairq

Emergency fund - what would this be for ? How much should it be ? Is it per person or family unit ? We are council so wouldn't have emergency repairs.

But, what about your own , personal, 'emergencies?' EG, washing machine breaks down, etc?

As for haircuts - I'm not sure , tend only to go every 3 months or so. This was why I was asking about averages. I want to make sure I am being fair to myself and family.

IIRC, approx £10 per month, per person is acceptable. [The OR does not check to see if everyone actually has hair]....however, I'm not too up-to-speed on that one.

I've started working out the travel cost for her and will look into other college related stuff - thank you .
She has a Saturday job - would it be expected that she contribute

If DD has some income, she may well be 'expected' to contribute. But the contribution has to be proportionate to the income. Does she contribute?

cam6278

Daughter is only 16 , she does have a Saturday job. What would she be expected to contribute ?

alastairq

No.....she is a dependant at that age. Therefore her 'living expenses' would be included within your SOA.

owlet

With regards to your hair cuts - are you only going every three months or so due to affordability or because that's just what you do?

If it's due to affordability, you have room in your new budget to go more frequently & therefore up that in your SOA. Your youngest daughter needs to be factored in too.

With regard to the emergency fund, I would put in £20 a month. You can never tell when something will need replacing.

The OR doesn't keep tabs on what you actually spend the money on. So if you don't use it one month it can go into a holiday fund, add to your emergency fund treat the kids or anything else.

The idea of the SOA is to allow you to have a reasonable standard of living, so you don't have to struggle.

owlet

You may not get the amount entered for entertainment & same with the pet insurance/vet bills. From what people have posted on here, it could go either way depending on your OR. So definitely make use of that emergency fund and up the other categories mentioned to cover that just in case.

You may find that you can drop the second job without the debts to finance. Any thoughts on that?

cam6278

Thanks again guys most helpful.

Im currently making lists of upcoming costs for college.

With dental and prescription cost do you average out the amount - so dental check and a treatment is £51 . Would i then put in £5 per month ?

I shall be finishing my second job at the end of August , im hoping they will let me use that wage to buy a year bus pass for daughter which is £650