Expenditure : Food and housekeeping

Liberty9515

I have to come up with a figure for 'food and housekeeping' for when CCCS call tomorrow.
I know this is one area where I have overspent in the past. I pitch up at Asda once a week, get what I am short of and then alot of other things which arent on my list! I have talked to a couple of friends of mine and they are the same too! :eek:

So what would be a reasonable amount? Any ideas?? Pls!

I am a single Mum with 2 teenagers.

Thx!

scaredwitless32

Well, I was given a book from C A B last week and they suggest a budget of just £25 per person per week, thats what they work on, which I have to say works out about right for us : family of 4 = £400-450 a month........does that help?

Liberty9515

scaredwitless32 wrote: »

Well, I was given a book from C A B last week and they suggest a budget of just £25 per person per week, thats what they work on, which I have to say works out about right for us : family of 4 = £400-450 a month........does that help?

Thx that is very helpful!
What allowance did they give for clothes and shoes?

Edit: does that allowance just cover food? What about other groceries? Please tell me I get an allowance for loo roll! LOL

Posthinking

Aim a little higher and be prepared to negotiate

worried123

GOOD GRIEF!

Please tell me they do not expect a single person to live on £25 a week for food and groceries........

I have not had my or interview yet but I put £220 per month for food and household - I live alone. Will this be considered too much?

I just have visions of living like a pauper for three years.....Am I also right in thinking that after all of your expenditure - necessary direct debits plus food, clothing allowance etc etc you are allowed a £90 surplus before they decide how much you have to pay each month.

Thank you.

wherediditallgo

worried123 wrote: »

.....Am I also right in thinking that after all of your expenditure - necessary direct debits plus food, clothing allowance etc etc you are allowed a £90 surplus before they decide how much you have to pay each month.

Thank you.

Not quite. You have to have a surplus of £100pm before they'll start deducting money for an IPA. This is why it's so important to get your SOA as accurate as possible before submitting it to the court - the OR will look at the figures you've given, compare them with what's in his guidelines & decide whether to allow or reduce the amount, or completely refuse any allowance for the item. I think your food amount (£220) will be OK - I put a bit less, but they also have to take into account where you live & what the money is to cover. Don't worry about it too much, as they know you've got to eat.

They don't usually allow money for things like cigarettes, parking fines or lottery tickets (yes, I've heard of someone putting those down on their SOA :eek:). But the general expenses of day-to-day living that you can't be expected to do without are usually allowed for, & you can contest situations where they won't allow the amount you've put down.

worried123

Thank you wherediditallgo - that puts my mind at rest.

all the best.

However, can I just ask anybody a question please. If you are paying the inland revenue monthly for something - is this `debt` wiped out at bankruptcy at all - I do not think that it is but thought that I would ask.

Thank you