Help needed with SOA

MrsTinks

Car insurance - OK so I don't think mine has been that high since I was driving a 2 seater sports car when I was 18...

A few things - firstly - what car is this??? Secondly can you add a parent to your policy as a named driver? It may bring the cost down? (No I don't understand it either... I'm now in my *ahem* thirties and adding my husband who's had a licence for about 5-6 years and has a claim from just over a year ago LOWERED my policy cost to NOT having him on it... I have no flaming idea how they figure that one out!)
Check your work title - sometimes a still correct titel can make a serious difference in your policy quotation. There is an MSE tool for that...

Electricity seems high regardless of how much it includes... make sure you don't have something that is just gobbling power when you're not in.

Water seems VERY low? If as you say they have your correct water meter readings and you have checked that then hooray - well done you!

Groceries can be reduced, but here I'd be tempted to allow slack especially for a DMP - you can squirrel away a little extra from here each month into your emergency fund - you will need tires and service for car (are you sure £20 is enough?) and in case of any problems that might arise... if you end up with a decent pot you can in a couple of years time try to negotiate full and final settlements of your debts.

fatbelly

Car insurance - comparison sites are a starting point. Then you need to check what cashback you can get through topcashback/quidco and how you might tweak things to save a bit more.

Similar principle applies to finding your electricity supplier - and now may be a good time to fix.

Anything you need to buy that you can buy through topcashback/quidco, do so. I've literally got thousands back since I started using them ten years ago.

datlex

si.bham.76 wrote: »

Thank you for all of the advise guys, I'm currently on step change website getting registered.

As an addition to some figures in my SOA, I rent on the outskirts of Birmingham as rent in the city centre is really high Are you renting a one bed or a house share?. 55.90 covers the cost of my train pass as I currently live 6 miles from the nearest station and this seems to work out cheaper than paying for parking in the town centre. Although I predominantly work in an office I am out and about visiting sites for work up and down then country regularly enough to still need the car. *( you should be able to claim mileage hereWith my electric bill, everything in the house is electric (cooking, heating and hot water) I'm on a water meter and 6.50 is what they say my bill is I suspect this will go up. £24.98 for Internet services cover the phone line rental as well.I would look at reducing this Im in a contract on my mobile phone till may 2019 .The co-op bill was for a property that I moved out of 2 years ago, I did not know the bill existed until the debt collectors got intouch If you were paying your elec bill there, have you got records supporting that- a debt of nearly £1000 is very high . That property was the same situation all gas no electric, however my meter was locked in a service basement and was not able to gain access to for meter readings so 18 months of underestimating later I'm in this position. How did the elec company get access to it? How do you know that the amount they have quoted is correct?Car insurance I always go on comparisons, I'm a 28 year old male, 5 years experience and 5 years no claims with no points and sadly that's what it costs me. Are you covered for business travel if you are travelling for work?

His weekend I will be going round the house and cataloging what I can sell then will start getting Inge on eBay. But I don't own a lot of high end things that I'll fetch money.

Thanks again for all of the advise, I'll make sure I keep you all posted.

I have added a few comments. Don't worry we were all young once, it will get better.

ViolaLass

Maybe the insurance is high because of the car you have. Any reason you can't downgrade?

ellesbellesxxx

Excellent tips already - just one to add... I see you are locked into a mobile phone contract. Is it a two year one? Ending in May 2018? If so, half way though you can negotiate a lower deal usually...it all helps! (You just go down a few tariffs) Have you any old phones you can sell on? Even better, if you have a posh phone (Which I am guessing by those costs you have!) Then sell it anyway and get a cheaper older phone - even a refurbed one.

sourcrates

ellesbellesxxx wrote: »

Even better, if you have a posh phone (Which I am guessing by those costs you have!) Then sell it anyway and get a cheaper older phone - even a refurbed one.

Dosent everyone have a smart phone these days ?

Unless your current phone is 6 months old or less, then second hand prices are pretty poor, even for iphones.

Mind you, you can get some cracking sim only deals now, most networks do them, depends what works best in your area.