Single mum on last £30 HELP PLEASE!!

southernscouser

That'll teach me to read first, type later! :rotfl:

PasturesNew

Karmacat wrote: »

Yep, I asked for an soa in post 4.

oops. Overlooked it. Sorry!

dizzyb_2

Hi guys, can you tell me how to do the SOA thingy? I can't work it out. Thanks.

A friend came round and we went through all my spends and incomings. It was scary. The bank manager has agreed to let me off the £100 on this occasion, but says if i go over my agreed overdraft limit again then i will have to pay it. I was so grateful for that. I have an appointment with Abby this afternoon and hope to get account number to change payments in. It's all so confusing and I have never been any good at stuff like this!! Thank you all so so so much for your support and help. I really appreciate it.

xx

Penny2myName

Hi dizzy, a SOA is roughly just what you did with your friend, a list of all incomings, and all outgoings

dizzyb_2

Ok, Statement of Accounts coming up...

This is all split into weekly........

MONEY IN per week:
£50 maintenance, £9.15 Income Support, £41.31 Child Tax Credit, £18.10 Child Benefit, (Housing benefit is paid monthly and is £286.76)

MONEY OUT:
£316.90 Rent per month
£22.68 Water per month
£24.00 BT phone unlimited calls- per month
£20.48 AOL internet- per month
£15 NPower direct debit- per month
£35.14 Tv licence Per quarter

Electric is bought in co-op on a card and i get about £5 a week.

Vodafone pay as you go costs me about £5 a week

I sometimes borrow my mums car and would say average a month i put in about £20 petrol depending how much i use it.

one night out a week £30 (*cringe*)

One pack of cigarettes per week £5.50 (*cringe*)

Food, household products, bottles of wine and sweets & crisps averaging £70 a week (*CRINGE* seeing as though there is only me and my 5 year old!!)

Takeaways £10 a week? (*cringe*)

clothes £80 a month for both of us.

Ok............... i think that's it. I did not enjoy that. Please don't tell me off! I am embarrassed.

Lazy_Runner

dizzyb wrote: »

Ok, Statement of Accounts coming up...

This is all split into weekly........

MONEY IN per week:
£50 maintenance, £9.15 Income Support, £41.31 Child Tax Credit, £18.10 Child Benefit, (Housing benefit is paid monthly and is £286.76)

MONEY OUT:
£316.90 Rent per month
£22.68 Water per month
£24.00 BT phone unlimited calls- per month
£20.48 AOL internet- per month
£15 NPower direct debit- per month
£35.14 Tv licence Per quarter

Electric is bought in co-op on a card and i get about £5 a week.

Vodafone pay as you go costs me about £5 a week

I sometimes borrow my mums car and would say average a month i put in about £20 petrol depending how much i use it.

one night out a week £30 (*cringe*)

One pack of cigarettes per week £5.50 (*cringe*)

Food, household products, bottles of wine and sweets & crisps averaging £70 a week (*CRINGE* seeing as though there is only me and my 5 year old!!)

Takeaways £10 a week? (*cringe*)

clothes £80 a month for both of us.

Ok............... i think that's it. I did not enjoy that. Please don't tell me off! I am embarrassed.

Thanks for you posting your SOA.

I would look to change your telephone/broadband. Tiscali are doing a combined phone/broadband package for £15. Oh and if you do go for the tel/broadband/tv package, they will install a receiver in your home. Make sure you tell your landlord beforehand.

There seems to be nothing on there for one off items like Christmas/Birthdays.

The things you are cringing about need to be cut out/cut down. Whilst you are in your current situation, be best to make as many savings as possible.

For your food, get over to the Oldstyle board on this forum page. Loads of good advice from friendly people. (Its one of my favourite forum boards on this site).

I am sure more people will be along with more advice.

Good luck.

dizzyb_2

thanks lazy runner.

Yes birthdays......... My sons is in 2 weeks and i plan to spend about £50 on pressie and party food. And Christmas, i will spend about £100 on everyone! (My aunty just gave me a huge box of christmas cards she bought and never wrote in!)

xx

dizzyb_2

ps- what about the talk talk offer? is that not better? xx

cazjenki

Hiya I am also trying to sort out my debt as a single parent on Income Support. What Citizens Advice told me to do was basically stop any money going into bank accounts and open a post office account instead, then they have nothing to get their hands on without your say so. I did this and it goes into my post office every week and the card for withdrwing can be used in any post office which is quite helpful. I cancelled my Direct Debits, and got TV and Water switched to Easy Payment Schemes, which you can do if you explain to them you are on income support, that way you pay them weekly on a card at the post office on the day you get your money, you have to be strict with your self though and pay them. Citizens Advise have been great, when I worry about how I am going to pay they ask me what I would rather do, feed the fat cats or the kids. I think you have to go into the place you claim Income Support and ask them for a letter inviting you to open the Post Office Account for your benefits but once you do you have no fear of where your money is.

Boomdocker

dizzyb wrote: »

thanks lazy runner.

Yes birthdays......... My sons is in 2 weeks and i plan to spend about £50 on pressie and party food. And Christmas, i will spend about £100 on everyone! (My aunty just gave me a huge box of christmas cards she bought and never wrote in!)

xx

Dizzy, have a look at some of the hamper/christmas threads once things have settled down a bit. You really dont need to spend a huge amount on friends and family to give a thoughtful gift. Obviously its your choice and we are all different but you could save loads here with a little effort and you'll have great fun doing it.