University Challenge x 2

Plain_Jane

Hi all


Sorry I have been MIA for about 6 weeks - life has just been getting in the way.


Anyway, I have been busy on the MSE front and been shuffling and sorting out our affairs the best I can - we had a bit of a windfall in the shape of an old insurance policy which has helped us get out of complete dire straights - so here is my new SOA:


Household Information[/b]
Number of adults in household........... 4
Number of children in household.........
Number of cars owned.................... 1
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 2082
Partners monthly income after tax....... 2672
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 4754
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 1169
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 162
Electricity............................. 72.5
Gas..................................... 72.5
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 71
Telephone (land line)................... 12.5
Mobile phone............................ 69
TV Licence.............................. 12.37
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 28.04
Internet Services....................... 7.95
Groceries etc. ......................... 500
Clothing................................ 100
Petrol/diesel........................... 100
Road tax................................ 5.83
Car Insurance........................... 209.4
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 26
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 160
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 10.4
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 84.78
Buildings insurance..................... 20
Contents insurance...................... 20.17
Life assurance ......................... 59.55
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 75
Haircuts................................ 55
Entertainment........................... 100
Holiday................................. 100
Emergency fund.......................... 100
Total monthly expenses.................. 3402.99

Assets
Cash.................................... 1000
House value (Gross)..................... 245000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 6000
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 252000

Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 155000...(1169).....0
Total secured & HP debts...... 155000....-.........-
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Barclaycard....................14000.....320.......0
MBNA...........................9200......100.......0
MBNA...........................5800......62........0
Optima (Boiler)................2035......105.......0
Halifax........................4900......49........0
Total unsecured debts..........35935.....636.......-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 4,754
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 3,402.99
Available for debt repayments........... 1,351.01
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 636
Amount left after debt repayments....... 715.01
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 252,000
Total HP & Secured debt................. -155,000
Total Unsecured debt.................... -35,935
Net Assets.............................. 61,065
Created using the SOA calculator at www.stoozing.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.[/FONT]


I hope this is legible!


So at last we have a bit of a leeway to start paying the rest of the debt down - I am not sure on percentages at the moment as the last time I checked they were all zero % but I am sure that is about to change on the MBNA cards.


The idea is to get these paid off within a few years but I need to do a bit more work on how to achieve this.


On the Uni front - DT1 is still loving it and has put her deposit down on year two. We have about £500 to pay for this year so that is why I am putting away £160 per month. She now pays for her phone bill and her food which is helping a lot.


DT2 is at W8rose but looking for an apprenticeship in the marketing area. She is paying for her phone bill and when she gets her first proper pay packet (26th) she will be paying us £100 board per month. I know some of you will say that isn't enough but we need to take small steps with her.


Hubby gets a bonus next month so we are going to throw that at one of the CC's - probably be about £1500 so that will also help the monthly outgoings.


Please comment as you wish on my SOA - I know the groceries are high and I know mine and hubby's phone bills could come down.


Have a lovely weekend
:T

Plain_Jane

PS - DT2's room finally went but we had to offer £30 a week toward the rent to get it gone!


We paid it all in one go so it is off our backs!

Plain_Jane

Another 12 days since I last posted. Life seems to be getting in the way.

Still debt busting though and I need to update my figures soon.

Hope the snow goes soon x

Plain_Jane

So I thought I ought to note down my correct figures for the credit cards etc so I can get a clear start - I have paid a bit into them all as well so will add the new figure onto the end and then try and learn how to put them into my signature.
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly.. .APR
Barclaycard....................14000.....320...... .0 Now £12,843.39
MBNA...........................9200......100...... .0 Now £9209.36
MBNA...........................5800......62....... .0 Now £5734.86
Optima (Boiler)................2035......105.......0 Now £1929.82
Halifax........................4900......49....... .0 Now £4865.40
Total unsecured debts..........35935.....636.......- £34582.83


Goodness know what I have done with the colouring but here it is - I need to check now how long my 0% interest lasts on each on and make a decision as to which one needs to be paid off first.

Plain_Jane

New signature!

Plain_Jane

Oh dear - just checked and Barclaycard have just started to add interest at 19.2% p.a. So I'd better get going on this one.


MBNA 1 - Interest 23.9% on purchases - does that mean from now or all previous purchases as it was only £0.18 this month.


The rest are still 0% for now. The boiler is 24 months interest free only so probably best to let that one run and concentrate on Barclaycard and MBNA 1 for now.




MBNA 2

Plain_Jane

Very MSE today, DT2 works at W8Rose and said there were loads of offers on so DH went into get some bargains for our tea.

I've not ventured out today as it's been a battle all week getting to work

So cleaning has been done, dogs are snoring on the settee so time to catch up on the diaries and get some inspiration!

Keep safe out there xx

Kitten868

Hello PJ,

Glad to see you back. Double glad to see you got the subletter. Triple glad to see you got all those pesky debts trimmed down - in number and in amount. Great work. Both girls are happy and settled and one even paying rent. You're doing great. Keep on top of the boring bits and with that surplus you'll be cutting it down to size in no time.
23.9% on purchases means you will be charged that rate on anything you buy on that card going forward.
Maybe as the £100 is an extra put it straight to debt as you won't miss it?
Your energy bills are high. Look at moving. It's all more than I allow for stuff but you earn much more than me. It's all going in the right direction. Keep it up xxx

Plain_Jane

Hi all and thanks Kitten,

I can't believe that time has gone again. I'm still here, debt busting, I've just done my figures for this month as you can see from my signature. We are down another £853.00 up to today - yes!! I make that £2.34% down. Slow but sure. I just wish it could come down further.

The £1000 is still in the emergency fund and £200 in DT2's board fund.

Hopefully not going to spend anything this weekend as shopping was done yesterday.

Plain_Jane

6 Weeks since I last posted.

It has been a very busy at work - I work in a field that has March, April and May as the busiest months. So this weekend has been about sorting my house, life and debts out.

As you can see from my signature I have dropped down to the next £1k and that's just been from paying the minimums. I have no spare cash to throw at these as my mse ways went out the window for a few weeks. Takeaways because I was too tired to bother although hubby is the main cook he was happy to enjoy the takeaways with me.

This is one of our main issues we are both as bad as each other!!

Anyway, I'm back and on it.

DT2 has left W8rose and is working at a local very popular tea room which she loves. She has decided she is going back to Uni in September but commuting - she is retaking one A Level and that should get her into the Uni about half an hour's drive away.

DT1 is still loving Uni and she comes home on Sunday for the summer and will be transferring to Nand0's near home. She wants to carry on paying for her own food which will help enormously and she gets a free meal every shift.

So, back on it now with avengeance - we have a week away next month all paid for - just need the spends so I am going to try and sell some bits if my hoarder of a DH doesn't mind.

Have a lovely Bank Holiday all x