It's all such a mess and I don't know where to turn

wok_boy

the_cat wrote: »

Sorry but I'm going to be blunt.

Unless Sky offer you completely free access YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT. As things stand you can't afford to feed your children

Sky do offer a "freesat" service, you won't get any premium channels or any of their channels you would normally get with the base subscription.

Here is a link to their freesat service:

http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/

You would normally have to pay £20 to get a freesat card, you could try and get them to reduce down to freesat without them having to send you out a new card and pay the £20.

immoral_angeluk

the_cat wrote: »

Sorry but I'm going to be blunt.

Unless Sky offer you completely free access YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT. As things stand you can't afford to feed your children

completely agree. Trying to make up a £900 overspend leaves no room for negotiation.

Scarlett.1974

Hi, sorry for the delay, was just making lunch.

Okay.........

There's about 18 more payments left on the sofa, it was on an interest free deal.

This is painful to type - the first plus loan (taken out last december before H lost his job) was for £40k and is over 20 years.

If I were to get another or better paid job they would only reduce my tax credits, so we'd be no better off.

I have checked the entitledto site and we are getting everything we are due.

We're not in arrears with our water (or any of our utilities) so I'm not sure why they're so high, but I'm definitely going to look into them all this afternoon and see if we can get cheaper, for the gas & electric anyway. The council tax (and the water, I think) are over 10 months, so maybe that's why they're high?

I really appreciate all your advice and for the record, I don't think anyone has been harsh at all. Realistic yes, but harsh, no, I don't think so. I think you've all been wonderful to take the time to write such long & helpful & informative replies.

Right, so things to do:

Check for cheaper deals on:
Gas
Electric
House insurance
Life insurance (which we can't not have, it's term assurance to cover the mortgage should either of us die)
Pet insurance.

Cancel sky & NSPCC DD.

Honestly, there's nothing we can do with any of the mobiles unfortunately, (we've spoken to them all last week) because they're all monthly tarrifs even if we were never use them again we still have to pay all the monthly line rentals.

Contact Payplan or CCCS - definitely.

I know I'm repeating myself, but I just want to say big thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply to me and try to help, it's appreciated more than you'll ever realise.

xxx

jo1972

Hi Scarlett :wave:

You've had great advice and I can't offer anything else, just wanted to say that we've all been in the same boat or ARE in the same boat at one time or another so don't feel alone. You have done the right thing in posting and now have taken your head out of the sand, just make sure your H does the same thing and you are both working towards the same goal.

Any advice and critism you get on this board is completely constructive, we all want to help you get your life back together, so have a read of all the posts, make notes and do what is necessary and keep us all updated.

Good luck

Jo.x

immoral_angeluk

Scarlett.1974 wrote: »

Honestly, there's nothing we can do with any of the mobiles unfortunately, (we've spoken to them all last week) because they're all monthly tarrifs even if we were never use them again we still have to pay all the monthly line rentals.


xxx

Remove the sim cards and cut them up. That way you're at least only paying the minimum line rental until you can cancel..

southernscouser

Hi Scarlett.

OK everyone else will point out what outgoings need reducing and how to do it.

Sadly there isn't a way of 'cutting back' on the debt. My advice with those is to speak to the CCCS or Payplan. None of us are qualified to tell you what route you should take debt wise so you really need to talk to them.

On an aside, your OH pays £100 a month to Payplan, yet he still has a car finance payment of £135. Did he tell them about this at the time of taking his DMP? It could affect his plan if he hasn't declared all debts or he took out more credit while in the DMP! :think:

Is it possible to sell the car and pay off what is outstanding and buy something cheaper?

I don't want this to sound harsh or horrible, I'm just trying to be honest with you. You cannot afford the lifestyle you currently have. I see your OH is cancelling the Sky and thats a great start. What about smoking? Your finances and your health cannot afford it. I won't pretend to know how difficult it is to give up coz I don't but there is lots of free help and support out there these days from your GP and other places.

OK, this month your priorities are;

Mortgage
Secured Loan
Council Tax
Electric
Gas
Water
Food
TV License
Inland Revenue
Payplan

With any debt payments due, my advice would be to send them a letter telling them you are experiencing difficulties with money at the moment and you are seeking help from CCCS/Payplan and you enclose £1 as a good will gesture.

CCCS or Payplan will confirm this with you if you ask them. Don't delay contacting them. Do it now. Things will only get worse before they get better otherwise.

Good luck.

Scarlett.1974

Am looking at u-switch and quidco now guys, so if I don't reply for a little while you know why

Scarlett.1974

How ironic - we swapped from british gas to npower because they were, apparently, cheaper. According to u-switch we'll save £9.72 a month by swapping back to BG! This is for both gas & electric, so not quite the big saving I was hoping for, but...... good news is that if I do it through quidco I'll earn £60.00 from them

smudger1946

YOU MY LOVER ARE BROKE, GET RID OF ALL MOBS, SKY ETC AND YOU WILL ALL HAVE TO LIVE LIKE POOR PEOPLE FOR A WHILE BEACAUSE AS I SEE IT THATS WHAT YOU ARE AT THIS TIME. ALL YOU NEED NOW IS FOOD AND THE BARE BONES OF LIFE.
Then re-group and lower your sites.

i been there and you have to be strong.
Good luck

the_cat

Scarlett

Thank you for accepting my comments in the constructive/helpful way they were intended!

Make sure you find time TODAY to contact CCCS/Payplan. You will probably have to wait to get an appointment and you need to get the ball rolling asap. If I were you I'd go for Payplan as your OH is already dealing with them. It might make it simpler.

Then get yourself over to the Old Style board. Your biggest potential saving per month is on food so concentrate on this first