Want to clear debts but seem to be hitting a brick wall

MrsSippi

We are a family of 4 and we currently have about £9,500 of debt spread across a cc and a loan . We are ploughing every single penny we have into clearing these debts and I know it's a small debt compared to others on here but it's really getting to me now.

DH works full time but I am a SAHM to 2 young children (not through choice, but we couldn't afford childcare costs for 2 kids, which we would need if I worked, and we don't have any family to help out).

We have nothing in savings (plan to start saving once debts are cleared) and right now we are literally throwing any spare pennies we have at these debts but it feels like such a slog and I am getting a bit disheartened. We only have about £400 per month surplus after all bills and this must also cover clothes/money for Xmas and birthdays etc. Tbh DH and I haven't bought new clothes for about 8 years and I make do with supermarket stuff for the kids. We haven't spent anything on trips out (just do visits to free places - beach, parks etc. My parents got us NT membership which helps).

This past month we have also been selling unwanted bits and bobs and paid an extra £400 off which is great but it sometimes feels like an insurmountable amount of debt.

I have recently found a job (a bit like a zero hours contract I suppose) so that I can try and bring a bit of money in when youngest starts nursery in September but in the 2 months since my contract started there haven't been any shifts. We currently claim tax credits but this has recently been cut to £100 pm.

As an aside, we don't have sky tv or similar, we never eat out etc and I keep grocery spends and other bills as low as I can.

So yes it's great that we are tackling the debts and slowly but surely is better than ignoring it but what else can I do? Or how do I stop feeling so low about it all?

D_M_E

If you have not had any work since the "contract" started then it must be some sort of agency thing - they call you when something comes up.

Have you tried other avenues such as part time work when the kids are in school?

look in the local mags/papers - there could be adverts in there.

Also ask friends, they might know of opportunities.

Try posting your SOA on here and the community may be able to make suggestions.

MrsSippi

D_M_E wrote: »

If you have not had any work since the "contract" started then it must be some sort of agency thing - they call you when something comes up.

Have you tried other avenues such as part time work when the kids are in school?

look in the local mags/papers - there could be adverts in there.

Also ask friends, they might know of opportunities.

Try posting your SOA on here and the community may be able to make suggestions.

Thank you for the reply. Yes, the work is similar to that. I have gone on the NHS bank system which basically means they let me know when any shifts are available and if they are suitable then I can do them.

I have been looking into other forms of work for the last 2 years bit can't seem to find anything. If I manage to find a job that fits around school hours, I can't to it yet as youngest is still at home in the day and if I DO find a school hours job in still completely stuck for school holidays, half terms etc.

I've even been enquiring with local takeaways about any delivery jobs etc but nothing has come up.

Can you point me in the direction of the SOA?

Willing2Learn

Hi MrsSippi,

Have you considered weekend work at a local supermarket?

MrsSippi wrote: »

Can you point me in the direction of the SOA?

http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

Edit: Don't forget to click on the 'format for MSE' button at the bottom of the form. Then just paste your Statement of Affairs (SOA) up here.

D_M_E

SOA - http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php and hit the button "format for MSE"

also amend your title to include SOA - click Edit then Go Advanced then edit your title then save.

Another option to explore is a local cleaning company - some of them allow you to take young children along, or if there's not one in your area, maybe consider offering such services for a fixed fee, say £20, or a set rate, such as £10 per hour?

EDIT - Willing2Learn beat me to it!

MrsSippi

Monthly Incomings:

My salary - £0
Partners salary - £1875
Benefits - £292

Total - £2,167

Monthly Outgoings: £1,908

Mortgage/Rent - £635
Council Tax - £170
Gas & electric - £80
TV Licence - £13
Phones - £60
Food - £260
School dinners - £25
Car Insurance - £35
Car tax - £17
Petrol- £160
Life Insurance - £60
Water - £64
Loan - £127
Credit card - £60
Trust funds - £20
Home insurance - £27
Overdraft - £15

MrsSippi

Willing2Learn wrote: »

Hi MrsSippi,

Have you considered weekend work at a local supermarket?

http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

Edit: Don't forget to click on the 'format for MSE' button at the bottom of the form. Then just paste your Statement of Affairs (SOA) up here.

Thank you for the reply. Yes I have tried the supermarket route but nowhere would take me due to lack of experience (have only ever had admin jobs).

Willing2Learn

lol - we need the full SOA - in all it's glory!

Edit: And yes, you need to redo it. (please)

MrsSippi

Sorry - I posted the above before you very kindly posted the link to the SOA. Let me know if I need to redo it.

MrsSippi

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 1875
Benefits................................ 292
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2167

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 635
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 170
Electricity............................. 40
Gas..................................... 40
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 64
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 60
TV Licence.............................. 13
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 300
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 160
Road tax................................ 17
Car Insurance........................... 35
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 25
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 27
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 60
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 100
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Trust funds............................. 20
School dinners.......................... 25
Overdraft............................... 17
Total monthly expenses.................. 1808

MrsSippi

Think I've done it right. Hope that's ok.