SOA help please

McKneff

Go and have a treat, get your hair cut. You deserve it. Google mobile hairdressers, they are cheaper.

[Deleted User]

McKneff wrote: »

Google mobile hairdressers, they are cheaper.

Or see if there any local salons, who need Guinea pigs for trainees to practice on.

catandy

cant afford to get my hair cut so I'm rocking the hippy look for now

theoretica

Not only will the car need maintenance, it won't last forever, so you need a plan for that.

suki1964

catandy wrote: »

cant afford to get my hair cut so I'm rocking the hippy look for now

Check out the nearest college who do hairdressing etc. You can get a good cut for a fiver and a colour for about £12

catandy

theoretica wrote: »

Not only will the car need maintenance, it won't last forever, so you need a plan for that.

yep something else I need to factor in longer term

D_M_E

The landlord cannot stop you having a water meter.

See

https://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2013/08/20/tenants-and-water-meters-what-is-the-law/

and

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4579933/can-i-install-and-water-meter-without-permission-from-my-landlord

EssexHebridean

McKneff wrote: »

Go and have a treat, get your hair cut. You deserve it. Google mobile hairdressers, they are cheaper.

Not helpful, in the circumstances.

D_M_E wrote: »

The landlord cannot stop you having a water meter.

See

https://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2013/08/20/tenants-and-water-meters-what-is-the-law/

and

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4579933/can-i-install-and-water-meter-without-permission-from-my-landlord

No - but allowing for arrears, eviction notice, possibly best not to rock the boat for the time being. Once the arrears are dealt with Catandy that's one to tackle.

More comments in red on the below

catandy wrote: »

agreed with the presents fund and the cost of food shopping both need to be cut back.

Electricity is on economy7 and via meter and I changed suppliers less than 3 months ago to the cheapest - this will come down when the nights start drawing out and it gets a bit warmer. Read your meters weekly and make sure you enter the readings on your supplier's site. Think about anything that can run overnight - dishwasher if you have one, washing machine - the recommendation is to not run tumble dryers overnight but personally I'd avoid use of those regardless as whenever you run them they're expensive. Set a timer for when you're in the shower, only boil the amount of water you need in the kettle and remember the kettle is cheaper for boiling water than a pan on the hob. Also as I said before REALLY learn the ins and outs of your heating - storage heaters can be wonderful when you learn how they work, and dreadful if you don't understand them fully. Our DD for electric is set just over £50 at the moment and our supplier want to revise this downwards (we're new with them which is why it's high at the moment) - the only thing we use gas for is cooking.


OH needs to fill in a claim form to register for his claim and until that is put in and it is accepted that he has a valid claim he cannot claim for benefit as he is owed money. He has put off starting the claim for 2 weeks so far and I've blown at him and told him to get his finger out and get on with it. Yep - this is urgent.


OH earning in any other way - unlikely as has zero patience/ IT skills and unable to concentrate for any length of time. he may need to gain some patience and learn to concentrate. with your finances as they are he needs to contribute somewhere - for his own self esteem as much as anything else - as a grown man it won't be great for someone else to be buying his pants for him.


council tax is over 12 months and I owe 3 months from this year as they cancelled my payment plan due to bounced payments - £273 This is a high priority debt.


rent should be 420pm but I am £300 in arrears so have agreed the £500pm to clear the arrears. I have a suspended eviction notice hanging over my head so I have to make this payment regardless. This is a high priority debt.


water meter can only be put in with agreement of landlord and its unlikely when I'm already in arrears to them. see comments above - but I get that rocking the boat right now may not be wise.


TV license is going to be cancelled as we are getting rid of the TV - its hardly ever turned on. Get it cancelled then - no point in paying it for any longer than you have to.


contents insurance I havent had for years - not been in work and had a stable enough income to afford it... In your position you can't afford to NOT have it - think Grenfell Tower, to be blunt, and what some of those poor devils were left with. Get yourself sorted with at least a basic policy - it will cost less than you think and you really must have this.


Groceries I need to start doing the shop on my own and should be able to get it down to 200/240 for the month with some planning ahead And the rest. If I can hit £175 or less per month buying what I buy, you need to be pitching it well below £200, bluntly. is all your food cooked from scratch or do you buy convenience products?


clothing - cant remember the last time we spent anything and no it wont be every month So why are you budgeting £25 a month for it? Stick it down to a fiver to cover socks & pants - and make sure you really DO save it, otherwise that's more money leaking away from you.


haircuts - OH is bald and I look like a wild haired loon - havent had it cut for over 6 months Look for local colleges that do hairdressing - a lot will offer a free or seriously cheap cut done by students as this is how they gain experience. With your new job you're going to need to at least look presentable.


car maintenance - I agree - car is going to take a battering and is going to cost... So you need to plan for it, and plan properly. Especially if getting to your place of employment relies on that vehicle.


Ok time to do the sums again me thinks - thank you all for your help so far

You're welcome - I know some of this seems a bit blunt - it's meant to though as we really want to see you work this out. usually black (or red!) and white and cold hard facts are the best way of getting the message across.

Think through absolutely everything. From here on everything you do has a financial impact - whether that's turning the heater up a bit (don't, put a jumper on, fetch a blanket, OH puts a hat on, yes, indoors!) or making sure you have a shower before 7am or after midnight when it's cheaper if you have an electric shower. You HAVE to break away from using credit - you know from past experience that this isn't a good way to live. OH HAS to contribute - whether that is through benefits or via earning small amounts matters not - but you need more income than you have, currently.

Let us know how you go with reviewing things!

dirtycredit

haircuts - OH is bald and I look like a wild haired loon

This did make me giggle!!

I feel your pain babe! When i was skint I tried cutting my own fringe to save a fiver..bad idea :rotfl:

Good luck on your journey,

DC x

heartbreak_star

OH might have to learn use a PC and to concentrate - he has to do some form of contribution especially if him coming grocery shopping is knocking the price up!

Good luck OP. You sound determined and I wish you the best.

HBS x