Many different things

Mrhuk

After seeing some comments on another tread I thought I'd clear a few things up and open up more about my situation as I'm very cagey and cryptic most of the time.

Yes that was my partner (I can't remember her username) who wanted her own answers, hence the similarities, I didn't know she was doing that.

I'm not in this for a free ride I am trying to find the best solution for my problems, I could quite easily drop my hours at work for 12 months and avoid an IPA then go back up if I wanted to but that's something I won't do, I do want to be able to afford everyday life while being on an IPA and so I'm trying to reduce the surplus as much as possible because I fully expect the OR knock things down. The SOA is about living within your means and not trying to cut costs or dipping into other areas.

I'm trying to seek debt advice but I suffer from social issues, I struggle to be around people even if I know them i just go awkward, we've lost friends because of this issue and going to see or even talk to someone on the phone to is an issue for me. Instead I'm trying to find my solutions online instead. Probably not the best idea but that's how my head works.


Being young and stupid I bought a moped at 16 on finance through my parents then shortly after I was diagnosed with bowl cancer, after recovering from that illness I was then diagnosed with an aggressive tumor, during those 2 illnesses I was very reliant on borrowing money and eventually loans and credit cards.

Since then I have had other illnesses that have resulted in long periods of time off work. I have resorted to gambling in the past as a means to bring in more money but that resulted in a lot more debt and that stopped 3 ½ years ago and not gambled since. That's how this all started and perhaps I could sorted things out better a long time ago but that won't change things now.

I often see on here that people don't understand how difficult and expensive living with gluten free diets can be, you can't contaminate anything with gluten including having to have 2 of things like margerine and bread for example, the price of anything gluten free is at least 3 times as much as the same items with gluten in it and loads smaller in size.

Our costs are also not helped by our autistic child who has bad eating issues which coupled with a gluten free diet means I often end up making 3 different dinners (in some variation) for the 4 of us, it's very rare we all have the same dinner. Then there's clothes biting and picking due to anxiety, school uniform doesn't last long at all. There are other costs that involve the well-being of our child but I don't need to go into that.

Sorry it's long winded and thank you to those that have helped so far

Annie35

Oh Mrhuk you don't have to justify yourself.

I'd absolutely put the £700 food budget, my OR took a lot at face value but if concerned try get something to show your OR just in case they want to reduce it, maybe a GP letter, appointment card for nutritionist, NHS flyers to show it's not just a lifestyle choice.

Well done on stopping gambling & for so long too.

Has anyone mentioned gas? You haven't included it & energy costs are a little low, double check your figures.

You can't help pay your wife's debts but you could take off her debt repayments from her household contributions, so if she has an income of 1/3 - debt = 1/4 household contributions as an example. This could give you a little more leeway.

Work out a final best case figure for repayments then you can see which option will be best for you.

Mrhuk

Thank you for your response Annie35, muchly appreciated

We don't have gas, electricity only also currently in credit which is why it's slightly lower than normal, same as water rates too.

I didn't think it was possible to change her household contribution as the evidence I'd have to provide would show a difference? It was mainly used for household cost which is why I included it

Annie35

I was thinking the sofa, if that's in your wife's name even if you used to pay it you won't be able to now, so just make sure you take off this cost from her household contributions. Does that make sense? You can discuss this in your interview if you've already submitted.

& if you have utility credit make sure you split this over 12 months to get your true cost figure.