Some advice please

A_new_Start_2

Sadly I am 48 not 35! Just realised I've forgotten to add on my council tax arrears. They will be issuing a court summons next week as I owe them £162 from last year. This years 1st payment is due out on Tuesday and I don't have enough for that.
My flat is quite cheap for the area, looking on right move there is very little available for less, except house share, but thats not an option with a dog.....and he's going no where. I'm on the list for housing but am in bronze category which they told me could take 15 years to actually get a property!!!
I'm going to give StepChange a call Tuesday and see what they say.
I realise my income needs to increase but I don't think moving is a good option.

A_new_Start_2

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

There is little to no leeway to save on your soa and certainly nowhere near enough to repay those debts. Getting rid of the car would produce the most savings but it depends on how workable that is with transport in your area.

Your biggest problems are comparitively high rent and council tax for just one person and low wages. If you are not entitled to benefits the usual recommendation is to move into a shared house but I can see you have pets which will be an issue. I would say taking on a second job is your best option. What hours do you work? Presumably that is not full time as it would be below minimum wage.

The rent is pretty reasonable for my area, house shares are about the only other option for less.
I work nights and the pay is pretty reasonable (shop work). If i took on another job it would most likely be days and minimum wage. As I'd be on emergency tax that would end up being hardly anything and it would mean i couldn't do the o/t at work which pays much more. I'm looking into the practicalities of getting to work without a car, waiting for a reply from taxi firm with a quote.

DCFC79

A_new_Start wrote: »

Sadly I am 48 not 35! Just realised I've forgotten to add on my council tax arrears. They will be issuing a court summons next week as I owe them £162 from last year. This years 1st payment is due out on Tuesday and I don't have enough for that.
My flat is quite cheap for the area, looking on right move there is very little available for less, except house share, but thats not an option with a dog.....and he's going no where. I'm on the list for housing but am in bronze category which they told me could take 15 years to actually get a property!!!
I'm going to give StepChange a call Tuesday and see what they say.
I realise my income needs to increase but I don't think moving is a good option.

How much would you be short by for the council tax arrears ?
Could you ask a friend/family member to lend you the amount until you get paid ?

Hve you looked at what cheaper places there are to rent ? You've answerd this question above.

Selling the car looks a good option, in fact the best option.
Id get rid of Luma, Aqua, Very and Cap one cards.

Do you take pack lunches, buy yellow stickered items, drop a brand ?

theoretica

Is the £930 your minimum/guaranteed hours, with overtime on top? If so, what do you make over the year, eg on your p60? Are you actually breaking even?



£930 only works out at about 27 hours a week minimum wage, yet you say you are paid more than that an hour so working fewer hours - which should leave lots of time for overtime or other money earning.

fatbelly

I haven't got my benefits checker to hand but if you go to turn2us, you should see that you qualify for some Universal Credit and (possibly) some council tax reduction.

Council Tax is a priority debt so you should try to pay this even if the non-priority debt increases. I wouldn't be borrowing from friends in your situation.

Having priority debt does start the red lights flashing and it may be that you will need a DRO sooner rather than later but you still need to be working to a balanced budget.

A_new_Start_2

DCFC79 wrote: »

How much would you be short by for the council tax arrears ?
Could you ask a friend/family member to lend you the amount until you get paid ?

Hve you looked at what cheaper places there are to rent ? You've answerd this question above.

Selling the car looks a good option, in fact the best option.
Id get rid of Luma, Aqua, Very and Cap one cards.

Do you take pack lunches, buy yellow stickered items, drop a brand ?

I have £100 to last me for the next 3 weeks til I get paid again so pretty much short of all of the arrears. The council said if it goes to court and they get a judgement then they will arrange a payment plan for me but not until then. Don't have anyone I can ask for a loan :-( All my cards are cut up and have plans in place so at least not accruing any interest for now.
I don't eat at work and take squash from home to drink so no vending machines. I eat cheaply as I can when at home. I think my dog 's food costs more than mine! (But he's worth it because he keeps me sane!)

A_new_Start_2

theoretica wrote: »

Is the £930 your minimum/guaranteed hours, with overtime on top? If so, what do you make over the year, eg on your p60? Are you actually breaking even?



£930 only works out at about 27 hours a week minimum wage, yet you say you are paid more than that an hour so working fewer hours - which should leave lots of time for overtime or other money earning.

£930 is my contracted hours. I agree I have some time to make more, overtime etc. I replied to another post about that. Overtime is not guaranteed and they won't give contracted hours away readily. The overtime tends to be at peak times and when we have a wine sale on :-)

A_new_Start_2

fatbelly wrote: »

I haven't got my benefits checker to hand but if you go to turn2us, you should see that you qualify for some Universal Credit and (possibly) some council tax reduction.

Council Tax is a priority debt so you should try to pay this even if the non-priority debt increases. I wouldn't be borrowing from friends in your situation.

Having priority debt does start the red lights flashing and it may be that you will need a DRO sooner rather than later but you still need to be working to a balanced budget.

Thanks, will look at Turn2us now.

A_new_Start_2

BabyStepper wrote: »

I hate to say it but you need to cancel you pension contributions until you get solvent.

Your rent to income ration is really making things difficult for you. Can you move to a cheaper place?

Do you work full time? You desperately need either more work or better paid work.

Just wondering about this. I pay 3% and my work also pay 3%. It amounts to about 16 a month from me. Is it really worth me stopping it as I'll lose the work contribution too?

A_new_Start_2

fatbelly wrote: »

Well done for taking up my suggestion on the other thread that you post a soa. It does make things clearer.

Even if you qualified for a DRO, now is not the time as you are £150 short of making ends meet each month and so your debt will be increasing.

A few things worth mentioning:

Are you paying your council tax over 12 months? That will be an option if you go on to your council's website.

If you do decide you can avoid the need for a tv licence, it's an easy self-declaration online and gives you protection for (I think) 2 years.

With that level of income and rent, a few years ago you would have expected to get some help. I suspect what is happening is that you are under 35 and in the private sector - so restricted to the 'single room rate' in housing cost calculations.

If so, how long till you hit 35 and is there any chance of getting into social housing?

I suspect at some point you will need a DRO (and will qualify) to tidy things up. Bear in mind that when you do so, the ful year's council tax can be included as long as you have lost the right to pay in instalments.

If I went the DRO route do they have a specific place they will accept valuations from? Such as Parkers?
I've just gone through Webuyanycar and they value it at £975 :-( Would they accept them as a valuation?