First step to no debt

Booklover24

I've been reading lots of threads on this forum and they have really inspired me. 
So, I'm taking the plunge after my debts spiralled out of control.
Today, I'm taking charge.
Here is my SOA

[font=courier new][b]Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet[/b][b]

Household Information[/b]

Number of adults in household........... 2

Number of children in household......... 0

Number of cars owned.................... 0[b]

Monthly Income Details[/b]

Monthly income after tax................ 922

Partners monthly income after tax....... 0

Benefits................................ 0

Other income............................ 0[b]

Total monthly income.................... 922[/b][b]

Monthly Expense Details[/b]

Mortgage................................ 0

Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0

Rent.................................... 0

Management charge (leasehold property).. 0

Council tax............................. 0

Electricity............................. 0

Gas..................................... 0

Oil..................................... 0

Water rates............................. 0

Telephone (land line)................... 0

Mobile phone............................ 0

TV Licence.............................. 0

Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0

Internet Services....................... 0

Groceries etc. ......................... 200

Clothing................................ 0

Petrol/diesel........................... 0

Road tax................................ 0

Car Insurance........................... 0

Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0

Car parking............................. 0

Other travel............................ 0

Childcare/nursery....................... 0

Other child related expenses............ 0

Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0

Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0

Buildings insurance..................... 0

Contents insurance...................... 7

Life assurance ......................... 0

Other insurance......................... 0

Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 50

Haircuts................................ 32

Entertainment........................... 0

Holiday................................. 0

Emergency fund.......................... 100[b]

Total monthly expenses.................. 389[/b]

[b]

Assets[/b]

Cash.................................... 0

House value (Gross)..................... 0

Shares and bonds........................ 0

Car(s).................................. 0

Other assets............................ 0[b]

Total Assets............................ 0[/b]

[b]

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts[/b]

[b]Unsecured Debts[/b]

Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR

Barclaycard....................9855......241.2.....18.27

TSB credit card................7250......185.7.....21.94

Tesco credit card..............4422......89.98.....15.75[b]

Total unsecured debts..........21527.....516.88....-  [/b]

[b]

Monthly Budget Summary[/b]

Total monthly income.................... 922

Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 389

Available for debt repayments........... 533

Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 516.88[b]

Amount left after debt repayments....... 16.12[/b]

[b]Personal Balance Sheet Summary[/b]

Total assets (things you own)........... 0

Total HP & Secured debt................. -0

Total Unsecured debt.................... -21,527[b]

Net Assets.............................. -21,527[/b]

[i]Created using the SOA calculator at www.LemonFool.co.uk.

Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.[/i][/font]

Booklover24

As you've probably noticed, I have a partner. He pays for the electric and internet, etc. 
He does not know of my debts, I don't want to worry him, as I've been in this situation before. (Mid-life crisis)
I often pay for things on impulse and regret it later. I pay for all the Christmas and birthday presents and holidays.
I have one grown up daughter, five stepchildren, 15 step-grandchildren, 6 step-great grandchildren, so it's a small fortune. 
I am 63, have taken early retirement, as I have arthritis and a back problem, which left me in terrible pain and unable to function at work. I would have stayed on till 66, but it became unbearable at work. I am impatiently waiting to get my state pension, I have a part-time job, two full days a week, and another small source of income.
I would like to be debt-free by the time I retire. 

doingitanyway

Good luck with your diary. Well done for addressing your debt.

Brie

Well done for starting to address this.  That's the really hard bit over with!!

Questions.....

so you don't pay any bills in the house and your finances are completely separate from the OH?  Does £200 cover the groceries for both of you?

And why are you paying £100 into an emergency fund each month rather than using it to clear your debts?  Unless this is something the OH expects from you into a joint account I would be slinging it on to your TSB card as it has the highest interest and you'll feel the benefit of it fastest.  

And is there any reason not to ring the card companies and ask for an interest holiday?  

Booklover24

Thank you both. I think it will help me a lot. 

Brie, to answer your question: Yes, I have always had a separate bank account from my OH. We do have a joint savings account, where I deposit my £100 a month into. Last year our cooker, fridge and washing machine all broke in the space of a few months, so we need this back-up money, just in case. It's also useful in case we need it for travel, as both our families live abroad. OH's brother is ill and lives in Florida, so we need to be able to go across if need be. 
I used to pay most of the bills when I worked full-time. We've been together for forty years. My husband retired years ago, with a decent pension.  He's 20 years older than me. It was his idea to pay the the utility bills when I retired early, due to my health. I've worked since I was 16. I have never depended on anybody else, have always paid my own way. 
This mess I'm in is all my own fault and I don't want him to know or ask for help. 
The £200 a month does cover groceries for both of us. I'm a life-long vegetarian and don't buy convenience foods. I cook fresh every day. 

I hadn't thought about asking the credit card company to ask for an interest holiday. Would this affect my credit rating? 

Booklover24

My back has been so sore for the last three days. I hate taking painkillers, but am back on the codeine, just to get through my working day. On top of everything, someone's been trying to scam me. Why can't these b******s work for a living instead of stealing people's hard-earned cash? I wish I could get my state pension now. If only I had been born a few years earlier. I would have been able to retire at 60 instead of working till I drop. So fed up...