Admitting I have problem debt...

NeverendingDMP

Is your wife nhs. If so the blue light card is worth looking at. Fiver for the card and discounts on various places. I've recently used mine for a discount on a new tyre, ten percent off in store at asda etc.
I'd keep the pension. You don't want to borrow from your future self as they say. 

Selling things might start you off and then  it's about working out what works best for you. Rounding your bank account down each day and putting in an emergency fund will help build money up slowly but without shocking the system. 

Also with a high petrol cost are you using discount, loyalty cards, store reward cards, cash back cards etc to get the most out of it. Anywhere you can earn a few extra pounds along the way or cut down the costs will help. 

Swapping bank accounts is something that a lot of people do as well to get some quick funds together

kimwp

I'd second keeping up the pension contributions if you can, you'd be sacrificing a long term tax free investment. 

kimwp

Oh...tricky one to bring up, but what's your wife's (and your) driving like? You can save quite a bit on petrol by driving differently.

Sncjw

Can your wife claim back any costs of petrol from her job? 

Sam_X_10

kimwp said:

Oh...tricky one to bring up, but what's your wife's (and your) driving like? You can save quite a bit on petrol by driving differently.

Hmm...my wife drives quite well, careful and considerate. I could probably do better 🙈 
Hers is diesel, mine petrol. 

Sam_X_10

Sncjw said:

Can your wife claim back any costs of petrol from her job? 

Yes, she does. She gets 53p per mile. 
 She tells me it's 90quid to fill her tank as it's diesel. She gets between 90 and 120 quid back per month, it's paid in a month in arrears and it's included in her wage payment. 

Sam_X_10

NeverendingDMP said:

Is your wife nhs. If so the blue light card is worth looking at. Fiver for the card and discounts on various places. I've recently used mine for a discount on a new tyre, ten percent off in store at asda etc.
I'd keep the pension. You don't want to borrow from your future self as they say. 

Selling things might start you off and then  it's about working out what works best for you. Rounding your bank account down each day and putting in an emergency fund will help build money up slowly but without shocking the system. 

Also with a high petrol cost are you using discount, loyalty cards, store reward cards, cash back cards etc to get the most out of it. Anywhere you can earn a few extra pounds along the way or cut down the costs will help. 

Swapping bank accounts is something that a lot of people do as well to get some quick funds together

I've asked her to consider switching to HSBC as they have a 200 quid switch offer at the moment. 👍🏼
We use Tesco club card at the pumps (when we plan well enough to get to Tesco and not some emergency station) and save the vouchers for Christmas. 
She has a blue light card, I did not know that Asda gave 10% off!! 

NeverendingDMP

I've just had a look on mine. 10% off in-store at asda till 31st Dec. They had it in summer but kept extending it so maybe it might stay on longer. It's good but you have to find a person on the till to show your blue light/ID card too which I've had problems.with locally. Not sure but think Morrisons is still offering free delivery. Aldi however still cheaper for your actual shopping ha ha

kimwp

Sam_X_10 said:

Sncjw said:

Can your wife claim back any costs of petrol from her job? 

Yes, she does. She gets 53p per mile. 
 She tells me it's 90quid to fill her tank as it's diesel. She gets between 90 and 120 quid back per month, it's paid in a month in arrears and it's included in her wage payment. 

Have you included that in your SOA? 

EssexHebridean

 Sam_X_10 said:

Sncjw said:

Can your wife claim back any costs of petrol from her job? 

Yes, she does. She gets 53p per mile. 
 She tells me it's 90quid to fill her tank as it's diesel. She gets between 90 and 120 quid back per month, it's paid in a month in arrears and it's included in her wage payment. 

No - the maths don't work on this, for me. £120 in mileage payments would indicate 230-ish miles a month being claimed. With a diesel she should be getting at least 55mpg - even assuming that a lot of her driving is short hops (and on that basis, she's probably heading for trouble having a diesel at all unless she also does a balance of long runs at speed to clear the DPF). 230-ish miles is less than half a tank, in her car, so definitely doesn't equate to the £300p/m on fuel? The amount she is paid should cover the cost of the fuel and contribute to the depreciation - you are currently showing a shortfall just on the fuel.