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Help! SOA included

lilly81
Posts: 623 Forumite


My X has stopped working and I only found out when he emailed to say that the maintenance was stopped.
Even when his benefits start, I'll only get £7 per week 😞
I've had to have a food bank referral 😳
I have cancelled any non essential direct debits and reduced my budget.
Does anyone has any tips on what I can do to save money?
[font=courier new][b]Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet[/b][b]
Household Information[/b]
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 1[b]
Monthly Income Details[/b]
Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 2073
Other income............................ 0[b]
Total monthly income.................... 2073[/b][b]
Monthly Expense Details[/b]
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 1050
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 0
Electricity............................. 119
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 13
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 0.99
TV Licence.............................. 13.37
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 12.5
Groceries etc. ......................... 275
Clothing................................ 30
Petrol/diesel........................... 150
Road tax................................ 1.65
Car Insurance........................... 35
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 25
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 30
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 55
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 32
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 10
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0[b]
Total monthly expenses.................. 1852.51[/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
She'll energy .................400.......50........0[b]
Total unsecured debts..........400.......50........- [/b]
[b]
Monthly Budget Summary[/b]
Total monthly income.................... 2,073
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,852.51
Available for debt repayments........... 220.49
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 50[b]
Amount left after debt repayments....... 170.49[/b]
[b]Personal Balance Sheet Summary[/b]
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -400[b]
Net Assets.............................. -400[/b]
[i]Created using the SOA calculator at www.LemonFool.co.uk.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.[/i][/font]
Debt free date 23rd march 2009 🥳Autism is my super power 🏳️🌈 🌈✨
3
Comments
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If you post an SOA people will be able to help in terms of your budget, without knowing your expenditure anything else would be speculation.
https://www.lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php2 -
Check out some of the recipes at the start of the Grocery Challenge thread - some of them are very cheap recipes. Also worth googling Jack Munro's website: https://cookingonabootstrap.com/. Loads of cheap recipes on there including tin can cookery which might help with food bank goods. Try and get a copy of one of her books (the Tin Can Cook is probably the most useful with regard to food bank cooking).
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Glad you have stated a thread for yourself - its a start
MattMattMattuk has already given the link to the SOA. yes its really putting yourself out there, but remember we dont know you. So be honest and try very hard not to take any comments as a challenge to you.Somehow, no matter how bad things are right now, there will be help and advice to get you through. Even if sometimes it is just a place to say - its carp. Whilst the advice is still coming, whilst you can take some of it on board, you are working your way outDont ever be ashamed for asking for help6 -
Are you getting all the benefits that you are entitled to?
Check out these:
Benefits calculators - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
And maybe also post on this board if you have any questions regarding benefit eligibility, it's another board that is not judgemental:
Benefits & tax credits — MoneySavingExpert Forum
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I would post your SOA on the debt free wannabe board. Not because people here don't know anything, but they are especially used to going through one with a toothcomb, may spot more and there are very experienced people there. Please don't worry about any flack that may come your way, when youre in a vulnerable position, you may misinterpret something meant bluntly as agressive, so try not to take offence if that does happen.First off, I would cancel anything that is extra that you can cancel. Your children may be doing things after school that you pay for, they may have to stop. There's no point hiding that money is tight from them, they will notice anyway. Sell what you can sell, old clothes, books, whatever. Look into things like swagbucks to make extra money, there'll be a page on it on the main website dealing with making a few pounds on the side. Nothing is too small to not do if that makes sense, fiftyp saved here or there will mount up. Find out if you have a community fridge or equivalent in your area, these are free for all and need no referral. Make a meal plan with what you have in the house now. Look on fb for free groups in your local area, [ we have freegle, don't bin it, freecycle, there is free stuff on FB MP, free stuff in various local groups, so keep an eye on them] The more time you can devote to saving money and using what you have wisely, the better, but it is exhausting and tiring and worrying so try to see it as a challenge, if you get your kids involved, make it a game for them. Good luck.Non me fac calcitrare tuum culi3
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Hello, @Lilly81. First well done for realising you have a problem and posting. I've found the people on old style are very knowledgeable and friendly. I would suggest the following.
1. As was said above, fill in a SOA, even if you do not post it, or post it then remove it. You need to know what you have coming in and going out.
2. Go to the gov website "entitled to" check it you are able to get any additional money now your maintainable has stopped.
3. If you have any debt, head over to the debt free wannabe forum. They have great advise.
4. Start a spending diary, (DON'T buy one, look around the house of use the back of envelopes or cereal packets). Write down every penny you spend.
5. Now you know where the money is going, look at every spend. Do I need it? Can I get it cheaper? Can I replace it with a cheaper option? Can I borrow it? Can I make it? Can I share the cost with someone else?
6. Look at ways of saving on gas, electric, petrol/diesel.
7. Search for local food hubs, olio, community kitchens, to good to go. All these save food from land fill, by selling cheaply/giving it away.
8. Check out old threads on here by, weezl74, frugldom, greying pilgrim, kimplus8 and others for inspiration.
9. Keep coming back on here. You are not alone.
Hugs, to you, mumtoomany.xxxFrugal Living Challenge 2025.
Grocery challenge, £1300 food plus £200 cleaning materials etc, for the year.4 -
[font=courier new][b]Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet[/b][b]Household Information[/b]Number of adults in household........... 1Number of children in household......... 1Number of cars owned.................... 1[b]Monthly Income Details[/b]Monthly income after tax................ 0Partners monthly income after tax....... 0Benefits................................ 2073Other income............................ 0[b]Total monthly income.................... 2073[/b][b]Monthly Expense Details[/b]Mortgage................................ 0Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0Rent.................................... 1050Management charge (leasehold property).. 0Council tax............................. 0Electricity............................. 119Gas..................................... 0Oil..................................... 0Water rates............................. 13Telephone (land line)................... 0Mobile phone............................ 0.99TV Licence.............................. 13.37Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0Internet Services....................... 12.5Groceries etc. ......................... 275Clothing................................ 30Petrol/diesel........................... 150Road tax................................ 1.65Car Insurance........................... 35Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 25Car parking............................. 0Other travel............................ 0Childcare/nursery....................... 0Other child related expenses............ 30Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 55Pet insurance/vet bills................. 32Buildings insurance..................... 0Contents insurance...................... 10Life assurance ......................... 0Other insurance......................... 0Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0Haircuts................................ 0Entertainment........................... 0Holiday................................. 0Emergency fund.......................... 0[b]Total monthly expenses.................. 1852.51[/b][b]Assets[/b]Cash.................................... 0House value (Gross)..................... 0Shares and bonds........................ 0Car(s).................................. 0Other assets............................ 0[b]Total Assets............................ 0[/b][b]No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts[/b][b]Unsecured Debts[/b]Description....................Debt......Monthly...APRShe'll energy .................400.......50........0[b]Total unsecured debts..........400.......50........- [/b][b]Monthly Budget Summary[/b]Total monthly income.................... 2,073Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,852.51Available for debt repayments........... 220.49Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 50[b]Amount left after debt repayments....... 170.49[/b][b]Personal Balance Sheet Summary[/b]Total assets (things you own)........... 0Total HP & Secured debt................. -0Total Unsecured debt.................... -400[b]Net Assets.............................. -400[/b][i]Created using the SOA calculator at www.LemonFool.co.uk.Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.[/i][/font]Debt free date 23rd march 2009 🥳Autism is my super power 🏳️🌈 🌈✨2
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Good morning, @lilly81. Great start!
I think you can save some money on food. Head over to the grocery challenge threads. At the start of each month there are links to loads of cheap easy recipes. Maybe get your son involved in helping to choose and make a few of them. You really need to be putting some money away for Christmas/Birthdays, assuming you celebrate them. The money for car tax, insurance, maintenance, contents insurance, etc, needs to be saved each month. These things are much cheaper if paid in a lump sum. Your petrol/diesel seems very high. Can you walk to more places, or combine journeys? This will also he!p with wear and tear on your car. You need to have something in savings for a new vehicle when this one no longer runs. Most importantly you need an emergency fund. What will you do if the washer breaks down, or the fridge?
Looking at your past threads, you have been struggling financially for some years. I'm guessing that losing the maintenance has just made this even harder. But if you can learn to manage and even thrive on the money you are getting now, think how rich you will feel when your ex gets another job of you manage to get a job, once your son is old enough.
Hugs, mumtoomany.xxxFrugal Living Challenge 2025.
Grocery challenge, £1300 food plus £200 cleaning materials etc, for the year.7 -
Do you really have 170 pounds left over each month? If you do, yay, put it in a savings account to use for birthdays, christmas etc.If you don't, work out where it's going.Track every single penny you spend including the bills so you know where the money is going. Do you work? Why is your diesel so high? Is your phone really 99p? Do your children have phones? Are you buying a special diet with your food spend, are you buying food that you can cook or ready meals? Loads of questions sorry...Non me fac calcitrare tuum culi7
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