24k credit card debt - help, sanity check

Grumpelstiltskin

Have you got a Prescripion Prepayent certificate?
Get a prescription prepayment certificate: Get a prescription prepayment certificate - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

You can't afford takeaways on a regular basis, go across to this board to help with reducing groceries spend.
Old style MoneySaving — MoneySavingExpert Forum

BlackPeony

Thanks everyone, very good ideas indeed, much appreciated! x 

Rob5342

Do you really spend £60 a month on your mobile? If you do then when the contract ends you csn get a sim only deal for £6 or so. Also a landline seems like an unnecessary expense if you have a mobile. 

You don't need to give the creditors any  breakdown, simply tell them what you'll be paying and that's it. I'd work out an amount that you can afford to pay them every month, and have a variable amount you save that covers your irregular costs over a year. 

BlackPeony

Rob5342 said:

Do you really spend £60 a month on your mobile? If you do then when the contract ends you csn get a sim only deal for £6 or so. Also a landline seems like an unnecessary expense if you have a mobile. 

You don't need to give the creditors any  breakdown, simply tell them what you'll be paying and that's it. I'd work out an amount that you can afford to pay them every month, and have a variable amount you save that covers your irregular costs over a year. 

I do and unfortunately I still have 16 months left on it, I pay £62 for my pay montly mobile phone and data package with Vodafone. Hopefully this phone will last me a long time though and then can just switch to sim only like you said. 

Oh okay, so no need to actually send them the SOA? I was doing it as well as possible to be transparent and to be able to match it to my actual bank statements should anyone want to challenge it so it's all there available to be cross-checked.  

Floss

BlackPeony said:

Oh okay, so no need to actually send them the SOA? I was doing it as well as possible to be transparent and to be able to match it to my actual bank statements should anyone want to challenge it so it's all there available to be cross-checked.  

That's the best way to get an accurate picture. 

However, no contents insurance? Get a prepay for your prescriptions & use the saving to get this ASAP.

My TV licence just renewed at £15.

BlackPeony

Floss said:

BlackPeony said:

Oh okay, so no need to actually send them the SOA? I was doing it as well as possible to be transparent and to be able to match it to my actual bank statements should anyone want to challenge it so it's all there available to be cross-checked.  

That's the best way to get an accurate picture. 

However, no contents insurance? Get a prepay for your prescriptions & use the saving to get this ASAP.

My TV licence just renewed at £15.

I have to say I used to have contents insurance when me and my ex husband used to rent a few years ago as it was recommended by our lettings agent, but I didn’t think that was still applicable to me since I now basically live and pay rent to my boyfriend in his house. I’ll have to look into it and get a quote. 

Also, just realised that I forgot to add my professional registration fee and my union fees to my SOA, I feel completely defeated.. like it’s neverending.  

Rob5342

It would be foolish not to have any insurance cover for your contents, check with your boyfriend to see if he has cover in place.

Try not to feel defeated, the first step is fully understanding where all your money goes so you can formulate a plan to deal with everything.

Floss

Rob5342 said:

Try not to feel defeated, the first step is fully understanding where all your money goes so you can formulate a plan to deal with everything.

And everyone's SOA is a constantly developing work in progress as we get better at budgetting 😁

RAS

If your income fluctuates, you need to make sure that you budget to cover all expenses when you only get £1820. Then if you earn more, you bung the extra into your emergency fund, and debt payments.  If you self manage you can explain that to your creditors.

But that's why you need to cut back on your food and toiletries budget.