Advice for SOA please

bdl23xx

Hello,
I'm trying to put together a SOA so I can look for options for my credit card debt (DMP or DRO), could anyone advise if some of the amounts would be accepted?

I've been trawling through bank/credit card statements to see what I've been spending. The amounts that I think could be questioned as higher than average are:

Medications £25pm
Vitamins £27pm
Toiletries £19pm
Food £323pm (1 person)

I have several health issues and multiple allergies (medication and food). I have dietary restrictions, non-prescriptive medication, vitamins that help ease my health issues etc. I don't want to reduce any of them as it would worsen my health and impact my mental health issues. Are the figures too high to be accepted? If so, could I list them under something else like electric/gas or would they check my bills?

Other items I'm not sure I can list as I haven't seen them on other people's SOA:

Art materials £10pm (I paint and art journal to help with mental health)
Printer Ink subscription £3pm (I print out budgets, Vinted labels etc)
Pilates class £26pm (Once a week class to help with back pain)
Cancer Research donation £3pm (Had for 20+ years because of family loss)

Any advice appreciated. Thank you

fatbelly

It might be easiest if we could see the whole SOA. For example, do you get PIP as part of your income?

Normally I would say to move things to food & housekeeping but you are already high at £75 ish per week.

bdl23xx

I will try and get it finished tomorrow, it's so painful facing the debt, I need to check all the credit card balances, interest rates etc but am avoiding. I don't get PiP, I am on UC and get the limited capability for work.

Brie

I look forward to seeing your SOA but in the meantime I'd say that if you are in debt then you can't afford to be making charity donations of any sort.  You may have very good reason to do so but you need to sort yourself and then once things are better you can resume.  Don't beat yourself up over this.

As someone else who tries to be artistic (I really do struggle!!) might I suggest looking for more bargain places to get materials.  I've been trying to get a piece of art framed and was looking at frames at Hobbycraft which are about £19 but found more suitable ones at The Range for about £7.  I know better than to go too sub standard for paint or paper (The Works!!  Eek!!!) so wait to buy Winsor and Newton when it's on sale.  But I've also picked up some good stuff from Freegle - nice when things are free!!!

You've been brave to come on here and need to continue to be brave.  Many of us have been on similar journeys so understand completely and won't be judging you for being in the same situation we've been in as well.

enthusiasticsaver

Ultimately none of them will be able to do anything other than accept your soa as it stands.  So if you have additional expenses for health reasons as long as you are not using debt to pay for them there is little they can do. If you are dependent on credit cards to live that is a different matter as it will mean you will go further into debt which is unwise and then you need to make choices as to what is priority. 

I would put up the whole soa.