Please Help me get debt free

margaretclare

Djmitch21 wrote:

I agree entirely finnerty!

You came on here to get help with your debt and not to be patronised to. Others have suggested that stopping smoking will free up money for you and you have taken that on board. There is no need for everyone to suddenly start taking the moral high ground on this subject. This isn't the place for it.

(from a non-smoker)

I haven't seen any 'moral high ground' taken on this thread. Simply practicalities. The OP requested ways of getting out of debt. Obvious ways are: (1) cut down expenditure, (2) increase income, (3) both. Given that she is on benefits, options 2 and 3 don't apply. Cutting down expenditure is also difficult when on benefits, so the only possible option is cutting back hard on non-essentials.

True, I don't know the OP in person, but I have known many like her.

I rest my case

Aunty Margaret

Nickynoo1

Hi finnerty,

just came to wish you well and send you hugs ((())). I know how you feel when people get on to you about smoking when you have debt. I got the same reaction when i included smokes in my budget. I don't think anyone means to personally attack you but it just comes across that way in the text. I think it's because we know we should give up, but thats easier said than done isn't it. Also if we feel were being judged i think it makes us smoke more anyway! it's a compromise you have to agree with yourself. Are you willing to buy cigs over something else you might like, or buy cigs over reduce debt quicker. It's your choice, no one else's and it's you that live with that decision. So far my choice has been to keep smoking.

Why don't you post up your incoming and out goings and see if anyone can help you out there as £300 per month overspend could soon see you in a bigger mess than where you are now.

Take care

Nickynoo1

Xbigman

Whereas it can't be denied that smoking is bad for your financial health it is not always possible to give up. When under debt stress its also just about the worst time to try to give up although, strangely, it can also be the big incentive to try.

Try to organize your finances so you buy food, pay bills and make payments off debts first. Buy fags last. If you mess up and run short at least you are short of a theoretical non essential.
Regards




X

krisskross

Have to say i agree with Aunty Margaret on this one although that may well be because we are of an age.
£15 a week on ciggies is £2340 over the three years that the op says she has accrued the debts, so over half the indebtedness is actually due to the cash spent on smoking.

finnerty

Nickynoo1 wrote:

Why don't you post up your incoming and out goings and see if anyone can help you out there as £300 per month overspend could soon see you in a bigger mess than where you are now.

Take care

Nickynoo1

Thankyou for your kind words of support :-)

i have prepared a budget list

incoming...............weekly..........monthly........total per month(x4.33)
income support.......90.55 .............................392.08
Child Benefit.............................68.00............68.00

total...........................................................460.08

housing benefit and council tax benefits = no rent or council tax to pay

Expenditure

type ..................... weekly...... monthly..... total.....revised total
Gas-Electric..............................45.00.......45.00
Water rates............................. 23.21........23.21
Tv Licence ..............................10.59 .......10.59
Home insurance........ 3.20.........................13.85
telephone home.........................30.00
..............Mobile........................ 5.00 ........35.00
internet................................... 24.99 .......24.99 ......17.99

Debtors.................. interest.............. payment................total
............................................ minimum ....what's I pay
Over Draft 1................15.90
Over draft 2................4.00............10.00.......10.00 .........10.00
credit card 1 .......... 16.00 ...........25.00.......50.00............50.00
credit card 2................4.00........... 25.00.......30.00 .........30.00
credit card 3............... 4.00............29.00.......35.00 .........35.00

Other expenditure ...............weekly...monthly...total(4.33).. revised
Food and cleaning products ...40.00 ..................173.20.......129.90
nursery fees (outings etc.) .....3.00....................12.00
days out for child ..............................10.00......10.00
transport............................ 6.00....................25.98
Driving lessons......................17.00...................73.61........36.80
child clothing toys ................10.00...................43.30
socialising (smoking & drinking).20.00 ................ 86.60.........26.60
............................................................giving up smoking^^

..................................... now ....... revised...re-revised
total monthly spend ......... 702.33 ..... 598.52.....555.22
incoming ........................ 460.08 ..... 460.08
over budget ................... 242.25 .... 138.44.....95.14

and that doesn't include emegency repairs replacements maintenance school photos etc
over draft 1 (£ 1000) is where all my money is paid into and all outgoings are taken from ...... over draft 2 (£475 )is no longer in use but i am trying to reduce the debt very slowly Credit card 1 has a limit of £6000 but only has £1100 on it ..... credit card 2 and 3 are balance transfers life of balance good rates

I don't think i can cut back any more than i already have:-(

pink_fairy_7

Hi finnerty

Looking at your budget you could probably reduce the food shopping. Since joining these boards I have managed to reduce my total grocery shopping to £200 a month ( 2 adults,2 older teenagers and an 11 year old). Have a look at the Old Style board there are lots of really helpful people and loads of ideas to help you.

Good luck
Pink Fairy

finnerty

pink_fairy wrote:

Hi finnerty

Looking at your budget you could probably reduce the food shopping. Since joining these boards I have managed to reduce my total grocery shopping to £200 a month ( 2 adults,2 older teenagers and an 11 year old). Have a look at the Old Style board there are lots of really helpful people and loads of ideas to help you.

Good luck
Pink Fairy

thank you but unsure if i can reduce it much ...I already shop at aldi...i tend to buy fresh food already instead of ready meals but i am a cleaning freak and do loads of washing and cleaning also included in food shopping is nappies wipes toiletries cleaning products

where and what is this old syle board u mentioned and is there a link to it

pink_fairy_7

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=33

Hi finnerty

Hope this works. First time trying to link

Pink fairy

JAMIEDODGER

currently i spend about 200 per month on food, nappies, cleaning products, wipes etc, there is just one adult (me!!) and i have four children, after going on the old style boards and picking up tips and hints i am slowly cutting this down so maybe old style could be good for you too, hope this helps. jamie

finnerty

thank you jamie and pink fairy

I am going to study the old style boards later....going through my past few weeks of receipts i can cut down to £30 a week shopping by removing non-essentials and since my kiddy is recently only in nappys at night now that reduces some of the cost