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Help - we feel like we've done everything we can, and we're still piling on the debt!

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  • ALIBOBSY
    ALIBOBSY Posts: 4,527 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Just checked the basic child tax credit is payable @£545 per yr, for families earning up to £58175. BTW both this and the child benefit are payable up to age 20 now if in non advanced full time education.
    Go get that extra cash :)
    ali x
    "Overthinking every little thing
    Acknowledge the bell you cant unring"

  • BlushingRose
    BlushingRose Posts: 1,621 Forumite
    Well done BR. :)

    Now get on to the tax credits people if you haven't already. ;)

    You honestly do get back what you put in like anything else in life. If you wait for things to happen they won't. Look at your child benefit. You and your OH actively seeked whether you were entitled to more. They wouldn't have contacted you!

    I know you're feeling overwhelmed but that's down to a couple of things. One of which is probably not being in charge. Now's the time to start making your money work for you.

    Sorry if this sounds harsh but, if you really want to get out of this defecit then the storage has to go. You can't afford it. I know you say you have no room for the stuff but how long will it be until you do? Are you prepared to leave it in storage for 10's of years? Have a clearout at home. Ebay, boot sales, Amazon anything you don't need. Clear the loft out do the same with that. How much stuff do you actually have in storage? What is the size of the room you rent? Can you buy a shed and put it in there. It will end up being cost effective.

    I don't want you to get upset by this. We aren't here to do that. We're here to help you and it's more than coincidence that we are all saying the same thing! ;)

    But you've made a great start. You're actively working on your food bill and are chasing up whats owed to you so give yourself a pat on the back and prepare yourself for the next step (the storage :p ).


    yeah, i think you're right as if I was able to do some of the ringing around and not have to 'nag' (even just mentioning stuff makes me feel like I'm nagging) I'd at least feel like I was doing something.

    I was the one who suggested going to the storage box and seeing if there was anything we can get rid of, or bring home, and it didn;t seem like we could empty it or move the stuff. I'll have another word with him and see if we can get rid of more stuff in the house, in order to bring stuff home.
    Our LBM: Dec 2011. DMP started: Jan 2012. Debt at LBM: £41,568

    Oct 2012 = Current debt: £40,548.93
    Oct 2013 = Current debt: £39.054.70


    DMP Support number 424 - Long haul number 308
  • BlushingRose
    BlushingRose Posts: 1,621 Forumite
    ALIBOBSY wrote: »
    Just checked the basic child tax credit is payable @£545 per yr, for families earning up to £58175. BTW both this and the child benefit are payable up to age 20 now if in non advanced full time education.
    Go get that extra cash :)
    ali x

    I've never met child tax credits before, but when I've mentioned it in the past, the OH said something about having been overpaid in the past and now they don't pay any...?
    Our LBM: Dec 2011. DMP started: Jan 2012. Debt at LBM: £41,568

    Oct 2012 = Current debt: £40,548.93
    Oct 2013 = Current debt: £39.054.70


    DMP Support number 424 - Long haul number 308
  • BlushingRose
    BlushingRose Posts: 1,621 Forumite
    oooh, I've just remembered something about meals.
    What we've started doing is a roast one day (not always a sunday) and then we use the cold cuts for one or two meals later in the week...tonight, for example, we're having cold cuts with a baked potato.
    Our LBM: Dec 2011. DMP started: Jan 2012. Debt at LBM: £41,568

    Oct 2012 = Current debt: £40,548.93
    Oct 2013 = Current debt: £39.054.70


    DMP Support number 424 - Long haul number 308
  • r.mac_2
    r.mac_2 Posts: 4,746 Forumite
    worth applying anyway - the worst they can do is say no! :D

    You are doing well :D
    aless02 wrote: »
    r.mac, you are so wise and wonderful, that post was lovely and so insightful!
    I can't promise that all my replies will illicit this response :p
  • Zazen999
    Zazen999 Posts: 6,183 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Hi
    Sorry, you have probably heard enough but what do you buy when shopping that is so expensive??? If you already menu plan and get meat and veg separately then there must be something that is taking the bulk of the spend???

    Bulk buying just means that we shop around for buy one get one frees, and when we find them, if we regularly use them, we get loads which keeps us in whatever for a few months - so we drink gallons of squash and use loads of tinned toms; so keep an eye out for offers and stock up the cupboards when we see them.

    About the nagging - just make a pact with the OH that for 8 weeks you are going to nag like crazy and then set a date where you review the difference the nagging has made; and agree what you are going to do together to keep moving forward. Then, it's not nagging is it - it's gentle reminders!!!

    Seriously, posting on here is the best thing - I wish I had had it when I needed it most.
  • ALIBOBSY
    ALIBOBSY Posts: 4,527 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Wonder if your oh has claimed tax credits, but due to an overpayment may not be being paid at the moment. I had an overpayment and so got zero paid for nearly 2 yrs! Now getting paid again.
    ali x
    "Overthinking every little thing
    Acknowledge the bell you cant unring"

  • BlushingRose
    BlushingRose Posts: 1,621 Forumite
    ALIBOBSY wrote: »
    Wonder if your oh has claimed tax credits, but due to an overpayment may not be being paid at the moment. I had an overpayment and so got zero paid for nearly 2 yrs! Now getting paid again.
    ali x

    I think that's the case, yes.
    I guess what I need to ask him to do is ring them and find out where we are with that...or, do they just start paying them again without input from us?
    Our LBM: Dec 2011. DMP started: Jan 2012. Debt at LBM: £41,568

    Oct 2012 = Current debt: £40,548.93
    Oct 2013 = Current debt: £39.054.70


    DMP Support number 424 - Long haul number 308
  • BlushingRose
    BlushingRose Posts: 1,621 Forumite
    Zazen999 wrote: »
    Hi
    Sorry, you have probably heard enough but what do you buy when shopping that is so expensive??? If you already menu plan and get meat and veg separately then there must be something that is taking the bulk of the spend???

    Well to be honest, I'm not sure. I guess all the stuff that isn't fruit, veg and meat. We've been buying the 'sundies' at asda, so washing power, conditioner, loo roll, kitchen roll, cat food, toiletries, tins of bean and stuff...
    Our last shop of this type of stuff came to £40, but it's usually more like £60-£70 a week

    Bulk buying just means that we shop around for buy one get one frees, and when we find them, if we regularly use them, we get loads which keeps us in whatever for a few months - so we drink gallons of squash and use loads of tinned toms; so keep an eye out for offers and stock up the cupboards when we see them.

    Ah right, well we do buy the BOGOF stuff when we see it, but we've never thought of buying lots, we've just bought the usual and got the free one...(apart from Pringles at Christmas, we're *still* eating those!)

    About the nagging - just make a pact with the OH that for 8 weeks you are going to nag like crazy and then set a date where you review the difference the nagging has made; and agree what you are going to do together to keep moving forward. Then, it's not nagging is it - it's gentle reminders!!!

    I think he just finds this sort of thing very difficult, and me reminding him of where we're at brings him down, then I feel bad...etc etc etc...

    Seriously, posting on here is the best thing - I wish I had had it when I needed it most.

    So long as you don't all get bored of me going on about stuff!
    Our LBM: Dec 2011. DMP started: Jan 2012. Debt at LBM: £41,568

    Oct 2012 = Current debt: £40,548.93
    Oct 2013 = Current debt: £39.054.70


    DMP Support number 424 - Long haul number 308
  • shop-to-drop
    shop-to-drop Posts: 4,340 Forumite
    Hi BR

    Don't give up on the supermarkets for employment. If something suiting you came up I'm sure they would want you, why not? The application doesn't ask for qualifications so they don't know if you seem over qualified (for instance I have a degree but they don't even know if I have a CSE!), they just look for someone who is willing to work can fit the hours and if able to offer a little flexibility too all the better. Initially I had a refusal letter as I think the vacancy had gone but then had a phone call a few months later asking if still interested. I actually enjoy the job and working nights much more than I ever imagined I would (don't think it's for everyone though).

    I'm wondering with the tax credits if you would be eligible because I guess the ex contribution to school fees is in effect income as it appears to be instead of maintenance, or does she pay that too?

    Glad you are already making progress. Don't let OH get away with letting you sort out his mess on your own. I'm guessing the reason the debt has got so large is because he hasn't taken control and tackled the finances.

    I'm loving your emerging positive attitude but definitely get the whole family involved.
    :j Trytryagain FLYLADY - SAYE £700 each month Premium Bonds £713 Mortgage Was £100,000@20/6/08 now zilch 21/4/15:beer: WTL - 52 (I'll do it 4 MUM)
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