help! should I delay my council tax payment

reallylost

Hi
I am having a really bad week.
I fell behind with my council tax this year so I phoned and they agreed to let me pay it over a longer period.
The last apyment is due tomorrow £102.
The problem is the car broke down 2 weeks ago and we had to spend £200 getting it back on the road cos my husband cant get to work without it.(he starts at 6.30 am 30 miles away so no public transport and no one he works with lives near us)
We managed to "shop from home for the last 2 weeks but there is not a lot left (5 potatoes a tin of beans and some milk:eek: )
So we need food shopping, nappies, the electric has £3 of emergency credit left and he needs fuel to get to work.

The question is can I leave the final payment of council tax for a couple of weeks so I can use that money to do the shopping etc or just pay half or what?
I dont want to get into arrears again but I dont seem to have much choice.
Any ideas please?
thanks

sugarpants_2

We have had probs with paying concil tax due to simular reasons that youhave. I wouldnt worry if its 2 weeks late.

We paid 2 mths late this month but its all back on track now.(Had to pay 2 mths tax this month) And phoned the council up and they were fine about it. They sent me a new invoice and then next amont isnt due to 1st March. Happy days!!

Go buy them nappies etc! You need them!

I have 2 young children so I know what its like rnning out of nappies/wipes/snacks etc...SO hard for us mums to save, eh?

basketcase

A difficult one and you have my sympathy. I'd try other things first, if possible. But, as this is your last payment it MIGHT be worth explaining the situation and asking if you could delay payment for a week. (But that very much depends on your local CT office - mine isn't bad).

I know that you'll be advised to put a Statement of Affairs on here so that suggestions can be given as to how you can make savings in the future.

Wish I could help more. Good luck!

reallylost

Thanks a lot for that sugarpants.
I got a bit daft this morning and started experimenting with always ultra inside some small swimming trunks!!!
I think I will phone the CT office and let them know whats going on so I dont get hassled

FairyElephant_2

I was really late with my final countil tax payment, and I had been late with one previously in the year so had a letter before.

On the day I paid the last payment I got home to a letter telling me that if I didn't pay my latest installment I would be liable to pay the remaining amount for the whole year in one go! - Duh!

According to the 'water cooler wisdom' of colleagues, they treat each year seperately, so if you are late with several installments this year, they can't stop you paying in installments next year until you default on several of them in that year........so basically I think you will be safe to delay the payment and buy your essentials first. They will write and demand payment if you wait too long anyway.

and in April it all starts again - how much of a horrendous increase will we get to fund our decreasing public services and non-existant police help this year?!?!?

reallylost

Thought I would post my SOA to see if you can think of any extra help.
My DH gets paid weekly so I have to leave 2 weeks wages in to cover the mortgage and other DDs. Should really change the dates on some of them.
We are a family of 5. Me, DH, DD1 (14), DD2 (10) and DS (9 months)

Income
DH wages £254 per week
Tax credit £106 per week
Child Benefit £169.20 every 4 weeks

Total every 4 weeks £1609.20

Outgoing

Mortgage £316.80
Council tax £102.00
TV licence £11.61
AOL £14.99
BT (including old debt) £33.50
Car tax £5.00
Car Insurance £16.00
House Insurance £16.42
Fuel £200.00
Coal (for heat & water) £75.00
Electric (key meter) £40.00
Food/nappies £400.00
School bus fare £50.00

Debt repayments

Council Tax arrears 06 £40.00
HFC (ends Nov 08) £70.08 0%
Capital one £7.00 14.9%
Black Horse £30.00 8%
Halifax loan £127.03 14.9%
O2 £1.00
Dell (ends May 08) £16.06
Direct Auto Finance £30.00 8%
Overdraft interest £33.60
Ace £4.00

TOTAL OUTGOINGS £1639.99

Tiglet

Hi Sam,

The first thing I notice from this is that you're spending £200 on fuel, £75 on coal and £40 on electricity. This seems very high. Do you live somewhere very remote?


Also you're spending £400 a month on food and nappies. That also seems high. Have a look at the Old Style board, as this has lots of ideas for how to make things go further.

These two account for over half of your spending so if you can save money there, it should make a big difference elsewhere.

sugarpants_2

Sam

I used to have food budget of £400 (easily spent with 2 kids I know)

But now ive limited to £200 and its working! Although Im having to buy supermarket branded stuff it works out soo much cheaper. Also I never go to the supermarket until my fridge is TOTALLY bare!

Heres eomthing to make yo feel better..Our rent it £875 and our council tax is £157 a mth.... Think well have to move to Scotland!! haha

reallylost

Hi Tiglet
My OH works 30 miles away and the nearest supermarket is 11 miles away thats why the fuel is so much.
The coal is only during the winter but as it is the only heating and hot water supply we have this is a must.
The electricity has always been like this we just put £10 a week in on the key.
The £400 shopping includes THE DEMON CIGARRETTES so it is our own fault it is so high. Am trying to quit but my willpower is useless.
Thanks for the comments though I will try to cut out fags and look at OS for help with the other shopping.

sugarpants_2

By the way we live in Berkshire (just outside of London)

The house/rent charges are disgustingly high down here and concil tax is awful but I REFUSE to move out of my home county just to save mney! Hoping it will all go back down again soon!! and fast!

sugarpants_2

Give up the fags hun...Im so glad I dnt smoke as I know friends who do and I cant believe how pricey it is!! You poor love.

Maybe cut down by 5 a day and youll save some pennies?