Another lurker comes out of the shadows

goccogal

Hi

I have been lurking for some time but am now waking up to the fact I need to seriously sort myself out. A big thank you in advance of any suggestions!




Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1100
Expenses (including secure debts)....... 908
Available for debt repayments........... 192
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 92
Surplus(deficit if negative)............ 100

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 94300
(Assets less secured debt).............. 33300
Total liabilities(what you owe)......... 72200
Personal net worth...................... 22100

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 0 - NO JOB!
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 1100 - Paid out of a settlement from previous employer

Total monthly income.................... 1100

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 398 - 4.29 fixed until July 08 - new deal would be 3 yr fixed at 5.69 443 per month
Secure loan repayments.................. 0
Council tax............................. 69 - 25% SPD inc. Over 10 months
Electricity............................. 20?
Gas..................................... 20? On a prepayment - am wanting to change
Water rates............................. 28 - Have applied for water meter
Telephone (land line)................... 11 - BT but don`t use it
Mobile phone............................ 25 - Tmobile flext
TV Licence.............................. 11
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 8 - not in the house only on my phone
Groceries etc. ......................... 190 - high but this is a joint shop with partner - see below for the saga
Clothing................................ 20
Haircuts................................ 10 - twice a year if my hair is lucky
Entertainment........................... 10 - hardly go out and don`t drink or smoke
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0 - although when I get a job this will be approx 80
Buildings insurance..................... 55 - inc contents
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 5
Other insurance......................... 8 - mobile phone - think I will ditch this
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 20
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 908

Secure Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 61000....(398)......4.29
Total secured debts........... 61000.....N/A.......N/A

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
NORTHERN ROCK..................3000......92........8.1
ABBEY..........................8200......0.........0 - Have just transferred 2 cards to Abbey 0% till Dec `08
Total unsecured debts..........11200.....92........N/A

Assets
Cash.................................... 3300
House value (Gross)..................... 91000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 94300

As you will see I have NO JOB. To cut a long story short I was sacked last May. I did not do anything wrong. I put in a complaint under health and safety procedures 2 years prior to my dismissal and was subsequently bullied from then on. My union told me not to leave so had to wait til they dismissed me as the case for tribunal was a very strong one. It was a hugh relief to be out of there but in hindsight I have really made a mess of things since.

I was paid off my the employer in July 07 and thus signed a confidentiality agreement - (no one knows me so what I have said above is ok!). I took some time out with my stash, enrolled in a creative part-time course as I have re-discovered my creative side and thought that by xmas I would have a job. I have been trying to set up a crafting sideline to get some extra money but I do not seem to be getting any where. I have since gone for jobs but always have to declare that I was dismissed but am not allowed to defend myself as I am not allwed to discuss what happened due to confidentiality agreement. To anyone else it just looks like I did something very bad/wrong to get sacked.

This is where is gets a bit confusing. I live nearly full-time with my partner. He has his own mortgage etc and I contribute to food bill etc. He has been a saint through all this and works away alot so I stay to look after the master in the house - the cat. I have my own house and pay all the bills as above. I bought it as a bit of a wreck and have been doing it up for the past 5 years with a little help from a few cowboys :mad:. So although I have now found a fantastic builder guy I am still at a stage where I could not rent out the house (still in disrepair in part) or spare room as that is supposed to be my sewing room for my cottage industry empire that I have not yet go off the ground .

I do not want to sell the house (OH are not at a stage where we would buy together) or rent it out but perhaps I am not being realistic or practical. I seem to be very demotivated (LAZY PERHAPS ) at the moment just when I need to be motivated and give myself a kick up the posterior. Because I have been staying alot at OH I have not claimed any JSA nor have I signed on for my NI contributions. Stupid :eek:

The bottom line is I need a job. However I know it is not going to cover my outgoings. My mortgage will be increasing by about £45 and at the moment I can`t shop around as I have no income. I need to get a job. I feel as if I have wasted a golden opportunity to better myself and self esteem after being sacked. I have just had my head in the clouds or sand thinking `everything will be ok`.

Am about to stick loads of `I`ll never get into that again` clothes on ebay, have magazines/books I could flog and spent most of my time seeking every free bingo on Gala yesterday, strips `purchased` - zillions - money won - zilch!

Until I get that job I can`t discuss a DMP can I?

I know it is all rather rambling.

Thanks for letting me bleat on.

shinyhead

Hi, and welcome! I was a bit of a lurker too for a while.

I'd still suggest you call one of the debt charities and discuss your situation. I don't think it matters at all whether your'e employed or not for setting up a DMP, after all one of the big reasons for having a debt problem is losing a job. Their numbers are listed all over this forum.

smithywilko

I am in no way qualified to help you but thought I would just say welcome and good luck with sorting it all out. I'm sure someone will be along very soon to help you improve the situation.

Cleosmum

Hmm well, if it were me, I think I would buy my own food and then you can make cuts. If you arent spending much time at home then I would be tempted to sell and rent a room somewhere, maybe in your OH house Go and sign on, and apply for council tax benefit at the very least. You may not get anywhere with them as you have £1100 a month coming in, they might count that as income even though its a pay out, double check. I think you could sign on on contributions based JSA?

Also shop around for cheaper buildings & contents, £55 a month seems very high. Go via quidco for cashback.

goccogal

Thanks for the welcomes and advice.

I am going to contact some of the debt helplines to sort this mess out but I think the mess will only get silghtly better when I get that job. I am stupid as I see a job and it is not enough to cover my outgoings so don`t go for it. What I need to do is just get A job and go from there with the debt.

My BUILDINGS AND CONTENTS ins is up next month so will be shopping around. Thanks for the advice on Quidco - have just signed up :T

I really don`t want to sell the house as I will never be able to get my foot on the ladder again. I know it is a very practical and sensible idea but it has taken me till I was 38 to eventually get my own place after years of house shares. Perhaps I am just being stubborn! Rents here would not be much less than the mortgage I`M paying although I may be able to get Housing Benefit if I rented. Once it is in a fit to state I will be spending more time there as I will have the space to get my sewing sideline up and running. Currently live with OH but most of my belongings etc are at my house as there is no room here. I am sure the OH would be more than happy to rent me a room though - at least I would be contributing to the household! The idea of buying my own food does appeal as I don`t spend that much for myself but feel that it is my way of contributing to the household as OH won`t take any other money from me.

Once I move into the house and then can perhaps take in a lodger in the short term. I know needs must and beggers can`t be choosers.

Thanks again!

all_hours

goccogal wrote: »

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
NORTHERN ROCK..................3000......92........8.1
ABBEY..........................8200......0.........0 - Have just transferred 2 cards to Abbey 0% till Dec `08
Total unsecured debts..........11200.....92........N/A

Assets
Cash.................................... 3300
House value (Gross)..................... 91000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 94300

how long will you get the 1100 a month. as long as you get this income its unlikely youll be eligible for housing benefits.

3300 in cash - could you pay off northern rock with this. also 8200 on cards - minimum payment would be 2-3% of balance so 162- 246 per month.

190 a month on groceries is high - assuming your partner contributes an equal amount to the bill. the cccs guideline for two people is 200. if you did go on a dmp - you would have to reduce this spending.

Cleosmum

What do you have left to do to the house? Whats stopping you from getting it done? Money? Feel overwhelmed by it all? My garage is chocka, and I could get it done in a day, but its taken me over a year, its just so overwhelming! In the last year I have gone and bought new items rather than have to go in the garage and search, I am now so ashamed to admit that! Severe depression didnt help, thats my defence m'lud!

TotallyBroke

Were you asked not to mention the tribunal at all or just the ins and outs of it? Someone a lot cleverer than me may advise better. But I would've thought you could say you were dismissed and as a result went to a tribunal which you are not able to discuss due to confidentiality clause that you agreed to.
It may help in getting a job.

goccogal

Cleosmum! You`ve hit the nail on the head. After nightmare times with cowboys I am finally getting somewhere with the house. But is is such a mess that it does overwhelm me many a time. I just seem to move things around and not get anywhere. The spare room was chocka but it took me a couple of hours this week to make it more reasonable - I have been putting if off for 3 years so don`t beat your self up about the garage! I have nothing in my defence either! I hope that you`re feeling better. Depression is just so debilitating but I hope that you`re ok.

I need to get the house straight and plumbing sorted properly before I get the job as it will never get done otherwise. For someone whose main jobs have been planning and organizing I just can`t seem to get my own house in order.

All_hours - the 3300 part of this is to get the house finished. I have thought about paying the loan off but not sure as would not have the ready cash to get it finished although would free up 92 per month! There are no early repayment charges on it so will have another think about it. The 1100 will be running out in the next 2 months. As the food bill is going to be cut the cat will be in a sulk. He has to have the most expensive food (total £8 per week :eek: )- silly really because he doesn`t have to - it is us who buy the stuff. He will have to go back to the cheapest and live with it.

Thanks again

goccogal

Totallybroke - we did not get to tribunal as the employer wanted to get rid of the issue asap. So I took the devils money as I wanted to move on. Unfortunately my solicitor said that I have to put dismmised on application forms/at interviews if asked (why did you leave last job etc) as that is the fact. I took the money as a settlement for any claim for unfair dismissal but it still means I have to declare the dismissal. I have said to prospective employers that yes I was dismissed but my employer settled my claim for unfair dismissal and I can`t discuss it any further due to confidentiality. Reading that it seems that the employer accepts it dismissed me unfairly but I am not getting to the interview stage having put that on my applications. A friend in HR has stated that even though I may have the right qualifications/experience if there is a candidate with similair who has never been sacked the odds are heavily stacked against me as the other person is less of a `risk`. It annoys me as the ex-employer gave me a great reference as part of the settlement!

tyllwyd

It's a tiny point, and a long way off, but if you think your unemployment might drag on for several years it would be worth asking at the Jobcentre if you should sign on so that you can be credited with NI contributions for your pension. I'm not sure what the rules are, but it would be worth finding out to make sure you protect your position for the future.