Any more help welcome please.....

SGBM2008

Hi,

I am currently in the process of trying to get on top of my debts and make as much of a dent in clearing them as possible (and as quickly as possible!). My girlfriend and I have been through a lot of the suggestions on this site but am sure we may be missing some stuff so really looking for advice, especially in terms of clearing the actual debts. Not sure where I stand in terms of trying to move to other types of loan/credit cards etc - was made redundant in January and although I have already got another job, it's on a probationary period of 3 months so don't think I can move my debts until I'm at least full time? Have been using Quidco and already made £230 - does anyone have any other quick hit ideas like this that might help get me motivated??

Can anyone help??
Thanks

I have put below my SOA:
Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet


Monthly income after tax................ 1150
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1150

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured loan repayments................. 0
Rent.................................... 480
Management charge (leasehold flat)...... 0
Council tax............................. 65
Electricity............................. 30
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 30
TV Licence.............................. 10
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 10
Groceries etc. ......................... 50
Clothing................................ 15
Petrol/diesel........................... 80
Road tax................................ 15
Car Insurance........................... 20
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 8
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 15
Haircuts................................ 6
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 834

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 600
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 600

No Secured Debt

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Credit Card....................4000......0.........2.25
Loan...........................13000.....212.......0
Overdraft......................600.......0.........1.34
Total unsecured debts..........17600.....212.......-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,150
Expenses (including secure debts)....... 834
Available for debt repayments........... 316
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 212
Surplus(deficit if negative)............ 104

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 600
Total Secured debt...................... -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -17,600
Personal net worth...................... -17,000

Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission.[/font]

======== Enter any other useful information below ========

waggys

I'm assuming you and your partner live together? Has your partner tried to claim any benefits? (even if it is only council tax it all helps). Is it possible your partner could go and get a job? An extra income would speed up the repayment of the debts and make life far more comfortable.

Can you swap your credit card balance to a 0%?

Have you looked at why you have these debts? Is it because you were out of work and needed the money for normal day to day living expenses or otherwise? Are you adding to these debt each month or are you chipping away at them? Can you downsize from your current rented accomodation?
Mobile phone is quite a high payment each month, is this contract? Can you change this to payasyougo and reduce the expenditure?

SGBM2008

Hi there - thanks for your reply. At the moment me and my partner don't live together. She has a job and her own financial commitments.

Have definitely learnt my lesson about getting into debt and have not spent on the credit card or increased the loan for 8 months now so the balance is already better than it was. Also I have managed to get my overdraft down from £1500 to £600. So, it's going ok but just need to make more of a dent in it.

I have considered a 0% credit card but not entirely sure I would be able to get one at this stage and am scared of applying and having one refused and then having that go against me on my credit score if that makes sense??

Will definitely look into the mobile phone amount as I think that's a really good point. Would rather not move at this stage as I have only lived here for a year and again, I'm concious that the credit check would prefer I have lived somewhere for a longer period of time, I think??

Thanks again

itsnever2lateisit?

Put your debt numbers in the snowball calculator at www.whatsthecost.com
From what I can see it would be better to put as much as you can to the credit card as the interest rate is higher than your overdraft

andan

Have you tried ebaying or putting things on Amazon that you no longer need. if you have any old text books these tend to sell well on Amazon. Is any chance you can do overtime in your new job, you'll look keen then as well! Or get a second job to help clear the debt?

Best of luck with it all and am sure with your determination you will get there.

GeorgeUK

Are you paying PPI on the loan - do you really need it? Is that loan 0%??

Are you paying Council tax over 10 months? Can you ask to pay over 12?
Have you checked http://www.entitledto.com/ to see you are claiming everything you should?

tealady

Hi. There are loads of ideas on this site but I will just list a few for you.
Downsize challenge (buying "value" brands.
Grow your own food
Pigsback for free money (there are other daily clicks websites as well, theres a list somewhere)
Surveys (dont bring in much but as Mr T says "every little helps"
Hope your job takes you on F/T permanent then you can really blitz those debts