I'm giving it a go please help.

becks.989

I have been around here for a while and already live the dfw lifestyle but i have never put my situation to anyone before.

We have been in a lot worse state than this and are finally coming out of it. but with one child going to secondary school in sept and one just started primary in Jan. I seem to be finding it more and more difficult.

So here is me and my situation. ( credit rating is crap, but we are managing to pay them off little by little)


Outgoings

Swiftcover car insurance £31.00
BT + Broadband (in contract till jan 09) £59.00
Water £55.00 (this year and arrears from 07)
Sky £18.00
C/t £159.00 (this years and arrears from 07)
Rent £425.00
Tv licence £27.50
Electric £80.00

Advantage finance (Car loan) £300.75 29.9%apr
Mum and Dad Loan £144.00 don't know the apr but have 4 years left to pay.
Capital one mine £15.00 (£197.00 remaining)
Capital One husband £35.00 (£427.00 remaining)
Provident Loan £72.00 (£554.00 remaining) something like 175% apr
Catalogue £40.00 (199.00 remaining)
Total: £1481.25
Incomings
My wages £225.00
Husbands wages £1240.00
Tax credits £160.00
Child benifit £120.00

Total: £1745.00

Left over for Food, Petrol and misc is £263.75


Please be gentle.:o

Becks

~Beanie~

Just a couple of thoughts, do you REALLY need Sky? At the vert least could you drop down a package and get it cheaper? Have you shopped around for the car insurance to see if you can get it cheaper? TV licence seems expensive, should be c£12 per month? You really need to get your phone bill down when your contract ends in Jan 09, £59 is very high!

Josie12

Hiya...just a little question....why are you finding it more difficult now the kids are at school?? am now vvvvvvvv worried, my eldest starts school next september and I was seriously hopinh things would be easier.....:-(

becks.989

Hi thanks for the answers. they are all very helpful and no it isn't my daughter starting school the problem it is my older one having to have everything his mates have and me feeling bad saying no cause we can't affiord it. I have been on a half price full subscription with sky since december but it has gone up again this month.

I know the phone package is high but my husband does a lot of work from home over the internet and bt is the only provider we get a reliable conection with.

anybody else is willing to chip in as well. the more the merrier

Blackruby

Tell your son if he has to have everything his mates have, he should get a job and save himself.........or if he isn't old enough for a paper round or something like that, see if your neighbours have cars that need washing, or lawns that need mowing, that will give him a bit of cash of his own so he'll start learning how to spend it.

rayday2

I think you have to say no to your daughter.

My eldest started secondary school this year and its her birthday in July - she said she wanted a Jane Norman bag or something because her friends had one. I told her no - she had two school bags both perfectly OK and if they all had the same bags she would never find hers!

My middle daughter wanted some TY clothes for her dolls and again I asked her what special event was coming up she said none - so I said there you go then you can wait till your birthday otherwise it takes away specialness of occassions if you get things all the time.

Its hard but parenting is about more than just providing. My girls know I spend more time and support them more in their school work etc than others and the pay off for that is less money!

becks.989

I think you have to say no to your daughter.

My eldest started secondary school this year and its her birthday in July - she said she wanted a Jane Norman bag or something because her friends had one. I told her no - she had two school bags both perfectly OK and if they all had the same bags she would never find hers!

My middle daughter wanted some TY clothes for her dolls and again I asked her what special event was coming up she said none - so I said there you go then you can wait till your birthday otherwise it takes away specialness of occassions if you get things all the time.

Its hard but parenting is about more than just providing. My girls know I spend more time and support them more in their school work etc than others and the pay off for that is less money!

This is exactly how i feel. My husband and i made the discision that i would stay at home with the 3 children and he would work (he does 52 hours a week). I found a job at night (10 hours per week) when my ds was born because thats when we realised we had to get out of the mess we are in. I don't want anyone else looking after my children and already have lined up extra work when my ds goes to nursey in sept for two afternoons.

I feel like i say no all the time at the moment but They are all very bright and will do very well in school, If only they could see this as well as me.

becks.989

Just got off the phone to sky. my package is now down to £18 per month. that money can go on my Husbands credit card. Many thanks

peb

OK, so you will have a little extra to throw at the debts. Can you spend a little time on the old style board for help with shoppomg - You have not itemised how much you may for groceries and petrol etc - do you know? Perhaps a spending diary would be usefil. ALso how much longer is the loan to mum and dad and the car finance? You don't have the APRs but usually Provident is ludicrous and it may be preferable to throw any spare money at that to get shut.

Keep posting!

churchrat

hi
just wanted to say hello and well done for getting as far as you have--its not easy. No advice I'm afraid, but wanted to say don't worry about your children. You both sound like great parents and have given alot of thought to what makes for a really good childhood and know its not about having "things". it doesn't matter if you say "no" when they want things-- you are their mum and not their best friend. They can have friends at school who are their own age, but will always need a parent to give stability and a home. Saying all that, I know its really difficult when all their friends have stuff they want and don't have, but in the great scheme of life "stuff" is not important. They will see it as important one day!!!!!

beanielou

Is there anything you could ebay/car boot to help you to get rid of the smallest debts?
Good luck!