Hello I'm new

dancingfairy

o.k so you are spending at least £20 a month more than you have. I say at least because I'm sure you must have haircuts/birthdays to buy for/clothes-you need to buy some every so often/shoes/prescriptions/eye tests/dentists etc.
My salary - £448.56[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/rach/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.jpg[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/rach/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/rach/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]
Benefits - £453. 32
Child Benefits- £75.00
Total - £901.88

[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/rach/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.jpg[/IMG]Rent £360.00 - £40 to clear the over payment
Water included in rent £ 27.60
Council Tax 104.61 - £11 more to clear over payment
House and internet £15.00 dont use phone (contract for 14month)
Mobile £20.00 never over spend (contract for 16months) - phone them see if youcan lower it to say £15 a month -say xyz companyare doing however many minutes for 15 and I want you to match/better it. You can but try. Be persistent.
House insurance £11.30 would like find cheeper
Sky £19.00 (contract for 7months) can you be downgraded?cut anypackages you don't need? phone up and tell them you want to downgrade.
TV licence £11.61
Pet insurance £10.71 this seems quite high to be. I don't have a pet but other people don't seem to be paying quite so much ontheir pet insurance I don't think.
Bus pass £34.00 - ask at college/uni for any discounts/also ask bus co. what discounts there are for students.
Elec £35 i'm up No money out stnding on gas and elec try and cut this down - energy saving bulbs/nothing on standby etc.
Gas £20
Childcare this tearm 5week £30
School dinners this tearm 5weeks £19.00
Littlewoods £10.00
Cap One £20.00
Food shopping £100- £120 see if the Moneysavingoldstyle board can help here.
Dinners at work £10.00 packed lunch needed here I think.
Total out goings £850.00

Debts
Littlewoods £1000.01 paying £10month
Cap one £482.90 paying £20.00 month
Over payment of rent £1000 paying £40 month

Don't forget ebay/car boot everything you don't need and a spending diary is essential.

Good Luck - you can definitely get this sorted.

GingerSte

Hi mammame.

Thanks for posting the SOA. My main comments are:

1. Council tax: If you haven't got the single person discount, make sure you get it. That would save you £26 per month (and don't forget that with some councils they only charge you for 10 months out of 12). I know that this has already been mentioned but it's an easy win!
2. Make sure you get the cheapest supplier for your gas, electricity, pet insurance, etc. Martin's written loads of articles on the main part of this site so check them out for the best time and method of switching. Also, it may be worth looking at ways of cutting your gas and electricity usage (ie not wasting it by leaving lights/tv on, central heating on while you're out etc).
3. It may be worth dropping the Sky once the contract is up, and getting a Freeview box. For the equivalent of a couple of months of Sky it will be worth it in the long run.
4. Is there any way of getting your debts onto a lower rate. I don't know the figures but I reckon that the Littlewoods debt will hardly be going down at all. If you can get your interest reduced by transferring it onto a 0% credit card (for 9 months or so), then your monthly payments will go towards reducing your debt rather than just paying interest.
5. Your SOA shows a £50 per month surplus that presumably you can't account for. This is only £1.66 per day. As I said earlier it's those small purchases that add up. Get yourself a small pad and keep a record of everything you spend. You'll be surprised!
6. Is there any way of (legally) earning any more money? Can your childs father contribute anything?

Hope this helps!

GingerSte.

tallyhoh

Re: Overpaid housing benefit--can you try to get the repayment on this reduced? £40 a month is a fair bit out of your income.

Send them a copy of your SOA & an offer to pay £10 per month. They can only say no.

Surfbabe

If you are getting child tax benefit but not working tax credit you should be able to claim for free school meals - that will save you £19 a month.

dancingfairy

Oh just wanted to say if switching gas/elec etc go sign up to Quidco then click through the links and you get cashback as well. Bargain. PS I haven't tried this myself but other people seem to swear by it and I would if I could, lol.

mammame

Thank for all your replys i try to answer every ones question.

My son dad is not round and has not been for 7 years. a few months ago i was told he would pay £2.50 a week. since then i've had nothing i no every one going to think i'm a fool but i've not going to talk his money he made no effort with him the 7 years he been alive it me that done it all. That pride talking
I get child tax benefit and working tax credit so i can get free school dinners.
Over payment of housing ben that can not be changed i need to pay £40 an month as they feel i can afford it.
Council tax i do get single person discount
My mobile is £15.00 an month now my mastake
Sky i've just put it down to £18,00 month
My little woods and cap one are now the hand of debt companys i pay them a set amount each month with a review each 3 months i pay no intrest.
Pet insurance is too high for 2 cats young age i can get it lower the same with my house insurance but they want a fee and i works out £30.00 each i don't have that money i've got good no claims aswell.
I never said i'm only a part time stuidy

My salary - £448.56
Benefits - £453. 32
Child Benefits- £75.00
Total - £901.88

outgoing a month
Rent £360.00 - £40 to clear the over payment
Water included in rent £ 27.60
Council Tax 104.61 - £11 more to clear over payment
House and internet £15.00 dont use phone (contract for 14month)
Mobile £1.00 never over spend (contract for 16months)
Sky £19.00 (contract for 7months)
TV licence £11.61
House insurance £11.30 would like find cheeper but need to pay fee to leave
Pet insurance £10.71
Bus pass £34.00
Elec £35 over paid by £132
Gas £20 over paid by £176
Childcare this tearm 5week £30
School dinners this tearm 5weeks £19.00
Littlewoods £10.00
Cap One £20.00
Food shopping £100- £120
Dinners at work £10.00 a month
Total out goings £850.00

Debts
Littlewoods £1000.01 paying £10month all with no inrest
Cap one £482.90 paying £20.00 month
Over payment of rent £1000 paying £40 month

RAS

Have you

1. Asked for the CCA on either the littlewoods or cap one accounts?

2. Reclaimed any charges made to either account in the last 6 years?

Also have a look here http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/make-money for ways of making a small amount extra each month. Surveys and clicks do not affect your benefits or tax.

And have you join the local group of www.freecycle.org - like e-bay but the stuff is free?

CheeseCat

Hi,

Just my two cents on the Pet insurance.

If the £10 odd is for two cats, that is actually rather good. We pay £21 for our three cats (but that is with M&S who are really good at paying out etc. I keep meaning to change to AXA as they underwrite M&S but are cheaper but I keep forgetting!)

Who are you with for the Pet Insurance?

Other than that, I will leave it to the experts but wanted to say good luck becoming debt free! :T

One day I may even post my own SOA instead of reading everyone elses :rotfl: