Bunny's New Life SOA~Comments Welcome

Bunnyinthelights

Well, here goes: I've never done an SOA but now that I am single, I REALLY need to stick to this like glue. I know I have over estimated on some bills but I'd rather be paying too much then be wacked with a great big bill!
Also, my wages are what they are currently but do not include any commission I will be earning (that won't be for a few months-and the excess I plan on saving and use towards F&F's to bring my DF date sooner.) I also am wondering, I have available to me some money from OH from the split and I was planning on using it to pay off some of my creditors. What do you think?

INCOMINGS:
wages: £770
working/child tax credits: £1139
CHB: £125
__________= £2034

OUTGOINGS:
Rent: £650
Water: £26.64
Council Tax: £90
Gas: £40 (high, I know but this is what I have estimated?)
Electricity: £40 (as above)
Telephone/BB/TV: £30
TV Licence: £27 (paying it over 5 months?)
Car Insurance: £15
Car Maintenance/MOT/Service/Tax: £30
Food: £250 (I know this is high but I have not included a budget for clothes as I tend to buy at ASDA, Tesco etc)
Petrol: £90
Mobile: £40 (I am in a contract until dec '09 and cannot lower tarrif until Oct)
Childcare: £294-OH os paying for the rest of childcare in lieu of maintenance-he is claiming the vouchers and I am looking into this as well.
DMP Payment: £300
______________________________£1931

leaving £100.

Have I forgot anything? Obviously the £100 will go towards birthday/Xmas/entertainment for me andthe kids per month.


Please be gentle....

Gemmzie

* The TV license will be for six months then it'll drop to about £12
* Is the Council Tax with 25% discount?
* Gas and leccy, personally I'd suggest going onto a fixed tariff as your on a DMP then you're safe guarded into your budget

Apart from that I think it's looking good

immoral_angeluk

INCOMINGS:
wages: £770
working/child tax credits: £1139
CHB: £125
__________= £2034

OUTGOINGS:
Rent: £650
Water: £26.64 Is this over 8 or 10 months? If so ask them to extend it to 12.
Council Tax: £90 Have you checked if you're eligible for housing/council tax ben? Unlikely because of your income but worth looking into.
Gas: £40 (high, I know but this is what I have estimated?)
Electricity: £40 (as above) Have you estimated this or is this what the comapnies have estimated? Keep tabs of your meter readings and input them online if you can, and as soon as it looks like you're paying too much get them to reduce it.
Telephone/BB/TV: £30
TV Licence: £27 After 5 months you'll go back onto the 12 monthly tariff. At the moment you're effectively playing 'catch up' until the new 'year' comes in.
Car Insurance: £15
Car Maintenance/MOT/Service/Tax: £30
Food: £250 (I know this is high but I have not included a budget for clothes as I tend to buy at ASDA, Tesco etc)
Petrol: £90
Mobile: £40 (I am in a contract until dec '09 and cannot lower tarrif until Oct)
Childcare: £294- I'm presuming you're getting some childcare element with your tax credits? If not check up on it. Generally if you're on a low income you'll be worse off claiming the childcare vouchers yourself. We looked into it and we were better off getting childcare element of tax credits.
DMP Payment: £300 Any chance as now your circumstances have changed you can have this reviewed?

Bunnyinthelights

Thanks guys,
Right, Yes to discount for Council Tax, I am living in a Band C area. I did figure that about the TV licence, but nice to have it confirmed. I just signed up for Scottish Power Fixed Gas/Electric as I would rather know what I am paying...so glad I did the rigt thing!

Water:hum, I *think* that was 12 months IA, but will confirm that when I get the paperwork.

As for the vouchers, I just assumed it would be worth me claiming? I have claimed the child care element so perhaps I should just leave as is?

I have a review for my DMP beg of June but I am not too keen on lowering the payments as I want to get rid of the debt one day!!!!!! lol

Thanks guys. Anyone else???

ZTD

Hello Bunny... <insert picture of bunny girl here>

What about contents insurance?

Also explicitly putting an amount aside for birthdays etc, and writing down which birthdays etc the money is for, helps focus the mind.

How many people will you be feeding?

:grouphug:

Bunnyinthelights

I did look into contents-I will again as well, just not got it sorted yet. I will go via quidco as well

My groceries are for me and the 2 kids-as I said, I know that it is a bit high but I'm kind of thinking it's £62 a week for food and clothes, school uniforms, kids clothes, clothes for me for work etc. (I shop at Tesco and George almost exclusively-I also use any vouchers I get towards 'special' treats like an odd 'NEXT' shop)

Bunnyinthelights

Just to point out- Joe has grown 6 cm since end of Oct and Freya has grown 3 cm since end of MArch!!! !!!!!!! No wonder they look like gypos all the time, must stop feeding the little blood suckers so much...(joke) so clothes are needed.

Gemmzie

Bun, you can't claim Childcare element and your OH claim Childcare vouchers even if you're split. It's one or the other.

boredofbeingathome

Hi Bunny, well done for getting sorted.
Single person council tax discount is 25% and i am pretty sure it isn't means tested.

jinky67

Bunnyinthelights wrote: »

Just to point out- Joe has grown 6 cm since end of Oct and Freya has grown 3 cm since end of MArch!!! !!!!!!! No wonder they look like gypos all the time, must stop feeding the little blood suckers so much...(joke) so clothes are needed.

my 2 never stop growing:o

Bunnyinthelights

I have got the 25% discount....

And thanks Bob xxx feeling more in control although the budget does scare me slightly...