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tallyhoh

Hi, does your nan claim everything she is entitled to? I am sure she claims AA as you get carers. Have you run it through one of the welfare benefit calculators to see?
Could I ask what the home set up is? Is it nans house & do you pay her rent. I know this may seem a bit personal but why are you paying your nans stuff like dentist? Its very good of you but if she is on a low income she should be able to claim for this sort of thing.
Is the £250 for 2 of you? do you not share the cost? Its an awful lot if its just for one person.
I looked after my FIL who had dementia so I would like to think you were both getting everything you were entitled to.

tealady

Hi Try a local college for haircuts I can get a cut and blow dry for a fiver.

HHH_2

you might find you get your lower payments accepted much more quickly if you have a DMP with someone like CCCS. they have a website and a debt remedy page which you can put all your details into and see what advice they give you.

count_rostov

This sounds obvious, but keep a track of how much you're paying them if you're sending off cheques (if they won't let you set up a standing order). You need to keep a paper trail so that you know when the debt is cleared and you can prove that it's all paid.
As said above, the snowball calculator is brilliant (www.whatsthecost.com) it shows how much you should pay to each debt every month to pay off your debt most efficiently. If you pay off £110 a month they you will be able to pay this off in 4-5 years I think - but remember that your income will increase a bit every year so this will get easier.
Best wishes - you sound like you have a lot on your plate. Don't cut down on your 'going-out' allowance, it's important to have some time for yourself when you're caring for other people.

GeorgeUK

Can i go back a bit here? You say these are old debts - how old.

If no payments have been made towards a debt for 6 years and you have not acknowledged the debt in writing, it may be statute barred and unenforccable.

Who is chasing you for these debts? The original creditor or a Debt Collection Agency (DCA)?
If it's a DCA you could request a copy of your Customer Credit Agreement (CCA). If they are unable to provide it within the required time, then the debt may unenforcable.

4littleone

emmalouisedunn wrote: »

I am thinking maybe I should post it in full?

I get £1300 a month (including care allowance)

I pay per month:
£200 rent
£250 food (including packed lunches and pet food) This is high, i spend £180 a month for 2 adults and 2 kids. Try the old style board for tips on cleaning products and recipes for batch cooking etc. Where do you shop? Have you got an Aldi or a Lidl near you, can you get store cupboard items from your local asian shop, do you meal plan each week and shop only for the things you need?
£75 car insurance (ouch!) can't get any cheaper due to a previous claim I bet you could beat this, try quidco website, you can get cashback on your insurance there as well.
£78 travel card Whats this for? Can you cut it or get rid? Can you walk or cycle to work and to visit friends etc.
£100 petrol (driving my nan around to appointments, etc.) Can this be cut? See above.
£25 haircut (£50 every 2 months) Your local college and some local salons will do trainee nights, you will pay a max of £10 for a cut and blowdry.
£50 going out money
£50 put away for xmas presents and yearly family holiday This is a lot to save for presents etc. Make your own, try a website called Brambleberry to make soap, lotions etc, Etsy is good for cheap but beautiful and quirky gifts. Holidays should wait really if things are that tight.
£20 home phone This and your internet is expensive, have a look for a better provider or ask your current one to downgrade the package.
£10 Internet
£10 TV licence Your mum and nan should be contributing towards this, your wage is just as low as theirs.
£17 Nan's Sky Get rid of this and get a freeview box. Sky isn't essential.
£37 pet insurance (2 dogs and a cat) Shop around for a better deal for this.
£40 electricity Swtich off anything on standby, only boil water for one cup of tea, turn off lights etc.
£20 gas Switch the heating off now and cook meals for everyone at the same time.
£62.50 loan payment
£25 share save scheme at work
£100 miscellaneous - emergencies, things my nan needs, dentist, bills, etc. Start a spending diary and look at what you spend on. I think it's lovely that you help your nan and your mum but they have to manage their own budgets too. Even a paper or a magazine every day can really make a difference to your budget.

Hi, i think it sounds like you're doing a fantastic job but you really need to check that you are getting all the benefits you are entitled too and you also need to stop taking on all the responsibility.
Your nan will be getting a pension and your mum is getting a wage, they need to budget as well. It looks like you are paying all of the bills in the household, this is not sustainable for you and it may need your mum to help out abit more to even this out.
Can you sit down with your mum and show her your budget?Perhaps if she sees exactly what you are paying for each month she might be able to find a way to help a bit more?

debtmuncher

hi!
are you all sharing the same house? you could maybe change over to freeview (just as good) and getting a free trial of dvds from blockbuster/tescos/lovefilms. get those oldies in for her!!