Um, help and advice please?

Hawthorn

Hi, I'm looking for advice on paying off debts.

I suck at budgeting just lately - everything has gotten out of control.
First, I split with my partner four years back, and as we weren't married and the house was in his name? Well, you get the picture, I had to start again.
Then I met my husband. We were doing ok. Minimum wage jobs, the credit card started to creep up.
Then, we got flooded. Somehow along with the insurance money we managed to max it out. Eating out every night and there being six of us certainly didn't help, but we had no cooker and for a while we were living in the house that had been bathed in sewage water (ew) and I wasn't going to cook in that even if I had had a cooker.
We currently rent. It's a low rent, which goes in our favour. Our main problem is the credit card. As I said, we maxed it, but I am having trouble getting my head together to sort out a budget. I just can't seem to make it balance.
My husband now has a better job, thankfully (he's a police officer) so we should be able to sort it.
What doesn't help is that we have a Mitsi shogun. It's quite heavy on petrol, but it's the only thing big enough to carry all of my kids and stepson, and we do go camping because it's the only holiday we can afford to have.
I KNOW I must be going wrong somewhere, and it's up to me to sort it out.
We can't get rid of the car. My husband needs it to get to work. (it's currently costing us at LEAST £180 per month in fuel He has to commute to work see, and he works strange hours so public transport not an option. We have contemplated buying a smaller one, but a) we don't have the available funds without selling the Mitsi, and b) would it be any cheaper by the time we have to pay insurance, tax, mot etc on that one as well as the mitsi?
I am horrified that I have let it get this far, but all my motivation is at zero at the minute and I really need to sort this out. It's weighing heavily on my mind.

lil_monkey

Don't worry You will get it sorted, if you can post your SOA (statement of Affairs) so we can then see what you can tweek to get the balance correct - everyone here is lovely so will be able to help.

Big hugs for posting x x x

Lil monkey

Hawthorn

Thanks Lil Monkey. Where do I post that?

Puzzledbubbles

Hi Hawthorn,

I didnt want to read and run, you are definately in the right place, one of the more experienced members will be along soon im sure, the first thing they will ask for is a SOA (see the sticky at the top of the forum)

Also, the most popular time on the baords is in the evening so dont take it to heart if you dont get many responses this afternoon.

Puzzled

xx

Hawthorn

Ok, SOA

Husbands income - about £900 per month, after taxes.
Child benefit - £200
CTC - £400? Due to change this year I think.
maintenance - £50


Debts
Credit card £6000
Next card £200
Gas and electric £500 (paid off at £40 per month)
Council tax £110
Gas and electric £80
Tv license £10
Fuel for car £200
Groceries £400
Clothing £50
Internet £30
Telephone £20
Mobile phones (contract) £60
Insurance (house) £15
Car insurance £50
MOT £20
Tax £20
Water £50
Rent £300

The credit card and next card I usually pay off at minimum amount. Credit card is about £150 I think, and the next card £25

And, if I am totally and brutally honest, we spend money on daft things like magazines etc etc

It's a nightmare.

Ames

I'm sure the real experts will be along soon but a couple of things jumped out at me. The internet seems high, I pay £18 and think that's a bit much. Also the groceries seem high, how many is that for?

Hawthorn

Oh, and we are heavy smokers. We spend on average £80 a week on tobacco.

You know, it's even worse putting it all out here for everyone to see. We're never going to be able to buy our own house at this rate.

Ames

Ouch, that's a lot! If you can't stop could you switch to roll your own?

And try not to stress too much, there's never been a problem that can't be sorted on here!

Hawthorn

Ames wrote: »

I'm sure the real experts will be along soon but a couple of things jumped out at me. The internet seems high, I pay £18 and think that's a bit much. Also the groceries seem high, how many is that for?

That is for six of us. Two teenage boys included in that figure. That's everything - not just food. Wash powder (we get through a lot of that, toiletries etc. I don't use feminine hygiene stuff as I bought a mooncup to save on that.
I know I could probably cut down on that, but I have a morbid FEAR of having empty cupboards. Seriously. I can't cope if they even get halfway down. I have a shedful of food :embarasse

floss2

Hawthorn wrote: »

Ok, SOA

Husbands income - about £900 per month, after taxes.
Child benefit - £200
CTC - £400? Due to change this year I think.
maintenance - £50


Debts
Credit card £6000 can we have balance/APR/monthly payment
Next card £200 can we have balance/APR/monthly payment
Gas and electric £500 (paid off at £40 per month)
Council tax £110
Gas and electric £80
Tv license £10
Fuel for car £200
Groceries £400 this is a lot - get over to the Old Style board & get some help to cut this
Clothing £50 every month?!
Internet £30
Telephone £20
Mobile phones (contract) £60 drop a tariff or go PAYG
Insurance (house) £15
Car insurance £50
MOT £20
Tax £20
Water £50
Rent £300

The credit card and next card I usually pay off at minimum amount. Credit card is about £150 I think, and the next card £25

And, if I am totally and brutally honest, we spend money on daft things like magazines etc etc

It's a nightmare.

Ok, start a spending diary to see exactly where your money goes.

And can you put exact amounts down, rather than rounding to the nearest £10, as it gives a more accurate figure. Also, check out OH's take home pay, your CB and tax credits so you can do the same for these amounts too.

Do your children have pocket money? Do you eat out anytime, or go to the cinema? What about birthday & Christmas presents? Holiday savings?

Merlot

Hawthorn wrote: »

Ok, SOA

Husbands income - about £900 per month, after taxes.
Child benefit - £200
CTC - £400? Due to change this year I think.
maintenance - £50


Debts
Credit card £6000 - what is the APR on this, can you get a low balance transfer card?
Next card £200 - Pay this off first, it has a high APR
Gas and electric £500 (paid off at £40 per month)
Council tax £110
Gas and electric £80
Tv license £10
Fuel for car £200
Groceries £400
Clothing £50
Internet £30 - too high
Telephone £20
Mobile phones (contract) £60 - Can you reduce the tariffs on this or get rid of completely
Insurance (house) £15
Car insurance £50
MOT £20
Tax £20
Water £50
Rent £300

The credit card and next card I usually pay off at minimum amount. Credit card is about £150 I think, and the next card £25

And, if I am totally and brutally honest, we spend money on daft things like magazines etc etc

It's a nightmare.

Your debts are not bad at all, you have asked for help at the right time, I have added comments in above, I have just noticed that you are smokers, you really need to try and give this up.

Do you have SKY etc?

Merlot.x.

p.s. I too live in East Yorkshire:D