I need to get my finances in control

Queen.Bess

Hi Tony and welcome! You will receive so much help and advice here - you won't know how you lived before!

Regarding utilities, go to uswitch.com to make sure you're not paying over the odds and if you want to switch companies, go to quidco.com - cashback website that you might be able to get some moneyback from.

Good luck and keep us posted about your progress!

Sammy_Girl

Hi Tony,

I just wanted to say hi and welcome :hello: . You will get some great advice on here, everyone is so helpful and non judgemental. I might be a good idea to put down the APRs on your debts, and the time remaining on them. Have you called any of the debt charities to see what they advise?

Sammy x

Tonylpool

Thanks Sammy

I approached acompany called Your Clear 2 years ago and that is the £100 which keeps all my creditors off my back! My main outgoing is my catch up on CSA payments. I wanted to pay all along but they would never give me an accurate figure and now i have a backlog to clear. I am also due a variation form from them which I have been waiting for 8 weeks now as I know I was entitled to a reduction because I lived in the south and my children in the north and i travelled to visit them every fortnight.

I have overpaid tax for the year 2007-2008 too because Iwas taxed on having a company vehicle which they did not supply, so waiting for my P11D to claim this back, should be about £1k. They also promised me a car allowance worth £180 pm for the last 12 months too and have gone back on their word with that too, so I'm now chasing HR over that. Should be changing jobs soon nearer to home which will save on fuel and hopefully £1k-£2k in salary rise. Finally, I have a compensation claim going on as a result of a car accident and hope to see something from this too!

Sorry for the waffle!!! I am just so pleased people want to help, I spend my time doing voluntary work for charities but have never asked for help myself, I feel really moved!!!!!

Thanks Sammy x

Totallyfedup

Hi Tonylpool,

I haven't posted on here in a while but I visit often. You will get plenty of advice and support on this forum so stick with it. Without this forum I really don't know what I would have done, the guys and gals offer some of the best advice there is!

TurnaroundSue

Hi Tony and welcome to the boards. I am not an expert at this and maybe someone else can give a clearer picture, but I notice that you are using a company called Clear for your dmp. Like I say, not an expert at all in this area (or any other come to think of it!!!:D ) but are you paying them a fee for your dmp - if so, could you cancel them and go to one of the debt charities where everything is done for free and therefore ALL your repayment go to paying off your debt and not lining the pockets of a company?

Hopefully, somebody can put you on the right road for this - or it maybe that you are on it already?!?

Take care and good luck with your debt free journey.

PS I used to work for a bank and have always been cr*p with money, so goes to prove that just coz you work for a financial instituation doesn't mean you know a jot about money!!!:D Also was an administrator for a charity with a £600k budget which I managed very well (even if I say so myself!) and my OH could never get over how I could look after those pennies quite ably, but was absolutely horrendous with the household budget - couldn't explain it either

Sorry will stop rambling now - promise

Krasnoludek

Hi there,


I recently started on a DMP and have been analysing my monthly outgoings constantly to see where I can save, as you are too.

Not sure how much you are spending with Sky but we were paying £45 a month just for the tv package and like you had internet and phone with them as well.

I called them up to see if we could get any offers as it was 18m since sign up and I thought I would try my luck !

They did give me £20 off my bill because of a problem with our internet which they have now resolved and they went through all the channels we watch (we have 2 kids) and we reduced the TV to £21 and dont miss the movies a bit seeing as we watch about 2 per year! There is always pay per view movies too, we still have most of the kids channels as well.

I know there are people who would say Sky is not a necessity, but if you dont smoke, drink or go out at night much as you have 2 little children, frankly £19 a month aint a lot is it !

I might not seem like much but over the year its a nice little saving I think anyway for doing !!!!!! all !

Re the car insurance, its always worth a scout round on the boards here and the money supermarket type sites. I thought I was getting a great deal until I tried that and saved £200 quid a month ago just by shopping about a bit.

Good luck with it all

K xx

Numpty_Monkey

Hi Tony
i agree with what Turnaroundsue says

Call one of the debt charities,
(I wish someone would tell me how to do the fancy links)
CCCS
http://www.cccs.co.uk/
National Debt Helpline
http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/
Citizens Advise Bureau (CAB)
http://www.citizensadvice.co.uk/

keep posting

Tonylpool

Thanks everyone, I'm finding it hard to thank everyone individually!!!! It really makes me feel better!!

TurnaroundSue I thought 100% was going tomy creditors but its only £100 a month and I was frightened to change to anyone as they said initially nobody would accept such a low monthly payment against the big debts. I look after my charities finances too and also my companies finances, strange isnt it?

Thanks Krasnoludek, I dont smoke or drink either and my hobbies such as running dont cost me anything. Sky is the same for the basic package at £21 including broadband. Line rental to BT is £11.75 extra.

My car insurance was £67 with the last installment due this month. From next month it changes to £34 which is brilliant.

I am doing a big frozen shop at Iceland and for about £25 get enough frozen stuff to last a month with just basic groceries on top.

My girlfriend is currently asking me to move in with her but firstly she knows I'm struggling for money but not to this degree. This would make a drastic improvement to my finances each month. However, I am going through an access battle over my 2 children, 12 and 2 who I have not seen since last August. I dont want them thinking Ihave built a life without them and with my girlfriend also having 2 children, I dont want my kids to think I am playing dad with someone elses, does that make sense and I'm sorry for waffling! My children mean more than any amount of money outstanding.

Thanks for listening!!!!

Tony

kk*_2

Hi tony, I found ya! hun, keep posting, theres people here with great advice for you.

smile

k x

Quietgirl

Hi Tony,
Have you thought about switching your line rental for your phone line to Sky? Its not alot cheaper, but it's £10 per month with free 1571, caller ID etc and you get free evening and weekend calls upto an hour per call with that too.