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Budgeting hell :-(
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sazaboo
Posts: 138 Forumite

Hi all...help?
I cannot budget, I cannot add up and I cannot control my finances - many factors here all linked to a long episode of depression and anxiety and have left me in a right old mess. There is only me, no sugar daddy and I haven't had a penny from my ex for his daughter for over 3 years, he claims to be going self employed currently....
I reduced my hours at work to allow me to get back into work after 5 months off on sick.
I didn't get proper advice at the time, tried to work it out myself and have ended up with not enough income to pay my bills. Even after going through them all and getting them as low as possible.
I contacted Stepchange and have a token arrangement set up with them to cover the credit cards/payday loans that I previously made bad decisions on.
I haven't been able to get rid of a loan with Commsave, I can only reschedule it over the 2 year term to reduce the amount going out every month
coming in monthly I have £920 net pay (before £100 and commsave deductions)
Child Benefit £82
Child Tax Credits £125
Housing Benefit £245- I have asked for this to start going direct to my Landlord - a mutual agreement
I am struggling with the few hours I do, so increasing them is not an option.
I cant borrow any more money, I'm favoured out
I cant sell the car as its not paid off yet, it would cost as much to cancel the insurance as it would not to. I take my daughter to school still and could not do the hours on public transport, so making things worse. imho.
It sounds very negative and that's because it is, and I'm feeling very negative about my situation.
from my previous posts you may spot that I've been BR and am now out of that but
my credit score never really got going to do any credit card pimping so wasn't able to meet the high interest and have now got a token payment arrangement in place.
my ideal scenario is that 'someone' gives me some spending money each week and my bills are paid on time without any interference by me as I always manage to mess things up.
So my question is this,
can anyone spot anything here that I'm missing, I'm certain that I cant get any more financial support until next April as my earnings in this current tax year are £17000 so over many thresholds. This is why my calculations failed as I didn't take this into account.
I have applied for PIP on mental health grounds and am getting a decision relooked at as I was 3 point short of an award. If I did get PIP (about £200a month) that would obviously make a difference. I do get full NHS exemption now too which is a massive help.
grateful for any suggestions
Sarah
Ignore the red ;-)
OUT
Deduction from pay £100 - £300 left to pay
commsave deduction from pay £ 156 - £3k outstanding
food - £ 90.00
after school activities - £ 20.00
Stepchange (total debt £5k) - £ 6.00
Diesel - £ 40.00
FirstResponse (car) - (last payment Jan 31st 2018 £75) - £ 218.71
AA home insurance - £ 11.53
AA Car Insurance - £ 59.34
Yorkshire Water - £ 32.20
Rent £ 475.00
Council Tax (usually £75 without arrears) - £ 95.00
SSE ( E36 -G65) - £ 101.00
SKY 1 of 12 - this was a better deal that paying off the contract - £ 10.00
TV licence - £ 12.20
EE BB - cant find this cheaper?? - £ 18.50
EE Mobile - mine and daughters phone on half price line rental, contracted in for many more months - £ 30.00
I cannot budget, I cannot add up and I cannot control my finances - many factors here all linked to a long episode of depression and anxiety and have left me in a right old mess. There is only me, no sugar daddy and I haven't had a penny from my ex for his daughter for over 3 years, he claims to be going self employed currently....
I reduced my hours at work to allow me to get back into work after 5 months off on sick.
I didn't get proper advice at the time, tried to work it out myself and have ended up with not enough income to pay my bills. Even after going through them all and getting them as low as possible.
I contacted Stepchange and have a token arrangement set up with them to cover the credit cards/payday loans that I previously made bad decisions on.
I haven't been able to get rid of a loan with Commsave, I can only reschedule it over the 2 year term to reduce the amount going out every month
coming in monthly I have £920 net pay (before £100 and commsave deductions)
Child Benefit £82
Child Tax Credits £125
Housing Benefit £245- I have asked for this to start going direct to my Landlord - a mutual agreement
I am struggling with the few hours I do, so increasing them is not an option.
I cant borrow any more money, I'm favoured out
I cant sell the car as its not paid off yet, it would cost as much to cancel the insurance as it would not to. I take my daughter to school still and could not do the hours on public transport, so making things worse. imho.
It sounds very negative and that's because it is, and I'm feeling very negative about my situation.
from my previous posts you may spot that I've been BR and am now out of that but
my credit score never really got going to do any credit card pimping so wasn't able to meet the high interest and have now got a token payment arrangement in place.
my ideal scenario is that 'someone' gives me some spending money each week and my bills are paid on time without any interference by me as I always manage to mess things up.
So my question is this,
can anyone spot anything here that I'm missing, I'm certain that I cant get any more financial support until next April as my earnings in this current tax year are £17000 so over many thresholds. This is why my calculations failed as I didn't take this into account.
I have applied for PIP on mental health grounds and am getting a decision relooked at as I was 3 point short of an award. If I did get PIP (about £200a month) that would obviously make a difference. I do get full NHS exemption now too which is a massive help.
grateful for any suggestions
Sarah
Ignore the red ;-)
OUT
Deduction from pay £100 - £300 left to pay
commsave deduction from pay £ 156 - £3k outstanding
food - £ 90.00
after school activities - £ 20.00
Stepchange (total debt £5k) - £ 6.00
Diesel - £ 40.00
FirstResponse (car) - (last payment Jan 31st 2018 £75) - £ 218.71
AA home insurance - £ 11.53
AA Car Insurance - £ 59.34
Yorkshire Water - £ 32.20
Rent £ 475.00
Council Tax (usually £75 without arrears) - £ 95.00
SSE ( E36 -G65) - £ 101.00
SKY 1 of 12 - this was a better deal that paying off the contract - £ 10.00
TV licence - £ 12.20
EE BB - cant find this cheaper?? - £ 18.50
EE Mobile - mine and daughters phone on half price line rental, contracted in for many more months - £ 30.00
0
Comments
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Hey, Sazaboo, I don't have much advice to offer, just bumping this to the top.
How old is your daughter? Could you do some surveys when she's in bed to give you a little extra spending money?Make £25 a day in April £0/£750 (March £584, February £602, January £883.66)
December £361.54, November £322.28, October £288.52, September £374.30, August £223.95, July £71.45, June £251.22, May£119.33, April £236.24, March £106.74, Feb £40.99, Jan £98.54) Total for 2017 - £2,495.100 -
Get rid of the Sky, you can't afford it. If you're in a DMP, add it to that.You can do the same with the mobiles and get sim only deals.
And you may have to stop the after school activities. Children managed very well without them years ago, I'm sure they can now.
As for you can't budget, you can't add up and you can't control your finances, you're the only one who can, so sit down, get a calculator [there's one on your computer or phone], and start.
If you find budgeting difficult then you can try different sorts of budgeting, such as only taking out the weekly amount of money from the bank at the beginning of the week etc
You can use the envelope system for payments, set up several bank accounts with your bank, call them different names etc and transfer money to those accounts for each debt. Or get a pen and piece of paper and make colums with what is due to come out and what is let afterwards.
An internet search about budgeting will show you lots of ways to try.
Your gas and electric looks high, have you switched lately?Non me fac calcitrare tuum culi0 -
I understand debt can make you feel negative but it sounds like you have convinced yourself you can't manage. I think you can. You have a job and a child and if you can manage both those, you can do a budget.
Grab a cup of tea, sit down when you are alone and write down all your outgoings monthly. Add them up and take away from your income to see whats left. Many people are way out when guessing!
Once you know where you stand, you can make a plan. Maybe allocate yourself spending money - take it out when you are paid and put in 4 envelopes one for each week and don't spend more than that.
The main thing is things will change. Your car will be paid off soon and there will be a time you have no more debt. This situation is temporary.0 -
Hello.
Can I suggest you contact Christains against POverty (CAP) as they can help you with budgeting.
https://capuk.org/
Hope this helps & keep postingI am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.0
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