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Original poster

Urgh just doing my budget and it's crappy crap crap

120 replies

nutcracker · 08/01/2007 19:20

I am trying to organise myself and my finances so that I do not keep running out of money or food all of the time and have to go borrowing off my mum.

Ok, monthly incomings are £831.48

Monthly outgoings are £821.48 and I didn't include clothes in the outgoings, so thats £10 a month to keep 1 adult and 3 kids in clothes and shoes.

Have budgeted for £20 a week for a driving lesson (haven't started yet), but at this rate i'm gonna have to forget that.

Have budgetted £60 a week for food, if I could get it down to £40 that would be great, but is highly doubtful I think.

I do have quite a bit of debt but at the mo I cannot reduce any of the payments.

I need a job.

OP posts:
virgo · 09/01/2007 10:56

nutcracker

It's going to be difficult to work and look after your 3 children on your own. I really feel for you - does your xp contribute at all or can he help with the shopping etc

Original poster
nutcracker · 09/01/2007 10:58

Nope, xp contributes nothing, I even had to provide bus fare for the kids the last time he took them out (to the library).

He would help out with carrying shopping and stuff but I won't ask him as he'd see it as a way back in to our lives.

OP posts:
virgo · 09/01/2007 11:06

hate to say it but have you thought about domestic cleaning - the going rate around where I live is £9/hour and is v flexible.

Bozza · 09/01/2007 11:10

Nutty I can really see your point in saving for Christmas/birthdays. We are in a much more comfortable financial position and I still should be doing that really. Will take note from you.

Why is your xp not paying? Is this taken into account when your benefits are worked out? ie would you be entitled to more if it was known you got no contribution from xp?

My other point is that I think you should be able to bring your food budget down. Try £50/week and then the extra would be there for fares/clothes.

CocoLoco · 09/01/2007 11:20

You could go on a debt management plan with an charitable organisation like CCCS or Payplan that doesn't take a cut of your payment, if you did this not only would your payments be reduced but you may get interest frozen on the accounts - you would still be paying back your debts but at a rate that you could afford.

I'm sorry you feel like you're being jumped on about your discretionary spending, of course you need to have some money for living as well as paying for necessities. CCCS can help you work out a liveable budget and what's left over can go to the debts. Anyway, good luck.

Original poster
nutcracker · 09/01/2007 11:21

Xp is living in a bedsit and not working. He is claiming Incapacity Benefit so he doesn't have to pay me bugger all.

As far as I am aware, I am claiming all the benefits I am entitled to.

I do need to get the food down to £50 yep, so will be trying that next time i shop.

Oh and no i'd have no problem doing cleaning, but so far every cleaning job I have seen is either very early morning, or early evening and I wouldn't be able to get childcare for those hours.

OP posts:
Cappuccino · 09/01/2007 11:23

why don't you put a postcard in local shop windows offering your services as a cleaner? Say what hours you're available.

then you can take what work you like if it comes

Original poster
nutcracker · 09/01/2007 11:25

Erm, do you mean on the side or above board ??

If I did it above board i'd have to declare earnings etc etc and surley then be self employed ?, and I if I did it on the side I'd get grassed on.

OP posts:
Cappuccino · 09/01/2007 11:27

ooh no I'm an incredibly by the book kind of gal

it was just you were saying you were looking for a cleaning job and I thought that would be a way of getting round the hours issue

it's a long time since I've been unemployed so I don't know what the rules are around how many hours you can do/ what you can earn now

I was just suggesting another way of looking for work; sorry if it's not helpful

Original poster
nutcracker · 09/01/2007 11:27

As I said, I check several job sites daily but the jobs either seem to be full time or less than 16 hours in which case i'd get no help with childcare.

OP posts:
Original poster
nutcracker · 09/01/2007 11:29

Oh no, i didn't mean it wasn't helpful, just wasn't sure which way round you meant LOL.

I think that I can earn £16 a week before it effects benefits but i'm not entirly sure about that tbh and actually it may be less.

OP posts:
Bugsy2 · 09/01/2007 12:00

Heavens NC, it is hard for you. Big hug hun.
The debt is definitely the most worrying thing. Because it is being paid off so slowly you are really just servicing the interest & making very little indent into the actual loans at all.
I would definitely go to the CAB & ask for some advice on how best to deal with those loans. I would have thought you would be in a good position to consider applying for bankruptcy.

Surfermum · 09/01/2007 13:19

What about the job that's just popped up on active convos? Here

Kittypickle · 09/01/2007 13:37

Sorry if I missed it further down the thread, but whose names are all these debts in, are they just yours or you Xp as well ? If he is on any of them I think it would be a really good idea to go and see the CAB and see if they can help you reduce your share some how. In fact I think it would be a good idea to go anyway, you are paying a whopping load of interest on the Provident one and they may be able to help you re-negotiate with Barclays when the time comes.

I think you are being sensible to put something aside for birthdays and Christmas actually but would be tempted to cut it by a tenner if you can. And I do see what you mean about the car but I have found that unfortunetly they have a habit of being money pits and I would think really really carefully before taking one on just at the moment - maybe you could postpone the driving lessons for now, use the money to pay more off one of the higher interest loans, then set yourself a target to meet (of £x paid off) before you start learning ? Or, can you not get a friend to help teach you ? I guess it is probably different now because of the theory test but my brother didn't have any lessons - we all took it in turns to take him out.

brandy7 · 09/01/2007 15:38

hi again nutty

please go to citizens advice about the barclays and provident debts, they will make phone calls, write letters and get the payments reduced to a minimum same as mine.

i owe natwest £10,000 and they sorted out initally about 5years ago for me .to pay £1.00 a month,every year i have a phone call from the debt management dealing with it and they are very very nice and understand that i cant afford to pay more than an extra £1.00 ish a month which it now stands at £5 a month.

i have two credit cards,from 5years ago also that CAB got the interest stopped on the largest one of £4,000 and the other one i owe about £200. both of these i only pay £5 a month for.

i really feel for you because debt is so depressing, but until i went to the CAB i was borrowing off peter to pay paul.i know it will be a pain for you to get there with the kids on the bus. too be honest it took me months to actually be bothered, but im so glad i did as my debt went from £174 a month to £15. i felt rich

brandy7 · 09/01/2007 15:42

oops forget the nursery fees you are paying? are you not entitled to help with them

know what you mean about the job front, i only do 8 hours which is 2mornings in a school. there are no more hours at my school because we had redundancies and when i look in the paper at the other school jobs they are generally full time and i think - when would i get my housework and washing done, viscious circle

Bozza · 09/01/2007 15:51

Nutty I bet there would be a cleaning job for you somewhere. Sounds like 2 hours at £8/hr cleaning a private house during the day when your DS is at nursery would be a great boost to your income. An extra £64 a month that you say doesn't affect your benefits. Maybe for a pensioner or something - both my Mum and MIL do jobs like these and IME they generally come up word of mouth, so I would put out some feelers if I was you.

mellowma · 09/01/2007 15:56

Message withdrawn

batflump · 09/01/2007 16:11

Hi Nutcracker

With the driving lessons, is it a case of you can already drive but just need a few lessons to prepare you for the test or are you a complete beginner? When I learned to drive my dad taught me, then I had 4 lessons with an instructor to make sure I was doing things properly!!! If you have friends/family who could start the lessons, you could save some money there. I know it's awful when every single penny you have goes out on bills etc - it can be soul destroying. Hang in there - you're doing a great thing by organising budgets etc, and knowing where the money goes will make you feel more in control. Hope your New Year looks up very soon.

S88AHG · 09/01/2007 16:16

I think as everyone says you should go to CAB, but I also want to say dont let this situation get you down. I can see that you feel everyine is judging you because you have debts, but unless people have been in your situation, and yes I have, but not on my own, then maybe they find it hard to understand. Not an excuse I know, but I think you are ace for posting on here to get advice/abuse about your situation, you are obviously wanting to try to improve it and hopefully you will. And this in turn is showing your dcs that no matter what life throws at you, you can deal with it!!! Good on you I say and Good Luck
And if it makes you feel any better I can remember going to asda/tesco with £5 for food to last 5 days, we lived on sausage and chips, but we didnt care!!!!

Original poster
nutcracker · 09/01/2007 16:28

A bit of good news for a change. Ds currently does 2 days a week at private nursery which is on the site of the dd's school. He goes there as there is no state one within walking distance.

As i listed, it has been costing me just over £40 a month for 2 days inc his dinner and squash. He was getting the education grant but it wasn't allowed to cover the lunch hour and so I was paying for this.

Well, picked up my invoice for this month and am delighted as now the education grant can cover the lunch hour and so bill will only be £11 a month instead of £40.

Oh and the nursery are reffering me for a benefits meeting with the local childrens centre. Thye will visit me at home and double check that I am getting all of the benefits I am entitled too, so thats also good.

I wil also go the CAB about my debt.

One question though, the Provident debt, well I pay a bloke who comes to the door each week and I am a bit scared to just stop paying, should I just carry on until I see CAB ???

OP posts:
Original poster
nutcracker · 09/01/2007 16:29

Oh can't remember who asked now, but regarding the driving lessons, I would be starting from beginning. My dad won't teach me either.

OP posts:
Skyler · 09/01/2007 16:30

Oh nutty please don't feel got at . I think you are doing amazingly.
I wouldn't consider bankruptcy tbh as I really don't think you need to. You do have things under control and still have options from what you and other people have posted.
I think the driving lessons ARE a good idea as they are something for YOU and a skill you will be gaining. This is a great thing and def a route to more job options for the future. It is an investment in you and therefore important, and you have found the money for it. Even if you didn't get a car straight away when you passed you would still have that skill under your belt.
It is very hard. Take care

Original poster
nutcracker · 09/01/2007 16:33

Oh also meant to add that yep the debts are all mine, although yep they were all taken out when I was with xp and he was working.

The £6000 loan was given to me on the basis of how much CTC and Child benefit I got, which yes was fine at the time as that money wasn't the main income but now it is.

OP posts:
Kittypickle · 09/01/2007 16:48

That's great news Nutty I think I would carry on paying the Provident man until you have been to the CAB. That way they can write and say that you have kept up to date with the payments for as long as you can, despite your partner leaving, but are now unable to do so.

Is it worthwhile ringing round to see if anyone does a discount on driving lessons if you are benefits ? Don't know if anyone does but they just might. What about stating off doing the lessons every other week for now and trying to rope in a friend to take you out if your Dad won't ?

I think you are doing very well, facing up to it is very hard to do. Definitely have a look at the Moneysavingexpert forum, there are lots of good tips on there.