Hi,

I have done my SOA as I have just had a payrise, and I think I am finally in a position to start looking at my debts, rather than hiding from them.

I live with my partner, so the rent amount covers the mortgage and utilites etc as I pay this amount to him each month.

Any help as to the best POA would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Lisa

<pre><b>Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet</b><b>

Monthly Income Details</b>
Monthly income after tax................ 1862
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0<b>
Total monthly income.................... 1862</b><b>

Monthly Expense Details</b>
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured loan repayments................. 0
Rent.................................... 550
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 0
Electricity............................. 0
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 35
TV Licence.............................. 0
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 150
Clothing................................ 50
Petrol/diesel........................... 150
Road tax................................ 20
Car Insurance........................... 20
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 20
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 20
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 20
Haircuts................................ 20
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 20
Emergency fund.......................... 0<b>
Total monthly expenses.................. 1075</b>
<b>

Assets</b>
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 5000
Other assets............................ 0<b>
Total Assets............................ 5000</b>
<b>
No Secured Debt</b>

<b>Unsecured Debts</b>
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
barclays.......................1000......25........17.9
virgin.........................2000......30........18.5
loan...........................6000......274.......4.5<b>
Total unsecured debts..........9000......329.......-  </b>

<b>
Monthly Budget Summary</b>
Total monthly income.................... 1,862
Expenses (including secured debts)...... 1,075
Available for debt repayments........... 787
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 329<b>
Surplus(deficit if negative)............ 458</b>

<b>Personal Balance Sheet Summary</b>
Total assets (things you own)........... 5,000
Total Secured debt...................... -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -9,000<b>
Net Assets.............................. -4,000</b>

with over £400 a month spare - where do you feel you are most worried about, is it stressful worrying about the debts you have, or do you need to review your spending as in reality you don't find £400 in your bank come next pay day?

If you dont have the £400 - try and keep a diary for a month and jot down everything you spend, every cashpoint visits etc, and tot it up in categories. you might find a particular habit is getting far more spent on it than you realise, and this  in turn helps you achieve more left over money that you can target a loan or credit card with.

are you still spending on the credit cards for example? if so, you need to update the SOA and declare what it is you are spending on.

with a strict month or two, you can quickly clear your barclays card and free yourself a further £25 a month for example.