dubinamerica
Registered User
- Messages
- 475
Hi, I separated from my husband a number of months ago and have 3 children (one baby, pre-schooler & a teenager). I would have always worked til recently and dealt with the financial side, but really once the bills were paid didn't need to pay too close attention.. Now I'm finding that I cannot make ends meet and every so often, my a/c is going into overdraft and I need to use savings to cover things. To complicate stuff, there has been no division of assets as yet as unclear if we may reconcile, but there is a mortgage which I am covering.
I need some assistance regarding tracking my spending, ideas regarding when/how to pay bills, say using child benefit for such a bill, maintenance for such a bill.. streamlining payments, bank accounts etc
Have had a tough year with a young baby to look after, so only now really starting to focus energy on this, so any pointers regarding best ways to track spending (esp when there's a teenager to take account of), what areas to review etc would be great
Income:
Illness benefit 285.40 pw (myself and 3 children) awaiting news regarding OPFP but amount would be the same
so approx: 1,236 p.m.
Child Benefit: 437 p.m. (as previous overpayment)
Maintenance 25pw/ 108p.m
TRS credit 75 p.m.
Total income: 428 p.w. / 1856 p.m.
If OPFP comes through may get fuel allowance, not getting MIS but going to look into this further
Outgoings
Mortgage 770 p.m. (on a fixed rate)
life ins for above mortgage 50 p.m
Car insurance 52p.m.
House insurance 65 p.m.
Eircom (inc broadband) 80 p.m. (approx)
Bin collections 25 p.m. approx (approx 150 payable twice yearly)
Road tax need to check this number
Petrol 25 p.m. need to check this ...
Sky + 31 p.m. (sometimes higher if pay per view)
Mobile phones (2) 40p.m. altogether v. rarely go higher than this
ESB 200p.m. approx (need to look at old bills)
Oil 200p.m. during bad months (need to average out)
old New Ireland life ins pol 16.86p.m. (have this about 10 + years)
old canada life ins pol 51.30 p.m. (have this even longer!)
John of God 6.35 p.m.
Not sure how much groceries work out as buy some locally and then may do a big shop every now and again, and try and get pullups/formula/nappies when on a sale.. Any pointers on best how to track this?
Other goings would be getting hair done, clothes for children (again never tracked this), getting stuff done in house, car etc.. Xmas, easter, birthdays etc.
Any help appreciated.. Thanks : )
Can anyone look at the above and help me put soem structure on this please? I need to put a structured plan in place, one thing I was thinking was to use maintenance to pay ESB bill in advance, before direct debit hits.
I need some assistance regarding tracking my spending, ideas regarding when/how to pay bills, say using child benefit for such a bill, maintenance for such a bill.. streamlining payments, bank accounts etc
Have had a tough year with a young baby to look after, so only now really starting to focus energy on this, so any pointers regarding best ways to track spending (esp when there's a teenager to take account of), what areas to review etc would be great
Income:
Illness benefit 285.40 pw (myself and 3 children) awaiting news regarding OPFP but amount would be the same
so approx: 1,236 p.m.
Child Benefit: 437 p.m. (as previous overpayment)
Maintenance 25pw/ 108p.m
TRS credit 75 p.m.
Total income: 428 p.w. / 1856 p.m.
If OPFP comes through may get fuel allowance, not getting MIS but going to look into this further
Outgoings
Mortgage 770 p.m. (on a fixed rate)
life ins for above mortgage 50 p.m
Car insurance 52p.m.
House insurance 65 p.m.
Eircom (inc broadband) 80 p.m. (approx)
Bin collections 25 p.m. approx (approx 150 payable twice yearly)
Road tax need to check this number
Petrol 25 p.m. need to check this ...
Sky + 31 p.m. (sometimes higher if pay per view)
Mobile phones (2) 40p.m. altogether v. rarely go higher than this
ESB 200p.m. approx (need to look at old bills)
Oil 200p.m. during bad months (need to average out)
old New Ireland life ins pol 16.86p.m. (have this about 10 + years)
old canada life ins pol 51.30 p.m. (have this even longer!)
John of God 6.35 p.m.
Not sure how much groceries work out as buy some locally and then may do a big shop every now and again, and try and get pullups/formula/nappies when on a sale.. Any pointers on best how to track this?
Other goings would be getting hair done, clothes for children (again never tracked this), getting stuff done in house, car etc.. Xmas, easter, birthdays etc.
Any help appreciated.. Thanks : )
Can anyone look at the above and help me put soem structure on this please? I need to put a structured plan in place, one thing I was thinking was to use maintenance to pay ESB bill in advance, before direct debit hits.