That's a very high return to creditors, and there is scope in there to have the payments reduced to a far more affordable level, thus taking away some of the stress from you and your partner. I suggest that as part of your New Year fresh start that you both sit down with a pen and paper and work out what you do actually spend during the month. Use the CCCS guidelines for certain areas, and don't forget to think through what you have actually spent over the last three months as well - bank statements should show this. If the amount you have left over is lower than the payments you are currently paying, then it is no wonder that you have been struggling, and I suggest that you then ask your IP to put forward a variation to the original terms for you.
Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.
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