www.iva.co.uk

nice start to the year older child has found full time work so our benefit has almost halfed plus our conbined gas / electricity bill has gone up another 35 pm so we are down approx 75 pm.
should i inform ip imediatley or try to manage untill my mortgage repayments come down by approx the same ammount in march (coming of a fix rate deal)

If your elder child has found work, shouldn't they be paying board and lodget to at least replace the lost benefit income?

Yes, I think they should be paying board as well.

JSA is £60 a week not fortnight - depends on your daughters age - rates vary according to age.
Trust me on this one !

I think that you need to ensure that your daughter's decisions do not affect your ability to fund your IVA payments. Why not get her to look at changing courses to perhaps look at something less taxing, or something that would actually lead her to a job.

Hi All
I too had a shock with fuel bill my gas has increased from £33 a month to £98. I phoned British Gas and the person I spoke top was so unhelpful I ended up crying. I haven't heard about my electricity yet although I am in credit at the moment. They also said I could change tariff's but I would be charged £50 to do so. I went on compare the market and are looking into another company waiting to hear from them re cost etc. but fingers crossed.

re what to charge children for board my mother used to take a 1/3rd of our wages/benefit after certain expenses have been taken into account.

Jan

Both my daughters changed college courses part way through and neither finished their second choices either.I was worried to death that they would never get jobs. They both started work at 18 and are still working now at 21 and 23. My eldest is married and my youngest is living with her boyfriend. Things usually work out well in the end.

fuel is likely to be decreasing in the new year Jan. Direct debits increase as most companies have an annual review where they need you to be at a nil balance. (normally known as an annual or spring review). unfortunately with gas and elec you have to cover consumption as well as any outstanding balances. Always check unit prices and any tie in fees, should you change companies. Most companies will always promise a lower price, but you will still have to pay for what you use, and it is the unit rate that matters, also look out for tie in fees on fixed/capped deals. If you do not pay by monthly direct debit, you may find most companies are also credit checking new customers. Always speak to alternative companies direct, as some of the switch sites are very misleading.

I changed my company a couple of years ago, via Uswitch and had no problems with anythng misleading.

The one thing I like about the company I am with is that although I only get bills twice a year, the meters are read each time, never estimated so that I know exactly where I stand.

Fortunately, I am in credit with both so shouldn't have any nasty surprises.

Only Utility companies need to be thumped to pass on sayings to consumers....... there is an index call Cost of Living index compiled by Moneymarket website....things are overall cheaper now than the same time last year but energy bills are keeping the overall cost higher. Government is wearing kids glove in talking to Energy companies.Gordie treked to Middle East to talk about oil prices when gas and electricity is the real problem!!!!

This wholesale gas therm pricing politiking is blackmailing everyone.

Lady H - there is absolutely no point in keeping her at college if she hates it. I left school after 3 months of doing A levels, because I hated school and hated studying. I went to work for an accountants office doing a relatively uninteresting job just to get away from school.

Most kids actually find their feet eventually, it just takes some of them a little longer!

I agree with Melanie and you should not have a child on your payroll!. They all eventually find their feet. If they receive a job seekers allowance then what you loose in child benefit should be made up by your daughter contributing same (for her board and lodging) as a minimum.

I left school at 16 because I hated it. I started off on a YTS which lasted a couple of months as the course I was doing at college was wrong for me and there was no promise of a job at the end. I then went to work in a shop which I loved and then on to my first office job.

Sometimes I regret not carrying on with school, but at the time it was the right decision to leave, and I haven't done too badly. My one regret is taking an office job rather than posting off my application for the police force. If there's anything your daughter really wants to do Ladyh, tell her to go for it x

I left school at 17, halfway through my A levels as I found them just too hard.

My daughter is currently at Uni, and I must admit that we did talk her into staying there 12 months ago as she was talking of quitting, but we felt that half way through the course she could carry on till the end.

She is now coming up to the end of her studies and I think she has been quite happy to be there. However, if your kids are dead set on leaving and are really unhappy, I wouldn't force them to stop,