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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 9:21 am
by UpToMyNeckInIt
For Information.
Many of us like to have a copy of these for reference.
Google 'Stepchange Budget Guidelines'. 4th or 5th hit down the list provides a 'doc' link to the 2012 guide (which I understand is the latest version).
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 11:35 am
by nickjohn
Thanks for that.
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 3:20 pm
by Michael Peoples
They are worth having just so you can to claim the allowances listed. Some IPs will only allow the guideline figures for what you do claim and do not tell you about the things you can claim for from the guidelines. At least having the guidelines means you can get what you are entitled to.
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 3:35 pm
by carole2662
Thanks for that I am always amazed at the guidelines as some of them seem quite low and then there are the things that people wouldnt think to claim for like newspapers or haircuts or dry cleaning. I tried to add these things after the first year but was told that I couldnt add to my I&E after my IVA had started.
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 3:46 pm
by Michael Peoples
That is b******s Sandra.
You claim everything that you are entitled to and if the IP has a problem stick in a complaint. They should tell you what you can claim for especially when you have children but unfortunately some IPs see higher payments mean higher fees and others are funded by the banks.
I recently did an IVA for a couple who were paying £400 per month on a DMP via a 'charity'. I redid the I&E using the proper guidelines and have proposed an IVA at £170 per month. The difference in payments means the children are not being penalised and the parents can actually eat more than Lidl beans on toast.
Always use an independent firm when looking for advice. There is a reason why the banks refer their clients to certain firms!
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 5:27 pm
by doritos
There is 1 small thing that bugs me with step change, its something that they haven't considered.
London, how do I budget for commuting as they think that everyone has a car.
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 5:37 pm
by UpToMyNeckInIt
font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by doritos
There is 1 small thing that bugs me with step change, its something that they haven't considered.
London, how do I budget for commuting as they think that everyone has a car.
...I live / work in London as well. I suggest you claim the equivalent guideline amount (for fuel, servicing etc - currently up to £231pcm) to cover fares etc. on public transport. Be prepared to back it up with receipts/bank statements though.
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 5:41 pm
by plasticdaft
font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by Michael Peoples
That is b******s Sandra.
You claim everything that you are entitled to and if the IP has a problem stick in a complaint. They should tell you what you can claim for especially when you have children but unfortunately some IPs see higher payments mean higher fees and others are funded by the banks.
I recently did an IVA for a couple who were paying £400 per month on a DMP via a 'charity'. I redid the I&E using the proper guidelines and have proposed an IVA at £170 per month. The difference in payments means the children are not being penalised and the parents can actually eat more than Lidl beans on toast.
Always use an independent firm when looking for advice. There is a reason why the banks refer their clients to certain firms!
Nowt wrong with lidl beans n toast!! Many a month this was a fallback meal for us if we had to use our grocery money for something else. Delicious and nutritious!
Paul
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 6:11 pm
by Michael Peoples
I agree Paul but not every day! And their little beers are beautiful but the missus won't let me drink them every day.
Doritos.
StepChange say that you can spend £30 per week for fuel and parking. What happens if you need more? Stop halfway and thumb!!
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 6:15 pm
by Foggy
Off topic -- but you atarted it ..... Lidl beans used to be quite passable -- but then they changed brands to those little pink bullets !!! Yeuch !
Some of the stuff there is quite good, but, at least locally, the prices aren't the best around.
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 6:26 pm
by Michael Peoples
We have cats that come to our house which are kind of wild. They don't have any owners so we bought some Lidl catfood which they devoured. One week we forgot to get some and bought Whiskas and they turned their noses up!
The Whiskas was more than double the Lidl price.
Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 7:46 am
by UpToMyNeckInIt
...another thing to consider is that all of these 'own brands' are usually made by one of the big names.
Sticking with baked beans by way of example: Tesco Value beans are (or certainly used to be), made by Heinz.
Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 8:39 am
by lem
£30 a week for fuel and parking? Blimey, it costs my hubby £50 a week to do the 70 mile trip to work and back for 5 days and me another £35 and that is before anything else like going shopping taking kids to the dentist, doctors, when you live rurally like we do we don't have any other option than using a car anyway, thank goodness we are to with step change as our iva would probably have to even have got off the ground!
Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 8:40 am
by lem
font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by lem
£30 a week for fuel and parking? Blimey, it costs my hubby £50 a week to do the 70 mile trip to work and back for 5 days and me another £35 and that is before anything else like going shopping taking kids to the dentist, doctors, when you live rurally like we do we don't have any other option than using a car anyway, thank goodness we are not with step change as our iva would probably have to even have got off the ground!
Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 9:16 am
by pennieless
sorry would anyone be able to put a link up as i couldnt find the guidelines