Why do we fall? To learn to pick ourselves back up. (£26K+ DEBT!)

So last night I downloaded and registered for the Moneybox app (moneyboxapp.com)

It's designed to help you put money aside into a savings & investments ISA. It does things like rounds up pennies and takes the difference and put into the ISA, you can also add extra money onto that too.

I've set it up to take money each week, and I plan to at the end of every month take whatever money is saved up and then throw it at one of my debts.

I feel like this could be a neat way of me a) saving without noticing it b) consistently having money aside to throw at said debt c) get used to the habit of having these extra money taken and put aside so I don't need to think about it much myself.

sauceoclock wrote: »

Hey man!

So sorry to hear about what you’ve been going through. I know too well that a job can get you feeling so awful and miserable that it does feel hopeless. Sorry to hear about the business too, it happens all too frequently… In terms of your defaulted balances, have you spoken to the lenders to arrange a payment plan or are you going to try and lump sum satisfy them?

Are you on any benefits etc. whilst you’re looking to help tide you over?

I thoroughly recommend https://www.usertesting.com if you need to make some extra cash, it’s legitimate and pays out in to paypal. If you’re twiddling your thumbs it’s a good way to make some living money (I often do it if I have a big bill to pay that I wasn’t expecting etc.), if you can get accepted to be a mobile tester too you get a higher fee per test and they send you a high quality and expensive camera to film the tests with. It’s a bit awkward doing it at first but now I find them easy. Just means you need the website open to listen out for the tests when they come up.

I also recommend https://www.consumerpulse.co.uk if you can sign up and get accepted as a member. It’s such a quick way to earn vouchers, it’s not like these other swagbuck type things where you spend hour and hours for a £5 voucher. I make about £200 in high street vouchers a year from it!

Are you still renting or are you living with friends/family atm?

Hey sauce, thanks for dropping in. Thanks for your kind words.

So MBNA and Barclaycard have been aware for a few months now that I am not earning so therefore I cannot pay them. MBNA agreed £0, and Barclaycard agreed £1; however this does not stop them from adding defaults on my credit and Bcard have already done that and MBNA probably as well soon.

I've actually been on benefits for the last year on something called a "startup year" when basically they give you a break to give you time to get off the ground but that hasn't happened so I think a bit more time and they'll be dropping hard on me. The amount I get affectively pays my rent but living expenses have been coming out of my biz loan to stay afloat.

Thanks for the recommendation, I've just given usertesting a go and sent off the first video that's pretty easy for me and I'm good at web design so I'm sure they'll like having me. I may try out the 2nd one, but I don't actually buy a lot of stuff but will keep it in mind.

I'm still in the same place in London, renting. The rent went up a little bit this year but not too much to whinge about. Like I said my rent is paid for, it's just trying to get enough money to a) eat comfortably b) start paying my debts off and c) maybe enjoy myself once in a while.

This week I need to get my biz finances in order, I just basically need to reconcile all the transactions from recently so I'm ahead with that and my accountant can sort the taxes which will probably be straightforward as I've basically earned zero. It's amusing as HMRC have told me recently I owe them money for one tax year whereas I'm definitely owed tax from the year just gone.
Anyway just need to get on with that whilst applying for jobs..

Forgot to mention also I'm doing a training course to aid my efforts in working for myself again one day, but other than this training course am going to do so in a manner that doesn't cost a lot of money to obtain and sustain customers - which is where I went wrong before. It's something that I hope to be able to do part-time/evening/weekends as its working directly with people, and eventually might mean I can once again return to it full time as I build up a big enough client base. Keep the hope :beer:

Went to the sainsbo's to get some food for lunches and couple other bits. Spent £13. Got the cheap laundy detergents for colours and softener; I still have stuff for whites. You gotta do what you gotta do! I'm sure I've used them before too and not had much bother with them, to me if the stuff is washed then it's washed.. I don't own anything that nice anyway that I don't want to ruin.

Going round to my girlfriends later so should just have a chilled eve. In the meantime I have my accounts to do - fun!