I WILL be Debt Free but need help

Hiraeth · 27 October 2016 at 12:25AM

I am writing this from Australia - so I hope you will bear with me as my amounts will be in AusDollars, but I cannot find anything similar to this in Australia

My husband and I are pensioners (in age, although I feel quite young in my mind) and we live on a pension. For various reasons and over a period of time I got into debt on a credit card and now owe AD (Australian Dollars) 12,500 (approximately 6,000 pounds stirling).

I am horrified to owe this amount and it weighs on me like a ton of bricks. I've made half hearted attempts to do something about it but have always found myself sliding by thinking that I can pay it back next week and then maybe the week after etc and then paying a little bit and on and on.

Now I have had enough, I want this weight of my shoulder and out of my heart, I don't want to spend my pension money on interest to a bank (and I can't change to an interest free card as apart from our pensions my husband and I have no other income). I do have the benefit that we own our own home so we have no rent. So my bills are rates, insurance, car registration and insurance. telephone, electricity, medical insurance, food etc etc.

I thought that if I had someone who could give me a pat on the back when things go well, and maybe a few kind words and some helpful advice if things go badly for a short time.

Would love to hear from anyone as I travel this journey.

Many thanks.

October 27 - I Owe AD12,500

-taff · 27 October 2016 at 2:39AM

Have you spoken to the CC company and told them you're in difficulty and only receiving a pension? Also, have you stopped using this CC?

-taff · 27 October 2016 at 2:47AM

A quick trawl around the internet gives you these links about debt and debt charities. CAP exist here too, and are a free service

http://www.capaust.org/

https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/life-events-and-you/indigenous/get-help-with-money

Hiraeth · 27 October 2016 at 10:58AM

I haven't spoken to the CC company yet as I would see this as a last resort. I got into debt and I believe I can - little by little get out of it.

If we should hit a hurdle with an expensive unforseen issue then that might be the when I call on the CC company.

I feel confident that I can get the debt paid, little by little. I guess I felt that this would be the sort of forum where I could post how I am going and just get that little bit of encouragement to help me see how well I am doing.

After doing my weekly figures today, and making sure I cut out all rubbish etc that I might previously have bought but not really needed, I found I have AD100. A couple of weeks ago I might have taken have of that and thought I would treat myself. Today I treated myself by paying the full amount off my CC. So I am pleased with myself.

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read.

Was AD12,500 - Now AD12,400

Saver-upper · 27 October 2016 at 11:35PM

June,I love your determination,and I believe you will succeed in becoming debt-free.Keep posting,and you will get lots of support.
I wonder,though,could you not talk to yuor husband?It sounds like a real burden to carry around by yourself,and he would probably be upset that you felt you couldn't share the worry with him.

Good luck from one Aussie to another x

Hiraeth · 28 October 2016 at 12:15AM

Thank you for the posting, I do appreciate it.

No, I could not talk to my husband about it. Rightly or wrongly I could not bear to see or feel his disappointment in me. I feel I would lose his trust.

Whether this is right or wrong I don't know - but right now its how I feel it has to be. Coping with paying off the debt is going to be enough to worry about, I don't feel I can also worry about his disappointment in me.

I look forward to continued comments, and also am looking forward to my next posting when I will be able to say that I have paid off a little more.

Many thanks.

Azzzaa · 28 October 2016 at 8:32AM

Hi June me again, from your origiomal post!

Do you have a monthly payment scheme, Ie money going into your credit card each month to pay it off?

I would recommend writing up a state of affairs, that covers all of your incomes and outgoings, that way you see exactly how much disposable income from your pension you have. If you don't have any you know you need to start by cutting back on things to have money to pay off the credit card

I'm off to work in a minute but I shall write up so,e more information in more detail when I am home

Aaron

Azzzaa · 28 October 2016 at 8:34AM

Ps: here is my debt diary if you want to have a look

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5435104

Aaron

Worriedaboutmoney_2 · 28 October 2016 at 8:57AM

I'm just starting my journey too June. Just wanted to wish you luck - everyone on here has been so encouraging

Bobarella · 28 October 2016 at 9:11AM

Glad to see you have started your diary June. I wonder if there is something else you can find to do to make a little extra and pay the debt down quicker?

You are retired as you say. Could you get a paper round, a lot of pensioners do that here. Are you quite active outside the home anyway? Just thinking of what you could tell your husband if he wanted to known what you were up to.
Other jobs that might work, a couple of shifts in a coffee shop, or the classic checkout work in a supermarket.

I don't know if you are crafty at all but finding fairs where you could sell some work would get you a few quid too.

All just thoughts.

Bob

Hiraeth · 28 October 2016 at 10:28PM

Hello Aaron, thank you for your posts they are appreciated, thanks also for the debt diary link. I will look at it later today as I feel this may be a help.

Hello Worriedabout.... good luck on your journey. It does make a difference to be able to write things down and to get some response. Makes me feel not so alone. I will follow your journey too and offer support in return.

Bob - thanks for the posts. I had actually thought of looking for a part time job. We are in a small rural community so paper rounds and coffee shops are out and the small supermarket have no positions even for shelf fillers. Also we don't have 'fairs' within a 2000 kilometre radius so that is out. However - I am crafty ........ so I may give a think to the things I can do and look at ebay as an alternative. Thank you for that suggestion.

Thank you everyone.

I WILL be Debt Free but need help

Comments

Categories

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free