Please help me, I don't know what to do.

dumbbrunette

Hi guys

Long time lurker here.

Well, I've been putting this off for ages now ... but I've hit rock bottom. My debts are actually loads smaller than they've been before, but it's become totally clear to me that I've not learnt any lessons from the debts I had and I'm scared of them getting out of control again. It's three weeks til my next pay day and I've got nothing of my wage left. I messed my credit score up last year so know that I can't get any credit to speak of. So, what follows is a quick summary. I'll do a proper SOA when I can, but if anything immediately jumps out then please let me know.

Income: £1650

Outgoings:

Rent: 430
Council tax: 72 (paid over 10 months, my council won't let me pay over 12)
Electricity: 30 (direct debit, no gas in flat so this covers everything)
BT: 9.99
Internet: 9.99
Sky: £18
Mobile: £35
Diesel: £200
Food: £350
TV licence: 11
Home insurance: 10
Car Insurance: 80 (see below - just lost all my NCD)

Total outgoings: 1255.98

Debt:

O/D - Alliance & Leicester - 0% - £850
O/D - Halifax - 16% - £500
CC1 - Halifax - 19% - £500
CC2 - Ulster bank - 16% £350

Total: £2,200


So, I know my debt is small compared to a lot of people, and my income is fairly high. And I know I need to address it - a spending diary, taking lunches to work, etc. But the more immediate problem is that I crashed my car last week. It's getting fixed on my insurance but I've got £350 excess to find. I need my car - I work 23 miles away over country roads - would take about 3 hours on public transport. I've also got bill payments coming out, and obviously need to eat, etc. too.

Oh, just so's you know - I live on my own so all the bills are just mine.

I'm not going to make any excuses. I've been an idiot. I just need some help. I know it's going to be tough, but I need to learn some lessons. After a really awful year, things are starting to go well for me - a new boyfriend, a great new job ... but I'm still living in constant worry that I can't afford to get by day-to-day.

Right, well, I've rambled on for far too long ... so come on lovely DFWs - do your worst!

xx

Broken_hearted

£350 food shopping is a lot for one person we spend less for 4 of us to eat.

sidnee

I'll tell you what everyone will be screaming.... FOOD!!?!?!?!

This seriously could be cut down to one third of this - that is extortionate. So yes, spending diary, lunches to work, shopping more prudently etc.

Sky - looks like you are on the smallest package... you may as well just go for Freeview in this case.

What about Clothing? No Gas I take it? Entertainment - do you spend any money going out etc?

Also, what are your minimum card payments?

Little_Miss_Winner

Hi and welcome,:wave:

Just quickly;-

It's three weeks til my next pay day and I've got nothing of my wage left.

Have you left money in to cover all d/d's and food? Did you mean you havent any spare money left?

But the more immediate problem is that I crashed my car last week. It's getting fixed on my insurance but I've got £350 excess to find.

Do they need this up front before they fix the car? or could they take it from you monthly?

Back in a mo..

dumbbrunette

Thanks for the responses everyone. I know my food bill is ridiculous - I just wanted to start by being honest, and will work really hard to bring this down. I'm just totally disorganised at the moment and that has to change.

Pot o gold - thanks for your reply. Most of my d/ds have gone out for the month, but I literally now have £25 for the rest of the month - for food, any other bills, etc.

I'm not sure re: car - they may take it monthly I guess - though I think I have to pay it straight to the garage.

x

lincroft1710

Your food bill looks high, it's more than OH and I spend between us and we consider we eat well. Can you get cc balances on to a single 0% balance transfer cc. Could you do without Sky for a year or to. Could you use landline more than mobile and poss have pay as u go.

dumbbrunette

sidnee wrote: »

I'll tell you what everyone will be screaming.... FOOD!!?!?!?!

This seriously could be cut down to one third of this - that is extortionate. So yes, spending diary, lunches to work, shopping more prudently etc.

Sky - looks like you are on the smallest package... you may as well just go for Freeview in this case.

What about Clothing? No Gas I take it? Entertainment - do you spend any money going out etc?

Also, what are your minimum card payments?

I need to check my minimum card payments. At a guess, I think they're about £35 on each card.

Sky - I'm on a contract until October but then will look at going for Freeview.

Clothing/entertainment - I seriously have no idea how much I spend. I don't go out that much - maybe once a fortnight for a few drinks - probably spend about £60 in total, and also about once a month for dinner where I'll spend about £20.

No gas - just electricity in the flat.

Thanks.

dumbbrunette

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Your food bill looks high, it's more than OH and I spend between us and we consider we eat well. Can you get cc balances on to a single 0% balance transfer cc. Could you do without Sky for a year or to. Could you use landline more than mobile and poss have pay as u go.

Yep, I definitely need to get more organised about this. I don't have a freezer so tend to buy fresh food every couple of days - which is obviously way more expensive than doing a weekly shop ...

I would love to transfer balances to a 0% card but nobody will accept me for one. I have been living on the edge for a few months - payments bouncing, going over my overdraft limit, etc.

Thanks for your replies - keep them coming!

Little_Miss_Winner

Have you anything you can ebay? My guess is that if you have been overspending by £400 ish each month, then you must have things you cant surely use?

Makeup? Cd's? Dvds? clothes? Shoes? Jewellry etc...etc.....

EDIT:
Also i presume you car is already in the garage??? When do you get paid next?

dumbbrunette

yes I do have a whole stack of things I can ebay - and it's even all in a box ready to go on. That can be my target for the week - get that all listed and hopefully get a bit of cash. I think I worked out that I could, at a push, get about £200 so I really do need to get going with that. Thanks for the push Pot'o'gold!

The stupid thing is I'm also owed £500 from my stepmum - she couldn't pay her rent one month so I lent her it and didn't give her a time limit on paying back. She's since had trouble claiming her benefits and I know she can't afford to pay it me back. I would love that £500 back right now!

dumbbrunette

potogold wrote: »

Also i presume you car is already in the garage??? When do you get paid next?

yes - car got towed straight to the garage after the accident. I've also had to pay £250 to hire a car for two weeks so I could still get to work. Due to a ridiculous loophole in my insurance I didn't get a courtesy car. :mad:
I get paid on 26th August.