newbie on this board...

marsupial_mama

but not newbie to trying to get debt free

Having had around £800 credit card debt and around £1500 loan and paying it off all slowly, my DH got very ill and is still of work, needing care. Our debt spiralled as misery can come in multiples - car died and we needed it for transport to hospitals, etc., we had little savings (we were low income family before) and used them for first few weeks of rent, council tax, food, etc. As I was self employed the year before and made around £700 in a whole year, council has made a nightmare of a job claiming benefits and refused us over and over. Credit cards were used to pay for most important stuff, we got a very cheap used car (cost about 20% of what repair of old one was going to be) that surprisingly just breezed through MOT this year :j and we were fighting council as well as illness. Our debt spiralled to nearly £6000 in credit cards :eek:

We finally got IB after 6 months as well as DLA and carer's allowance. We have won the appeal with appeal officer giving a stern letter to the council :T Back payment in benefit was straight away used to pay off as much of credit card as possible. Interest accrued is horrific though.

However, now we are down to £2500 in debt on credit card and around £900 in loan (finishes next year!).

We want to be debt free in around 15 months! We have and are selling what we do not need. My husband's condition means we can not always go to car boot sales if he is not well that day. But ebay works out nicely

So far, I have done the following
signed up to cashback sites
downgraded on shop brands
making a shopping list
do-it yourself Christmas presents
cleaning with vinegar/bicarbonate of soda
cooking in bulk and freezing
transfered all the credit card balances to 0% until July next year (just done it today!) so I can manage all debt in one payment with no interest
got paypal debit card to pay for stuff from paypal funds from our ebay sales
switched home insurance
bought 1pence Skype earphones with unusued vouchers and got around 2 hours worth of skype calls - cheaper than landline!
washing on low and drying outside or on the rack
got Tesco Deals Going Out to give my kids a nicer holiday by visiting lovely places for no fee
Got a card to get a free cinema ticket when we take kids to cinema (as my husband needs a carer) and we go on cheap Tuesdays
got the drought excluders thing for bottom of the door and installed them on front door and the hall door - the difference in the winter time is AMAZING!! Saves energy
Kids go to bath together
Splashed out on Lush solid shampoo, but it lasts ages and ages and ends up at fraction of cost per wash (little things count?)
changed home insurance
changed car insurance
took an opportunity to enrol to Open Uni for free as a carer and using time at home to study. Also get student discounts!!
use freecycle to get stuff we need or like - just got hundreds of pounds worth of card making supplies!
turning of lights, appliances, chargers, etc.,

now, a big blow - our fridge freezer packed in and I lost loads of food! What a waste!!!

ANyway, will be browsing through and see all the suggestions

Andreja

newmum1

Hi there, wow you have done loads already well done! Have you applied to the acess to learning fund with the open uni, its a separate fund that will help with the cost of broadband, travelling to tutorial , i believe the max payments are £3000 per year which does not have to be paid back.
hope this helps if you want any more advice on going about it feel free to PM me.

newmum1

Oh yeah sorry if you post a SOA then we may be able to help you to reduce your outgoings further.

cady

jsut wanted to say good luck you have done a lot already sop great start kep it up!!

marsupial_mama

I need to review our SOA, but will post it

There is one big thing we have and still hang on to - Sky. With my DH ill, this provides him with some good TV choice when he can not do much else.

Thank you for the tip about access to learning! Never heard of that!

We never claimed any benefits before and it was a challenge to start with to see what we are entitled to.

I was in denial about debt when we first started using credit cards to pay for regular expenses (it was supposed to be emergency/holiday/online purchases kind of thing). But once benefits were sorted it was easier to concentrate on clearing the debt

This site is a godsend!

Andreja

MrsTinks

Try freecycle for a fridge freezer I saw one on my local one just earlier today so there are people getting rid of them - they might not look fab but they work

savingholmes

Can you claim for lost freezer food on your home insurance - some policies cover it?

Cleosmum

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/TaxationClasses/DG_4022044 if on higher rate mobility on DLA.

Many disabled people can get a bus pass for free travel, check out your local councils website.