getting things sorted and starting from nothing

Lily9

Hi everyone

I am about to move back to the UK after a year abroad - hitherto I was a full time carer and then student - the relative I was caring for passed away and the house we lived in was rented so I have no property interests and no savings. I am pleased to say that I now have no overdraft (which took quite a lot of budgeting), only £200 in the bank though, student loan debt of about £4000, and a credit card debt of £800.

At the moment things are rather precarious as I have no savings and I am looking for work (I am not on benefits or anything unfortunately, the move back to the UK has been too chaotic to organise anything) and it might be rather uncertain freelance consultancy for now, and I need to find somewhere to live. I have somewhere to live until the end of September (I've paid rent until that time).

So basically I am trying to work out how to get my life on track. I am thinking of putting my possessions (those which I can't sell off) into storage and getting a cheap student-type room in a shared house just while i get on my feet. Does anyone know what the most realistic forecasts are for the best time to buy a house: when the housing market will be at its lowest? I suppose that renting a room in a house will be my cheapest option.

I am planning to transfer the expensive credit card (natwest) to a zero balance one. And I will also apply to reclaim bank charges and credit card charges (now that I have eliminated my overdraft, I suspect I am in a stronger position). In addition I might try to find an account with an interest free overdraft as I could do with some kind of boost.

I am also interested in stoozing as I need all the extra income I can find (as my savings were entirely depleted while I was caring full time). I have also thought about becoming a housesitter to earn money while also having a roof over my head.

Any advice would be gratefully received!

Lily