Don't know where to turn

tyllwyd

Are your tax credits up to date now it is just you working? You might be able to get more help with childcare if your income had dropped drastically.

amazing1

OK thanks for your help and suggestions.

I have spent most of the morning blubbing at my desk- after having had a fight with my husband this morning. I lost patience with him the other day and told him it was his fault we were in this mess and for him to deal with it. Totally wrong I know and I quickly apologised. I told him I didn't blame him for the businesses but that I was frustrated things had gone on so long and felt he could have been more proactive to get work.

So I have had all the silent treatment and now he says he will sort it, his way. I have tried to explain that I had been feeling really low and although normally one of us picks the other up the past few weeks theres been nothing.

I just rang him and told him I was sorry for everything and for being weak (I have tried my best for so long, and have spoken to every creditor with the exception of the electric- that bill took the last of the wind out of my sails). Then I told him about CCCS and that maybe a Debt Management Plan might work if he can increase his income.

He starts a job on Monday and will likely earn on or about £3K next month. Which again means we will live another day. But beyond that I don't know unless he really pushes with old contacts (wish he would) and maintain that on a monthly basis.

The childcare figure I put in- when my husband has had work to go to I have had a cousin collect the girls £10/time. Half what I used to pay the childminder- but obviously I can't claim it back. The kids don't like the former childminder and the after school club is fully subscribed.

My own job is pretty insecure but I have had 2 recruitment agents leave messages for me today - so I am going to ring them now.

I am going to see if I can get a job with better pay by £300/mth.
I am going to tell my husband he has got to get out there and get work and keep trying.
I am wondering if a DMP could then be entertained on the unsecured debts.

Incidentally, the car which was in the business name is an 'unregulated finance' agreement- does this mean I am unable to hand it back and owe nothing more once half has been paid.
We bought it in Sep 06 so I think we must have paid nearly half now?

The £400 for groceries- who am I kidding? I am living on red cross parcels from my mother and mother-in-law.

Oh well, maybe the lottery is my only hope!

milliemonster

Chin up chuck!, at least you've made the first step by coming on here, you're in for a bumpy ride but the biggest thing you need at the moment is stability and security.

£10 a time to pick the kids up? is there anyway you can renegotiate this with your cousin for a while?

Regarding setting up the DMP, I think it's great your hubby has a job next week so you can keep the wolves from the door next month but if you enter into a DMP you HAVE to have a regular income to be able to put into this otherwise none of the debt free charities will be able to help

You have to get your husband on board with this, have you shown him the SOA you have put up on here so he can see the figures for himself? He has to realise that he has to get a regular job (even if that means a lot less money than he is used to) to help you get through this hurdle.

You can't carry on living one month to the next like this wondering if you'll get through it and get paid, you deserve better

GeorgeUK

A(mazi)ng1 (Can i call you Mazi? Seems a bit odd calling you a road name)

It took you years and 2 businesses to get into debt. It's going to take time to get out of it so don't even try to deal with everything at once. You'll just end up tired, frustrated and dejected. Both you and your husband need to be working from the same sheet to get this sorted and to make progress. Might be worth showing him this site so he doesn't feel like he's going to need to battle on alone. There is support and advice for both of you here. Don't forget to support each other though - as another poster recently said, you may not be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but you can hear other people further on shouting they can see a light.

For the "unregulated finance agreement"; i take it this was a loan that is unregulated because it was for more than £25,000. If this is the case, then the 50% clause is probably not there. If you can find the agreement though, can you check to see if you were paying Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) for it? Not sure how it works with a business but you may be able to use this for perhaps a year so that it will cover the payments. Alternatively check to see if this was missold if it won't pay out.

If you can't get a better job, have you thought about a 2nd job or weekend work?

As long as hubby is earning and getting work, even in bits and pieces, you may be able to put off going on a DMP and reducing your debts. I would still advise contacting CCCS just so you are aware of the options available and what these mean. You don't need to agree to a DMP or anything, but they are a good source of information.

It is not advised to secure any debts to your property or to get a secured loan to consolidate your debts. This won't solve anything and will leave you more vulnerable - just incase you were considering it.

Try not to panic or bite off each others heads. It'll take both of you to work through this.

take care.
George

TotallyBrassic

Hey there Amazing!
Just been reading through your post, while I am no expert, I will tell what I know of cccs. My dh is self employed, we do our own books, as not bringing in enough to pay accountants...anyway cccs accepted us onto dmp no problem, BUT we had to send in profit/loss sheet ( and believe me it really is the simplest looking accounts sheet ever..teehee) to show his income from the last year, or you can send in tax return. as long as he is regularly earning enough together with you to take you above your expenses for priority debts then you could squeeze on to a dmp. But you must be able to back the income up if needs be.
Anyway sorry for waffling, don't get too downhearted, it's rubbish not knowing where the next penny will come from, but you can get through it, plus you will get lots of useful and practical advice in here whenever you need it,

xx

Curious_Moose

Why not get a lodger (if you've a spare room)?