Fed up - a rant!

Drea

I just need to rant, I'm completely fed up!

I'm single, I'm 21, I'm working, you'd think I should be having fun now and then.

This month after paying everything off (except for around £20 of phone bill and my council tax) I am left with £110. I haven't bought my food for the month yet and I haven't paid my council tax at all. I haven't been able to pay my council tax for a long time and now I'm getting letters etc and I just can't do anything about it!

I already have debt, and can't get near to paying this off because I can't afford normal outgoings! The only way I could pay every 'normal' outgoing (ie, still not paying extra debt off) is if I didn't eat! I can't go out and have a drink now and then ever, I can't do anything but sit here and worry about it and read letters and know there is nothing I can do.

People think when I say that I have no money that I mean that I SHOULDNT spend it on that night out, or those gig tickets, no, it means I have NO money! The most I get as a treat is a take away now and then and even then I have to sit and work out if I can afford to pay my gas if I get it. And I know I shouldn't buy take aways or a bottle of wine now and then but sometimes I just need it to feel a bit better (yes that sounds stupid but that's the reality).

I am entitled to nothing from the government, and I don't see that that is fair! I pay my taxes which helps other people out (and don't get me wrong, I don't mind other people getting their benefits), it just makes me so angry that I can't get any help.


I could go on all day but ranting for hours isn't going to help anything. Just needed to get this one out of my system!

madmich666

Hello and welcome.

I felt like you did just before I had my lightbulb moment. I decided I didn't really enjoy the nights out anyway and gave that up. I do sometimes go out. I really found it a struggle until the good people on here gave me fantastic advice.

I would suggest you start by posting your Statement of Affairs (SOA) Im not sure what the link is but I'm sure someone will be along soon that can help. Once you have posted your SOA people on here will be able to give you some more advice.

Madmich666

Drea

Already been done a while ago. We discovered I can't even pay my normal monthly outgoings so have no chance to tackle the debt. Waiting to hear back about a loan but other than that, not much can be done.

homeaway

How about shopping at Aldi or Lidl you will be able to buy some cheap wine and eat well. Hope things get better for you.

redsquirrel80

Hi Drea - frustrating isn't it? I agree with Madmich that writing down all your incomings and outgoings is a good idea - lots of people on here have great ideas on how to cut back etc.

I'm guessing you are earning just enough not to qualify for Working Tax Credit? If you haven't already, then do check on the WTC site to make sure. Also, I would have a look on your local council site and see if you're entitled to Housing Benefit - I've recently found out to my surprise that I am (according to the website anyway), and am just waiting to get all the paperwork in order to apply.

I don't know if you've contacted the Council Tax people, but if not, do so and explain that you're having difficulty paying, even offer them a token payment per month for now. It is one of the priority debts so please don't ignore it.

It will all work out in the end, so take a deep breath, get that SOA written down and see what can be done about it. Oh and have a DFW hug :grouphug:

Nomad25

Hi Drea, at the risk of 'teaching granny to suck eggs' can you get any help with the council tax? We all need to rant, this is as good a place as any - safe and at least no one will throw it back at you.

redsquirrel80

Drea wrote: »

Already been done a while ago. We discovered I can't even pay my normal monthly outgoings so have no chance to tackle the debt. Waiting to hear back about a loan but other than that, not much can be done.

In that case have you contacted one of the debt charities such as CCCS for advice? There's a post at the top of this forum with their details.

Drea

Hunted it down

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1211635

My SOA is in there. Thanks for the replies everyone, just feeling very very frustrated. Trying as hard as I can to pay everythng off and it just doesn't work.

10past6

Hi Drea

Which bills / debts are you paying right now?

Are you paying any unsecured debts?

If so, these are NOT PRIORITY DEBTS if I was you and you don't have the funds to pay them, reduce the payments to token payments of £1.00 and focus on your priority debts, i.e council tax.

If you posted up a new SOA, it may give a better insight into how you can trim your outgoings.

Sometimes it's hard to see the wood for the trees when we are so down.

10past6

Drea wrote:

The council tax owed is from my last place, was living with my ex then and he wouldn't pay anything, again, I know, I know.


This month coming up I will have to pay £100 to my phone/broadband/tv (it is a deal from Virgin for the three) from moving house but after then it should work out around the £30 mark.

If possible, I would cancel that £100.00 to Virgin and pay it towards your council tax, you cannot go to prision for owing Virgin, you can go to prision for non payment of council tax.

Drea

At the moment per month I am paying:

-Rent
-Gas
-Electricity
-Min credit card amount
-Now provident have found me so will be paying them £10 a week
-Virgin (tv/internet/phone)
-Bus pass

So I'm not paying:

-Council tax
-Student debt
-Tv licence (but I am signing up for one right now)

Can't think of anything else at the moment but no doubt there are things.