Drowning!!

kathfisch

Hi Snickersgirl, welcome to MSE!

I know your debt is scary but the main thing is to give yourself credit for wanting to do something about it! Having your lightbulb moment and starting to make changes are often the hardest bits (let alone posting on here!). Once you get a budget sorted and start to investigate ways to save money you will really start to enjoy it and it will get easier.

Don't be too hard on yourself about how you got into debt. By all means, learn from your mistakes but rather channel your energy into doing something positive about it!

Do put together a SOA for us to have a look at, I would also recommend phoning one of the free debt-help charities like Payplan, CCCS or Citizen's Advice. They can go through things with you and explain your options.

Good luck when you decide to add up the totals of what you owe, guaranteed to shock you into doing something I would imagine!

Best of luck

Kath

bank_of_slate

snickersgirl wrote:

Thank you so much for your kind comments - I am going to go home tonight after work and sit down and try and work out exactly what kind of mess I've got myself into.

That's it snickers...start as you mean to go on. I see that you already sound determined!
this site is addictive, before you know it, you'll be living and breathing MSE!
...Linda xx

**purpleprincess**

Hello! :hello:

Well done for finally getting on here! You'll get loads of help and support on MSE, I am totally addicted now!! And you probably will be too!!

You've taken the first steps just by admitting that you owe the money, and the next biggest steps are wanting to begin sorting it out, and to post on here too!! There are loads of people that still mooch around unable to confess!! I was like that for a while before getting the courage up!!

This has been your lighbulb moment!! :idea: Welcome!!!

:grouphug:

us,thecat&thedebt

welcome to mse


u will get alot of help on here..
the debts in my sig,,, the was balance was prior to me finding this site in december

snickersgirl

Well, I couldn't put it off any longer, I've sat down and worked out my statement of affairs - please see below - there are a couple of blanks which I will try and fill in later - when I've stopped crying. It's even worse than I thought - I can't believe how stupid ive been to let myself get into this state. I just can't seem to see any way out of it.

February 2006 – Statement of Affairs

Income
1. Wages £1,230.18
2. Wages £226.72
__________
£1,456.90
Expenditure
1. Mortgage £363.33
2. HSBC Pension £25.00
3. HSBC Life £14.09
4. Mortgage Protection £20.06
5. Northumbrian Water £10.87
6. TV Licence £10.99
7. Gas £27.00
8. Electric £27.00
9. British Gas – Drains £5.50
10. Buildings & Contents Insurance £34.97
11. Telephone & Internet £36.00
12. Mobile Phone £56.80
13. Council Tax £60.00
14. Food, expenses & petrol £335.00
_________
£1,026.61 = £430.97 left for debt


1.HSBC Loan £270.97 £24,929.24 ?
2.HSBC Credit Card £140.00 £4,794.14 1.456 mth
3.Egg Visa £98.57 £4,928.62 1.240 mth
4.MBNA Visa £151.65 pay min £11,126.56 1.2408 mth
5.Barclaycard Visa £21.00 pay min £1,097.60 14.9 prchs
21.9 cash
6.Cahoot Loan £50.00 £2,339.93 9.5
7.Ikea Account £9.84 pay min £196.76 ?
8.Next Account £10.00 pay min £121.96 ?
9.Fashion World £8.51 pay min £173.28 ?
_______________ _____________
£760.54 £49,708.09

10.HSBC O/draft £260.00
______________
£49,968.09

£760.54
£430.97

---

£329.57 short this month

I don't want to lose my house or go bankrupt - so would really appreciate any advice that anyone could give me to try and pull myself out of this quagmire that ive got myself into.

Im in utter shame, embarrassment and despair

lynzpower

Snickers, well done hun for getting it down *Lynz passes Snickers a nice cup of tea and tissue*

I know that must have been difficult to do... but this is the start of a positive change. Dont forget that or lose sight of it. Your amongst freinds here :-)

**purpleprincess**

Don't feel shame, embarrassment or utter despair, there are people out there that can help. Have you tried contacting the Citizen's Advice Bureau? It could be worse!! And you're here now to try and sort things out. It will be ok. Your mobile bill is a bit high, could that be cut? Also telephone and internet are too, could try and cut them?

**purpleprincess**

When you say food, expenses and petrol, what are your expenses? Have you tried the grocery challenge? I'm attempting Lidl on Saturday!

snickersgirl

£60.00 - £80.00 petrol
£10.00 food for my pet gecko - I am trying to sell him and the tank to cut this down
£15.00 food for pet dog
£125.00 groceries
£105.00 incidentals
but I am trying to reduce these

*Sparkle*_3

well done for posring an admitting to your debt, thats the hardest bit to do!

If you really put your mind to it, you can do it.

Perhaps a call to one of those agencies might be good for you!

Like citizens advice and CCS(i think thats right)
Can someone post the links? thanks

Good luck and keep posting