Stuck in a hole I can’t get out of.

colour_me_red

Received wisdom suggests that when a person is in a hole, they should stop digging. I am in such a hole, but I can’t seem to stop digging and don’t quite know how to get out of it.

I am currently in arrears with my gas bill, my electric meter (which is running on the emergency), and I suspect (but can’t prove until I see a rent statement from the council) my rent. As soon as I manage to clear a bill, the next one shows up so I have no way of getting ahead (the main reason, I think, why I'm stuck in this rut).

I earn roughly £1309 a month and of that approximately £480 is debt repayments. Then there is the rent (which I should start paying for at the top of the month, when I have money, rather in the middle of the month when I don't), the council tax, the electricity meter, the tv licence and the prescriptions pre-payment certificate to pay for, plus my bus pass for work. I also have dial-up internet access, the one thing these days I pay for that’s not "essential".

Then there’s whichever utility bill is most overdue and that leaves me usually with about £100 to cover everything else (food, mainly, plus launderette fees as I cannot afford to pay a plumber to attach the washing machine I have so I can start using it) plus any emergencies that happen (touch wood none will happen this month, there’s nothing to pay for them if they do). I do not currently possess house insurance but am considering it.

In October I finish paying one of my debts, which means from November I will have £207 more a month to play with; I’ve just been promoted at work, which means from the end of September I’ll be earning more (don’t know how much yet).

But I have to get from now until the end of September and given that I seem to owe money to just about everyone right now I don’t see how I can.

Help?

TMoose

Hello!

If you fill in a statement of affairs - http://www.makingsenseofcards.com/soacalc.html here and post it up, the wonderful people on this forum will be able to make constructive suggestions on how to budget your money.

In the meantime, it's always wise to get a dialog going with your creditors to ensure that there are no nasty surprises (on either side!)

Ames

Do you have any friends who would let you use their washing machine, you could give them a couple of pounds but it'd be less than the laundrette, it was what I did when I was in the same situation.

Jesthar

Hi, red, and welcome!

TMoose is right, a Statement of Affairs will be very useful in helping us to help you, as it breaks everthing down so are sure you remember everything, and makes it easy to spot areas you can make savings.

The other VERY useful thing to do (I do it, and the only debt I have aside from my mortgage is my Student Loan), is to keep a spending diary - write absolutelty EVERYTHING you pay/spend in it, and it will really help you to see where any pennies are being wasted.

~Jes

moneymakestheworldgoround

Hi colourmered,

I know exactly what you mean !! I was getting so happy one day thinking at last all up to date, then every day the following week a new bill would come and I was getting so depressed with it all. I was constantly playing catch up and I had no idea what to pay first.

In fact, logic would tell me A needed paying first, but if B sent more letters I would pay them or if C rang me, they went first in the line !

The trick is a multi attack plan.

Firstly work out your debts, the amounts, the aprs, etc... These can then be prioritized by importance ( eg council tax first) and then by highest APR.

Secondly, reduce spending or increase income or both. This can be done with the SOA - it is worth filling it out and it can be an eye opener.

Thirdly if the SOA shows a surplus but you cant see this, you need a spending diary. This will help you see where all the spare £1s are mounting up over a monthly period.

Lastly, you need to plan the next 12 months. Work out when water rates/sewage/electric/gas/tv license/mot/car tax etc.. are due over the next 12 months and so when a bill comes in, you are prepared for it

It is possible - I havent had a bill from the postie for 6 months and I am now in advance with water/sewage/electric. My car tax is due end of this month and rather than noticing on the day and panicking, I am actually prepared and it feels great ! I am still in debt, but it is not increasing.

bunny999

Why can't you attach the washing machine yourself ? I did my own it isn't difficult.
Please post an SOA so we can try to help.

(Land_of)_Maz

re the washing machine,

if you have a red pipe on your machine, it should connect onto the hot water feed pipe on the wall... the blue pipe onto the cold one and there should be an open ended sticking up pipe also on the wall which you shove the curly waste pipe from the machine down ........and bob's your uncle babes.......

don't put the machine into place until you've done the first wash thru the cycle, to check for leaks etc but i think that will be fine....

if you don't have the right hoses, ask on freecycle.....

Ames

Does the washing machine just need attaching, or do you need a point plumbing in? Sorry, I've got confused!