I am completely lost. No money what so ever (and today was pay day!)

stupidspender

Hi Me,

Just reading the thread, I'm no good with giving advice money wise but I hope things sort out for you and your child, there are plenty of people on here who will support you with advice and hope this eases some of the pressure on you.

MeandtheLilUn

Hi guys, thanks so much for your support. It really means a lot!!

I've tried to throw together a mini SOA... This is what I know my money goes on in a month, the rest I have to fit in somehow (usually end up borrowing cash off the rest of the family to get some things)

Incoming

Wages: £412.02 monthly (usually £1022.18)
Tax Credits £186.71 weekly (this has been increased while I'm off work)
Child Benefit £20 weekly

Total Monthly: £1307.76

Outgoing (all showing are minimum repayments)

Rent £475 monthly
Nursery £368.16 monthly (owe £654.48)
Car Tax £35 annually (October/November)
BCA (account 1) £4.99 monthly (owe £17.95)
BCA (account 2) £4.99 monthly (owe £18.91)
Mothercare £23.75 (owe £593.72)
Dorothy Perkins £12.81 (final payment)
Virgin CC £89.86 monthly (owe £1267.46)
HSBC Mastercard £15.16 monthly (owe £961.17)
Next £40.97 monthly (owe £434.70)
HSBC Loan £124.95 monthly (owe £3123.75)
Clydesdale Finance £31.11 monthly (owe £858)
Barclaycard £48.34 monthly (owe £2148.59)
EDF £20 weekly
Dentist £10 monthly
TV License £12.12 monthly
BT £33.85 quarterly
O2 £45-50 monthly
Water £30 monthly
Sky £21.45 monthly (includes TV, Broadband & Phone)
Car Insurance £42.29 monthly (due for renewal)
Blockbuster £4.88 monthly
Winsor Pilates £20 ish monthly (Stupidly bought something not realising it ties me into a monthly purchase - trying to get a way out of it!)
Council Tax £as much as possible (owe £1126.46)

I'm now going to apply for housing benefit in a hope that I can maybe get something from them. And now it sounds like I'm going to have to get a new credit card (replacement for HSBC Mastercard probably) just to make ends meet for the time being, not that it will help with monthly outgoings.

I think my next option is to contact citizens advice and CCCS.

Me x

Credit_Jake

Hey I just read your situation and really feel for you, if you need any help message me. Hope it gets better for you.

Tixy

Hi Me

I definatley would suggest you contact CAB or similar.
I notice from the SoA you are paying a lot of unsecured debt but also have priority arrears. Unsecured debt is the lowest priorty cost and if you are seeking advice you might want to consider sending this template letter to your credit card and store cards along with a £1 token payment for this month (cancel any DDs that are set up first) - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=21937969&postcount=52

That will at least buy you a month to set up something more organised with whichever organisation you talk to.

Is the O2 cost just your mobile bill? if so this is high, can you speak to them and ask to drop to a lower tariff or better deal?

Why are you paying BT for phone and SKY for phone? Can you get an all inclusive deal where you don't need to pay rent to BT.

Make sure you shop around for car insurance (read Martins article on getting the best deal and make sure you check if you can get cashback at quidco or similar).

Can you cancel Blockbuster?

I would suggest when you have more time you complete the SOA link http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html
as this will give you a better idea of how much overspend you have each month (make sure all the costs are monthly - for weekly costs multiply by 4.33, for quarterly costs divide by 3).

Good luck with the HB claim, hope you don't get another horrid obnoxious woman like with the crisis loan :mad:

Hope that you are able to get non-financial support from your family/ friends with regards to your depression.

Take care

MeandtheLilUn

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your advice...
Tixy, I've been following a few of the things you've mentioned, I've contacted O2 to ask them to reduce my tariff, but they will only do this when the month is over, so it will not start until December...
I have spoken to CAB, and they have referred me to CCCS or Debt Helpline, so I am now going to have on the CCCS website, and see what happens from there... I am contemplating going on a DMP, but i'm not sure if it will be a good idea or not, so I'm going to look into it further.

Has anyone been on a DMP? Or got any advice on the matter??

Thanks again
Me x

Kandipandi

Hi honey, I'm sorry to read about your situation.
Have a look at this link http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1735087&highlight=dmp its the debt management plan people who are currently or have been in DMP's and you might find some useful stuff in there.
Personally I went on a DMP with CCCS many years ago (I am out of the other side now) and it was the best thing to do (for me).
It is such a relief to take charge of your debts and even if your credit rating is affected for me that was not an issue as I didnt intend to get into credit again. I do have a mortgage and I pay a higher interest rate than others, and am in the process of building up my credit record again but it was soooo worth it.

If you are using a credit card to live on, please be careful. You will have to make drastic changes to how you were spending until such a time as your salary returns to normal. In the meantime, can you look to see if you have anything to sell, perhaps you can do a car boot sale or get some stuff traded in for cash?

One thing I noticed from your short SOA - you are paying nursery charges but you dont work, is your child at an age where she could go to state nursery rather than a private one or is she still little and was there to enable you to go to work? Just thought that you could add what you owe them to a DMP and take her out if you are at home. There are always mother and toddler groups etc you can take her to for some kiddie interaction and they are mainly free.
Good luck, I keep us informed and keep your chin up!
x

MeandtheLilUn

Well, I've been on CCCS but there were no available advisors, but I received an email from them... I have since replied with the details they asked for, and a copy of a spreadsheet I created showing how much I have coming in and going out, and also how much I owe and to whom. Unfortunately, that list shows me with -£256.34 expendable income, and £11218 debts.

Hopefully something good will come of all of this. I have also sent in a housing benefit application... but I'm expecting that to take just short of forever (it did last time! and they turned me down)

Thanks again for everyones advice!

Me x

ZarZar1990

Keep going!
You're doing really, really well!
Good luck
xxx

timmmers

You applied for a crisis loan...that's not for this type of situation, and more to the point (as I think you will have seen by their attitude) they are zero help. I once applied for a crisis loan, EXPLAINED why in detail on the phone, and then on the form...refused.
I then met a mate who said, no..I should have applied for a BUDGETING loan...which I did, and got. That fits your circumstances exactly IMO. Apply by phone, and they send you a form, it can take a while but hopefully you can get one. You don't need to tell them the exact reason you need it in detail.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017534

From http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_money/benefits/help_for_people_on_a_low_income_-_the_social_fund.htm#budgeting_loans :-
Who can apply for a budgeting loan

You can apply for a budgeting loan if you are getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Pension Credit on the day that you apply. In addition, you must have been on one of these benefits for at least 26 weeks. Breaks of 28 days or less in your claim will be ignored.
You cannot receive a full budgeting loan if you or your partner have more than £1,000 in capital (£2,000 if you or your partner is 60 or over). If you have capital above this amount, your budgeting loan award will be reduced by the amount of excess capital.
What expenses can a budgeting loan be made for

A budgeting loan can only be awarded for essential items or services in certain categories of expense. You can apply for a budgeting loan for help with furniture and household equipment, clothing and footwear. You can apply for help with rent in advance or removal expenses to new accommodation. You can apply for help with the costs of improvement, maintenance and security of your home. You can apply for help with essential travelling expenses and expenses associated with getting or starting a job. You can also apply for a budgeting loan for help with hire purchase payments and other debts, if the money was borrowed for expenses in any of the other categories.


What did that snotty woman say to you last time? Seems she wasn't right eh?
Oh..I think the max is a grand or close for someone with kids? It's 340 for a single person I DO know.
That should help ease things hopefully?

Good luck. You're due a bit.



t

biteyerlegs

couldn't really take in all your debts, but i
realise you are in a lot of debt.

we have just come out of debt this year after using christians against poverty. (you don't have to be religious to receive their help.)

http://www.capuk.org/home/index.php

there are centres throughout the country.
hope that helps.