I need serious help

Karma_Amelia

I understand these are really personal details, but I think i'm going to literally die with pain from the stress and upset. They may be minute to some people but I'm only 20 and feel like i've failed at life already:
So here goes:

A month I get 930 wages. My boyfriends JC benefits goes in twice a month totalling 190.

so, 1120 a month.

My outgoings per month are:

89 Bannatyne Gym (Ends April)
18 Sky
100 Vodafone (Which is for mine & boyfriends phones. will be £30 cheaper after December)
141 for a loan for our shared car.
170 insurance
£250 fuel (its about £51 per week)
£90-110 Shopping (about 25 per week)
£50 tobacco (quitting isn't an option. We use roll ups with the cheapest Asda sell)

We owe:

1500 to his mom
800 to mine
100 to argos card
100 to capital one CC.

If there are any luxarys we would keep it would be the fags & sky tv. As we don't have any money we kinda watch tv all the time.

I have sold more or less everything I can and still have stuff going on ebay now but if I sell anything else I will be going to work without any clothes or shoes (of which may I add I have hardly anything.) I have 1 pair of shoes, 1 pair of trousers, 1 pair of jeans and about 10 tops in my wardrobe so I can't sell any of those really.

Plus, as i'm 20 and my boyfriend is 23 neither of us can get any other benefits because we both live with our parents, who as you can see above have already been helping us out. Its both our fault we're in this mess. How do I get out of it? What are the *rules* on getting out of contracts early - ie Gym membership?

Oh and my boyfriend has been unemployed due to his old place going bust with the recession. He and I apply for jobs every day for him but only a small handful of interviews with no luck so far. Sorry this is garbled, I don't know where else to turn.

Karma_Amelia

Apologies for the really poor grammar & spelling and what not. I just can't concentrate very well at the moment.

Confessionsofanexdebtcoll

I just used to cancel contracts with the gym, then ignored the letters, nothing ever happened, but it depends if you want to take the chance.

Your phone bills seem very high, are you on the right contract for your needs? ( I pay £20 a month for 600 min s 1000 texts and unlimited internet with o2) Your insurance seems very high as well, but this may be due to be being an old codger and almost being paid to drive.

On the bright side of things you have realised early how crap debt is, and once you are sorted you won't be going back to it

Karma_Amelia

Its completely our fault were in this mess. I was unemployed and he had a good job. So we thought, ah sod it we're young lets spend whilst we're still living at home and enjoy life before we get a house and have all sorts of commitments. Right now I feel like never leaving my room!!

We have 4 phone contracts, you know how you are "near" the end so get another contract.. well we both have that. Stupid I know but at the time we could afford it. Insurance was the cheapest, I used the MSE guide to getting it cheap and saved over £1000 over the year so I don't think I can get that payment any lower.

I work 40 hours a week and study part time for 16, the only thing I get for being this skint is my open uni fees paid. Hopefully in 4 years when I'm done I can get a well paid job but.. 4 years away is a long time.

I don't know what else I can do?

I've got £140 in the bank at the minute and £170 is about to go out, I was off sick for a week last month so even poorer. So now we have no money for fuel or food for the rest of the month.

Confessionsofanexdebtcoll

I know this is the one you will hate to hear, but quit smoking, it is no good for you and costs a fortune. We know, I quit on my own, but was never a big smoker anyway and OH quit with the help of the doctor, and that £5-£10 a day that used to go missing has made a big difference. Give it a go

What do you do with the £345 surplus you have each month?

Lottebear

Have you got any old mobiles you can sell?

Karma_Amelia

Confessionsofanexdebtcoll wrote: »

I know this is the one you will hate to hear, but quit smoking, it is no good for you and costs a fortune. We know, I quit on my own, but was never a big smoker anyway and OH quit with the help of the doctor, and that £5-£10 a day that used to go missing has made a big difference. Give it a go

What do you do with the £345 surplus you have each month?

Trying to at the minute... but at the moment the £50 is a 3rd of what we used to spend so already cut that down at the moment.

Lottie - I've sold them all already.

The only positive out of this, kind of, is I owed £1500 on a credit card and that is fully paid off now. Still, struggling as usual.

The job centre aren't being any help either. I mean, its rediculous. If my OH was 18months older he would be entitled to more benefits and if he got a job, tax / child tax credits. He also has a 4 year old daughter to help towards!!

bailey59

Okay first of all please try and relax a minute. You have really come to the right place for help and advice. Everyone on here knows how you feel it doesnt matter what amount you owe, its the same for us all. What you need to know, and I beleive this now, is that it will be okay, you will find a solution and you will be okay. Is the 170.00 for car insurance? Can you get cheaper quotes? You said you cant quit smoking? I know its hard. Can you try? Can your parents help? Have you got a repayment plan with them at the moment? Can you tell them that you are in a mess at the moment and you are struggling. I am sure both parents would not want you to feel like this and if they knew how you are feeling at the moment perhaps they can suspend the debt for a while. I know its difficult telling them you are in a mess but I am sure they would rather you tell them than let it worry you like this.

jenny_13

Your fuel seems quite high is there any reason like driving to work or is there a way of cutting down?

Ames

If you're both living with your parents how come you're paying for food? Could your parents help out with that? Also, if you're on the basic sky package you'll be better off with freeview and free dvd trials.

Karma_Amelia

Yes drive to work and about 30mins every time OH has to go to the job centre.

Our parents wont pay for our stuff, we do actually have to pay an exact share of our rent and solely for our own food. But the rent&bills are already wavered due to our circumstances.