Somebody Help

homersimpson_3

I didnt know there were companies that did this for free!!
I will have a look at my paperwork tonight and see if i can get out of the arrangement.The trouble with the pub is that all my friends meet up there along with my sisters. Maybe I need some new friends ha ha
I have just started to pay more off my phone bill than the minimum payment so hopefully that will be paid off soon and I will get a pay as you go phone.

If I was 10k in debt I would ring these organisations up anyway just for some general advice. what's the worst that can happen- all they can say is we can't help you? even if that was the case you're in no worse position than you are now (i.e. you're trying to get out of debt & onto property ladder (hard I know) without their help). If all your friends and sisters meet at pub why don't you suggest going somewhere else for a change e.g. cinema, concerts etc - many offer free tickets. cheap night out. you can still have an active social life without spending a fortune. do they know you're trying to save for a house - if not tell them - less pressure etc. you don't need to tell them your 10k in debt if you don't want to.

missk_ensington

Unfortunately staying in and being responsible is just a fact of life. It's not fun, I'm sure we'd all like to go out and have fun (I know I would rather than spend, 350 out of 365 days a year by myself with a baby each night!) You just have to force yourself. And if you insist on going to the pub, why not give yourself an allowance of 3 halves of lager, 3 nights a week or something?

As already mentioned, swimming is cheap, you could go to the cinema (and hide sweets from the shops in your handbag!) you could hire a film, bake cakes, see your family and take them little cakes with their names iced on top (I know I dont get out much!), invite friends over and cook them something, and ask them to bring a bottle of wine i return?

There are loads of idea's if you want to be creative!

purple2

Homersimpson thats a great idea, i will look into places to go that will not cost me the earth. As you can tell I have only just started thinking about how to get out of debt early rather than the 7 years my debt management company have given me.
I am off work for the next 2 days so I will call these companies and let you know on Monday how I got on. Hopefully I will be able to pay more money that will actualy go towards my debt and not in the management co's bank account!:mad: :mad:

ms_london

purple2 wrote:

I am 25 and in about £10k worth of debt:(
I am with a debt management company and pay them £142 per month.
My phone bill is usually about £80 per month (a month in arrears)
My rent is £150
I smoke about 20 fags a day at £4.50.
This is basicly all I pay out a month and I earn £910 so I could pay off more.
quote]

Hi purple2 - welcome to MSE!! Dont despair - you have come to the right place & you are most certainly not alone!!

I am 25 now and was in £19,000 of debt & am now debt free, so it can be done!!

Which debt management agency are you with? As others have said, can you get out of this contract? Could you list all of your creditors, the balance, the APR? You might be able to negotiate with them directly, plus its always helpful to see who you owe money too & what form they are in (loan/credit card etc).

Your phonebill is pretty high, especially if you probably spend all your time with your friends in the pub talking to them ! Could you get a better deal? Perhaps try and halve it? Its dead money to be honest...

Who/where do you live that you are so unhappy? Could you move into shared accommodation? Do you have any other bills at all that you have to pay out? What about transport to/from work? Food? Prescriptions? Birthdays?

Are you hoping to get debt free as soon as possible, or perhaps try and save a little?

Do you want to give up smoking? A 20 a day habit is not only unhealthy, but also very expensive - if its your only "luxury" then fair play to you, but you cant have everything & then want money left over too.

Have a think & then post again and we'll see if we can help.xx

purple2

missk ensington
I know your right. I have realised it's about time I grew up abit, unfourtunatly this is not going to just go away

purple2

ms london
How did you do it?

breakdown2007

ms london is dat you in your avartar?

missk_ensington

Purple- accepting the problem is the first step to dealing with it and you've done that, so well done!

I recent;y changed my Orange mobile contract, I was paying £50 for 400min/1000 txt but then the texts just randomly stopped and apparently it was a promo-but I wasn't told that anywhere. ANyway I kicked up a fuss and said I was going to reduce tarfiff and turn the phone off for the remaining 3 months if they didn't do somerthing. I ended the conversation with 500min/500texts for £25 a month, a new handset and a bluetooth hands free kit!

I smoke and I know that its a bad habit when I'm not exactly rolling in it, so I allow myself UP TO 10 a day (if I have less I can roll them over to the next day and I save my 'roll overs' for weekend) I also tout everyone going on holiday to bring me back duty free, and I think you'll find quite a few pubs will sell duty free's at £3-4 a pack behind the bar on the QT!

You could also try making some more money, cleaning, the local papers often have ad's from elderly people/disables people wanting a few hours a week to help with shopping and cooking?? Or babysitting? (That'll certainly make you appreciate your life! lol!)

It sounds to me like your stuck in a culture zone where everyone has nothing to do but go to the pub and get drunk. Be the one to break away and do something constructive with your life!

purple2

Thansk missk. The smoking thing is a great idea to. By the time you lot have finished with me I will be debt free and rolling in it (fingers crossed) ha ha h

missk_ensington

Its a bit naughty, but when you have nights out, sneak a 1/4 bottle of cheap vodka into your handbag for when you get to a club. Its about £4 in Asda and lasts all night! I've done it from time to time when I've been super skint!