So ashamed please help

Ames

A CCJ is a county court judgement. It's when you don't meet the minimum payments, they can take you to court and the court will order how much you have to pay. If you haven't been to court over the debts then yes you can pay £1 a month. You've broken the contract already, so that's the 'law' broken, but remember, it's not criminal law - if you pay them £1 a month you're not going to go to prison or anything nasty! Even if they take you to court, it wont be like on tv, you'll just be in a small room with a judge.

I really can't stress this enough - council tax needs paying. credit cards/catalogues/loans etc don't right now.

chelbel1981

katsu wrote: »

Well done for being honest.

Can you get clothes down to this £10 or less - look at what you and your kids already own and maybe try to buy nothing else for a while?

Put £10 in for your travel, lets get to the reality, then you can work out what you need to do to clear your debts and break even each month.

Any way to get off the card meters? Can you reduce usage? Are you wearing jumpers first, heating only as much water as you need, closing curtains, turning things off, snuggling under blankets in the front room with hot drinks?

I am fine for clothe ATM but am droping weight :eek: I'll invest in a good belt for now :rotfl:but the girls go through tights and trousers like mad, that £5 per child per month I don't think it's too bad, it could be much worse.

I don't really want to get rid of the card meters because I'd get into more debt I can't use it if I have no money

I do all the things mentioned above. I thought that it was about average, it's always been the same but now I know it's not I'll investigate

Thanks :T

Ames

For tights I find it's cheaper in the long run to buy slightly more expensive pairs, cheap ones don't last two minutes. And buy the thickest you can, they're harder to get holes in. For you, check out charity shops/car boot sales, ebay and freegle, there's some great bargains out there. As you drop a size you can sell your old stuff on ebay to raise money for the new.

chelbel1981

Ames wrote: »

A bailiff gets involved after a court order. They have rights to seize your goods (if you let them into the house or sign something). Although they have less rights than they think.

It will be bailiffs for the housing and council tax then

A debt collection agency has no rights. They can come out to your doorstep and you can tell them to shove off. Never, ever phone them up, they're trained bullies who earn more based on what they can squeeze out of you. Write to them, say 'all I can afford is £1 a month, here it is' and include a postal order. If they take you to court they'll look stupid for asking you to pay them when you owe council tax, and you'll be showing thast you're willing to pay, but not able to at the mo.

You have to keep repeating this to yourself: 'they can't have what I don't have'. They can't get blood out of a stone, and your priority is the council tax debt. It's possible (though not likely) that you can go to prison for it. The rest of your creditors can whistle for a while.

Thank you for clarifing that
I will contact the companies involved, do you think it would be good if I attached the SOA???

chelbel1981

Ames wrote: »

For tights I find it's cheaper in the long run to buy slightly more expensive pairs, cheap ones don't last two minutes. And buy the thickest you can, they're harder to get holes in. For you, check out charity shops/car boot sales, ebay and freegle, there's some great bargains out there. As you drop a size you can sell your old stuff on ebay to raise money for the new.

Thanks, I do try to buy the thickest I don't even bother with school colours because the grey oes always seem thin, the best I have found so far is Pumpkin Patch but I only buy them in the sale cos I cannot justify £4 for 1 pair

katsu

chelbel1981 wrote: »

I am fine for clothe ATM but am droping weight :eek: I'll invest in a good belt for now :rotfl:but the girls go through tights and trousers like mad, that £5 per child per month I don't think it's too bad, it could be much worse.

I don't really want to get rid of the card meters because I'd get into more debt I can't use it if I have no money

I do all the things mentioned above. I thought that it was about average, it's always been the same but now I know it's not I'll investigate

Thanks :T

I've no kids, so I've no idea how little you can get away with. My point is that you are currently not breaking even so you need to find areas you can cut back until you get to breaking even.

As a comparison for you, on utilities; we are a childless couple heating a semi, with an old boiler. Our gas was, on average, just under £40pcm last year, and our electric just over £10. Our boiler was not working properly so heated water all the time that the central heating was on, so should have been a little less. We have no TV or tumble dryer, so our elec is probably lower than many people. Central heating is on all evening - say 6-9.30, about 30 mins in the AM and most of the weekend at the moment. I put the heating on in around October this year (no idea about last year). We run CH all year round, but only for a short period daily in the summer. We do this as our boiler is so old it does not like stopping for a few months, then starting again Hope this info is some help.

savingmummy

Your getting married so His income and outgoings need to go on your SOA.
If he has debts too it could be a completely different story regarding how you are going to get debtfree.

What are your husband to be`s debts?