Facing up to it...

BikerKieron

Where do I start?....

I have been out of work for the last three years due to a breakdown and am still on anti-depressants which really helps me focus on life, family and the household. I am the house husband and my beloved works as a sign language interpreter full time. We have a 2 year old son and I look after him full time. I also take him to playgroups and activities. I also have two children from my first marriage who is 10 and 9 years old.

My wife and I have run up debts of circa £8,000 and since I've been off work, I've put on nearly 5 stone in weight. Now I'm feeling more focused on life, I intend to work hard to get the weight off using planned menus and to live a more green and healthy lifestyle. I'm in receipts of benefits and its hard work juggling the bills along with other expenses such as food etc. I keep an close eye on the bank account and if I don't have enough funds to meet a direct debit due to benefits not being paid in yet I cancel them as I refuse to pay bank charges. Sometimes I forget to cancel them and it costs us £30 per time grrr.

It is hard working out the finances each month as the benefits are paid but not on set days, sometimes two days late, sometimes two days early. It is irritating but I really cant complain as the benefits help us a lot.

Recently, we have received a court summons for non-payment of the council tax. Stupidly, I avoided dealing with it and other debts because they made me very anxious and I took it out on my wife. I realised that it wasnt my wife's fault, we both got into this mess and I needed to face up to things. So the first thing I'm going to do is give the council tax department a ring to see what we can do about the bill.

Any advice would be appreciated. I realise I'm not alone and am proud of myself for taking the first step into realising that I cannot keep my head buried in the sand and to face up to the reality.

beanielou

Well done on[posting.
Hope you can phone the council tax peeps & sort something out.
Try to deal with it ASAP.

BikerKieron

beanielou wrote: »

Well done on[posting.
Hope you can phone the council tax peeps & sort something out.
Try to deal with it ASAP.

Have phoned the council tax yesterday, they were very understanding and have agreed for me to spread payments so I can pay it when I get some income/benefits.

They have agreed to stop the court summons in the meantime.

Thanks for your kind words Beanielou x

BikerKieron

Well its the second day since I made my first posting. This morning I felt so much better for having facing up to things and also contacting the council tax office yesterday and explaining my circumstances.

Checked the bank account and its erm...well....empty! Have cancelled one direct debit as I know income is coming on Wednesday 17th February and the DD was due to come out on monday. Will contact the DD originator to make a payment over the phone on Wednesday to cover it. I spoke with my wife and we are going to contact people like Ikea credit card, Halifax credit card and ask for their bank details so we can pay it by one off payments out of our bank account when income/benefits come in rather than direct debits.

I have done a menu plan for the following two weeks so we can cut down on our groceries bill. I already shop at Aldi mostly, but will keep eye out on BOGOF and such other deals to help us keep it down.

Have a good weekend guys.

Kieron