Advice for a newcomer please!

hellsbells0405_2

Hiya,

I really don't know where to begin!

Myself and my partner have had loads of problems this last year. We got our own flat last year but it all went t*ts up when he finished work through depression! A year on and I am now living back with my parents as I couldn't afford everything on just my wage. Needless to say I ran up some debts before I left the flat!

We have also gone through Court to get decent access to his twin girls. This has put emotional strain on us as well.

Sorry not trying to paste a sob story honest!! :A

Anyway, when we took on the flat all bills were put into my name as he had a poor credit history (stupid me I know) I have windled off the electricty and water as they are key card payments. However I am now stuck in contracts that don't run out for X amount of months and it is really starting to pull on me.

I am trying to make an appointment with the local CAB at the moment and I have taken on a part time job to release some strain. However it is hellish paying out to go see his girls every 3 weeks to the other end of the country as well as food etc.

If anyone has any advice as to what I can do I would most appreciate it.

Thanks
Helen - a newbie

Tixy

Hi helen and welcome

Probably a good starting point is to complete a statement of affairs, this will help show a full financial position which may be useful to you to see it all written down and will help us see what suggestions we can make. List all of the debts etc that you are aware of. This is the form to use to complete it http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html then post the results on here.

Is partner still living at the flat? are you living apart because that means he will get housing support etc or because of the strain on your relationship?

Do you now treat your finances as joint or indivdual?

Is partner getting all the benefits he can? check www.entitledto.co.uk , is he likely to be able to restart work soon?

hellsbells0405_2

Hi,

Thanks for your quick reply.

Basically we are living apart because I couldn't afford to take on all the bills and rent etc on my own. He gets housing and council tax benefits as well as JSA.
He pays the electricity and water accounts at the flat.

I am therefore left to pay the home phone line (finishes this month) broadband, mobile bills etc. I also have 10 months of a car to pay off as well!!

He has started to look for work but as he has not been working for nearly a year now he is finding it tough especially in the economical climate we are in at the moment.

hellsbells0405_2

Ive managed to get a part time evening job at an off licence now so things starting to look up. Got an appointment with the CAB to on Wednesday.

Anymore tips for me?

Just wondered if anyone wanted to be my debt free buddy as well? Find it a lot easier one to one bouncing ideas around.

.NoMoney.

hellsbells0405 wrote: »

Ive managed to get a part time evening job at an off licence now so things starting to look up. Got an appointment with the CAB to on Wednesday.

Anymore tips for me?

Just wondered if anyone wanted to be my debt free buddy as well? Find it a lot easier one to one bouncing ideas around.

Hi there.

Stumbled upon your post by accident (clicked on the wrong one). Nice to see a fellow new member to the board hoping to clear their debt's.

I will gladly become your debt free buddy, new here myself so could be ideal motivation.

3Dogs

Tixy wrote: »

Hi helen and welcome

Probably a good starting point is to complete a statement of affairs, this will help show a full financial position which may be useful to you to see it all written down and will help us see what suggestions we can make. List all of the debts etc that you are aware of. This is the form to use to complete it http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html then post the results on here.

Is partner still living at the flat? are you living apart because that means he will get housing support etc or because of the strain on your relationship?

Do you now treat your finances as joint or indivdual?

Is partner getting all the benefits he can? check www.entitledto.co.uk , is he likely to be able to restart work soon?

Tixy's advice is still appropriate - as posting a statement of affairs (SOA) will mean people will be able to view your situaion better and offer the appropriate advice - I realise that this may be difficult with you living apart but if you can cobble something togethr it will be of a great benefit to you and anyone advising you

All the best Pet whatver you do

hellsbells0405_2

3Dogs wrote: »

Tixy's advice is still appropriate - as posting a statement of affairs (SOA) will mean people will be able to view your situaion better and offer the appropriate advice - I realise that this may be difficult with you living apart but if you can cobble something togethr it will be of a great benefit to you and anyone advising you

All the best Pet whatver you do

Thanks, got an appointment with CAB today at 1pm so will update you when I get back. So worried, want to be able to buy a house at some point, never get a mortgage at this rate

Krisp_3

Hi there and welcome.

I'm new here too (to posting regularly, anyway) and just wnated to wish you lots of luck for your CAB appointment. I never had the courage to do that, so you're doing better than me.

Hope it all goes well.

hellsbells0405_2

Krisp wrote: »

Hi there and welcome.

I'm new here too (to posting regularly, anyway) and just wnated to wish you lots of luck for your CAB appointment. I never had the courage to do that, so you're doing better than me.

Hope it all goes well.

Thank you so much, just at my wits end, plus HSBC keep ringing me :eek: just cant be doing with all the hassle on top of emotional home stuff at the moment

Tixy

Hope the appointment goes well.

Regarding HSBC calling - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=23624437&postcount=2

hellsbells0405_2

Having real problems with HSBC, they have been swapping money from account to account leaving me short for a payment, when I challenged it they said it was legal!! I didnt think it was as it was my money? Another thing to ask CAB I suppose