What should I do next?

sarah_skint

Hi,
I have been visiting this site for a while but have only just registered and this is my first post.....please be gentle with me!
This is my situation....
I am 25 I have 3 children ages 5,3,1 and one on the way in 8 weeks(last one!!) as I am at home most of the time getting bored with the usual daily chores and screaming kids I started playing bingo online - I never had a problem with this and I only spent very little. Then a sequence of bad events that turned certain aspects of my life upside down led me onto a downward spiral and I looked for something bigger, I started playing on casinos and slots to take away everything - if that makes sense. I also applied for loans to consolidate my credit cards so I got rid of them and kept one card, however then I got another loan and another and finally maxed my remaining credit card, All in the space of approx 4 months I have run up a debt of approx 55k. Oh my god I hear you say - I know I'm in a hole now - I have been seeking advice from my local CAB, paypaln, cccs etc can't help me as I consolidated in the last couple of months, I have been advised to go bankrupt. I have also just told my other half who thought I was careful with money about this - he's not too happy but I think from what hes said to me that he can understand why I shut him out.
I have read through 000's of posts here and so know that some of you will give sound advice - any advice is a bonus.
Sarah

justruth

Well done on admitting you have a gambling problem, and facing up to the debt. Post you SOA and well take it appart for you xx

sarah_skint

How do I go about putting up my SOA? Sorry being new here not sure. With the gambling problem - it got more of something to do to pass 10 minutes rather than have a gamble I would deposit and then be watching the tv while my hand just clicked the button over and over, It got to a stage where i wasn't sure if I was winning anything at all(obviously I didn't!), anyway enough said about that!

justruth

There's a sticky by southernscouser at the top of the DFW board with details. Make sure you include everything.

lynzpower

just to say hi from me too

FrugalJo

Hi Sarah

I'm useless at the SOA stuff (yet to do mine) but you'll find loads of help here, and people in the same situation. I know how easy it is to do the online gambling thing, I honestly think that online gambling is so easy to get sucked into few clicks of a button and it doesn't 'feel' like you are spending anything.
Well done on telling OH aswell.
You'll get loads of help and get a great addiction to this board.
Jo

sarah_skint

I only have benefits coming in due to the little uns
ctc - 129 pw
cb - 163 pm
maintenance from previous partner(when it gets paid!) 211pm
disposable income(make up book) of around 50 pm
partners income 220pw

outgoings

rent 60pw
council tax 21.50 pw
tv license 2.65pw
electric 7.50pw
gas 7.50pw
water 5 pw
mobiles 40pm
landline 5pw
internet 4pw

partners outgoings
petrol 50pw
money he gives me to help with bills 110pw
insurance+ cover 50 pw

my loans(all in my name only)
intelligent finance 15,000 6% pay 292 pm
cahoot 8,000 pay 170 pm
mint 10,000 9.8% 206pm
maxed out and over limit credit card with mint 11,000 missed last months payment got a statement through this morning saying minimum payment 2,000!!!

Katinkka

Wow you spent a lot on bingo¬!! I used to play also on bingolicious and jackpotjoy and probably lost about 2k but have managed to stop now. What was your nickname on the bingo sites? Maybe I will recognise it lol.

sarah_skint

forgot to put down food shopping lol 120 food shopping pw and 20pw in boots on baby milk/nappies

lisa_75

I only have benefits coming in due to the little uns
ctc - 129 pw
cb - 163 pm
maintenance from previous partner(when it gets paid!) 211pm
disposable income(make up book) of around 50 pm
partners income 220pw

outgoings

rent 60pw
council tax 21.50 pw
tv license 2.65pw
electric 7.50pw
gas 7.50pw
water 5 pw
mobiles 40pm This is very high. Cut your mobile use to the bare minimum
landline 5pw
internet 4pw

partners outgoings
petrol 50pw Also very high. Is this to get to work? Would he consider a job nearer to home to cut costs?
money he gives me to help with bills 110pw
insurance+ cover 50 pw What is this for?

my loans(all in my name only)
intelligent finance 15,000 6% pay 292 pm
cahoot 8,000 pay 170 pm
mint 10,000 9.8% 206pm
maxed out and over limit credit card with mint 11,000 missed last months payment got a statement through this morning saying minimum payment 2,000!!!

I am sure someone here will be able to help you on how to tackle these.


120 food shopping pw This is very high. I have got my food shopping down to £50 per week for 2 adults and 1 child. There is an old style board on here that will give you more advice about cooking cheaply

20pw in boots on baby milk/nappies Don't know much about babies, but I do know you can get milk cheaper from baby clinics and also that own brand nappies are as good as pampers. I thought Lidl own brand nappies were great when mine were babies.

Good luck. You have made the first step by coming here. It is hard at first, but the people on here are so lovely and make everything seem a lot better.

Murtle

week
Incoming
ctc - 129 pw 129.00
cb - 163 pm 37.62
maintenance 211pm 48.69 - how often do you not get this amount?
disposable income 50 pm 11.54 - how can you increase this amount??
partners income 220pw 220.00 does your partner live with you?
446.85
outgoings

rent 60pw 60.00
council tax 21.50 pw 21.50
tv license 2.65pw 2.65
electric 7.50pw 7.50 - this combined with gas is quite high, can you
gas 7.50pw 7.50 reduce or switch provider?? ensure you are
on the best tariff, pay by direct debit etc.
water 5 pw 5.00
mobiles 40pm 9.23 - this is high, can you reduce your tarif? stop
using it for a while?
landline 5pw 5.00 - can you stop using this and pay the basic
cost?
internet 4pw 4.00 - there are offers available for free internet
Food 120.00 - this needs to be reduced, the Old style
board has lots of suggestions for receipes
and menu planning
Baby things 20.00 - can you use disposable nappies? look for
special offers, boots isn't always cheapest
- shop around
partners outgoings
petrol 50pw 50.00
insurance+ cover 50 pw 50.00
362.38

Left each week £84.47 required per week = £155

Hope that gives some help?

Murtle

ps hello, welcome and good luck!!

will be back to check how things are!

Also, check out the family board for vouchers off baby things, I think there is a pregnancy club thread there worth joining!!