Help/Random Ramblings

movingonup_2

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NorthernLas

The people on here can advise on debt and how to get out of it and there is a support thread for gamblers/ex gamblers, but there are far too many questions in this post.

Hopefully, you are on a dmp with someone who does not charge a fee. If not look up the thread 'who to seek impartial advice from'. You should not take up further credit while on a DMP since the point of being in one is that you cannot afford to pay.

There are other areas of the forum where you can ask your house selling / improving questions

barbiedoll

There's never a right time to have a baby, but living in a place you don't like shouldn't stop you from starting your family. You could just both accept that you will be unable to get a joint mortgage for a few years and continue living where you are. Plus points: No extra debt, you can save a bit for a better place eventually, you can pay off more of your debts now, you may get a better price for your property later. (It's a terrible time to sell now ) Minus points: Noisy neighbours, you both hate the place, need new bathroom/kitchen which equals more expense.

When our son was born, we lived in a one-bedroomed flat in a horrid road with a junkie neighbour. We stayed there for four years and eventually had enough equity in the place to afford to sell and buy our house. It was among the best years of our lives, simply because that's where our son grew up. He was too young to notice the scummy neighbours, we managed to save a bit and pay our bills too and we did our bathroom up (new suite and all) for less than £1000, using a local plumber and decorating ourselves. A home is what you make it, you can deal with noisy neighbours by keeping a diary, complaining to the noise-abatement team at the council (not just for council tenants) and you can do home inprovements at a fraction of the cost by doing some of the work yourself.

Another thing you can do, is keep writing and pestering your creditors to stop the interest on your debts. Just because you are in a DMP, (which I hope is fee-free!) doesn't mean that you can't write your own letters yourself. Have a look at the National Debtline website, they have loads of template letters, an evening copying and pasting and the price of a few stamps may end up saving you a few quid, they can only say no. And if they do, keep on at them!

If you're worried about slipping back into the gambling habit, go to GA or get some help elsewhere. It's nothing to be ashamed of, but a lot of addicts find that they still need a bit of support, years down the line. Don't use your current problems as an excuse, you'll end up losing everything. Take control of your life, at least you have a roof over your head, a supportive partner and maybe soon, even a family. Good luck, whatever you decide.