Idiotic amount of debt. Please help

HairyHandofDartmoor

Money mark, you have come to the right place for help. The fact you feel so bad about your situation means that you will do something about it. Only by sinking into despair can you have the determination to change. Getting out of debt is not easy but it can be done with a lot of determination and will power. The worse you feel now, then the prouder you will feel when you are taking control and paying back your debt. Good luck.

Elliesmum

Couple of suggestions :-

1) Reduce your food bill. In a bad month, I spend £120 on 2 adults and 1 child, on the old style thread they even have challenges for a meal for a £1. They can have some interesting suggestions!

2) Look into claiming your petrol, even having a car allowance, it seems you are paying a lot out for your car and not getting a lot back - IYSHIM.

3) Can you get a second job? Sorry to work you to the bone! What are you doing at the OU. Can you take a job on at the local pub doing a shift a weekend. It can be a great way of getting out, earning money and not spending money - double whamy there. Private tutoring is another good one. You have a car so can be flexible as to where you can go. Look on the web and find a company that covers where you live. You can earn upto £20 a hour doing this, depending on the assignment - cash in hand too!

HTH's

EM x

Catseyez

Ok, I thought it might be for a season ticket. It's good to keep it up if your playing, exercise is good!

Going back to the girl...has she any idea that you're not too flash with the cash at the moment? There are lots of free things to do that are nicer and can mean more to a girl than a fancy restaurant and she wouldn't have to know the full extent of your situation.

whambamboo

Money_mark wrote:

I have nothing I could sell? I really don't own anything of any value.

What did you spend all the debt on? Surely you must have something.

oops_a_daisy

Hi there and welcome to DFWannabees well done on posting you SOA

Have you been charged bank or c/card fees as they are unfair and you can claim them back. Post back if you need any help/advice on how to go about claiming them back. It might give you a bit to pay off some of your debts

All the best and good luck

Money_mark

I've thoght about a second job, but I think I'd get taxed to the hilt on it.

The girl has no idea about my financial situation. The problem I have isn't so much with going out on a date etc with her. It's the fact that she's 29, so if things worked out she's probably going to be thinking about kids in the next few years. I just culn't turn round to her one day in a few years and say "yeah, I'd love to buy a home, get married, start a family etc. Unfortunately I threw a load of money up the wall when I was a bit younger, so you'll have to wait another ten years for that." She, and anyone for that matter deserves better than that. So I have to sort my own mess out without making it anyone elses problem.

oops_a_daisy

can I just say and I hope it doesnt offend but HONESTLY Mark she asked you on a date - not to marry her and have kids :rotfl:

Money_mark

I've been charged a lot of fees. Can you really claim them back.

As for what I spent it on? I'm embarrased to admit I probably drank most of it. I don't know and can't believe I've managed to go through so much, but it has just kept building for ten years.

rchrisp

d11wtq wrote:

I've been paying a min payment (or slightly over) on mine for 2 years now and I pulled up my statements online last week. I looked at the amounts paid over the course of 12 months (sep 05 - sep 06) and out of over £400 paid in only £150 was paid off the loan! I could have screamed for not even monitoring that. That's incidentally your highest interest one too and I have it on good word from a credit company that it's my managed loan which prevents me from taking out mobile phone contracts and gaining any other form of credit. Apparently they look really bad against your name so I'd focus on that if you can. HSBC "sweet talked" me into getting one to consolidate a credit card overlimit and my student overdraft -- worse thing I ever did.

they sweet talked me into getting one too, and have been absolute t***s since, however i've never had a problem getting mobile phone contracts, though often struggle with 0% cards.

Money_mark

Yeah sorry. Sounds ridiculous I know, but it's just whats in my head at the moment.