So stressed :-/

bouncydog1

Sim well done for posting. My sister had a long term issue with alcohol which eventually led to her losing her home and having to file for bankruptcy. Once she decided that she needed to stop drinking she has pretty much managed to turn her life around. She got help from AA to stop drinking and more importantly stay away from alcohol. She also found out who her real friends were - the ones that didn't put her in situations where alcohol was available.

As for the debt issues, others on here will be able to help and advise you with sorting these.

Good luck.

bikerman_2

Hi SIM

Afraid I can't offer any help re your financial problems but I wanted to say good luck with the drink problem and I hope you manage to find a way forwards. I battled drink and alcoholism and there were many times when I couldn't see the wood for the trees and thought I'd never get out of the mess I was in but please trust me that with a plan and some patience you can do it - it'll take time but as long as you move forwards, however slowly, a better life is out there for you.

Good luck.

Bikerman

Snowy_Owl

200 pounds for groceries for 1 is VERY high! Although things are very tight for you you could easily shave 50 pounds off this to start with. Go to Old style moneysaving & groceries boards for help, also try freebies, competitions and use coupons whereever you can.

Good luck!

Snowy

SimIsOnTheUp

Frankie231 wrote: »

Congrats for posting. Didn't want to read and run, especially as this tugged a cord with me and thinking about my mum who is in a similar situation with drink.

In regards to a DRO, I don't think you would be eligible as you have to have under 15,000 of debt. But I really can't see anywhere you could make big cuts on your SoA so I personally would be thinking about bankruptcy, if it were me. Mainly because it would wipe the slate clean in terms of the debt and allow you to focus yourself completely on the drink problem.

Will certainly be keeping an eye on this thread, I'm really rooting for you.

Thanks Frankie!

I petitioned for my own Bankruptcy back in Jan 03; Discharged Jan 05; (I cringe to think I've since got into debt again..) I don't really want to go BR a second time, and given that aside from the Student Loans debt, I will owe around £12,000 and so a DRO is probably more suitable.

Regarding the DRO, according to CCCS who I contacted back in the Summer, they confirmed that I would be eligible for a DRO as the Student Loans debt is taken into account to start with, but then excluded from the final DRO debt total (ie - less that the £15K limit).

I am seriously considering a DRO in the New Year, however I don't really want to lose the A&L full bank account, and the last thing I want is for NPower to reinstall a 'Prepay' Electric meter! (was costing me a fortune last year). So, now I'm in two minds about this.

On top of this, I was dishonest (this is where a drink addiction takes you) I took out the MoneyShop 'Cash 'Til Payday' £500 loan in the Summer (I'd told them I was working when at the time I wasn't), and I'd really rather not risk the fraudulent aspect coming out and being discovered by the Insolvency Service

Hope your Mum is now sober and well.

Sim x

PS - As I've also paid MoneyShop the loan 'extension fees' each month since August, the Insolvency Service could well see these as 'preferential payments' too, so I could be stuffed re a DRO.

SimIsOnTheUp

NorthernLas wrote: »

Sim - I too have been reading your posts all year and remember the payday loan back in the summer.

Unfortunately, Frankie is right for a DRO you have to have less than £15k debt, no pension and less than £50 a month spare after expenses.
Again, according to CCCS a DRO would be OK for me as the SLC debt is excluded. Not sure if my payments to MoneyShop would count as 'pref payments' though.
Here is the fact sheet from National Debtline on DRO http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=37_debt_relief_orders.

So now the positives ...
1. Well done on working, you need to keep this going and doing Christmas Day and Boxing Day is a very good idea.Am going to sign up for Christmas / Boxing Day shifts tonight. Christmas is just another day to me!
2. You have an SOA and now it is all in black and white and there will be an answer to your money problems, it is a case of servicing priority needs first and staying strong with those who shout loudest and threaten all sorts of stuff.While daunting, it does feel better to see it all down in black and white. Am going to prioritise and pay off the Rent arrears this Friday (£10 - The remaining £100 is court costs and my Housing Association are taking £1 a week by way of payment of this).
3. Priorities - There are some of those debts that you can ignore for the moment (e.g. Student loan), but there are some that you really need to make progress with. As you are -£82 you cannot do them all. I've found a second job, and while self - employed it should pay me £100 extra a weekAgain the national debtline has a self help pack that makes clear which debts are priority and which are not.
http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/debt_advice.phpThanks for the link. Am going to stick with CCCS for now though, having completed their 'Debt Remedy' online - they recommend a DRO, but I'm in two minds about this even after 5 months!

Rent Arrears / Costs...........110.......21.52.....0
Council Tax Arrears............459.31....0.........0
Water Arrears..................64........30.28.....0
Ex - Girlfriend................2000......0.........0
Student Loans Company..........14000.....0.........0
BT Final Bill .................27.32.....0.........0
TV License ....................145.5.....0.........0
PayDay Loan-MoneyShop..........500.......85........0
Next (DCA).....................109.......0.........0
Vodafone (DCA).................950.......0.........0
O2 Mobile 3 (DCA)..............1055......0.........0
O2 Mobile 2 (DCA)..............588.......0.........0
O2 Mobile 1 (DCA)..............488.......0.........0
Shop Direct (DCA)..............1069......0.........0
Vanquis Visa (DCA).............358.......0.........0
Capital 1 Visa (DCA)...........688.......0.........0
Housing Benefit O/Pay..........2500......20........0
DWP Social Fund................649.......18........0
Electric Arrears ..............750.......44........0

The ones I've highlighted in red need payment plans in place, particularly the TV licence and rent/council tax arrears.Am going to sit down at the weekend and work this out Then ex-GF if you are still on speaking terms and feel moraly bad about it.Still on speaking terms - just. She knows my situation, and she will be next priority after Rent / Council Tax / TV License.
With 6 defaults, I would have thought your financial history is pretty much shot, so I wouldn't hang on to your normal bank account. Frankly I think they are 'taking the michael' with charges. Apply by phone for 2 co-op cashminder accounts.Already have a Co-op Cashminder account (had it since 2004), but I would rather keep things imple and hold onto, and use just the one account. The A&L will surely look better on my credit file, as it's a 'full account'? Re Charges, as of January I'll be straight again.

Use one account to pay bills, and the other for spends. Put the card for the bill account in a plastic bag and then in a tupperware box filled with water. Then put it in your freezer or icebox.Good idea, but I'd rather keep things simple and use one account!

4. The extending of the payday loan MUST stop.The only thing that can happen if you do not pay is that they take you to court and apply for a CCJ. They cannot turn up and take your possessions, but they can shout loud. Have a read of SaltnVinegars thread to see how you can deal with PDL companies. If they have your bank details, you must phone the bank and tell them your card has been STOLEN. This will make them stop all payments. It is inconvenient and you need to make sure you have some cash until the new card is issued, but it is a neccessity.I wish it were that simple! I am going to extend 4 of the 5 cheques this month until January (paying one £100 cheque off before the end of December) Even if I report my card as stolen, the bank will probably honour all of the cheques as the were guaranteed with the CGC Card. If the bank only honour *some* of the cheques, then I'll then end up in a worse situation, owing both MoneyShop *and* A&L. So, I don't really have an option other than to pay it off asap do I?

5. Only you can decide whether you should go out with your binge drinking buddy.My mate seemed a bit p'd off in his texts that I wasn't joining him for a 'session', but in hindsight, he's quite selfish and only ever calls / texts from the pub! I've now been sober for 10 days and am staying sober a day at a time, as I'm determined to work hard, get out of debt, and start living a fuller, healthier, happier life. He may be self-employed but will have tax to pay come January (or a £100 fine). If you are self-employed you need a third cashminder account where you put money for your tax and NI contributions.

Keep going, you are getting there mate!

NL

Thanks NorthernLas! I am a bit down that as of yesterday, A&L / Santander have debited £90 in bank charges (due to a Paid Item Fee from October and o/d charges from Oct / November) from my account, taking me £105 O/D. I will be paying this off, when my wages go into my account on Friday though.

I was going to have my wages paid into my Co-op account instead, but I'd rather pay the O/D off, and keep the account (MoneyShop also know about my Co-op account ) x

SimIsOnTheUp

bouncyd!!! wrote: »

Sim well done for posting. My sister had a long term issue with alcohol which eventually led to her losing her home and having to file for bankruptcy. Once she decided that she needed to stop drinking she has pretty much managed to turn her life around. She got help from AA to stop drinking and more importantly stay away from alcohol. She also found out who her real friends were - the ones that didn't put her in situations where alcohol was available.

As for the debt issues, others on here will be able to help and advise you with sorting these.

Good luck.

Thanks bouncyd!!!.

Sorry to hear about your Sister losing her home, and going BR. Great to hear she's ok now.

Regarding the finding out who her real friends are, I'm having to reassess this at the moment :cool:

Cheers,

Sim.

SimIsOnTheUp

bikerman wrote: »

Hi SIM

Afraid I can't offer any help re your financial problems but I wanted to say good luck with the drink problem and I hope you manage to find a way forwards. I battled drink and alcoholism and there were many times when I couldn't see the wood for the trees and thought I'd never get out of the mess I was in but please trust me that with a plan and some patience you can do it - it'll take time but as long as you move forwards, however slowly, a better life is out there for you.

Good luck.

Bikerman

Thanks Bikerman.

It does feel strange doing everyday stuff sober. Went to the Docs / town yesterday with my mate (she's been there - rehab / nearly 2 years sober), and it was a lovely day but I still felt a bit odd / raw / vulnerable / exposed due to being out and about sober.

Did / do you go to AA?

I did, but have always been in two minds with the whole HP concept. Might have to go back though, as Christmas is going to be tough.

Thanks again,

Sim.

SimIsOnTheUp

Snowy_Owl wrote: »

200 pounds for groceries for 1 is VERY high! Although things are very tight for you you could easily shave 50 pounds off this to start with. Go to Old style moneysaving & groceries boards for help, also try freebies, competitions and use coupons whereever you can.

Good luck!

Snowy

Hiya Snowy,

You're right. £200 a month on food is high!

My mate has been telling me about how much money she saves / the convenience of using a slow - cooker for stews / soups

Can't believe how much money I used to waste on unhealthy takeaways..

Cheers,

Sim.

quantic

Can't offer much advice other than to say good luck!

SimIsOnTheUp

quantic wrote: »

Can't offer much advice other than to say good luck!

Thanks Quantic