Can't believe the mess I'm in!

Pink-Angel

What you said doesn't sound dumb Squirrel - second it. I've just logged on and read on the lovely supportive messages and experiences and tips shared. I have to say it made me feel quite emotional. Thank you eveyone for all your posts

I do think we'll all come out of this better, with more awareness. My bank incresed my loan even when they knew I was struggling. Yes I'm stupid to have debts, but they were far from responsible in their lending. To think I felt bad about opening a new bank account. They don't deserve loyalty.

I guess like all difficult situations there will be good days and bad. At least we're all here to support each other through it all x

dollybeads

You are very right, it brings tears to my eyes sometimes, just how kind and encouraging people are. Taking time out of their day to wish you well. Amazing...............

Shoe_Gal

Hi

Just read your thread through - just wanted to say 'well done' on what you have done so far and 'good luck' with the rest

Any chance of your landlord getting the meters changed? Has he had problems with a previous tennant leaving unpaid bills? Could he use your deposit as a 'guarantee' - not sure if any of this is possible as my apartment had 'normal' meters in when I moved in

We all have low days, weeks sometimes, but once your DMP is set up and settles down you will enjoy the relief of knowing you can pay all your bills each month and not have that constant worry - and believe me, no impulse shoe purchase feels as good as knowing you are in control of your finances

Take care of you :A

jen245

Just wanted to say good luck to everybody. :T

Ive been where a lot of you are now, and last year managed to pay off the last of my £15000 debts. I didnt think I'd ever get there, and it was hard. Living within your means is not easy when youve spent 8 years spending more than you earn! But I knuckled down, and really looked at my spending habits. The small changes I found, made the most difference, like not buying lunches at work, taking leftovers from home instead. Doing this saved me £15 a week alone! Walk to work, then get the bus home instead of getting the bus both ways, halving my travel costs from £60 to £30. I found I was wasting a few hundred pounds a month, that I could have been paying towards my debts, and its amazing how quickly those balances start to come down!

Its a long journey, but you will get there in the end, and be stronger for it

binnie

Good luck to everybody on here.
I need to make some massive changes too as I walked out of my job yesterday after almost three years. I was to attend a dismissal hearing, so instead of giving them the benefit of firing me, I resigned.
I had been off work for depression, and bereavement when my mum died. They have been on my backs since early 2009.
In a way I feel relieved to be out of there, but now besides me doing Ebay which I declare to the taxman, I need to earn another £700 a month from a day job.
I've already applied for three, so hopefully will get something else soon.
Over the years, me and hubbie have earnt more than we used to do, but having more also meant we spent more.
We both bought things we didn't need just for the buzz of buying something.
Now we need to take charge and I was thinking about CCCS or whatever it's called.
Can just one person in the household go on a payment plan? It's my account that is a mess really, but hubbie can't afford to give me anymore as he also has bills coming out of his ears.
We will be mortage free in 5 years if we can keep the payments up.
Sorry to gatecrash, just wanted to join in and say hi....
You are all so supportive.

jen245

Best of luck with the job hunting :beer:

Pink-Angel

Thanks shoe-gal for your post and encouragement. (I'm hoping I can resist shoes. I seem to have totally gone off the idea of entering any shops I don't need to go in, so feel sure I can keep this up - especially if I turn down trips with friends to go shopping! If I don't look I can't be tempted!)

Unfortunately my energy company will only change the meters if I give them £500 in advance!?! Needless to say I do not have £500. My property is rented from the council, they won't get involved. So there isn't much I can do for now :-( The only positive is I always know exactly how much I'm spending, which can help with trying to cut down costs.

Jen, it's good to know there are people like you and Riverboat out there who have come out the other side. I'm determined that one day it will be me! I'm looking at all areas of my spending to see what I can cut out/change. My whole mindset seems to be changing. Which is a good thing.

Hope everyone is doing ok this evening!

Pink-Angel

Hello Binnie, you're more than welcome -it's all about supporting each other. I'm so sorry to hear about your situation. Is there any way you can file a claim for constructive dismissal from your job? It's where a situation is so bad, where issues aren't being resolved, and someone decides to resign because it's not possible to stay. An employer can't fire you for depression and bereavement problems. Sounds like you've been living through a really difficult time. Might be worth taking a look at the acas website, there is a lot of info on work issues. Or chatting to someone at CAB?

If you and your hubby have your own individual financies, then both of you should be able to have your own DMP. I think it would get more complicated if accounts etc were shared. Maybe have a chat with a charity like CCCS (they are free) and see what they say? Or look at website to try the debt remedy facility which will suggest a course (such a DMP).

Take care and let us know what's happening with you. There is a lot on here.

Pink-Angel

Binnie, I forgot to say good luck with the job interview!

loislane999

Hi Angel

good to see you on the forum - I'm relatively new here as well and up to my neck in the same stuff i'm in a creek with and no paddle!

pre-payment meters are a pain but if you cannot get it changed then the best thing to do is to try and top up as infrequently as possible - I think you get charged a flat rate each time you charge the key up which comes off your rate of payment into the meter (if that makes sense?). At least you wont have any hefty bill scoming in.

Is your house well insulated? You might need to check with your housing association as this will reduce costs. there are probably loads of threads on here on money saving savvy ideas - its worth a look around.

Uncontrollable debts are scarey - even if you cannot repay them under the terms of the paperwork you signed it is possible to negotiate - sounds like you are going the right way already. It takes a while for things to settle down with the creditors (I accidentally typed 'dreditors' then!:rotfl:) but as long as you are keeping them informed and being honest with them then you should be fine.

As for getting down about debt- there is no magic pill (well, you know what I mean) but there are friends - I have found at times like this that friends are invaluable for just being there and listening. I feel that my life is much richer now despite being in so much debt because you can at last see what is REALLY important in life - family, friends, simple pleasures, dancing to the radio, finding a great book to read form the library, making gifts for presents, being creative, enjoying 'real' food, mending that button that's been hanging off for weeks, the list goes on.......

I used to get insomnia when i was stressed - i find that listening to a talking book (your library should be able to help out here) or the radio (talkie station) helps take my mind off everythign else, and at the end of the day, lack of sleep is not going to make the problem go away, so just just put it all aside till morning. I also have a note pad and pencil by my bed as quite often ii am in a 'must remember to do such and such' mode when i go to bed, At least when its written down i dont have to lay awake to remember to do it the next day.

take heart, angel, you have so many people wishing you good vibes right now, you are blessed.