Don't even know where to start- making me ill!

cleggie

Hi All,
this is my forst post on here (i think, as fsr as i can remember) although i registered many moons ago.
I guess that shows how long i have left it- denial!

Ok, so i am a single mum with 2 children, mature student at uni, and am getting myself into a mess with money, and its not getting any easier, or any better.

I have done well by clearing off 2 debts, they were only small ones of £500ish each, but now i have a £2000 one to concentrate, as well as regular DDs, and just the normal day to day expenses.

I have nothing on HP, only have a very basic bank account, so its not like i have a lot of money.

The thing is, i am sat here trying to work it all out and its giving me palpitations! Everytime i try and work out my money situation, i end up feeling ill, and crying ..i know that sounds very melodramatic, but its the stress.
I just dont know where to start!

Can anyone give me any advice please, or point me in the right direction..as well as giving me some desperately cpmforting words that i CAN do it?? It all feels so hopeless!

rugbychick81

Well done on clearing the first two debts!! Please don't worry ... there will be people on here who can give you a lot of support and advice.

cleggie

Thankyou Rugbychick,
i wish i had been born with the ability to stop spending money and getting into debt..hold on i think thats par for the course isnt it!?
I just cant believe that i have been so silly as to let myself get into debt!
I have no clue how much my debts are in total (again, denial) but i reckon, not including my current students loans, it cant be more than £4000 (hopefully!).

GuidoT

You are doing fine, from your post above you have a comparatively small amount of debt.

The good thing is you are thinking about how you are going to deal with it and not being an ostrich.

As I said you will be fine.

cleggie

Thanks for your reply Guido,
i know its a small amount of debt compared to some, its huge to me as i am struggling to pay it back, or struggling to even acknowledge how i am going to afford to pay it back.

curlytop12

well done on making a start.YOU CAN DO IT!
1.get all your financial details together-cc statements,overdrafts etc,you will need APR and min payment requirements etc and some recent bank statements.

2.post up SOA-statement of affairs- sticky at top of page for that.

3.the people on here will advase you on how to budget/cut back/make money

GOOD LUCK_IT CAN BE DONE:j

ellesbellesxxx

I agree about posting a SOA - also join cashback site such as QUidco - little things like a free lovefilm trial could earn you 15, and getting free trials for your credit report can earn you pennies here and there too!
Don't panic - It can get better !

Jinx

Hi Cleggie

If you've already paid off 1000ish and have 2000 left to pay then you're already a third of the way to paying off your total debts. Just continue doing what you did to pay off the smaller debts, same theory, but just one bill left to pay.

Baby steps get us all there and I think most of us can relate to the stress, mortification and grief of paying back debts. Its just one day and one step at a time. For me, I budgeted to pay a quite small amount and paid it religiously for a long time and threw some extra when I had it. Its been a hard slog but I'll be debt free in 2011

cleggie

Thanks so much for the replies, they really mean a lot when i am feeling so alone with this debt.
I will post a SOA asap, but first of all i will have to face how much i owe.
I know that i dont have any interest on any of the debts, which is good.
Many of them are just silly amounts of £500 here and there, which doesnt seem much, i know, but really adds up.

I have the day off from uni tomorrow, so am planning to sit down and sort it all out while the kids are at school..so will post up an SOA then.

cleggie

Jinx- also want to say well done for clearing so much debt! Its so inspiring to see that someone has done it!

rugbychick81

Good luck tomorrow Cleggie!