New and in a mess!

wilkster5 · 16 March 2007 at 4:21PM

Hi there, glasd to see you're getting help. I didnt read all your replies but if you wanna cancel your gym membership heres the deal.. Go to the doctor, complain of a sore shoulder, back(i know this is naughty but it really can help in the long run). Go twice and on the third tell him/her you cany use gym due to the pain. You can get a letter from the doc and take it to the gym who should cancel your contract.. It worked for me and my friend. Hey presto

Debt at Highest £35000
Debt now £11000ish
DFD Dec 08

pickle18 · 28 March 2007 at 9:32AM

Just got my tax back after being on emergency tax - managed to clear the council tax arrears with it so thats a relief! Hopefully going to clear the water rates too.
:T

pickle18 · 12 April 2007 at 9:45AM

Well....
thought I'd update. We have had a really rough few weeks - our relationship has completely gone to pot! DP really can't cope with working all these hours with nothing to look forward too and throwing every penny into debts - we haven't bought a new item of clothing in over a year and he has holes in his work boots!! We have made the decision to book a holiday for my 21st for 2 weeks. (beginning of June). If we have any chance of saving this relationship we have to do something for us and have something to look forward too. So it going to be a month and half out of thowing all our money at debts (mortgage will be cleared obviously) - we will be making more than minimum payments and keeping all creditors happy but not knocking loads off. I am feeling bad about it - are we really doing the right thing? but the last two days we haven't been able to take the smile off our faces!! Its his bday next week (his 25th) and mine on the 9th of June(my 21st) an obviously we won't be doing anything apart from nice homemade meal and home made cake!

Now I have come off emergency tax my wage is up to £189 per month - so I am pleased about that. I have also had to work both bank holidays (extra days to usual weekends which are double pay plus one free holiday!) this month and done one morning of overtime for a course so can probably expect about £260 pay next month - I have really sorted myself out with claiming extra hours - previously I just didn't bother!! Got bank hols in may coming up too.
My child benefit has been claimed - I havent had the back pay this month so I am hoping I get it next month which means a couple of hundred quid back pay and a big increase each month.
Overtime at his work has started to come - he is also working this sunday ontop of his 60 hrs he will of already done (he also worked the bank holidays) but he feels totally different about doing it when its for a break for us!
had first offer of bank charges at £1333 but refusing it and going for the full amount, its a couple of hundred quid more but more importanly its all clearing the negative charges on the account (£500) - don't want them tryoing to get those of us in a few months time. Going to get onto MBNA and Egg - at first we decided not to claim from MBNA incase they close the account but we really don't need a credit card but we do need the money!

So we doing the right thing going on holida or is it financial suicide?!?!

showtunesgirl · 12 April 2007 at 10:19AM

Well you're only human after all! I think the perspective to take on this is that if you give yourself a rest, you'll be able to renew your efforts and you'll feel rested and ready for what is thrown at you next. Getting rid of your debt is important but so is your relationship and family. What's the point of getting rid of your debt if it means you get rid of your relationship as well?

Just make sure that you don't spend too much whilst on holiday but they key thing to remember is to enjoy yourself otherwise the trip won't have been worth it!

Uniscots97 · 12 April 2007 at 10:47AM

I can imagine its hard so why not. Not worth losing your relationship to debt. I remember seeing on the Freebies board that Haven were doing free holidays but once those were all snapped up they were offering a week for about 59 quid I think. Most of these are really nice and those that managed to get the freebies seemed to think it was really good.