Dealing with depression

theoretica

You are only about £80 off breaking even with this. My thought is that you could cut £80 off your grocery bill and just manage to keep going without a DMP and it will be gone in under 3 years. The oldstyle forum here is really good if you want tips for cutting your grocery bill while still sticking to a healthy diet. You would need to make sure you didn't spend more in months you have more work so the money is there for months with less work.

Can you find anything to do in your own time which brings in money? Even having a clear out and selling anything you don't need on ebay might help with the credit card. Do you use all the minutes on your mobile contract? It is worth working out if PAYG could save you money.

I really doubt if bankruptcy is the answer for £6000 debt.

antsea

Hey thanks for the thoughts. If I could manage without a plan, it would be much more positive, so will see what I can do. The thing about the food is that my mental health issues were eventually solved by seeing a specialised nutritionist, and this bill includes some food supplements I continue to take so not sure how much I can shave off, but will look at the other board.

Council tax - It is that my rent is low, not that this is high. It includes the discount.
Electricity and gas - yep this is my actual figure, just spoke to the company to work out usage this year
Mobile phone - locked in for a while, but will check SIM only in November
Internet - yes, will look at another provider
Clothing - I don't spend that much, but this is what cccs recommended. I think I can take it off, if I just allow for new shoes
Ditto Sundries and emergencies - they thought I should allow some. So I guess I can take this off.
medical - covers 4 monthly visits to nutritionist - steep but it's what made me recover
Travel - I cannot really cycle, so this is London bus pass.
Haircuts - yes will look into that

antsea

Thanks, looks more positive. Maybe I can manage somehow. I'm a bit worried about months when I don't have work though. The SOA would represent a month when I am working, so doesn't take into account times if I'm not. May be unemployed in the summer.

Little_Miss_Determined

Groceries is the thing that jumps out at me. I spend less than £200 a month on food, cleaning products etc and that's for me my OH and a dog and we still have enough for treats. We used to spend a lot more but I started meal planning and doing a 'big shop' and without really feeling like we were doing without anything we saved lots.

Also do you buy lunches etc at work? Taking your own lunches can save a fortune.

I feel so sorry for you feeling so down about it. I think that it will pass though. Even though I am now a lot more careful with my money and spend a lot less than before I can honestly say that I am just as happy if not happier than I was. Thiink about looking at paying off debt not as a sentence but something to aim for and achieve. Each payment is a step closer to your goal and sign that you are in control.

antsea

I don't think I will be able to do much about groceries. I go to a centre that has a nutritionist and psychiatrist that specialise in mental health. It might sound weird, but I'm not keen to move off what they tell me right now, and I have to buy quite a lot of food supplements.

The other thing is that my graduate account runs out in July, so I guess they will want to move me onto a personal loan.

I suppose the best thing to do for now is try and manage, cut out everything like the martial arts and see if I can find some more income.

dancingfairy

Have you looked to see whether you are entitled to any benefits at all? try the entitled to website. Also are you eligible for ESA at all? I guess not since you have to apply for the benefits and then get a job rather than get a job and then apply if you're not fit to work full time- I believe.
In the grand scheme of things you debt is small - I know it may not seem like it to you but compared to what some people owe and the banks, well, don't get me started on that one.
Have you got a credit union in your area? they may be prepared to lend you enough to pay off your debts but be able to repay it at a rate you can afford - do try them as they have different criteria to mainstream lenders - do a google search and it brings up their organisation and then you can search for any in your area.
Personally I would not give up the martial arts as it obviously contributes to your wellbeing. If you can't get a credit union loan and/or benefits then I would consider setting up a payment plan with your debts. Just make sure you get a new bank account first if you do this as othewise Barclays may empty your account to pay their card and overdraft and leave you with nothing to pay the bills with - yes they are legally allowed to do this
Your creditors may not like it but tough - you didn't choose to be ill and only able to work limited hours. I would not consider a DRO (mini bankruptcy) or anything else at this stage as it will affect your career far more and I feel that a payment plan woudl work better but obviously it's an option. If work becomes a problem (or rather lack of it) and your situation changes then you will have to offer the creditors less - they may whinge and complain and threaten to 'blow your house down' like the big bad wolf and this that and the other but you don't have any assets, you can't be locked up and frankly the worst thing they can do is take you to court where a judge will see that you are doing your best and send them away with a flea in their ear and order you to pay what you can.
It may seem bleak right now but there are options. Best of Luck
df

pennypusher

Hi I think you should definitely not give up your Martial Arts - when people are depressed it's exercise that helps make them feel better so do see if you can manage to keep it as part of your hobbies. How about speaking to one of the debt free charities that don't charge for their help, maybe they can negotiate so that you don't have to pay quite so much in interest on your credit cards or make arrangements for you to pay off your debts at a lower rate and freeze the interest.

It's worth a go, that may be able to help. Good luck.

antsea

Thanks for the encouragement and helpful thoughts. Dancingfairy, what you say makes a lot of sense and Pennypusher it's true about exercise. I'm already thinking of other ways like find a partner to train with. Maybe getting in the true moneysaving mindset.

I think it would be April before I can set up a plan, so I will probably take this month and try and live absolutely bare bones and see if I can hustle up some more income and see how that goes I am pretty frugal anyway.

In terms of benefits, I don't think so. I am over the threshold for income support. I voluntarily gave up incapacity, which I'm half kicking myself for, but I hope it was the right decision to move forward with my life.

Cheers!

VfM4meplse

Do make time for exercise, even if it is just a brisk 30min walk...it'll clear out the cobwebs and you'll feel so much more positive.

Jinx

I think youve had some good advice - I just wanted to add that if your monies are up and down then perhaps a self-administered DMP might be the way to go. That way you could set it up yourself and change the amounts up and down as necessary using recurring online payments - I do this on my DMP and just notify the creditors in writing. Its not ideal to change amounts monthly, but you could communicate and do it every 3 months for example perhaps. Just an idea