First Post, Young and struggling. Wages get swallowed before I can access it.

GeorgieFTB

VF

Not a brilliant situation, I agree with everyone else, parents are there to help, if nothing else your father might have some tips.

Pick the LLoyds nearest your uni and go and speak to someone, the closer to the university the more used they will be to students. Work out how much you need and for how long then ask for it, you should also be able to find out if there is anymore charges then adjust what your asking for.

Have you looked at the up your income board on this site, it might give you some ideas for a little more money that will fit round your studies.

Good luck
Gx

Mrs_Ryan

bluecelticgirl wrote: »

I understand that Banks do not run a credit check to open a basic account - this is the one with no debit card, cheque book or anything - only a card to use at ATMs

Most banks do now offer a debit card with their basic accounts - theres few banks that only offer a cash card. (off the top of my head only HSBC and Santander - this is definitely the case. have been through all the websites of the major banks and they all offer Visa Debit except Halifax which is Visa Electron)

I suggest you move well away from Lloyds/HBOS. A good account that is often recommended is the Co-Op Cashminder, a basic account with no credit check that comes with a Visa Debit card.

ViolentFridays

I have spoken to my mother and she has agreed that I can put the next 3 weeks board on hold and pay her at a later date. As I mentioned, she's not great with money either, so she didn't ask any questions.

I applied for an account with Natwest but I don't know if they are a part of the same group or not?

I get my next wage on friday, I won't be able to get my account details and have my boss change it in time for this weeks pay, but hopefully it will be ready in time for next fridays wage.

I looked at the uni temps website, thank you for that recommendation, there aren't any in Hull, but I got my current pub job by simply walking into some bars with a CV and cover letter.

I have been in branch to request an overdraft increase (before posting this post) but the woman said it's set at the maximum it can be.

I hadn't thought of going to the Lloyds nearest my university, good idea! I tend to use the one in town as from where I live it's easier to get to town than to university but I will definitely go and try to talk to someone there.

I am perusing the up your income board now, thank you.

Unfortunately I did the silly thing of attempting to deal with it by applying for a few loans and credit cards in the last month, so I am not sure Lloyds will be very lenient with credit limits as I destroyed my credit history.

Magpie23

Hi VF,

Just wanted to offer my support on your journey and to remind you that we're all here because of our own "silly spending" . We all have our own weaknesses, mine's jewellery (hence the name) but you're young and if you can become aware of your spending habits and create positive new ones you'll stand in good stead for the rest of your life.

Sorry to hear about the anxiety and depression, I can only recommend a book I have come to treasure, it's called 'Your Money or Your Life' by Vicki Robin Joe Dominguez. Basically, it allows you to see your own worth and helps you to understand that with every purchase you are trading your life's energy (via working for it) so the key is only spending on QUALITY purchases. It's an easy ready and doesn't lecture. It also encourages you to think about your own financial independance and potential ways to go about it.

Glad you're speaking to your Mum, it can't be easy, but I'm sure you'll both appreciate it in the long run.

Best wishes,

Magpie23
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sp1987

If you haven't already, please speak to your department at uni about your problems. I had lots of support from my department which alleviated my anxiety during my own degree. They usually have a disabilities rep (who normally talks loudly and slowly assuming everyone has an acute hearing difficulty, but she was very nice :rotfl:).

Have you spoken to anyone about the hardship fund? It is set up for situations like this.

Sarah75

Hello ViolentFridays,

Do you have a personal tutor for your course? If you do, you really should speak to them about your depression and the problems you may face with your studies. If there isn't a personal tutor, is there one of the lecturing staff you can speak to? I'm a personal tutor so I know that there are things that we can do to help you get through. You're not the first to have problems and you surely won't be the last so the staff won't be shocked. But you really should seek help with your academic work because the staff can't help you if they don't know.

BigCraigJohn

I guarantee money worries are really not helping your depression. Making a positive move to get on top will help you financially and mentally.
Thing is once you are at a point where all your money is swallowed as charges and fees the best thing you can do is stop as they wont add charges if charges are the cause. So a new account will certainly help then treat the overdraft as a debt.

Look at it from a positive, you are a student so will eventually earn a lot more money than you do now so the problem is only a current one and not the end of the world. In 5 years time when you are earning a very good wage you will look at this as a mere blip.
Worst thing that will happen with any of your accounts is you will be defaulted, very much doubt any more would happen.

rdchick

Heya

I left uni last year and I know it can be really hard. In my final year I had 3 jobs, one with the uni as a mentor for young people - did this on my extra day or inbetween lessons (see if your uni has a jobshop) - they paid for my travel (to the isle of wight) and paid me over £7 an hour so pretty good I also worked on a Saturday in a little shop paying me £43 for the day and got to do wedding shows on a Sunday @ £70 a day when they were on and during the week I did 2 hours of cleaning in an office (something I still do now along with my FT job) between 5-7. I also worked with Hospital Radio and The British Red Cross - I have no idea how I did it but I made time to survive!! This was all due to an ex bf who was 16 years older than me... worked 8-4 and did nout all else... I learnt the error of my ways and moved on!!

Maybe talk to uni they have loads of stuff on offer - maybe see if you can be an ambassador and do tours of the uni and stuff or bar work or see their website for external jobs xxx

Magpie23

Hi VF,

You have lots of great posts here, I also think that going through Uni is the way forward for you. There must foreign students looking for extra English tuition? Do you have any skill to offer? Do you play an instrument? Or play any sports?

When I went to Uni there was a private noticeboard for students willing to pay for addition skills. Maybe yours has one somewhere too?

Best of Luck,
Magpie23
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ViolentFridays

[FONT=&quot]Thank you Magpie23, I will look for “your money or your life” at the library.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And thank you everyone for the supportive comments. I was expecting a knuckle wrapping for being silly. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I am gearing up to speaking with my department but I have kept my depression pretty much a secret to be honest. There are some people who know, obviously, doctor, counsellor and ex boyfriend.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Having done some research, it seems at my uni (Hull) the hardship fund has been renamed the access to learning fund? And it says it is currently closed and application forms will be available from 26th December.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I do not know who my personal tutor will be next year yet unfortunately.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Thank you rdchick, it’s good to know I’ve still a bit of time to turn this around. Although 3 jobs in your final year sounds really tough! How did you manage?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I don’t have any skills. And I am stil quite shy to be honest, but I’m sure I can persevere with English tuition and talking to uni staff.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I have signed up for all the extra shifts which are available at work over the next three weeks (any further ahead isn’t up yet) and I listed some items on ebay and signed up for a natwest account. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I was thinking it may be a good idea to set up a small standing order to my Lloyds student bank from my new natwest account and throw any extra money at my credit cards? I know it will take a long time to pay off the overdraft in small weekly sums and that it is the largest amount but it will be interest free it kept under 1500.[/FONT]