Finally tackling the debts for good

aimingfordebtfreedom

Hi
New to this so sorry in advance if my posting isn't right or if it makes for really depressing/boring reading but I wanted to put it down, much as anything to help me!
Finally registered today as after months of receiving moneysavingexpert emails and thinking they're great I've sat down and after a good cry decided it's time I face up to the fact that I need to start taking more drastic action as my MASSIVE debts aren't going to go away. Think it will help if I write them down and then I can see what roads I'm making into clearing/lowering the debts.
Here goes:-
Blackhorse loan balance £780.84
Capital One C/C balance £205.09
HSBC C/C balance £396.61
HMRC Tax £1,693.59 hit with old unpaid tax bill so paying £150/month started 1st Feb
Sainsburys C/C balance £4,786.62 had interest frozen and arrangement for £50 month but now they've passed to a debt company who don't seem happy with this
Santander overdraft £3,600.00
Vanquis C/C £3,156.64
My main problem is that after paying mortgage and bills that aren't included in the above there's not really much left.
I was just about managing to make the minimum payments - both me and my husband work - but Christmas sent it out of control so put me a month behind which now I can't seem to catch up on so the likes of Vanquis is going up rather than down and they are hassling with multiple daily phonecalls and now just had threatening letter arrive in the post yesterday.:(

So, first steps today -
just been on musicmagpie and listed cds we don't listen to anymore: £7.79 and on zapper and listed old books: £15.06
_pale_ actually doesn't sound that much does it!
Anyway, going to go list some things on ebay now so hopefully next weekend I'll be back to say that they've sold for loads of money - this is one way I think I might be able to make a dent as need to de-clutter:)

jwil

Good luck, the things you've listed yesterday are a great start.

Why not complete a statement of affairs so you can see exactly where you are and what you have outgoing. http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html It's scary, but it's the best step. You can post it on the DFW board as well, and people will give you lots of advice on how to save money.

There are also template letters over there which you can send to request contact in writing only.

Good luck!