help! in major debt at 18 with 2 children too..dont know what to do!!

liamsmum05

im 18 live in a 3 bed house frm housing association with my son liam, my daughter lives with my partner her dad due to real bad post natal depression which hasnt had anything done about it.

heres my debts one by one...

books for children £52.92 (stems from £7.99 rest are charges etc)
vertbaudet £125.46 (french catalogue)
lx direct £ 442.26 (gone to wescot credit debt collectors)
littlewoods £636.28 (gone to wescot credit debt collectors)
kaleidoscope £106.90 (was orignally £69 rest are charges etc)
next £171.32 (gone to lewis debt recovery)
grolier book club £105.73 (agreed to accept £1 a month yeyy!)
capitol once credit card £320.18 (gone to capquest debt recovery already paid £60 its the minimum they will accept a month)
vanquis credit card £339.34 (gone to moorcroft debt recovery ltd)
npowr gas and electric from old house £634.10(for leccy) and £220.63 for gas (leccy has gone to wescot aswell)
talk talk £273.86 (wont accept no payment unless full or half)
british gas leccy £139.41 (having meter put in) british gas for gas £190 (also having meter put in on 26th march)
ace £283.32 (gone to debt collectors)
kds finance £170 (paying 6.50 weekly)
provident £450 (had payments reduced to 6 a week)
shoppacheck £440 (had payments reduced to £6 a week)

total debt =£4910.71

i have just paid my sky off i owed of £42,and paid bt off £28 so thats 2 debts gone.

this is what i get a week..

tues chicld benefit £17.45
weds income support £38 (paying £8 a week water rates and £10 a week off social loan)
fri £47 child tax

i am really really struggling at the moment everyone is hassling me phoning letters through the post,threatening me if i dont pay this or that it will go to court. as i say im only 18 with 2 children.all i want is the best for them give them a nice house nice clothes etc.feed them myself.

any advice would be sooo grateful..thank u!

maralum

Ok, first things first, welcome to the board! You're in the right place, we're all in the same boat, but at least now you know where the hole in the boat is, you can plug it and stop sinking! Give us all a few minutes to have a wee nose through your SOA and we'l be with you ASAP. Well done for being here!

southernscouser

Hi liamsmum. Welcome to MSE.

OK first things first. You need to post a full SOA which includes all your other outgoings like rent, food, etc. See this thread for a guide.

Also your monthly income is £443.95. I don't have a clue whether it should be more than this or not but check the figures through this site. Don't take the results as set in stone but if it is more it's worth querying.

Next, your depression. I know this is a personal problem and people argue it's not money related but I believe the 2 easily go hand in hand. You say it's not been dealt with. By who? Is your doctor not doing anything to help or is it more your side? You don't have to answer anything you don't want to by the way.

Also catalogues! You want to give your kids the best. Thats great. But ditch those catalogues. What the wear isn't important. It means nothing to them. It's all about other peoples perceptions! B0llocks to them if they think they should be wearing designer clothes. They are clearly your vice! :doh:

Can you explain a bit more about what some of the debts are? KDS? Shoppacheck?

I know there is alot to take in but remember it's not a sprint.

They key thing is you have to understand where and why you are overspending. Start a spending diary and everyday note down what you have spent and on what.

There is loads more info and help to come but that should keep you busy for a while!

And remember you are not alone! (I don't mean aliens and all that either :rotfl: )

lauren_1

All this with in a year :eek: :eek: (gas and elecrtic aside)
Are you working?
I am lost for words.

looneyleo

Oh bless ya! Big Hugs...lots going on for you at the moment. Can't help you with the debt side but I can wish you all the best in sorting this all out. don't worry, the professionals will be along soon. About the PND...get help! From a person who has suffered badly in the past...you will get better but it is hard to address any of your money issues when you feel so low. Speak to your doctor, Health Visitor or anyone and get the support you need. Good luck

southernscouser

lauren_1 wrote:

All this with in a year :eek: :eek: (gas and elecrtic aside)
Are you working?
I am lost for words.

How helpful. I'm sure the OP feels tonnes better now. :rolleyes:

bluezone

Hello there and welcome to the forums,

I haave multiplied your weekly income by 4 so that you get a monthly figure to help work out your Statement Of Affairs £409.80.

We can help you more with a SOA from you. Do you have any childrens clothes or your clothes that are no longer worn or dont fit that could be sold on Ebay or sold on a car boot sale? Have you cancelled SKY now as this would be a saving to you?

Dont worry yoou will get through this. On here we have all been in debt and to any individual aany amount can seem a serious debt.

lauren_1

yep, just read my post, sound awful doesn't it?
What i mean is i am lost for words why so much credit was available to an 18year old, has your income taken a battering since these were taken out?

I would definatly ebay a few things and as its the begining of car boot season lots of heavier things go quite well.

bluezone

Ah I see Southernscouser is on board for good advice - take a look at his link for an SOA, its good.

southernscouser

lauren_1 wrote:

yep, just read my post, sound awful doesn't it?
What i mean is i am lost for words why so much credit was available to an 18year old, has your income taken a battering since these were taken out?

I would definatly ebay a few things and as its the begining of car boot season lots of heavier things go quite well.

Sorry! Thought you were cristicising!

I'll get my coat! :doh:

misspoppy

Hi

you are obviously trying to provide a nice home and clothes for your family and as money is so tight you might want to see if there is a freecycle group near you. http://uk.freecycle.org/ check this link to see if there is one local to you. People offer lots of kids clothes, books toys, outside toys, bikes, furniture etc and its all free you just need to collect it although some nice people would deliver.

Southernscouser has given you lots of good advice regarding a statement of affairs but talking to payplan or CCCS or CAB would be really helpful. At the top of this page there is a section DFW reasource bar, check out the not for profit debt counsellors link.

Don't worry there are lots of people here to support you and come up with ideas. If you havent already spoken to your Dr regarding your depression maybe its some thing you could pencil in to do this week a problem shared is a problem halved. Good luck