No work = no food = no answers

ineed

Hi, ok having a look at your SOA, well I'd personally check options with a DMP, it affects your credit rating but at least you'll have a bit more spare money for essentials every month. Other than that you coud try writing to the credit cards etc yourself and explain the situation, they might freeze interest and allow reduced payments if you send them proof of your current incomings and outgoings.

Can your mother in law not get any help herself at all? No benefits or some sort of top up on her pension? If she is an oap of course. Or perhaps income support.

Edit: you could also try to get a grant for your boiler, have a look at this website

HappyMJ

Got_No_Answers wrote: »

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
CC1 = BCard....................3156......150.......21.9 (mnimum +£1)
CC2 = HCard....................2235......100.......0 (minimim + £5)
Car Loan.......................5000......200.......21.9 (minimum = finishes Aug 2014)
PLoan..........................3550......150.......21.9 (minimum = finishes Sept 2014)
Total unsecured debts..........13941.....600.......-

You need to consider reducing these payments. Food and groceries comes before unsecured creditors.

[Deleted User]

Can you not claim job seekers allowance?

merlot123

I can help with two of those things - no food = no answers.

You/or your wife needs to contact the CCCS ( a debt charity) and seek advice. In the meantime, you need to look at giving token payments to your creditors, for example offer them £25 each, each month until you find a job, they may not like it but they cannot have what you haven't got.

Food is more important than repaying your creditors the min payments on your loans and credit cards.

There are template letters available on this board to help you write to creditors, I see if I can find them.

More importantly, stop worrying, make a phone call tomorrow to CCCS, they are lovely people and will help/advise you.http://www.cccs.co.uk/?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=200001&gclid=CPyFr96qhrACFYt-fAodvUBHlQ



merlot123

jamesd

It looks as though you have £600 to work with from the unsecured loan payments, all of which could be suspended or switched to token payments if essential. It'll matter a bit whose name the various agreements are in, better to make arrangements with those in your name than hers, to keep her record clean, though any lenders will see both records.

CCCS may seek a suspension of interest or just reduced payments under an arrangement with the creditors that leaves you with just sufficient to make a balanced budget. Work with them to see what they can get for you.

You're not failing as a man or husband, just going through some tough times that you didn't volunteer for. Nothing in your situation isn't solvable and CCCS should take care of things nicely working with you and the creditors. You've asked for help in plenty of time to get things sorted out, so it generally looks pretty good compared to what many start out with and get solved.

blossomhill_2

Hi OP
Sorry to hear about your situation, I hope things improve soon
The one thing that jumps out at me is the water meter, as it is within your control - any chance you could reduce water use by using grey (washing up or shower) or rainwater to flush the loo for a while? Would your wife be able to shower at work?
Old style things like growing your own may help too, go for reliable crops like tomatoes and runner beans with high yields, getting the young plants at village fairs etc would be more economical than buying seed - as others have said, have a look at the old style board

News reports say families waste £680 food a year - if only they knew better, not everyone's so flush!

I also wonder if you have any contact with a local church - in my experience the regulars are often very welcoming of newcomers and generous in inviting them to Sunday lunch - this may be a good way of networking and actually give you some moral support while you are struggling - make a point of talking to the minister and you may find that the congregation subtly start to ofer help at a time when you need it most - yes it will be charity but frankly you need it right now and you are already supporting MIL so its time for some for you too

Above all, if chatting to any friends, be honest about things being tough - they may think they have it tough right now but if they are among the families throwing out £680 of food then maybe they can't appreciate how tough you have it - when I was very strapped a few years back one kind friend and her husband decided to always buy "buy one get one free" items and give us the "one free" when they noticed I was losing weight - I repaid with babysitting (and they always left me a tray set up with loads of biscuits)
Best wishes

Bufger

If you're having no luck with the agency try going directly to the source. An agency isnt the only place to get a job.

Get the bus to industrial estates in your area and go around each company handing in your CV. Ask to speak to the warehouse managers and have a conversation with them about work.

Go to supermarkets and ask for work. Nightshifts can pay £10 per hour nowdays. Pubs usually have a high turnover of staff and at this time of year city centre pubs lose loads of their student staff.

To be honest you just need a job, any job to get some income. Dont worry about what it is and if you like it as you can use it to buy you some time whilst you find a better job. Its always better to look for work whilst in work to keep the money flowing

milady_2

Hi
I would echo the advice to make contact with the Consumer Credit Counselling Service. Honestly, they are wonderful.
I am in a similar situation, and was paying out £100s to credit card and loan companies, whilst just on benefits. The CCCS helped me with my budget and advised me to make 'token' payments to my unsecured creditors. This released those £100s back to me and now I can feed and clothe my family, and pay my mortgage.
They helped me to see things in a different way - that these credit card companies and loan companies are last in the 'pecking order' for payment when things get tight.
I sent them all letters along with a copy of my budget and a cheque for a quid, switched off my landline phone for a week, and lo and behold they've all written to me to accept the agreement for 6 months.
I just need to tell them if things change.
So please do speak to one of the FREE services (CCCS, Citizens Advice, National Debt Line). Honestly, they've seen it all before and are hugely supportive.
Of course, it'll effect your credit rating, but food and shelter are more important right now. Take control, my friend, and join the band of 'skint but dealing with it' folks on here!
Keep in touch with this board, it really helps to keep things in perspective.
Milady

garynuman

I feel like such a failure as a man, as a husband

You are far from a failure. You are showing you have the moral fibre to tackle the problem.

I hope you find work soon. Good luck.

Gaz

Stray_Stig

Contact CCCS for help my brother is in a much much state than you are due to his ex grirlfriend running off with someone else and leaving him with the debts. He has really tried to juggle things but its too hard for him to do so CCCS are helping him. He is still worried but not half as much. Just talk to them I think you need some mental assistance! I don't know how old the pair of you are but things do get better. I have been where you are. My loan finally gets paid off in 10 payments and i hope things get better for you I truly do x
Please never think of yourself as a failure. I found my husband crying years ago in the car on the driveway worried about money. Told him to get over it things are not that bad. Told him when I start crying he ought to worry! Chin up you are not a failure