My State of Affairs

omg_3

angel31572 wrote: »

Don't have a problem with that apart from the bit about my son. Why would I 'get a job' for my son? Don't people get their own jobs? He is studying for 5 A levels and sits exams in less than 2 months. He has more than enough to deal with at the moment. This is my problem, not his.

Hi Angel, My son is also doing A levels over the next 12 weeks and has a part time job. He may go to University in September, which will stretch funds even further, hence it would be his problem as well? A Saturday job or a couple of evenings per week? Also, he will finish mid June, for 3 months, has he got a summer job lined up? I also think this help build character. When my son got a part time job, I was the one who checked out local vacancies and prompted him.

angel31572

He doesn't need any prompting. He finishes school in June and has a football coaching job lined up. He has also designed and printed leaflets for car valeting, which he is very good at. I'm afraid this will NEVER be his problem. He is aware that I work very hard to pay bills and he never takes advantage. He helps out in every other way imaginable.

If I was on the breadline, with no hope of ever paying bills, up to my neck in arrears and CCJs then it would be a different story I am sure. For now, I am just a bit fed up that i haven't managed things properly and my credit cards are not going down.

it's not the end of the world. It is only moeny and I can see light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks for your advice and I hope your son does well in his studies.

bluezone

angel31572 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies everyone. bluezone..you made comments like 'this seems high' to things like Council Tax..em yes! but I don't run the country and have no say on this lol! How do you suggest I cut back on council tax? As for cutting back? I don't really see where I can cut back in a way which will help the problem. Also, you asked for details of the misc expenses. I have a 16 year old son in full time education.

Perhaps I didn't explain properly. I am not in dire straits. I am not in arrears with anything and I earn okay money. My problem is the balance on the cards is not going down because of the high interst rates. If I could get a better rate then I would. I obviously can't so I thought the next best thing would be to transfer the amount to a loan and then it will be clear in 3 years (less if I try really hard)

I don't have my head in the sand, in case anyone is going to say that next. I am looking for advice on how to clear the balance, not cut back. I have around 5-600 pounds going to debt which is staying the same. Surely, transferring the balance and destroying the cards is better than what I am doing now?

Hi again Angel - firstly thankyou for your apology PM to me. I can understand the stress side cos believe me I've been there. I do hope you are feeling better after the funeral

Let me try to explain. When I put that your council tax seems high - what I meant was would you be entitled to any discount etc.

I can see your not in dire straits yet but better to be safe than sorry. I dont beleive that you have your head inthe sand and we on here are merely given advice that has been useful to others and ourselves on here.

Sky - Just because you have signed up for the full package when you took on the contract doesnt mean that you cant cut it back to the minimum package for a while to help get your balances down.

Gym - Is there any way this subscription could be reduced for a while to help get the cards paid.

Asking for details regarding misc spends is just to see what else the money could be going on - we all have misc money and its only when we sit down and work out what its going on that we can see where we can save.

The reason why your balances are not going down as you put in your post is that you also say in your post that you still need to spend on your cards before the end of the month - therefore with you spending the balance is not going to go down.

If you make some cutbacks for now and chuck these expenses to your cards then the balance will go down. Anything is worth a try isnt it?

When I was 16 (11 years ago) I too was in ful time education and yet I had a part time job. I then got a ful time job. I wanted to study for a degree so arranged for my job to give me 1 day off a week and paid for the whole course myself - 5 years worth. I am not being patronising but as others have said I'm sure your son could help out a bit. I was also paying keep to my parents.

Please do not take offence - believe me when I first posted I had people telling me to sell my pedigree cats which I didnt like at the time but the people were only offering advice.

irnbru_2

angel31572 wrote:

Had a look and submitted my contact details. Apparently my £11 per month entitles me to free advice and insurance offers among other things... Hope it's not too good to be true.

Aye, there's power in a union.

angel31572 wrote:

BT: £35

Assuming that's per month, have you any call plans set up?

angel31572 wrote:

#3
Interest rate: 27.9%
Balance: £750.

If you can not get a balance transfer or unsecured personal loan, are you eligable for an overdraft? Check if the fees and interest are better than this credit card rate.

It seems to me that w/o your overtime you cannot service the interest on the cards? I agree with CLAPTON that you need a spending diary.

lynsayjane

hey angel, had a couple of thoughts.

first as regards the gym do you use it regular enough to make it worthwhile? I know that you can't cancel but you may be able to suspend your membership. At the gym I work for non-students can suspend their membership for a maximum of four months and only pay a £5 dd during that time. This would save you £120 during this time and you'd not be breaking any kind of contract rules.

secondly if your son is going through a lot of food why not make packed lundhes for him? if he understands your financial situation then he'll understand the savings that could be made from home cooked meals rather than bought dinners. Also it would be positive towards his athleticism as home cooked meals are more nutricious then bought ones.

angel31572

Thanks everyone. I really do appreciate complete strangers taking the time to offer advice. It is very kind. I am listening..even if it seems like I am not. It has been a stressful week for other reasons and I am trying hard to remain sane!

I have thought about little else today and I will be making lots of calls on Monday....using my free minutes of course!

southernscouser

angel31572 wrote: »

I am trying hard to remain sane!

Don't bother! I tried for ages but it got me in the end! :dance:

CHIHUAHUA

art_student wrote: »

Hi angel31572,
on the subject of credit cards - do you pay for PPI? If so, check out Martin's article about PPI and see you are able to cancel it with your credit card company. Also, have you tried ringing your credit card company and asking them to look at lowering your interest rate? I say this because my husband has a card with MBNA and the other day he rang them and they cancelled his PPI which was costing £100 per month and then agreed to lower his interest rate from 24.9% to 18.9%. It's worth a try!

If you do get your interest rate lowered it will also help with future credit card applications too :cool:

art_student

Hi angel31572, just wondered how you got on with your credit card companies? Have they been helpful at all? Fingers crossed!

angel31572

art_student wrote: »

Hi angel31572, just wondered how you got on with your credit card companies? Have they been helpful at all? Fingers crossed!

Hi...please see my other post: My blood is boiling!