Had a bit of a shock & need to get debts sorted

icklepiggle

savingmummy wrote: »

Hope you manage to find some cutbacks somewhere.
Its very hard but you can do it!


Do you have things you can sell on ebay? Old childrens bits/clothing etc.

YES - absolutely, we are not busy weekend after next, so I think I will get DH to take the kiddies & I will have a massive sale. Already got rid of a lot of baby clothes at local nct sale, but still lots to go at


Also - you're right there are still things in SOA we could strip out even more
thx

icklepiggle

ellesbellesxxx wrote: »

Have you looked on price comparison sites for elec/gas? Going via quidco would help too!

Yep, I regularly change our provider and try & get cashback to, so in a few months will check again.

icklepiggle

ellesbellesxxx wrote: »

You could sell iphone and get basic phone if just started new contact too?

i didn't realise I could do that, assumed I was stuck with it?.....

TBH I love it, but it is very addictive so I probably need to get rid anyway before my thumbs fall off & my neck ache gets worse, lol

theoretica

Your cleaner seems an expensive one - might be worth putting them on notice and if you really need someone once OH is back in work looking for a cheaper/lower hours option.

Does OH work in a field where there are still jobs? For this SOA you want to look at savings you can make in the short term, even if they are too uncomfortable in the long term - so groceries could be cut even further (see the Old style forum, if OH is out of work he will have time for cooking and bargain shopping) and for a few months clothing, presents, entertainments and holidays can probably be trimmed further, as can home improvements and maybe petrol. Are all your journeys necessary and driven in a fuel efficient manner?

You say your OH likes stuff. Does this mean he has old or duplicate stuff around he can sell?

icklepiggle

theoretica

He really likes stuff - like over the years he has tried out every hobby there is! But unlike me he doesn't really sort his stuff out to sell, whereas I'm always trying to sell to fund other things.

He should still be able to get a job, but obv we don't know when, so I think your idea of cutting back LOADS now is a good one.

I just wish he would engage more as it's me doing all the thinking/ planning & I work 34 hours p.w. and we have 2 small children ( 1& 3) ..........

theoretica

icklepiggle wrote: »

He really likes stuff - like over the years he has tried out every hobby there is! But unlike me he doesn't really sort his stuff out to sell, whereas I'm always trying to sell to fund other things.

Then could that be his 'job' until he finds another one?

orcocan

you're stuck paying your mobile phone contract but you can still sell your phone and move your sim to a cheap no frill phone you can buy for 15 quid. On ebay an iphone can fetch several hundred ££, which you can use against one of your high APR CCs. You probably have a lot of stuff you can sell so I'm sure you can raise a good chunk of cash.

I appreciate it's tough when you're used to a certain lifestyle but right now you really have to cut down all your non essential expenses (presents, entertainment, clothing, sky, etc etc). Your husband also needs to understand the situation and support you.

Don't give up, and look forward to the day when you won't have to worry about credit cards ever again! Best of luck :-)

ellesbellesxxx

Check out mobilevaluer.com - do check reviews though. I have always used fonebank as you get a coupleof extra pounds back through quidco - but they were the best options for me. Good luck!

PS you can downgrade your mobile phone tariff half way through contract - is it 2 years? After 1 year then!

dancingfairy

Unless your OH can get a job very soon you will need to consider something like a debt management plan (dmp) as like you have sai you are 250 a month short to meet all your minimum payments (and that's not including the car hp payments which you appear to have missed off your second SOA).
Even a mortgage holiday won't necessarily help you. It might give you leeway for a few months but again, unless your OH gets a job you'll be heading for a dmp/iva etc anyway
Best of Luck
df

savingmummy

You need DH`s help with this, he needs to understand `for now` you ALL need major cutbacks.

This is always tough cutting back and stripping back on everything - i really went to town to get debtfree and it worked but i didn't do it alone!