please help budget and debt advice needed

gemm.stone · 1 January 2013 at 4:19PM

I feel so stupid, we've got ourselves into a pickle money wise. my husband was made redundant a couple of years ago and apart from the odd temp job he hasn't had permanent work.we weren't doing too badly but The last year or so we seem to be spending more and more on food and gas/elec plus we don't have a car so need bus passes to college for kids(don't qualify for help as its 2.8 miles not 3) that i fell into the trap of using a credit card with a terrible rate (can't get a better one) to help us and getting clothes on catalogue etc. we contacted some companies and they will accept reduced payments but a credit card company won't help (they accepted a few reduced payments but even with that the interest that meant that the debt wasn't reduced) and now they won't help.
Does any one have any advice on how to deal with them?

Also i want to do a budget but wondered of there's any where that will tell me how much a family of 6 ( 4 adults/teens and 2 kids) should spend on clothes and food etc so i know Im getting it right.
I know i should get to cab but as I'm also a unpaid carer for my ill mother its hard getting there so wanted to start doing something about it at home. And yes my card is destroyed!
Hope someone can help. Thanks. X

dalesrider · 1 January 2013 at 4:22PM

Stepchange (used to be CCCS) Give then a ring. 0800 138 1111 Freephone - including all mobiles (so they say)
Free and honest advice without having to go out of your way. Far better than CAB. As you are talking to people who deal with this full time.