The time has come

Eyes_wide_open

I know the feeling dtbdf, but every month you are making positive steps. I know myself it's going to be years to pay everything off, but to be fair it took me years to get to this stage and another year or so before I felt ready to deal with it.

Shame your secured loan can't be reduced to give you some breathing space.

I'm sure you are more knowledgable at debt free ways but have you done a soa? I'm finding a spending diary helpful, think my friends think I'm neurotic but it keeps me focused.

Hopefully payday, and the paying off a couple of small debts will improve your spirits.

A xx

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

Yes I've done a SOA and I'd love to reduce the secured loan if I could. I seem to be living from day to day and have been for years. The stress that debt causes is unbelievable.

I've cut down on everything I can and sold as much as I can on ebay to pay some debt off. I'm so scared I'm going to lose my home

Eyes_wide_open

Really feel for you, as I said I have very little experience in these matters.

Are there any other options available to you? Have you sought advice from debt experts. I was listening to a radio broadcast with Martin lewis and he recommended Christians against poverty.

Sorry but can't be more help, but Im here to support you all the way. Xx

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

Thank you. I'm hoping ill see things in a different light tomorrow, just having a down day x

Eyes_wide_open

Hi

Hoping your feeling brighter today x

DreamerHelen

Hi There, I'm so sorry you were having a down day yesterday...and I hope you're feeling brighter today....

I would SERIOUSLY recommend you contact Step Change....I contacted them a couple of Weeks ago and then got scared and stuck my head back in the sand until today when I contacted them again....and they were very good....the Guy I spoke to (thank you Matthew from Step Change!!) was brilliant and very understanding....very non-judgemental and said he was sure I could be helped....

So he's booked an Appointment for me to get one step closer to being Debt Free by talking to someone next Tuesday....

So there IS hope out there....and even if you think you'can't be helped, Martin says that he has never seen a Debt Problem that can't be dealt with....so there IS hope hun....

Please keep on Posting...and I hope things get better for you...

BTW...Just Google Step Change and you'll come up with the right Place (or someone kind on here might post a link, I'm not sure how to do that)....

Hope that helps a little....

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

Hi DreamerHelen, been through to Step Change, they helped me negotiate reduced payments on all my credit commitments. Not feeling quite so bad now but not managed to pay anything off either. Have maintained the agreed payments so everything is £1 less than last month but didn't manage to pay off the two small debts as I wanted to so slightly disappointed there.

On a more positive note, I'm no further in debt this month than I was last month so that's a good start.

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

Good news in the mail today I've been refunded £494 ppi on a really old mis-sold endowment. I really need this as I have £112 to pay the gas, £89 to pay the electric and £100 to mum who loaned me some money last month. Ill have some left over so at least we can eat this month. Just got to wait for the money to be paid into my account

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

A fairly cheap bank holiday weekend so far. Went to a children's party yesterday and only bought a few cans of pop and today only spent £4 for myself and OH to go to a country fayre. Got nothing planned for tomorrow other than the ironing so that should be a spend free day

shinner

keep your chin up. Just reading through your diary you seem to be quite down on yourself.
A little question are you allowed to make over payments on secured loan ?
I have had a lots of down days find this forum helps a lot. x