Mortgage impossible?

Rams18

Yeah, there are definitely savings we can make although we don't spend money frivolously and are doing the things you mention. The debt is a result of a poor income following uni to get the experience needed to progress (9000 a year doesn't pay the bills) followed by the dreaded downhill spiral. The property was also empty for a substantial period which meant a mortgage and rent to pay. A few other bad discussions and its really not hard to end up in difficulty. The positive is that it has stabilised but as you say, the debt is self perpetuating. We don't have sky or other expensive hobbies/outgoings. I pay a lot in travel as we live in a place of compromise between our two jobs. I travel 60 miles a day for work and petrol isn't cheap. I'm car sharing where I can. You are right tho. There are ways to save! I'm determined to do so.

kingstreet

FWIW, my phone (9 year old Nokia 6310i) contract costs £10 per month and my daughter's (Nokia C1-01 gift) £8. Her mother (health/social care) has a work phone which can't be used for personal calls.

We don't have Sky Sports or Sky Movies but do have a multi-room box so we pay £35 per month.

I've shopped at Aldi since 2007. This morning, i visited Home Bargains, Morrisons, Iceland and Aldi for our week's shopping. By doing so, I limited our expenditure to the minimum possible.

Our cars are 14 year old and 13 years old, respectively. I set the example for my clients who need help budgeting.

dimbo61

Good phone the 6310 business phone in its day

hamster2013

1. you need an excel worksheet to draw up your expenses
2. you need to come to a budget where you save at least £1000/month - that is after paying your £650 rent, food - and other expenses
3. you need to clear your CC debt - manage it better - shift to a 0% interest card to get that breathing space and allow overpayments to reduce it...etc figure out the best strategy for you

you can not endebt yourself MORE when you are already so endebted with a mortgage and cc bills
you already experienced the troubles of the house being empty and without tenants for a long period - what if that happens again ?!!
SELL that house - you are not financially stable enough to be a landlord - you will just endebt yourself more (when boiler breaks down, roofing needs to be redone, and you need to change the whitegoods in that house)

you are in a hurry to buy - have you calculated how much that will cost you? Will you buy all your whitegoods, furniture, refurbishment...etc on another CC ?