Really need help, getting stressed with my debt, no where to go :(

Cycrow

you should try to cut out most/all non essential spending and use the money to put towards the debts.
make sure you keep up with the minimum payments and put any spare money you have into the most expensive debt to get it cleared.

Anyway to cut down on your outgoings ?
can you mum reduce your rent temporarily or does she need that to help with her bills?
The buss pass i assume is for work ?
how far do you have to travel to work, and can you find a cheaper way to get there ?
The phone bill, is this a contract mobile, and does it include more than the line rental?
anyway to reduce this at all.

At least living at home you dont have the worry of those expenses, so you should be able to focus alot of your earnings to clear the debt, even if it means living a boring life for a year

heartbreak_star

That's not quite an SOA.

Try using this one, it's far more comprehensive
http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

There's a button at the bottom to format for MSE boards.

OK, so you've identified you can stop spending on some things. Try and throw at LEAST an extra £100 a month towards your debts.

I know you want to treat your girlfriend...but let her treat you now and again - you shouldn't have to foot the bills for meals out etc.

HBS x

JoshyBoy_2

Thanks all

Appreciated.

Just looking at it the £390 I get left with after all expenses etc, I could be putting £200 P/M towards one card.

Pay that off, then the next card.

Leaves me with £190 for going out etc, not much but I'll have to make it last.

Will take a long time, but for e.g start with my Barclays credit card.

That will take approximately 7 months to clear off.

Then I could use that credit card to transfer the 975 on my Albion Master card and still have credit on my Barclays card in case of emergencies.

Rip up the Albion card, pay off the rest of the Barclays card, then repeat the above on the other cards.

Is this viable? or should it just be a case of pay off and no transfers?

bargainbetty

OK, in order....

1. Do a proper budget and work out what you can afford to throw at your debts every month.
2. Find out your APRs (interest rates) and pay off the card with the highest charge first.
3. Pay the minimum plus £1 on all the others.
4. Don't take out any more credit
5. Have an honest chat with your girlfriend about finding cheaper ways to enjoy yourselves.
6. Sorry, but I did part time bar work on top of a 9-6 job, twice a week for more than a year, and lots of other people do too. If you want to bring this debt down, accept that you might need to reconsider your attitudes to want and need from both sides. You might not 'want' to give up an evening or weekend day, but you 'need' to if you want to bring the debt down. It also means you aren't spending money while you are there!

Good luck

JoshyBoy_2

I'd rather keep this to myself to be honest, don't want to come across as a let down.

I also get the working more hours, which I may look into. But 9-5 is more like 7-6 when you factor in getting up and getting ready, doesn't leave a lot of time as it is.

Keep applying for better paid jobs in my industry, currently been working as an admin assistant in a law form for 5 years, still on min wage, so looking to move one tbh. But nothing is coming off. Constant rejections etc. Just want to scream sometimes. Feels like I'm stuck on minimum wage forever.

bargainbetty

Have you registered with agencies? A lot of jobs don't even make it to the newspapers because agencies have it sewn up. Look on totallylegal.com for a variety of jobs, and get the names of all the agencies to register with in your area.

You can keep your budget to yourself (I did) but do it anyway. Have a really honest look at where you are.

I'm not trying to be mean, I've done those hours, got home, had tea and then gone straight to the pub for the 7-11.30 shift! Have a look on here at the 'up your income' thread which will give you ideas on how to use your time to raise more funds.

Best of luck

Idiophreak

JoshyBoy wrote: »

Keep applying for better paid jobs in my industry, currently been working as an admin assistant in a law form for 5 years, still on min wage, so looking to move one tbh. But nothing is coming off. Constant rejections etc. Just want to scream sometimes. Feels like I'm stuck on minimum wage forever.

Have you approached your employer about the possibility of getting a raise?

R_P_W

No quick fixes.

Ensure you are paying off the minimums for all your debts. Then pay as much extra off the most expensive debt.

You are right this will take a long time. So to pay quicker you either need to spend less or earn more or ideally both.

FatVonD

I worked 2 jobs throughout my 20s (including commuting into LOndon for the full-time one.) Where do you socialise at the weekend? Get a job there and get paid to go somewhere you normally pay to go to!

tallyhoh

Have you tried for a stewards job at the baggies (if thats your team), you get to see most of the game & get paid. Its not a great deal about £37 when theyre at home but it will save the season ticket