Lifestyle and Advice

adrihd

Hi,

At the moment I've got 3 debts which I've been regularly paying off until... they found out I was a piscatarian (only meat I eat is fish) they all told me I had a lifestyle of luxury. On top of that, being Christian, this is why I personally chose this lifestyle.

The two in question are a council which I have a payment plan with, which I've met; and a debt collector or Orange that I said I'd pay them £5 a month as good will until they get the contract details (to date which hasn't happened).

How do I deal with this? The council are the worst of the lot; Despite keeping to plan monthly as agreed theygrill me about my heavy expenditure at the local supermarkets.

This lifestyle isn't cheap, but in my religious views, it's how I like to live,

I have no idea how to handle this.

The council are threatening me to take to me court and this other bunch are being idiots about it too.

Why set up a payment plan if it's not plausible?

Moneymash

Usually when people are committed to paying off their debts they make some kind of sacrifice, e.g. staying in a job they hate, selling prized possessions, telling the kids they can't have as much pocket money, stopping holidays or even Christmas. Maybe you could try sacrificing fish for a few months and go vegetarian. The savings you make could boost your monthly repayment plans and get these creditors off your back once and for all.

My sacrifices are anything new, everything I own is either broken, needs replacing or updating. I no longer attend a course I really enjoyed. Also, my free time because I do at least 24-36 hours overtime a week.

I'm not sure you can be principled about the lifestyle you have now, when at some point you must have been living beyond your means and these creditors (with your agreement) were supplementing a lifestyle you couldn't afford.

Ilona

Hi. I detect a degree of arrogance in your post. You are saying this is how I live and stuff you lot. It seems you want to dictate how and when you pay off your debts.

I don't understand why being a Christian is any more expensive than being atheist. Blaming religion for your heavy expenditure in the supermarkets is a cop out. You don't have to eat fish every day, just twice a week would suffice.

How do you deal with this? You log every penny you spend, you cut down on things you don't need, and learn the difference between needs and wants.

You say the people you owe money to are a bunch of idiots. No, it's their job to recover what is rightfully theirs. You should never default on your council tax payments, it's your fault they are threatening to take you to court. There's no room for principle here. You won't die if you modify your spending to free up some cash to pay your debts.
Ilona

Ilona

copperlight wrote: »

Come on you two. There is no need to upset the OP by posting common sense!


This place beggars belief sometimes!:eek:

You should read his other posts. Enlightening to say the least.
Ilona

Anoneemoose

Also re: you waiting for this 'contract from orange' - i wouldn't rely heavily on this. A mobile contract is a service agreement and is NOT covered by the CCA. This means that they don't need to provide a copy of the contract to enforce the debt.

They will be able to prove the debt in other ways. Such as (but not limited to) proving you ordered/took delivery of any phone and SIMS. They also have lots and lots of systems they can look at too.

Definitely cut down on the fish.

Karonher

Although I am vegetarian I do a lot of shopping for my dad and am always surprised at how cheap fish is. He does not eat salmon or shellfish so maybe that is expensive but could you look at a cheaper piece or kind of fish or go to a cheaper supermarket? If you dont want to eat meat there are a lot of soya/tofu/Quorn products that may be cheaper than the fish you are buying.

I know there should just be advice but your comments about the council are incredibly unfair as they have to make sure that they collect all the money owed to provide services for everyone. It seems a little strange that someone whose life appears to revolve around their religion to think they should be a special case and others should suffer so as they can follow their beliefs.

Without knowing how the debt built up is this going to be a recurring problem for you? If you always have high food bills will it not be a cycle of building up debt and paying it off?

barbarawright

adrihd wrote: »

Hi,

At the moment I've got 3 debts which I've been regularly paying off until... they found out I was a piscatarian (only meat I eat is fish) they all told me I had a lifestyle of luxury. On top of that, being Christian, this is why I personally chose this lifestyle.

The two in question are a council which I have a payment plan with, which I've met; and a debt collector or Orange that I said I'd pay them £5 a month as good will until they get the contract details (to date which hasn't happened).

How do I deal with this? The council are the worst of the lot; Despite keeping to plan monthly as agreed theygrill me about my heavy expenditure at the local supermarkets.

This lifestyle isn't cheap, but in my religious views, it's how I like to live,

I have no idea how to handle this.

The council are threatening me to take to me court and this other bunch are being idiots about it too.

Why set up a payment plan if it's not plausible?

This makes no sense to me. How on earth did you creditors find out about your diet? What does eating fish have do with Christianity? Are you paying your full debt including interesting or are you expecting other people to subsidise your liftestyle. BTW I'm a full vegetarian - fish are just as much God's creatures as cuddly mammals, in my view

datlex

I'm puzzled by the link between being a Christian and eating fish. Christians can eat any meat. Having said that, if it the only meat you like then you need to think about what you eat. There are plenty of cheaper fish. Eating fish is not a luxury life style in itself- eating expensive types of fresh fish is. For example 4 pieces of frozen cod = £3.50, fresh boneless cod fillets (2 or 3 in pack) = £4.74 and counter cod fillet = £3.30 each. That is just one example on a quick search of the Tesco website.

Choose fish like kippers. I personally like the smoked river cobbler. Tesco have plenty of fish in their everyday value range.

No need for you to give up your lifestyle- just make your lifestyle fit your means.

Another option is to shop in places like Iceland http://www.iceland.co.uk/our-food/frozen-food/fish

or Aldi
https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/product-range/frozen/fish-seafood/

Make sure you choose own brand over others (assuming it is cheaper for tinned fish). I personally think some the own brand ones are nicer.

Sit down with your shopping list, I don't know where you shop or which types you buy/ which brands you buy. Find the cheapest option for every single item. You'll be surprised how much you can save.

FBaby

Isn't a can of tuna x 7 actually cheaper than meat?

matttye

datlex wrote: »

I'm puzzled by the link between being a Christian and eating fish. Christians can eat any meat. Having said that, if it the only meat you like then you need to think about what you eat. There are plenty of cheaper fish. Eating fish is not a luxury life style in itself- eating expensive types of fresh fish is. For example 4 pieces of frozen cod = £3.50, fresh boneless cod fillets (2 or 3 in pack) = £4.74 and counter cod fillet = £3.30 each. That is just one example on a quick search of the Tesco website.

Choose fish like kippers. I personally like the smoked river cobbler. Tesco have plenty of fish in their everyday value range.

No need for you to give up your lifestyle- just make your lifestyle fit your means.

Another option is to shop in places like Iceland http://www.iceland.co.uk/our-food/frozen-food/fish

or Aldi
https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/product-range/frozen/fish-seafood/

Make sure you choose own brand over others (assuming it is cheaper for tinned fish). I personally think some the own brand ones are nicer.

Sit down with your shopping list, I don't know where you shop or which types you buy/ which brands you buy. Find the cheapest option for every single item. You'll be surprised how much you can save.

The voice of reason!

People advising the OP to give up the only decent source of protein in their diet need to get a grip

datlex

FBaby wrote: »

Isn't a can of tuna x 7 actually cheaper than meat?

quite often yes.