LBM - Finally. Scared to death

DreamerHelen

And breathe....You CAN do this hun....you really can....

In practical terms - To Subscribe to your own Thread, go to the Top of the first Post where it says "Thread Tools", click on that and I think it says "Add Subscription", then click on that and follow the Instructions....then everytime to you want to check it you go to UserCP just above your Username...and it will show you all the Threads that you have subscribed to.

Hope that helps!!

mrsw1968

Hi Carol, I've just read through this thread and I think that you are right to be proud of yourself for facing up to things. After reading your last post it appears to me that you are insolvent. In my opinion there's a difference between being heavily in debt and getting a DMP or IVA, and being insolvent and filing for bankruptcy....both incredibly difficult situations to be in.. Believe me I've been there. I was discharged from bankruptcy in June this year and the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders. I had £50k worth of debt and was juggling every month. In the end I went to the CAB who sat down with me and went through all of my paperwork..there was loads! I had to make the decision on whether to go bankrupt or to struggle to pay the debts for years ahead when I could not afford it at all. It was the worst time of my life and I felt so ashamed that I didn't tell anyone, the only place I could talk about things was on this forum so I know how important it is.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I know you are trying to pay all of your debts off but you really need to think about if you can really afford to do this? What quality of life will you have for the next 6 years 7 months? Don't get me wrong, being bankrupt isn't the easy option and its not a barrel of laughs having to account for every penny to the official receiver, but at least I had set allowances so that I could live on within my means.

I would urge you to think through all of your options again and if needs be go to the CAB and talk things through, especially if its 2 weeks to payday and you have no money. Please don't think I'm advising you to file for bankruptcy, I'm just telling you that it's an option, in your situation, and its not the end of the world. If I could've managed on a DMP I would have chosen this option but I really was insolvent rather than heavily in debt.

I hope this post has been helpful, best wishes xx

trixie888

wegle wrote: »

If you don't believe you actually have the surplus it may be beneficial to start keeping a spending diary. Log every penny you spend and you will start to see where it is going, it will also help you to set realistic budgets for things like groceries etc, rather than just plucking a figure out of the air.

You should feel incredibly proud for taking this step, and I know it's scary but you will have great support on here. You could use this thread as your debt free diary, a place to get support, tips and also to keep you focused.

Wishing you all the luck in the world!

I agree and be consistent when logging the diary... I lapse and went overspending.

carol1963_2

Hiya All, Just checking in.

DF, No food apart from jam, jam, and more jam but no bread to stick it on (oh here we go again, moan, moan, moan) and some frozen runner beans, red sauce, brown sauce the usual half used bits of things at the back of the cupboard and with regards to essential bills I daren't look in the postbox.

There's no-one about who can take me to the doctors or the hospital so it looks like I'll have to cancel my appointments and no-one who will touch us with a barge pole to lend us some money as we already owe friends and we can't pay them back.

carol1963_2

I'm here again after mikee31 thread, I've got the same sort of questions, how soon do you see a difference, I've haven't got a clue where to start, everyone seems know what to do, where to look, spending diary things, seems so inspirational, sounds so upbeat, not scared, know who to speak to and HAPPY. Carol xx

DreamerHelen

Hey Carol....I didn't want to read and run....But I'm not sure I have much practical advice...

First things first you need to know where you're at financially....Open the Post that you've been avoiding, check your balances that you owe, check your Bank Accounts to see how much is or isn't in them....

I know you have already contacted Step Change...you've done the right thing there!! And they will be able to help you....

If you have money owed soon then I would recommend that you change Bank Accounts to a Bank that you owe no money to...that way the Debt Companies can't take out ANY money because it won't be there for them to take....

And then breathe....

You CAN do this hun...and we are all here to help you in any way that we can.....Even if you need to come on here and rant and rave and scream...that's okay....

In terms of food - Look through your Cupboards and Fridge/Freezer, list everything that you have in there and then come on here or the Old Style Board and list those Items and we'll see what we can come up with to feed you until you can afford more food.

Hope that helps a little....Good Luck and let us know how you are getting on x

carol1963_2

Hiya All,

Update - Opened new bank account on Saturday, details should be confirmed Wednesday (fingers crossed).

Looked at old style board, it's amazing what you can do with 'not a lot'.

DFD day just got longer, but not a a lot, 1 month only and that's down to the poll tax.

I have missed this months cut-off with my HR to get my wages put into the new bank account (any ideas on what to do about this one please).

Gaz's should be ok.

Carol

DreamerHelen

carol1963 wrote: »

I have missed this months cut-off with my HR to get my wages put into the new bank account (any ideas on what to do about this one please).

Are you currently over your Overdraft Limit on your old Bank Account? What I mean is - Can you take out your Wages literally the day that they put them in, that way no one has the chance to take it all out....Or wait up for the Wages to be paid in and Internet Bank them to your new Account....

Not sure if that is helpful or not...Hope it is....

carol1963_2

Hiya DH, Will be well over the overdraft limit tomorrow as charges are coming out. Not sure about transferring I'll have to ask the new bank I think or Stepchange may be able to help.

carol1963_2

I'll try again, I lost my first long post. What I could do with is please some additional advice. Do I defer my DMP start date until November or will it cause untold hassle. If I defer then this will allow me to get back upto date with the poll tax, pay neighbours back, pay for petrol (from our local garage, who have been great), friends, car/van tax and then at least I will have a 'reasonably' clean slate so it will be just my creditors to deal with.

I feel so in-decisive I can't even make that decision.

Also any idea where I put the money for my bills as I used to have 2 accounts with the same bank so I would transfer my bill money to there?

I'm scared that I will think "right that's for bills" but if we only have a little left to last until next pay day I'll keep pinching off thinking oh we'll be fine.

How do you manage to actually know how much to put away for MOT's, emergency funds, slush fund (whatever that is).

Does anyone manage to save?

Do I update this thread for any followers (if I have any) with my update.

No disrespect to Gaz (Hubby) but I know I'm going to have to try and do this myself.

I hope I don't lose this post but things keep disappearing.

Thanks again All. Carol xx