My Debt Diary, the ramblings of JCD

JCD_Capulet

Hi everyone.
I've been a long time lurker and only recently joined up, I guess, because I'm at the end of my rope. The debts I have aren't as impressive as some I've seen on the forums, but it is causing me some ammount of troubles.

Let me introduce myself firstly. I'm Joanne, I'm 25, unemployed (and seemingly unemployable) and living in my one bedroom rented housing association flat with my two beloved cats, Babes and Clio.

Things started going wrong back in '04 when my then fiancee took a job in France to better his career and being the supportive partner that I am, I encouraged him. During the stint away from home I was left to pay all the bills on my lonesome with my minimum wage job. During this time he and I split up and thats when it began to snowball.

With the onset of depression I lost my job and the bills which were already beginning to overwhelm me steadily grew and grew as I comfort-shopped and drank (ex alcoholic here) my worries away. Well, it helped me forget enough to have the energy to wake up in the morning. Things slowly got better as time passed and I began tackling my debts by finding another minimum wage job, working 50hrs pw and car booting with my mum where ever possible. But it seems whenever things are going 'O.K' something always throws a spanner in the works.

Going from working 50hrs pw to unemployment, to working part time but not qualifying for any benefit help, to being unemployed again, to grabbing my first managerial job.....to being sacked. I won't bore anyone with the tale of my sacking, but rest assured it was unfair and completely unexpected from a charity! I wasn't even given my final pay. *sigh*

Anyway, there's a bit about me. I'm all washed up, tired of having to fight my corner at every turn and tired of having to hold on tightly to anything good that ever happens. It only seems to be taken away from me.

Hmm, Im rambling, sorry.
I'll post up my debts as soon as I find them all.

I'm so worn out.
Joanne.

Crown

Hi Joanne, Welcome and thanks for sharing your story with us!

It doesnt matter the amount of debt your in the aim of this forum is debt elimination and as it sounds like thats your aim then your in the right place

Look forward to seeing your SOA

*zippy*

Hi Joanne :hello:

Welcome to dfw :T

It sounds like you have had a really tough time of it, I hope things start to get easier for you from now on. There's lots of support on here so its a great place to be.

Good luck on your debt free journey.

JCD_Capulet

Thanks *zippy* and Crown Can I ask what SOA stands for? I'm a little baffled with the abreviations

Crown

Hi, take a look at the 1st time posters thread at the top of the forum

*zippy*

Here's a link

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=107280

JCD_Capulet

Thanks again Crown and Zippy, I'm still getting the hang of the forums layout. There's so much stuff to read!

thanks again

JCD_Capulet

Here goes (please correct me if I've done this wrong)

Incommings:
Job seekers allowance - £119 fortnightly. That was short and sweet.

Debts:
Electricity - £279.45
Gas - £118.40
Rent Arrears - £455.00
Council tax Arrears - £230
Inland Revenue - (currently) £111.15

I also have debt from when I was 16/17 for a mobile phone bill. The debt was handed to a collections agency whos name I can't place, nor the ammount of the bebt

Fortnightly spending
Virgin media - Home phone and broadband - £30 or there abouts
Food - £20 aprox
Cat food and litter - £15
Rent repayment - £6
Weekly travel card (to get to interviews ect) x2 - £23

Now that I've jotted this down, I'm petrified.

Karmacat

Hi JCD
Sorry things are so bad for you. Hope your cats are of some comfort to you, I know when I was able to have cats, they meant the world to me (thats why my name........).

Just had a quick look at your soa. The first thing that strikes me is how huge your internet access bill is. I'm guessing this is a lifeline to you, but...... its a big proportion of your money. How would you feel about using the library for internet access, since its free of charge?

The other thing is that your cat costs you a lot - I'm guessing its cat litter? Any way you can cut down on that? e.g. larger size bag so cheaper, cheaper version, do you use too much, do they *have* to have litter or can they go outside, that sort of thing.

Bits of online money without any money having to be spent - things like pigsback, daily clicks and surveys, it will take a while, and the money is comparatively little, but every little really does help.

Can't think of anything else at the mo (I'm a bit distracted cos I have to go out really soon) but I hope things can get bit better soon.

Penny2myName

JCD_Capulet wrote: »

Here goes (please correct me if I've done this wrong)

Incommings:
Job seekers allowance - £119 fortnightly. That was short and sweet.

Debts:
Electricity - £279.45 Works out more expensive for the life of debt but have you considered a token meter
Gas - £118.40 Same as above
Rent Arrears - £455.00 Call and make an arrangement, quite often they are willing to accept £5
Council tax Arrears - £230 same as above
Inland Revenue - (currently) £111.15

I also have debt from when I was 16/17 for a mobile phone bill. The debt was handed to a collections agency whos name I can't place, nor the ammount of the bebt

Fortnightly spending
Virgin media - Home phone and broadband - £30 or there abouts
Food - £20 aprox
Cat food and litter - £15
Rent repayment - £6
Weekly travel card (to get to interviews ect) x2 - £23

Now that I've jotted this down, I'm petrified.

Having meters in isn't always the best solution, but when you are on 59.50 a week, it can sometiems be the only way to clear the debts. You have stuff like water and tv liecence missing.

Penny2myName

jsut noticed you have a rent repayment. sorry