Should i get a wonga loan

summer33

Getting_There_Slowly wrote: »

Hi Summer33

Just read your thread and wanted to say we have been in a similar situation and turned it around. Although we ran up more debt and are now paying it off, we are doing so very successfully.

I have to say though, it is all down to budgeting and living within your means, which I don't think you have quite grasped. When our situation was like yours, we didn't even own a tent. Now my wife and I take home more than £1000 a month more than your family (with slightly higher outgoings) and we bought a tent last year for £50 second hand. The extra money is going into savings, pensions, investments. I think you can see my point.

With caravans, school dinners and Sky TV, I'm afraid you are living somebody else's life. This attitude is what has dug you into this hole.

But hey I'm not here to nag. Well done for getting a grip before resorting to Wonga. And with a young family you are at the toughest stage financially, it does get a bit better with time. For gods sake don't have any more kids! But please, try to deal with all your financial issues, not just some of them. Life will be much less stressful, even without a caravan.

Thanks for your comments. Cannot quite understand where your coming with some of them

I have highlighted in black as the school dinners caravans sky tv did not get us into debt, it is debt we have 7-10 years ago that has accumulated over a time, when credit was easy to get......worked full time, no kids and credit limit was increased, and like everyone on this thread it eventually catches up with you. No we have never budgeted, and that is why I am in this mess and that is why I am on this site, looking for help, not to be critisized and told where I have gone wrong

Yes we did have a attitude that got us into this hole and now trying to get out. The only areas were we can reduce our outgoings is where i have mentioned on previous comments.

I didnt post on here to be told where I have gone wrong ...I know myself that, I wanted help and advice, but thanks for reading and commenting anyway

marliepanda

summer33 wrote: »

of course his performance in the stats will make a difference, as it determines what level he's at.......... thus what set he goes into in senior school.

Sets in secondary school are preliminary. If a child did terrible in SATS but was clearly bright, they wouldnt linger in bottom sets for long. They are used as a basis but teachers do their own assessments VERY soon into secondary, as they do in every class. Not arguing for or against the move, just saying it certainly won't affect him for much longer than a week/month if he is very obviously in the wrong set

He also could make friends who will be going to his new secondary school (after the move) rather than having to make new friends at a new secondary school, which is a big enough change as it is without having to find a new circle

As for the Sky, caravan comment. Yes they may not have been the ONLY thing that got you into debt, I dont believe 'GettingThereSlowly' was saying that, but obviously living 'beyond your means' each month will add up and add up and add up, and you would be in much less debt if you had not had Sky and a caravan for 7-10 years. Not a criticism at all, just a fact honestly

matttye

If you send your son to school with a packed lunch and his option is either to eat that packed lunch or go hungry - he'll eat it.

That could save you another £32 a month almost (taking into account the packed lunch will cost something).

Don't let him dictate that he gets given lunch money. You can't afford it.

I know you've said you don't want to sell the caravan but you should strongly consider it. Even if the money wouldn't help you pay off your non-priority debts, it would help you to pay off most/all of your arrears and get you onto that better SoA you posted recently.

Your kids have two xboxes; can you not sell one of those?

ViolaLass

summer33 wrote: »

of course his performance in the stats will make a difference, as it determines what level he's at.......... thus what set he goes into in senior school.

I'm a secondary maths teacher so I know what I'm talking about.

How he performs in the tests does not determine the level he's at, it indicates to others what level he's at. Yes, it may affect which set he is put into to start with but I taught bottom set Year 7 last year and moved three kids up at half term. They were in the wrong set for 6 weeks - hardly a big deal within the context of 13 years in education.

His result matters far more for his school (league tables etc) than it does for him. It may not even affect which set he does into if his new school tests him again when he starts (as some do).

laurel7172

Please don't make a bigger deal out of SATs than they are. The kids pick up on teachers' stress and they don't need it at home as well Our local secondary schools set according to tests they give the children in the first week anyway...

However, depending on the ages of your children and where in the country you are, please research this school change and be sure you can move all your children at once. School places are like gold dust around here, and moving a family between schools means moving one child and then running between different schools while hoping another place will become available. For months, potentially years. It isn't fun, and I don't think you need the additional stress and expense. Good luck.

Getting_There_Slowly_2

summer33 wrote: »

Thanks for your comments. Cannot quite understand where your coming with some of them

I have highlighted in black as the school dinners caravans sky tv did not get us into debt, it is debt we have 7-10 years ago that has accumulated over a time, when credit was easy to get......worked full time, no kids and credit limit was increased, and like everyone on this thread it eventually catches up with you. No we have never budgeted, and that is why I am in this mess and that is why I am on this site, looking for help, not to be critisized and told where I have gone wrong

Yes we did have a attitude that got us into this hole and now trying to get out. The only areas were we can reduce our outgoings is where i have mentioned on previous comments.

I didnt post on here to be told where I have gone wrong ...I know myself that, I wanted help and advice, but thanks for reading and commenting anyway

Everything I said was meant as help and advice although I know it may be a little difficult to read, if it comes across a little blunt I am often like that, sorry! Maybe read what I wrote with that in mind and you may see some stuff in there that is useful to you. I think the point about the caravan is absolutely critical, whether it directly caused your current situation or not.

Just to be clear I wish you all the best and if you get a solid plan and stick to it, you can look forward to sleeping more soundly in the future!:)

summer33

matttye wrote: »

If you send your son to school with a packed lunch and his option is either to eat that packed lunch or go hungry - he'll eat it.

That could save you another £32 a month almost (taking into account the packed lunch will cost something).

Don't let him dictate that he gets given lunch money. You can't afford it.

I know you've said you don't want to sell the caravan but you should strongly consider it. Even if the money wouldn't help you pay off your non-priority debts, it would help you to pay off most/all of your arrears and get you onto that better SoA you posted recently.

Your kids have two xboxes; can you not sell one of those?

Thanks Matttye, i do understand were you are coming from with the packed lunch situation, my kids do not dictate to me, as I have said before I am the parent, but my decision on some things is to give them an option. I have tried with packed lunch and it did come home not eaten, so if that means paying £8.00 to know they have a meal whilst in school so be it.

At the moment selling the caravan isnt an option......not for what we would get for it.......... I am determined to do what I have said about cutting everything were I can, and selling as much as I can, and I know we will get there.

I couldn't sell the xboxes, as they were presents for xmas for the boys ...they were both 2nd hand, and like the games we bought, they were pre owned, and then any birthday money they got this year, they buy their own games, and buy preowned and not brand new.

Thanks

summer33

ViolaLass wrote: »

I'm a secondary maths teacher so I know what I'm talking about.

How he performs in the tests does not determine the level he's at, it indicates to others what level he's at. Yes, it may affect which set he is put into to start with but I taught bottom set Year 7 last year and moved three kids up at half term. They were in the wrong set for 6 weeks - hardly a big deal within the context of 13 years in education.

His result matters far more for his school (league tables etc) than it does for him. It may not even affect which set he does into if his new school tests him again when he starts (as some do).

Hi Violalass

That has given me peace of mind then. I feel bad enough as it is making the decision to move him, being in his last year. Then worrying now that if we get his 1st choice senior school will have to start the appeal process to try and get him into the feeder school from the new junior school.

I dont speak too much about his stats as dont want him worrying, but as all parents want him to do well, and dont want him to suffer in the decision of us moving him. I think its hard enough starting new school in last year of juniors and making new friends without having to do tests. :eek:

I just hope it doesnt effect him too much.

Thanks for comments appreciate them a great deal

summer33

laurel7172 wrote: »

Please don't make a bigger deal out of SATs than they are. The kids pick up on teachers' stress and they don't need it at home as well Our local secondary schools set according to tests they give the children in the first week anyway...

However, depending on the ages of your children and where in the country you are, please research this school change and be sure you can move all your children at once. School places are like gold dust around here, and moving a family between schools means moving one child and then running between different schools while hoping another place will become available. For months, potentially years. It isn't fun, and I don't think you need the additional stress and expense. Good luck.

Hi laurel7172

Thanks for comments. Yes I will be checking out with the school on Monday if they have a place for my older son, if they dont then, we will go with original plan of just moving my middle son in Sept when the eldest goes to senior. My youngest will then be starting preschool so get the 15 hrs free schooling :T

Fingers crossed they can move the 2 of them as then they starting the new school together rather than the middle 1 starting on his own, and then the elder starting in sept with none of his friends in senior school

Thanks for advice

matttye

summer33 wrote: »

Thanks Matttye, i do understand were you are coming from with the packed lunch situation, my kids do not dictate to me, as I have said before I am the parent, but my decision on some things is to give them an option. I have tried with packed lunch and it did come home not eaten, so if that means paying £8.00 to know they have a meal whilst in school so be it.

At the moment selling the caravan isnt an option......not for what we would get for it.......... I am determined to do what I have said about cutting everything were I can, and selling as much as I can, and I know we will get there.

I couldn't sell the xboxes, as they were presents for xmas for the boys ...they were both 2nd hand, and like the games we bought, they were pre owned, and then any birthday money they got this year, they buy their own games, and buy preowned and not brand new.

Thanks

Sorry to keep on about the same point, but that sounds exactly like your son is dictating to you. Kids are smart. He probably thought "If I don't bother eating my packed lunch she'll give me lunch money again" and that's exactly what happened.

If your son realises the lunch money is gone, for good, then I'm sure he'll soon come around to packed lunches.

Giving your kids an option is great but not when you're up to your eyeballs in debt and can barely make ends meet. This is the time for you to make cut backs even if it means taking away some choices from your sons.

You're putting more importance on your son's option than on making ends meet. This is a priority that you need to change and soon. You can always give him the option back once you're out of this mess.

Re: the caravan - desperate times call for desperate measures. You might sell at a loss but you NEED money from somewhere. That would help you overnight.

If you can reasonably foresee sorting this mess out without selling the caravan then so be it.

I think that you haven't yet had a lightbulb moment, because you're not willing to be brutal about making cutbacks and selling non-required assets.