Please help feeling down

lindseykim13

Where do i start!
Basically we are on one income (my hubby) i home educate our 2 children. We have an unsecured loan which we used to buy a car a few years ago, theres approx £4000 left on that, a credit card which has £4000 on also.
Our overdraft is £1600, and we stupidly booked a holiday to florida for next april. The basis of booking it was that my hubbys work always has OT so figured if he worked hard for the year we could pay off what was left on the credit card (which was £3400 and save for florida, since then its been one thing after another, we had new car tyres to buy, car tax, the ignition went all in one week (so that went on the CC) the cars been in the garage twice already this year.
My hubby had to go into hospital to and have 6weeks off. Now since he's been back he's fallen out of favour with the management and they wont give him OT, personnaly i think he's being bullied by a few members of staff for no reason, you couldnt meet a nicer person. Now we have no idea what to do, this is our first holiday out of the country and really looking forward to it, now i'm just so stressed.
We have 9 months to save £2900 just for the hol, plus £1000 for disney tickets and somehow spends also.
I'm sick of not having any money to do anything, i already buy supermarket value food and have nowhere else to save any cash, we cant save any of my hubbys basic wage as that just about scrapes us by, hence the OD, just need some ideas and a bit of support. He's thinking of finding another job, but he hasn't many qualifications and not likley to find even the same amount of pay from anywhere. We've had such a hard time over the years, we had to have a scrimped wedding 5years ago and get others to pay for stuff rather than pressies, sine we bought our car we've spent nearly double repairing it (whole engine at one point), hubby had concussion last year and took 6months to recover. Just had enough of all the bad luck 1 holiday would be nice! Any money saving ideas appreciated.

DIRTY_CASH

For a start - do you REALLY need to go on the holiday - it sounds like another 9 months of heartache saving up for it and no doubt paying for clothes and bits and pieces well after you come back. I know its heart breaking as you may really be looking forward to this break but maybe its better to bite the bullet now and stop it. Maybe look for something a little closer to home at a fraction of the price. Is it really worth all the stress and hassle for two weeks. Keep your head up. There are other options if you must have a holiday - I know they are not the same but face facts you are struggling - please don't make it worse by hanging on to something thats an expensive dream. Sorry to be the bearer of doom and gloom.

firesidemaid

hi there.

welcome to the forum - you are not alone.

you might find you will also get more replies and help from the debt-free wanabee board - all experts in saving you money.

at the top of that board there is a 'sticky' which details how you can post your soa - statement of affairs. you list all your incomings, all your weekly/monthly/annual outgoings and all your debt amounts and rates.

have you already paid a deposit fro your holiday? did you shop around? there are folks on the travel board who live to find you the best deals.

posting your soa will really help to see what you truly spend, where you can save and what you can afford.

amritajay

I have to agree with dirtycash here.

My DH works for centerparcs. I can get you seriously cheap offers specially reserved for staff and their families. We have already been to all the centerparcs villages, so are not using these offers anymore.

the villas are fantastic and theres a lot to do for the whole family.

pm me if u want it

lindseykim13

Sorry please move, posted in wrong board.
Yes we have already paid £500 deposit, my kids have been told they are going and i'm not going to let them down on this. This is the only thing we have ever wanted to do, two weeks in florida isnt alot to ask after all the rubbish we have been through, i could sit here all day listing all the crap, both my boys have been in hosptial, we have a family who dontgive a damm about us, we really need to get away and to be honest is the thing that keepsme going at the moment, the thought of getting away from everyone and everything. We have never been able to do anything for lack of money, the most we've managed is a few days in a tent. If i dont deserve this holiday my boys and hubby do. I'll sell my car if i have to! not that i'd get much for that.
Just seem to be stuck, if i went and got a job it would interfere with bloomin tax credits and if you've ever had to deal with them you'll know what a pain in the !!! they can be.
When we booked it there was over a year to go and as long as my hubby did one day every weekend OT we'd have enough easy, now time seems to be ticking by and not getting anywhere fast.
If his work place wernt being wonkers then we'd still have some hope.
To top it all off my cammera broke so now i cant even sell anything on ebay! someone up there loves me. :mad:

DIRTY_CASH

Good Luck Lindsey - I wasn't trying to put a dampner on things for you and its not my life after all. I have been in a mess myself and I now things get worse before they get better. Just be careful. Don't get yourslef any further into the mire than you need to as it takes a damn site longer getting out. I could go on and say Eurodisney etc etc and the Centerparcs really are fab. You may all deserve the holiday but don't put your self in any more of a financial risk than you need to. I can't stress what its like to in over your head and drown. Is the risk worth it and I mean REALLY worth it -Not to patronise in anyway.
HOWEVER

Pop over to the DEBT FREE WANABEES board for some great money saving tips and if you do gone on the hols enjoy yourself and go easy on yourself as well. We are all in a mess in here but with each others help and support we can get out of it - like the motto says.

PROUD TO BE DEALING WITH OUR DEBTS.

System

Hi Lindsey, sorry your having a rough time of it at the moment but as requested i am going to move your thread into the Debt Free Wannabe board. They are brilliant at spinning straw into gold in there. Hopefully you will get a few more replies to your dilemma.


Big hugs and chin up xxx