Should I consider a loan to cut interest costs

katsu

SOA is basically a listing of income and expenditure so if you pay it we can suggest more savings. There is a link in one of the posts towards the top of this board.

japmis

Here's the link. Click on MSE format.

http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

rockm87

ava77 wrote: »

Hi, I'm not up with all the lingo here. I'm embarrassed to say that I have no idea what "SOA" stands for.
I am on the list for energy saving emails, and switch to the best deal when possible. Plus the budget calculator has helped loads with insurance, mobiles etc. if only I could get away with living on fresh air, I'd save a bundle, although I think this is what a conservative government want for all us struggling to get by (sad face)

You're struggling because you deemed argos and next good decisions while you had no money.

I'm not being mean, but we've all made our own decisions, it's not always up to the government, and you can't always blame someone else for your problems.

ava77

We've all made decisions based upon our circumstances at the time, and trying to predict the future in the hopes that it will all go to plan.
The sad reality is, we cannot predict the future and have to work with situations as they present them selves.
There is a vast majority of people living hand to mouth, one day to the next, and not been in a position to have a rainy day fund, not through choice, but because wages do not reflect the cost of living and sadly have to rely upon govement hand outs, charity's and in a lot of cases, food banks. Not because they have chosen to but because circumstance has dictated. Who do "we the people" blame for the death count rising as we struggle with the everyday costs of living that are forced upon us, and not chosen.....
We all have a basic human right for the necessitys, yet so many of us have to forfeit this for the rising costs of living which sadly our wage does not reflect.
If "we the people" are to blame for the choices the minority cast upon us, then this is truly a very sad day for us all!

SeduLOUs

Ava - I can understand your point, but at the same time absolutely nothing you can buy from Argos or Next would qualify in my eyes as a "necessity". (I do also appreciate that these represent a small amount of your debt and that I don't know what the Vanquis/Cap One money was used for).

I'm not having a go at all because I've made exactly the same mistakes as you in the past.

I've now learned that if you buy things on credit the only thing you can be certain of is that you will be expected to pay - regardless of whether you still have a job or an emergency fund or anything else. Using credit facilities is always a risk.

rockm87

SeduLOUs wrote: »

Ava - I can understand your point, but at the same time absolutely nothing you can buy from Argos or Next would qualify in my eyes as a "necessity". (I do also appreciate that these represent a small amount of your debt and that I don't know what the Vanquis/Cap One money was used for).

I'm not having a go at all because I've made exactly the same mistakes as you in the past.

I've now learned that if you buy things on credit the only thing you can be certain of is that you will be expected to pay - regardless of whether you still have a job or an emergency fund or anything else. Using credit facilities is always a risk.

agreed, and I do understand, and now you're in a position to evaluate those decisions you made and really address what happened so it wont happen again, if you just blame someone else you will forever have those cards, and that debt. It is your responsibility, an argos card wont feed the mouths of your starving children or pay for your heating, do you see what I mean?

onwards and upwards, no offence was meant!

[Deleted User]

ava77 wrote: »

Oh and I can't chop the cards up yet, I have to put in the long card number every time I ring to pay the bill. I am hopeless at remembering them. But they I never kept in my purse or hubbies wallet to temp us. And will be disposed of and canceled once the debt is paid.
I am keeping the Argos card though. I think that ones great for interest free periods. And makes buying bigger more expensive items easier to afford. Just need to not have so much going out at once in the future.

Right the long card number down and cut them up.

ava77

I can promise you that no offence was taken, and can assure you all that the debts we have, have resulted from circumstance and have not been a decision we have taken lightly.
We went several months having to rely on hand outs, second had goods and the kind generosity of others. It was a work place accident which resulted in my hubby being of from work, and having physiotherapy to strengthen both his back and legs in order to use them again. It wasn't the best of times, and with 4 very young rapidly growing childen, it was a definite struggle.
We had to rely on the credit cards for rent, food etc. benefits didn't cover the basics of everyday bills so top ups had to be made. As for Argos & next. They have been used for the very basics of a fridge freezer and vacuum cleaner, and cloths for the children. Not because I'm a snob or anything, but because at the time they needed the clothes and we simply didn't have the money.
Thankfully life has resumed as normal and thankfully we are in a better position than prior to the accident. Just with more debt than before (boo, hiss.) but the situation is what it is, and muddle on we will.
I'm just trying to look forward to a time when we wont be tied to these debts and can actually start living again, rather than just scrapping by.
Wow, I sound all very doom and gloom today. I promise I'm not always like this, I'm usually rather positive with most situations. I'm sure I'll be back on to my sunny way of seeing the world soon. I really do arrriciate all the help and support that all of you have so kindly taken to give me.
We will do this, together I hope.

[Deleted User]

What was the workplace accident?

Can you not claim compensation?

DCFC79

Don't read too much into your credit score as it doesn't actually mean much since lenders don't see it.