Please help feel like I am drowning in debt

mum2one

youve made the hardest step and thats asking for help, it might also be worth ringing / looking on line at stepchange - theyve been really helpful to me xx

Teacher2

I have just seen this new thread and read it through. Some thoughts.

Tell your relatives and (helpful) friends that you are in a bit of a fix and enlist their support. Obviously, you first port of call was to make a budget and you have posted that online and received much good advice. Definitely follow this up with a visit to the CAB. Some other things that will help are:-
-plan your weekly meals before you shop and only buy what's necessary
-'drop a brand' with essentials, especially cleaning materials. 'Value' products' and Poundland bargains are very useful here
-never, ever, until you are out of debt, buy food out or takeaways
-make your own and the children's packed lunches
-for birthdays tell close friends/relatives you want money and use it to pay debt down
-have present arrangements where you don't buy gifts and your friends reciprocate
-only buy your children birthday and Christmas presents, nobody else
-don't buy cards. The Jacquie Lawson website does charming all occasion e-mails with animations and music for £12 annually. You could do a one-off subscription and cover everything. Or just don't send cards
-The Freecycle website is brilliant for getting 'free stuff'
-use voucher websites to obtain discounts. However, don't be tempted to go for things you don't need to 'save' money because the voucher makes something cheaper. Do without inessentials
-trade time instead of money, e.g. babysit in return for a lift somewhere. Do some ironing in return for something you need
-when you make a saving on something be iron-willed about paying off some debt with the saving
-tell your children that you are temporarily strapped for cash and enlist their support.

This is all pretty harsh but I did it and it works. You won't feel as deprived as you think. You'll feel in control and responsible as self discipline will give you self respect.

When you have paid off your debts, as you will, you should stick to the regime and put some money by for an emergency fund.