£14062.71

Katgoddess

The "average" student debt after graduation is about £12,000 so it's not that much more than that you owe.

Make sure you concentrate on your studies so you get a good job after you graduate and pay off the loan faster.

Keep focusing on the future. You may have hit the bottom, but the only way is up!

Good Luck x

Murtle

Did you take your student loan out? Not sure how they work if you are about to complete? but if you can take out one if you can....BUT use it to pay back something of the HIGHEST APR credit card or loan. At least the student loans are loan % and you only have to start paying them back when you are earning over a certain amount.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing?! We're all thinking of you and wishing you the best

x

fatboyonadiet

You don't pay back Hardship funds (there is a Hardship Loan and a Hardship Fund), I've had them a couple of times and the more you owe the more you are likely to get, also is there any bursaries, etc that you could apply for? Speak to your student services people they should be able to help, and speak to your tutor too they might be able to help too. Might make the situation a bit easier to deal with.

fatboyonadiet

Also you could do worse then call all your CC and aks for a lower rate of interest, or maybe right to them explaining the situation and seeing if they will freeze the interest, someone will post more details on this I'm not too clear or check one of Martin's articles bound to have more info.

r.mac_2

have a look at the national debt helpline https://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk (sorry, I still can't do hyperlinks :eek: )

As others have said, you have made the hardest and most important step, recognising there is a problem and asking for help.

I am not skilled in moving money around (others on this board are much better) but I have picked up a few tips.
* Pay off the debt with the highest interest rate first.
* Make the most use possible of any interest free cc or accounts that you have

And keep smiling - remember the boards at mse are open 24/7 if you ever need a friendly ear!

welf_man

Birmingham? Excellent! Get yourself to the Guild Advice and Representation Centre (ARC) on the ground floor of the Guild building - it's in the left front corner (or you can ring on 0121 251 2300, but I'd advise face-to-face). You need to see one of the advisers, and tell her EVERYTHING - just like you have here.

Hopefully there'll be financial assistance, and certainly support with negotiations and offers.

Incidentally, quite a few unis. have GA branches for exactly this reason - you're not alone any more.

Good luck,

Mel.

UKTigerlily

I'm sorry to hear how you're feeling, but you're doing the right things. If you're still feeling suicidal because of this, please see a Dr. I have Borderline Personality Disorder & as a result cannot control my impulses to overspend, overeat etc etc, but I do see there's a problem & am trying to get help, i've felt how you feel & it will get better, congrats for getting on the right track & wd to your Mum & Dad for being so fab about it

Emmzi

I,

(can't call anyone idiot!)

I'm not sure it's so very much worse than my mainly handbag addiction caused debt, so stop beating yourself up. The main thing is you've recognised the problem.

I would still speak to CCCS, or the student advice service mentioned earlier - they can tell you what the options are so you can make an informed choice. It doesn't mean you're going to DO any of them, but the advice and information is free.

The other reason I think that wuld be healthy is that it is a piece of research YOU can do, as opposed to your parents - so it keeps you in control.

Your folks sound fab. Your discussions might get a bit tense, but be good to them!

Let us know how you get on.

Emmzi
xx

spaghetti_monster

Just reading through this thread realised all but last 2 messages are from MAy 2005.
Wonder if he is still reading the boards, how he got on????

jitsuguy

Someone should PM and find out