Determined This Time

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

OK so the debt I'm going to concentrate on this month is a £245.51 amount owing to Lowell. I've set myself up with an online account and have just paid £6 off this amount. Total owing now is £239.51.....

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

Nothing new to report. Got a day off work today so trying to keep myself busy and not spend money. I've not got very much but its pay day on Tuesday so only got a few more days to struggle. There's plenty of food in the house so nobody is going to starve.

Feeling a bit sorry for myself today with regards to money but know I've only got myself to blame. Admittedly I'm not as bad off as some but would love to be at a position in life where I didn't have to worry so much - like I said - my own doing

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

OK so tomorrow another £40 will be coming off the Moorcroft debt so my total will be down to £226. Not managed to make any additional payments to Lowell as I'm only 3 days into my pay and don't want to over stretch myself so early in the month. Will wait until a few days before my next payday and whatever is over will go off the other debt.

Have to make a payment to my Uni tomorrow for £66. Its the last of my Uni fees so even though it'll be a stretch to pay it, at least its all paid off now.

I just have to keep plodding along slowly.....

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

Its taken me another 18 months before posting on here again and despite plodding on relentlessly, I don't feel I've got very far. So, today, I've decided to tackle my debts head on. I've contacted CAB for some advice and have a plan. I have tonight drafted a letter to ALL my creditors explaining I am still experiencing financial problems and asking whether they will consider writing any of my debts off.

Part of me feels as if I'm not taking responsibility for my problems and just looking for an easy way out, but another part of me is saying that token payments of £1 per month to each creditor is going to take me forever to pay off. My finances have got worse not better in the last 18 months and I am seriously thinking about my options.

Its 9 days until payday and I have £5.33 in the bank. Have worked since the age of 14 and can't even afford to get to the end of the month!!!!!
I know I sound down, but I'm actually feeling very positive, I feel I'm tackling my issues. Don't know whether I'll still be feeling positive when the responses start coming in but I can only hope for some positivity.

Am hoping that by tomorrow I will have a rough figure of what I owe - I just know it's going to be a massive amount!

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

Well the massive amount that I owe is nearly £67,000 and I'm bitterly ashamed of it. Have done what I said I was going to do and written to all my creditors. So far only one of them has written back to me and agreed to write off £362 which is better than nothing. I have drawn up a new budget which concentrates on my priority outgoings and am feeling a lot more positive about it all.

Am just going to have to deal with the non-priority debts as and when the company's start chasing me again. I am so very ashamed of how bad it has all gone but know I've only got myself to blame.

Chrystal

Well you'e certainly not on your own, and some people on here have had much larger debts- and managed to come out at the other side, so don't despair.
Have you contacted one of the free debt agencys such as Stepchange? From what I hear they are very helpful and very easy to talk to.
When doing your budget you need to allow x amount per month to go towards an 'emergency fund' so that if anything crops up you'll have the money there to cover it. I think stepchange give you advice about this.
Hope you manage to get yourself sorted and on the path to a worry free life. I'm sure that if you keep posting you'll get lots of helpful advice.
It might be a good idea to post a SOA - statement of affairs - that is on this site. Sometimes having someone look at things with 'new' eyes can see ways that things can be bettered.
Subscribing to cheer you on.

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

Hi Chrystal,

Yes, I contacted StepChange who were very helpful and have made suggestions to put me on the right road. I think in the past where I've gone wrong is that I've not made allowances for an 'emergency' and therefore not managed to stick to a budget for any length of time. By contacting StepChange, I've prepared a budget which even allows me to buy food each week (something which is a treat some months).

I really feel as if I'm getting somewhere for the first time in forever.

Chrystal

I'm glad you've got it in hand, and once it's all set up you'll be able to breath a sigh of relief. Hopefully you'll get positive reply's from the rest of your creditors, but if they want to keep accepting £1 a week then that's fine - you'll eventually be able to offer them settlements (with discounts) out of your savings.
Keep posting as this board moves quickly so posts can be missed by being on the 2nd page. There's loads of really helpful and supportive people on this board. X

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

Woke up today feeling pretty depressed about my money situation. The good feeling that I'm getting things sorted was very short-lived and I just want it all resolved. Have had a few responses from my creditors and although the responses are only acknowledging my financial situation, things are moving in the right direction.

Spoke to my mortgage provider out Thursday night so that's a massive relief, explained my situation and they were most understanding. My biggest headache is the secured loan I have. Originally with GE Money it was passed onto Arrow Global a while back and they are proving to be very difficult and confrontational. If I can get them to agree on my repayment plan I will feel as if I'm getting somewhere.

Facebook friends all seem to either have plans for today or are enjoying holidays whilst I'm stuck in the house feeling sorry for myself. At least Wont be spending money I don't have! Instead I have the washing/ironing/cleaning and studying to look forward to. Also start a new job on Monday so am mentally preparing myself for this.

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

Well guys, I've survived another month. It was payday on Friday and for the first time in absolutely ages I've got money in the bank after paying all my bills.

I still feel aggrieved that everyone appears to have a life whereas I can't afford one, but I have certainly come to terms with the blame landing squarely on my own shoulders.

Started a new job on October 1st and was expecting a small pay rise, however it hadn't come through in this months pay so that'll be something to look forward to next month.

Have managed to spend very little money over the weekend, only spending I've done is a shop in the local Iceland. Have managed to fill the freezer and should have enough food to last at least two weeks but will need to top up on the fresh stuff. Will keep you updated on my progress.