In debt and fed up

chesky

I would agree with the suggestion of a debt relief order - you sound the ideal candidate. Other than that, you say you're paid a pittance so are you getting working tax credit? Also I don't quite understand why you think you're not eligible for housing benefit due to your age. I don't know about where you live but locally to me there isn't such an age limit on the housing allowance. Your local CAB should be able to help with this. Before you contact any debt assistance you really will have to open your post I'm afraid, it's just got to be done. Oh and you could see if you're eligible for water sure plus help with your water debt.
Good luck.

System

Just wanted to send you a virtual hug. Whilst it might feel like you have a mountain to climb, you are making good first steps.

determined_new_ms

Hi smallandcute. So sorry to hear how hard things are right now for you. Just know things can and will get better.

Getting a lodger or foreign students over the summer will help finances.

I agree with all the other posters who say taking the bull by the horns will help you to start to feel better. Make that call x

I also wanted to say have you thought about freecycle for items you need for your house? You could put a post on there asking for items you need. Last year I asked for veg plants and got given some. You could do this too and grow some veg? Also you could a post on your town resident's group on facebook asking for items. I did this for my dd when she got an unfurnished room and didn't any money. Within hours people had donated the items and everyone dropped them at my house.

I am currently out of work and have now come to the end of my savings (I've got £130 left in my bank :eek: have secured another job but have to wait for my dbs to come through before I can agree a start date). I'm not entitled to any benefits as I live with someone. I am lucky as he is paying our living expenses but I am keeping all of our costs as low as possible to make ends meet and am trying not to spend any money to make that £130 last as long as I need it to. I appreciate it's easier for me as while I am being VERY frugal and our monthly shopping bill is very low for 2 adults & a 3 year old we are not going without. Do you know anything about foraging? If not it's interesting to learn about and easy to get some food for free to supplement what you have. Also look on the old style board there are loads of threads from people in your situation with almost nothing for groceries and they guys on that board know their stuff and can make a meal plan for a week on almost nothing.

Good luck x

Suseka97

Hi SmallandCute,

You've had some pretty useful advice already- so I won't add to it, except to echo what everyone has been saying. You have to know what your debt position is, or no-one can help you. That's the first step and easier than you think. It may be daunting, but it'll be a relief to know exactly where you stand and then, as the saying goes, the only way is up.

Do take time out to contact any of the debt charities -or, if you can, find a local citizens advice bureau and go speak to someone. There's no point getting a second job at this point, nor starving or punishing yourself the way you are -your post here is a first step along a journey that only you can take.

Keep coming back for advice, support -or just encouragement. We've all been there, done that -and we don't judge

smallandcute

Hello everyone,

First off I would like to say a massive thank you for all your support and advice, I really appreciate it.

So I took the scariest step and opened that god damned mail. It was around the amount I was expecting it to be so not as shocked as I thought I would be.

I have also contacted step change to get the initial ball rolling, just waiting to get through to an advisor on the next step.

A few suggestions that were given here I would just like to answer to;

The lodger would not be viable, I rent and in my tenancy agreement it does say I cannot sub let and it's also a one bed house so wouldn't be practical either.

I earn 16k for my job before taxes, so 14,800k after. I live in east Anglos and it's a safe bet that wages are not going up. The company that I work haven't increased wages for a couple of years now. Also today it was put to me by my boss's boss that when my boss goes on maternity leave she wants me promoted, which is great and means a slight pay increase but as I'm temp to perm via agency they want a valid passport as proof of id and as mine expired in Dec I will need to get another one, that's 80 quid I haven't got.

For those that have commented about my kitties, thanks, they are the best support I could ever ask for no matter the situation so I'm really pleased that no one has said that I should give them up.

I am searching for part time work around my full time hours daily and not getting anywhere. I am a grafter, always have been always will be so in that sense I feel down due to not being fully able to work and pay my way out of debt.

Which brings me on to my next part in regards to setting up my business. This I know would bring me a good additional income, hopefully. I would only ever set up a limited company in the uk as if anything happens to me then my business can continue and vice verse. I mean this in terms of finances. I have other ideas with this but need to speak to hard first to ensure I have my facts right so I don't end up in trouble!

Parts of me like the sound of the DRO but the whole 6 yrs wait and being on the database is the worst thought. Mind you is being bankrupt as embarrassing and bad as its made out? I know in America bankruptcy is treated very differently and you are not considered truly successful until you have been bankrupt at least once.

Thanks again and I will try to keep this post updated x

fatbelly

smallandcute wrote: »

Parts of me like the sound of the DRO but the whole 6 yrs wait and being on the database is the worst thought.

Debts frozen within a day or two of the application, no further payments, all debts written off after 12 months. Yes it's on your credit file for six years. So are your defaults.

Let us know what stepchange suggest

chesky wrote: »

I would agree with the suggestion of a debt relief order - you sound the ideal candidate. Other than that, you say you're paid a pittance so are you getting working tax credit? Also I don't quite understand why you think you're not eligible for housing benefit due to your age. I don't know about where you live but locally to me there isn't such an age limit on the housing allowance.

Probably under 25 with no kids so no WTC

Under 35s are limited by LHA rates to the single room rate for HB.

Benefits system doesn't give much help now for low earners under 25.


Just seen you are 27 - worth checking turn2us to see if you could claim anything

Deep_In_Debt

Re the job and passport - I do HR Admin and we accept expired passports as along as they are no longer than 3 years expired and the picture still looks like the person. Speak to the HR department and see if they will accept it. It's your proof of right to work so they should accept it.

QueenBeruthiel

they want a valid passport as proof of id and as mine expired in Dec I will need to get another one, that's 80 quid I haven't got.

In additional to the above suggestion, ask if they will accept alternative types of id, such as national insurance card possibly combined with a copy of your birth certificate.

StokieBecks

Would they consider a driving licence for ID? You can apply for a provisional for about £20 I think and turnaroundis usually quite quick

With regards birth certificate and national insuance card most places do not accept these as valid ID as they prove very little

smallandcute

Yeah I have asked this already with HR about additional I'd to go with my expired passport and the answer was no and I can't use a drivers license as I don't drive and a provisional won't count.

As for any additional benefits, I have looked into this and apparently earning 16k is too much income to get any benefits, the sad thing is that if I didn't work and claimed then I would be getting more!

Still trying to get through to complete my debt advisor so as soon as I have more answers as what I can do to reduce my debt then I will post here. Thanks again for the advice and support.