It's all such a mess and I don't know where to turn

Floss

There you go, into the DFW ways already, making money towards that shortfall! £60 cashback & a saving each month...that's a really good start.

Don't forget to try the mobile co's next month - I know you said you'd just spoken to them but if you ring on the mobile, it should be free and may get you another reduction. If not, ask when you will be able to drop tariff again.

Good luck!

Floss xx

opalfruits_2

Deep breath love.

Your mobiles are a credit agreement no more important than your personal loans. Tell your mobile company that you wish to end the agreement early and send you the final bill for the outstanding months of the contract. Then get PAYG sims. The bill and all your other debts will have to wait for their money - you need every penny for your priorities.

The mortgage company won't send you horrible letters and phone calls, they'll just repossess. Everything you HAVE to pay for to live is an essential. Everything that you can survive without isn't. That includes your husband's payplan payments and the car payment (if it's a credit agreement, if it's HP this is a priority).

(Land_of)_Maz

Be sure and get cashback or piggy points on those PAYG sims.......altho I'm pretty sure that once you tell the mobile companies that you absolutely do not intend to use the contracts and to send you the bills, that they will drop it right down for you.

Register for Pigsback too, the clicks mount up and you get vouchers which you can use for xmas, birthdays and general treats without the guilt. If i was good i'd post a link but i'm pants!

Big_Gerbil

Hi Scarlett,

Set aside an hour or two every week to sit with your husband and go through all the spending and savings you've made in the past 7 days. It's great for motivation when you start to see things moving in the right direction and it is important to keep him involved. I track every penny we spend using Quicken, but a spreadsheet will work just as well (get a free one off the internet if you don't have one already).

Using your bank statements, categorise each transaction into essential items (e.g. mortgage) and non-essential items (e.g. sky tv) - you'll start to see a whole new level of detail from your statement of affairs. It makes you able to target certain items to save money and will make it easy to work out exactly how much you'll save by cutting them out.

Most important, make sure everyone is disciplined about things - it is easy to slip back into old habits - and make sure everyone is rewarded with something fun and free each week (look out for free local events to attend).

backontheup

CCCS or Payplan will confirm this with you if you ask them. Don't delay contacting them. Do it now. Things will only get worse before they get better otherwise.

Hello there Scarlett - Just taking a day trip from the bankruptcy board.

All great advice for you so far, but no amount of ebaying and scratching around for pennies is going to address the bigger picture I am afraid.

You need to speak to a professional - either at National Debtline, Payplan, CCCS or Citizens Advice Bureau. Technically, you are insolvent and need to come to an arrangement with your creditors.

Someone mentioned earlier about a creditor making you bankrupt - this is very unlikely to happen. Extremely in fact. The only creditor that will petition for bankruptcy is Inland Revenue.

Please speak to a professional. You will feel much better when you have all the facts. Trust me, I have been where you are now and things can only look up :-)

RoxieW

Hi Scarlett

thought i'd check up on how you are. hopefully you are feeling a bit better about things.

i'd agree with the comments about adjusting your lifestyle to fit - its tough but you can make some pretty painless adjustments with groceries, utilities etc. i'm also a bit concerned that you haven't marked everything down on the soa. you haven't put down anything for socialising, hobbies, xmas, kids clubs, pocket money etc. you may not do any of these things at the mo but its important to do a full account for yourself so you can see where cut backs could be made.

i'd also agree that cutting back alone isn't going to solve your problem. you need some help with your debts - pls see the CAB as soon as you can - you'll feel much better for it.

finally, entitled to wont tell you if your hub could be entitled to DLA or carers allowance for your son - and it is possible for him to claim both! please look into it online. you may be pleasantly suprised as this could boost your income considerably.

hugs

Scarlett.1974

Hi guys,

Sorry I've been quiet for the last few hours, had to go to school to get the kids (on foot!) and then cook dinner for the hungry masses etc....

I am feeling a little better about things actually, like now that I've finally seen it all in black & white that I've accepted how desperate things really are and I know what we need to do.

backontheup (great name btw, V positive) - thank you. I know, you're right - our problems aren't going to be able to be solved by simply 'cutting back' - I can see now that they're just too big for that. So getting professional help is now my priority. I am going to contact Payplan (as the_cat said, H is already with them, so it might help keep things a bit simpler) as soon as I physically can; it will probably be Thursday now - I'm not making excuses, so please no-one think that, but tomorrow is my son's 7th birthday and also my daughter is having her braces fitted in the afternoon, so I just don't think that 1) I'll have the time tomorrow (it's not something to be rushed, right?) and that 2) my head will be in the right place, you know?

But on Thursday I have a totally clear day (apart from a quick trip to the post office first thing in the morning), so I can give Payplan my undivided attention and start getting this mess turned around, hopefully

I know we have a lot to do, it's a hell of a mountain to climb, but hey, we're at rock bottom now, the only way is up yes?

You're all wonderful. Even though nothing has changed today, as such, for the first time in as long as I can remember the churning in my stomach has stopped.

skintscotslass

Hi Scarlett, just wanted to say hello and glad the churning stomach has stopped. Make an appt with the CAB and you'll get free, impartial advice xx

backontheup

You are very welcome Scarlett - getting advice is the first step.

x

dancingfairy

You can do it and remember we're right behind you.