Can I be free in 12months? I hope so...

Trying_To_Find_Happiness

Good evening MSE,

I'm starting this diary to try and help me A:
stay focused on paying my SC, B: Stop wasting money.

I've been in debt since I was 19 years old, 26 now. I've been on a StepChange DMP for a few years now, £3,800 left to pay, down from about £10k. Four creditors left from around 8, mostly payday loans.

I've not missed any payments to them so that not my issue. Even though I got myself in to the situation I did, needing a DMP to help me, that hasn't stopped me wasting money on stuff I really don't need, even getting £6k+ HP loans on vehicles

All the money worries are really taking their toll on me now, I seem to be constantly depressed and can't even get myself up early enough to make breakfast or lunch for work. Weekends if I'm on my own, I sometimes won't even eat as I can't be bothered to get food. This leads to buying breakfast and lunch on work days, further adding to the money strain.

I need to change, I need to be happy again, I NEED to be debt free!

Stepchange £200 P/M End April 2019
Tool Van £0 29/09/17
Electricity & Gas £120 P/M Over £700 owed. End, who knows as only £10 goes to pay off debt and currently usage going up and down.

May not seem like a lot to some, but with my income it's a lot when you add £5-10 x 5 days a week on breakfast and lunch alone, it adds up. Lazy evenings end up in a takeaway costing £20+ for two of us Way my mood is currently, this is happening a lot.

After bills, I have around £150 spare a month. Out of this, breakfast, lunch and take outs. On a good month I'm lucky if I have £3 in my account on payday.


I'll update every day, in the hope I'll stop the lunch spending and be happier seeing to savings add up.


Thank you for taking to time to read.

Here goes....

parsniphead

Welcome to the boards. Debt is hard but you will get loads of support here. You're doing so well and will be done soon.

Oh, and the lunch thing. Do it the night before. I couldn't bare prepping it before work.

Trying_To_Find_Happiness

Thank you for the warm welcome.

I forgot to mention is my first post, I plan on upping my stepchange payment to £300 P/M once the Toolvan is paid. That will hopefully bring it down to end around December next year.

zippygeorgeandben

Hey - starting a diary is good. You can post as much (or as little) as you want to! I wish I'd started one actually. You're so young with a manageable debt. I bet your glad you had your LBM at such an early age yes!?

Trying_To_Find_Happiness

I am glad, LBM was at 22 ish. But I still didn't learn, took out many loans since then In 2013 I somehow thought it was a good idea to get a toolbox on finance, £4000, then a bike with a 40% APR, £8k ! and few other little things! Hopefully this is the end!

jwil

Good luck

There is a thread on here about getting a refund from payday lenders if you were irresponsibly sold the loans. It's worth having a look and seeing if you might be eligible for a refund.

Trying_To_Find_Happiness

Very unproductive day today :-/ Only plus is I've not spent a penny! Mood has been shocking too! Don't know what I can try and do to improve it... Any tips?

Hopefully tomorrow will be slightly better.

Trying_To_Find_Happiness

Been a while so thought I’d update.

Mood has been a lot better lately, long may it continue.

I’ll be phoning Stepchange this weeks and putting my monthly payment to £300, giving me a debt free date of October/November 2019.

Trying_To_Find_Happiness

Plans for today:

- Hospital appointment this morning: To do
- Change Stepchange payment to £300: To do
- Give the house a once over with the duster: To do
- Do some course work: To do