Struggling with my monthly catalogue payments on ESA

Mae85

This thread isn!!!8217;t asking for help with my phone it was asking for help with my catalogues- I don!!!8217;t get why I am getting so much stick for having an iPhone 5s?! It!!!8217;s not even the latest model and I really feel that £18 a month isn!!!8217;t exactly breaking the bank?!
It!!!8217;s dangerous to use your phone for calling or using it whilst on charge as it can over heat and blow up- I have read way too many stories about this so I do not use my phone when it!!!8217;s charging. Call me crazy but it!!!8217;s one of the triggers of my mental health- obsessing over and things happening.

TELLIT01

One person gave you stick for having an Iphone, the rest of us have been trying to help you save money by saying there are other avenues to explore before committing to a new mobile contract.
Here is a link to one site advertising genuine OEM batteries for your phone. https://www.iphonefixuk.co.uk/products/original-iphone-5s-battery-replacement

Tabbytabitha

Mae85 wrote: »

This thread isn!!!8217;t asking for help with my phone it was asking for help with my catalogues- I don!!!8217;t get why I am getting so much stick for having an iPhone 5s?! It!!!8217;s not even the latest model and I really feel that £18 a month isn!!!8217;t exactly breaking the bank?!
It!!!8217;s dangerous to use your phone for calling or using it whilst on charge as it can over heat and blow up- I have read way too many stories about this so I do not use my phone when it!!!8217;s charging. Call me crazy but it!!!8217;s one of the triggers of my mental health- obsessing over and things happening.

You can't just look at the catalogues in isolation, you have to see them in context within your whole budget. If you spend less on your phones, the money you save can be put towards your catalogue debt.
There's no reason not to use your phone whilst it's charging but if you have a thing about this then just unplug it while you use it and plug it in when you finish.

batg

maybe i should have phrased it better with

"you can't just look at the catalogues in isolation, you have to see them in context with your whole budget. If you spend less on your phones, the money you save can be put towards your catalogue debt"
like Tabbytabitha said.....................

Sky_

I'm not making comment either way on your phone choice, but have you considered a rechargeable battery pack that you plug into your phone, to give it charge when out and about?


They're usually pretty cheap, small, reliable and easy to use. It would give you a breathing space of a year or two to clear the debts before buying a new phone.


Good luck with everything, I hope you get the debts sorted.

Kinzey

Stepchange helped me a lot when i got into debt. I was on JSA at the time and got sanctioned.
They can give you a letter to give to your creditors and i ended up paying something like a £1 a month to a catalogue. but that will go back up after a while. I also was able to haggle with sky to keep costs down as needed internet to look for work etc.
hope you get it all sorted.

poppy12345

Sky_ wrote: »

have you considered a rechargeable battery pack that you plug into your phone, to give it charge when out and about?

That won't help the OP. If you read the other comments, you'll see they don't go out because of mental health.

FBaby

I don't think Iphone or even catalogues debts is what you need to focus on. What is sad in your situation is that at such a young age, both you and your partner have reached the point of anxiety that you are too afraid to go out. Is that what you envisaged your life to be for the next 50 years?

Surely your priority is to get help and most importantly put all your effort and energy into battling your anxieties and depression so that you can have a 'normal' life again, socialise, have friends, a job, activities, and you and he can be in a position to be a good role model to his children.

Before you mention it, yes, help available with the NHS is limited. They will give you a framework to work with, but ultimately, it will then be up to you to apply it. There is however so much available on-line, step by step support. There are no miracle cures, you'll have to face your anxieties gradually to get better, at the right speed.

The way things are, the longer both of you are at home, the harder it will become to get out of that rut. So instead of focusing on your catalogue today, plan a route to go out with your OH today, then again in two days and again this week-end, introduce stopping somewhere etc...

Mae85

It is a struggle. I have been like this since I was 18. I!!!8217;ve never had a job. My mum blames herself aswell as she thinks she protected me too much. But it isn!!!8217;t her fault it!!!8217;s just the way my brain is wired. The joke is I have made a slight improvement in the last 3 years- I actually answer the door now if someone knocks instead of running and hiding behind a sofa. It is hard work especially now there!!!8217;s kids involved as they don!!!8217;t understand why I can!!!8217;t just go out to the park on a whim etc. My OH isn!!!8217;t as bad as me he does suffer with anxiety but not to the extent I do, he mainly struggles to go out cps of his breathing problems. He can!!!8217;t walk very far without having an attack. And in the summer months he has no chance. Last summer we was in and out of hospital with him as he kept having attacks that were bought on by his hay fever triggering it. Praying it don!!!8217;t happen again this year.

huckster

If you are on benefits, you might be able to ask for personal budgeting advice.

I have seen a number of claimants in your exact situation and it will never get better unless you involve outside agencies, such as local NHS mental health and social services.

You really need to get your Doctors help with this. They can refer you for more help. If your Doctor is useless, then change Doctors.

It won't get better, unless you break the cycle of this situation. It will go on and on for years/decades. If you have children, this could be repeated in their lifes as well.

It is often the Doctor, mental health nurse/advisor or social worker that will help you get started on improving your lifes. It will take time, but you need to start somewhere.