Anyway out of this for me?

Need_To_Sort_It

Yes all charges etc frozen.

The £300 is just there for now, my money comes in in dribs and drabs, child benefit 1st Jan 30.20 (Tuesdays) and tax credit 4th Jan £78 (Fridays) weekly, incapacity benefit 11th Jan fortnightly £173 , DLA 15th Jan £315 4 weekly. Plus £60 from a mate who I sold things to plus by end of Januray (I hope) £400 from my grant - this comes to £656 excluding grant.

Up until the 15th, I have
1st council tax 85, 1st mortgage normal amount 513,1st BT 35, 1st creditor £10.29, life assurance 30 (god I forgot that),1st car insurance 21, 6th mobiles 105, 6th sky 21, 6th creditor £9, 9th TV (quarter payment) 34,14th internet 14 and for 2 weeks I could get away with 09 on food and fuel. that comes to - £967

Burlesque_Babe

Need_To_Sort_It wrote: »

Well I did a signature, great init *sigh*

My plan over the next few days -

1. Find my paperwork for all creditors and tell them all I cant afford to pay them anything for a while.
2. Work on my basic shopping list and cut it down by half.
3. See if I can get my mobile phone tariffs down.
4. Find stuff to sell on eBay
5. Find out how to deal with CSA properly

What else? Is this a good start? I hope it is - an hour ago I was ready to walk out and keep on going

Yes, it is an excellent start. Once you start to achieve small things they will snowball to other things you feel able to start to sort out. Use this thread to write everything down as you do it, or think about what you want to do next. You'll find it helpful to write it all down (I know I did)

I'm with you on the depression/spending. Done LOTS of that over the years and still find it hard to control sometimes (it goes hand in hand with over-eating with me).

Keep at the CSA. Try to get a designated officer.

With the shopping, pop over to the Old Style board and have a read of the Supermarket Challenge. It does take a few months to see the monthly figures falling down but once you get going you'll eventually look back and think how on earth did I spend that much??!!

Need_To_Sort_It

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

Hi there! Firstly big hugs for you! As ou may know manic spending is an element of bipolar.

Yes, I now know its one of the biggest symptoms!!!

Do you have a social worker and can the local authority deal with your finances for you?

No social worker but a CPN, Occupational Therapist, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and fab psychiatrist, am seeing my CPN and OT on the 4th, will ask for a referral.

Thanks for that will look at the link etc and let you know what CPN says

southernscouser

Do you have an arranged overdraft?

In_Search_Of_Me

Ask them to do it as a matter of urgency - surprised they havent already as this is v.stressful and wont help matters Let me know how you get on!

Need_To_Sort_It

southernscouser wrote: »

Do you have an arranged overdraft?

No, I have a basic bank account, the one that was overdrawn is now on debt management.

Need_To_Sort_It

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

Ask them to do it as a matter of urgency - surprised they havent already as this is v.stressful and wont help matters Let me know how you get on!

I will, definitely. It would seem the Supporting People thing wont cover me, I am in rural Wales, I wonder if the Welsh Assembly has something similar, a social worker would know wouldn't they?

In_Search_Of_Me

I'm in Wales too!! Just called something different but the principle is the same!! Social worker for MH will know!

southernscouser

Need_To_Sort_It wrote: »

No, I have a basic bank account, the one that was overdrawn is now on debt management.

OK. In that case cancel your direct debits to your creditors. Send them a letter explaining this is all you can afford at the moment and enclose a £1 cheque as a token payment.

Now obviously you don't have the money to cover your mortgage at the moment so you need to phone them and explain it. Pay the council tax as it is.

Then get on to the mobiles company tomorrow and see what you can do about them. I know you wanted to give them to your kids for all they do but how much do they use them? Could you get them pay as you go sims instead? They will work on the phones if they are on the same network and you can normally get them for free! What network are they on?

southernscouser

Oh, and give the CCCS a call for some free advice.