In debt, unemployed and need help

margaretclare

DrStep wrote:

"Redundancy can happen to anyone, at anytime"

How true. I think people are more likely to get made redundant than get hit by a bus - the excuse for "live for now"

What we can learn is that no job is for life. I certainly believe out of this, that saving money for the future rather than borrowing, will be the new renaissance accepted by the masses.

Oh how I agree, with Ember and DrStep in particular.

Redundancy for me happened in a walk of life where it had never been considered possible before - the NHS. I was a senior midwife and I was made redundant coincidental with widowhood. Talk about life coming crashing down about you - oh yes, been there. And my present husband has been made redundant about 5 times, divorced twice...many people have had to pick themselves up and start again, often at an age when it was more difficult than it would have been if they'd been a few decades younger with youth, health and strength on their side.

It's no good saying 'I am qualified in....therefore this, that or other job is beneath my dignity'. Between 1992 and 1997 I did numerous menial jobs just to pay the mortgage and keep a roof above my head. Did I mention that my first husband 'didn't believe in' life assurance and hadn't worked for the last 15 years of his life due to heart disease, so he left nowt behind him, and I was left with not a lot!

If you go to CAB they will tell you that JSA or any other benefit is only meant to keep body and soul together. Therefore payment of any debts from benefit income is not an option. What you do is draw up a statement of affairs, contact your creditors and tell them just that. CAB can help you do it, but it's not rocket science - you can do it yourself. CAB also talk of debts as 'priority' and 'non-priority' - priority being rent/mortgage, council tax, electricity, gas, water, those kind of things. All else, particularly credit cards, loans, debts to family, are non-priority. If you want to get out of debt you can't do it while on JSA. You need to get a job. Any job! It will restore your self-esteem, self-confidence, give you back a feeling of control of your life. Sitting at home with your head in your hands and lashing out at people here who have tried to suggest ways you can help yourself, is going to get you nowhere.

Aunty Margaret

roversbabe

Ember, what a lovely post.

You've proved that you can make your own luck. My hat is off to you.