Terrible debts..need advice please....

ltm07

chevalier wrote: »

I am sorry if you think that I was being harsh when I wrote about changes of attitudes to money. As others (who I don't know but hi guys!) have written on the same thing, perhaps now you might consider what I said again. I can understand if one person writes something you don't want to hear, then it is easy to dismiss. But there at least half a dozen posts after mine basically saying the same thing. Please think about what we have said

chev

I agree with chev. You may not like what you hear,but we are here to try & help each other. But we can only help you if you help yourself. Please don't think we're getting at you. Life is hard when you are in debt,but you can't wish it away.As others have said,you do have to make sacrifices if you want to clear them. That doesn't mean you have to stop having a life,it just means taking on board advice from Martin & the folk on this forum by starting to live within your means. We used to like going for a pub lunch every Sunday,but now invite my Mum around for dinner & have a bottle of wine & a few beers. Likewise with other family & friends,instead of going out for a curry & a few pints,we invite them round & cook the curry ourselves. We do try to budget to go out once a month for a pub dinner,but we have realised that it has to be a rare treat as opposed to going out every week. You say you'e like a man possessed switching lights off to save money,but then more or less say that you don't want to swap Tesco for Netto . We will try to help you,but you have to realise that you have to get out of the vicious circle you are in by living on CC's.

Lorne

I completely agree - the circles are vicious! Been there, done that, got the t-shirt and am now paying for it!

OVERSPENDING_IDIOT

I do actually do some shopping at Netto & I take advantage of Buy one get one free offers in Tesco where possible. Some people seem to think that I have not made cutbacks but I have, we live within our income but the payments & the interest are crippling, for instance this month i paid Egg £200, minimum payment, of that £150 was charged as interest. If I could have my interest frozen i would pay back every penny, I'm not looking for an easy way out, I just want to know that I'm paying debt off not just paying of a month's worth of interest.

Keeping_Positive

For the companies to agree to stop interest you will need to send them and SOA. I am sure they will not allow for £500 food and £250 clothes Please try CCCS online. They will give good advice and recommend which plan is best for you ie DMP, IVA or whatever.

ltm07

OVERSPENDING_IDIOT wrote: »

I do actually do some shopping at Netto & I take advantage of Buy one get one free offers in Tesco where possible. Some people seem to think that I have not made cutbacks but I have, we live within our income but the payments & the interest are crippling, for instance this month i paid Egg £200, minimum payment, of that £150 was charged as interest. If I could have my interest frozen i would pay back every penny, I'm not looking for an easy way out, I just want to know that I'm paying debt off not just paying of a month's worth of interest.

Sorry if you are offended,but as Wendy said,food & clothes budget way too high. You could easily knock a couple of £100 off this. As for clothes,come on £250? We budget £60 a month for 3 of us& that has to come out of our overtime money. I used to buy designer clothes & the money have spent on them over the years is quite staggering. Now i still buy nice clothes,but not expensive ones. I tend to use M&M direct alot where you can buy clothes for half the price that you pay in the shops & catologues. I cannot comment on whether you need to go to a debt charity,as OH & I had our LBM justbefore it got seriously out of hand & are going to do our best to pay the debts off ourselves. Others will be able to advise you on that,but you have to help yourselves too. Stick around on these forums,it has helped OH & I out no end,& it will help you focus too. If it wasn't for Martin & this forum,we would still be adding to our debts. Stick around & good luck.

Bunnyinthelights

Yes OI,
Please do stick around-it will help when you go thru the tough times which ever route you choose.

dmom

Hi OI, only advice I can offer has already been suggested. Try CCCS online, you fill out details re payments/income and all expenditure. This will also stop you over-budgeting in areas such as clothing etc. You will find it easy to use and also make you focus on your budget. I have just started a DMP with them which is allowing me to be back in control of my budget for the first time in about 10 years! I'm definitely in this for the long haul as my debts have also spiralled over the years but please try them first before considering anything like an IVA or Bankruptcy.

OVERSPENDING_IDIOT

I spoke to Payplan yesterday & they'll be calling me again tomorrow, I also intend to speak to CCCS before I make a decision but I'm starting to think that a DMP is the way forward for me. I'm being hammered for interest on my credit cards but I want to pay it back.

Bunnyinthelights

Well done. Step forward!

OVERSPENDING_IDIOT

cheers :beer:

alot of people on here think I want an easy way out but what I actually want is to pay it back without getting hundreds of £s worth of interest per month. I pay out so much & get hammered for interest that savng a few quid here n there isn't going to pay it off although I am making cut backs & sacrifices. The stupid spending is in my past, since the beginning of the year, each month I spend no more than I earn.