Unemployed and in debt

Little_Chicken

Hi Kailey

It's only a small thing, but might help cheer you up if you want to go out. Sign up for some mystery shopping sites and go on some of the pub jobs. You get paid a fiver, which comes in handy, but you also often get a free meal/beer. Sometimes I do a couple on the same day so go out for free!

NUFCnutter

Just hang in there. Its so hard when you have so much pressure on you.

OberonSH

Hi Kailey,

First off - get a cup f tea, and don't panic. This is as bad as it's going to get, cos you've now got a lot of mates here who are going to help you out. You'll be in the swing of it in no time. That amount you owe Draw a line under it, cos it's only going to go DOWN!!

You've got your SOA (in and outgoings) That's a great start. Take the advice about switching debt management companies - don't pay fees to a company when there's other who do it for free. Keep sendind the letters to the creditors telling them the situation, perhaps saying 'I am sorry you feel I can afford to pay you more, however as you can see by the enclosed budget I simply cannot at this point in time. Naturally should the opportunity present itsself to pay more I will do etc etc blah blah'. They'll back down eventually - you can't pay what you haven't got!! The APR on your debts is the XX.X% shown, contact the companies, and see what you're paying - a mate of mine did this and was offered a better rate as he mentioned he was asking as he was looking at changing, so you never know.

Have you looked into any other benefits yu may be entitled to? Council tax or housing benefit? Talk to the council and see what tey recommned.

The food shopping is very high - I pay £200 max a month for 2 adults a hungry toddler and a weaning baby. Get thee to the Moneysaving oldstyle board for some great tips - you'll be able to make a 3 course meal from a can of beans, an old apple and 3 chocolate buttons before you know it.

Join up to some of the online cashback sites - I've racked up £75 in the last 2 months for doing sites that pay you a few pennies to do searches - head on over to the referrals board if you decide to do this, and help out a fellow Debt Free Wannabee! It takes a time to rack up, but every little helps! Quidco, Cashback Cascade, Pigsback - these are some of the sites you'll see mentioned.

Start a spending diary - a little notebook and write down EVERYTHING you spend, a bar of choccie, a paper, all adds up. Hubby can try taking sandwiches, or something to reheat. There's loads of ways to make lunchboxes a bit different without going mad - make wraps, like Greggs do, or a pasta salad. My OH takes a packet of cous cous and makes it at work. You get to the point where you go mental if you find loorolls 2p cheaper when you just bought them

Spend a day collecting job application forms for the local pubs, Greggs, try te local jobcentre - something's bound to turn up, but you have to go out there and grab it. Aim for mybe 2 applications per day - even if nothing comes of it, surely you'll feel like you're actively doing something about your situation, and the mental attitude towards debts is the key to the whole thing.

Above all - do not panic. Keep your head, there's loads of help and advice around, and we're all here if you feel the need to rant. Make sure you and OH sit down and discuss the situation, do it as a team and it won't be so bad. Let us know how you get on.

kailey_3

hiya thanks everyone! Its so good to talk to people, ive only jst moved here and haven't made any friends so i sit in on my own... or out job hunting of course! I go 2 the job centre every week looking for jobs, i wana try go to local towns sometimes i dont even have bus fair tho!! But the job centre has given me the task of makin sure i go 2 folkestone by the end of june to ask shops for jobs so i must do that!
I applied for Tesco yesterday, i gave in my CV last wk and they sent a letter and a application form so that must be a good sign.
Ive told my OH he has to make packed lunches from now which he is fine about, i think its jst cuz all he's mates went 2 cafes etc he ate at wrk.
I joined cashbackwow a little while ago and i think i have about 10.00 so far but i dont think i will build it up more than that as ive joined all the free sites and i dont really buy anything online.
Im gona go look for Moneysaving oldstyle board now and i will def start makin a diary cuz my partner and i were trying to remember everything we've spent over the wkend cuz we've now only got a tenner in the bank, i think its little things like the cash point charges 1.85 to withdraw money which is a total rip off but the only one near us!
Thanks again everyone

kailey_3

Little_Chicken wrote: »

Hi Kailey

It's only a small thing, but might help cheer you up if you want to go out. Sign up for some mystery shopping sites and go on some of the pub jobs. You get paid a fiver, which comes in handy, but you also often get a free meal/beer. Sometimes I do a couple on the same day so go out for free!

Hiya how would i find out about this, it sounds good!

OberonSH

Kailey - you don't have to buy online to make moeny through these caskback sites. My total today is £77 and I think I only got £20 of that through buying somthing - opening a bank account if memory serves.

The cash machine charges are horrible - we've got one of those near us, but you just need to be more organised - ask OH to get any cash you need out on his way home etc. £1.85 3 times a week is £288 a year!!! If you're throwing it away, throw it this way lol. Besides, once you get organised with meal plans, payment's sorted etc you shouldn't need to get cash out that often.

Don't forget to get your cv on jobsites like Monster - sign up to a cashback site forst, as most of them offer a few quid back for signing up - I got my last 3 jobs from Monster. Agencies mind, but if it brings some cash in. Try to get organised so next time you have the bus fare you cram as much in as possible, make appointments with agencies in town, or call ahead to places to arrange to pick up forms, or just blitz everywhere with your cv. Get out there and advertise yourself!!

Yes, spending diary will help stop that 'I just got a tenner out, where's it gone?' moments. Don't forget to join the Freecycle group in your town as well - there's loads of stuff being advertised for free there, so if you need something it really helps.

Above all, try not to get down about it. You'll get there, might not be tomorrow, or next week, but eventually you won't owe a penny and you'll be so used to living cheaply you'll be amazed how much you'll save. Good luck, and keep us updated!

Little_Chicken

kailey wrote: »

Hiya how would i find out about this, it sounds good!

Read this thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=614705&highlight=mystery+shopping

It will give you some info. I mainly use Retail Eyes, as they have a lot of london jobs. If you go to the referrers boards people can make a small fee for referring you.

Also try mysearchfunds.com, this site pays you every time you search the web.

If you need any further info on these feel free to pm me.;)

MrsTinks

To help with budgets try having money jars 5 jars - one per week and one for treats. Now split your grocery money between the jars how you prefer - if say you put £20 in each that means you have £100 for the month - Any in the week jars you dont spend you can roll forward to your treat jar
Just an idea obviously

kailey_3

Thanks great idea!
My partner gets paid weekly which is such a pain cuz the money seems to disapear more easily.
Im off to town to job seach again in a min so wish me luck lol