debt while on maternity----HELP

pinkypoo1

I'm Presently On Maternity Leave Whichis Due To Finish End Of Sept, My Whole Maternity Pay Goes On Paying My Credit Cards And A Loan Off. I Dont Get Family Tax Credit Or Any Benefits Apart From Child Benefit. When I Return Back To Work I Cant Return Back To My Fulltime Day Job As My 4yr Old Is Only In 1/2 Day School And It Would Mean Paying 1/2 Day Nursery For Her And Full Time Nursery Place For My 6month Old. I Owe Abut 6000 In Total. I Am Planning On Getting A Night Job To Help Pay The Minimum Payments Off These Cards Or Have I Got Any Other Options. Its Getting M Down To Think All My Maternity Pay 500month Goes On These Cards Then There Child Befit Of 124pound Month Helps Pay For Baby Milk, Nappies And Clothes Help Help Help What If I Just Stop Paying Them????

CCCS_Sarah

Hi Pinky,

Have you had a full benefits check to see what you are eligible for? Would you be able to put together a SOA so we could take a little look at your budget.

Try not to worry we will be able to help you sort things out

Sarah

missyp123

Hello,

I was wondering if you are a home owner? I took a maternity break in my mortgage of 6 months, the interest does still get charged so you would need to weigh up the pro's and con's. However this could be used to pay off your debt or at least a good chunk of it.

Or if you feel uncomfortable about taking the 6 months you could see if your eligble for a payment holiday... might just ease the pressure?

Also have you thought about becoming a child minder? If you cant go back to work maybe its would be a job to suit you and your family?

good luck

Jacks_xxx

:wave: Hiya sweetie,

I just wanted to say Hi and welcome to the board my lovely!

I can tell from your post that you're really stressed out, so please trust me when I say that there IS a solution. (Martin Lewis says there's always one.)

It's just hard tro see when you're panicking, and living with sleepless nights! :eek:

The first step is to work out what money you've got coming in and what money is going out in your household - which is called a SOA.

From that we'll be able to see your situation more clearly - and we'll help in any way we can.

Chin up chick. You've come to the right place.

Love Jacks xxx

pinkypoo1

hi thank you so much for your reply.. i am on a mortgage but my partner pays thisand he has nothing to do with my debts. he earns about 22000 and pays 600 mortgageand all bills, gas electric phone, council tax. i am on maternity presently getting betwen 475 and 523 a month out of that i pay 117 towards a loan which finishes june 2010 have a credit ards which i owe 1404, 130, 629,220,1395,2129. i always make the minium payment and have never missed one YET so after i have paid the min payments of a total 170 and my loan 117 and my phone contract 26(which i shall be cancelling next month) i am left with about 157 i buy the food shopping 0 a week and my child benefit of 145 is all spent on baby milk and nappies i get 45 child tax credit a month which is paying off a static bank account which i owe 700. mg this sounds worse however i have just cleared one card off(wowee) t the moment i can struggle to all this but come the first week in oct when my maternity pay stops and i cant afford to go back to work because of child costs i dont know wat i am going to do? any ideas? please

Staciep88

Hiya

I think that like the others have said if you do a SOA (the link can be found at the top of the page) and post it on here and everyone can then see what your spending and where you can cut back, it may not seem that you can but there is always a way.

Stacey x

LilacPixie

Look into becoming a childminder in your own home?? you could then earn money and not have childcare costs. Look at using reusable nappies?? SHould you not be getting £80 a month tax credits if you have a child under 1??

TotallyBroke

Have a look at entitledto website. Put in your figures now and also if you went back to work full time. You may find that you could be entitled to help with childcare costs. Some childminders also give discounts for second children. so you could be lucky and get childcare for your 4yo at a reduced rate if paying full care for your baby. I pay my childminder £2.50 ph for my 18m ds and I live in London.
Did you apply for the Sure start grant. I was refused but I know someone who earnt more than me and got it. So I think it is a bit hit and miss, but no harm in applying anyway.
The website is good for giving approximate amounts it's not an exact figure but it'll give you an idea. There is also a thing about getting the interest paid on your mortgage but I'm not sure if that will work unless your name is on the mortgage. But again it's worth lookin into. If you could get that then your OH would have a bit of spare cash to help out with baby costs.

Krasnoludek

Hi hun

I really need to think you need to renegotiate your payments to your creditors, yes you are paying them but you are leaving yourself short and stressed with two small children. I have a 6 yr old and a 22m old and came back to work myself part time last year with debts, I too have been making minimum payments and treading water. I contacted CCCS and they were really great and its not at all scary, they worked out a plan which meant I could live and pay back my debts. I really would give them a call, please dont stress about it, as its not worth it. I can see the hole your in as I was the same and the DMP we have started as not half as bad as I thought it would be. Everyone gets paid and I dont get headaches and sleepless nights anymore

Take care

K x