Spent years dragging myself out of debt and now I’m going to need to do it again

[Pacificallythespecific]

I divorced around 7 years ago and have been paying joint debts off ever since. Ex took responsibility for a loan and I got left with everything else. Even as far as last year I was being chased for tax credit overpayments from when we were together.

I’ve bloody pulled myself up by my bootstraps, I work 2 jobs, have no credit at all and have finally got my total debt under £1000 (should be paid in total by March 2020).

And now my car is buggered. I physically cannot do without one. I drop DD at A, DD2 at B and then work is in direction C. Public transport would not work at all.

No spare money at all. I have £331 total to last until 26th of this month (bills all paid), that would usually cover food, school dinners, diesel and electricity. I have £50 cash hidden for dire straits. My lovely old banger has got me through thick and thin but has given up the ghost today and quote is £550.

Bank said no to an overdraft or loan or CC
I did a soft search for a loan and got rejected for all of them except ridiculous APR (borrow £500 pay back 2k type loans).

I have nobody to borrow any money off.

So my options are: don’t get the car fixed, take £100 out of the £331 and buy an old banger until I can save enough to fix the car in a few months.

Borrow £500 from stupid APR company and take on more debt (really do not want to do this!)

Sell car for spares/repairs, use money to buy old banger (false economy?). I’d rather not do that as I have a long MOT and the car runs lovely usually.

Im feeling so annoyed I got so close yet so bloody far! I said to the bank look you can see how much I have coming in, you can see I haven’t been overdrawn or had a DD bounce in 5 years what more can I do! They are like robots “computer says no”

I can’t sell anything of value as I do that periodically to help clear debts. Have been on MSE debt free wannabe boards for years and feel bloody gutted I need to take a loan out.

Is there any other option I am missing here? Which option would you go for?!

Do you have any jewellery or valuables you could sell to get the money together? Or Ebay anything of value?

Possibly also look at the Turn2Us website for charity funds that you may be eligible to apply for.

I'd admire you so much for getting out of debt OP, really hope you find a solution. If I won the lottery I would love to be able to gift people things like a car in this situation xx

I don't suppose you have anything you could pawn, if you have jewellry with value that you don't want to sell?

I also feel for you OP. This is the sort of thing that illustrates the saying 'it's expensive to be poor'. Once you are out of debt you will be able to afford to save for things like this and will just be able to pay them.

But now, you're faced with taking out expensive credit, or using a very overpriced chain like Halfords, that charge what appears to be more than double what the local garages charge so they can offer 'interest free' credit and profits for shareholders.

Hopefully the National Tyres people will be more reasonable, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

I'd for for a credit card. And fgs, when an OP comes on and says they do not have family or friends who can loan them money, why are there always at least a couple of tits who say 'are you sure you can't borrow for someone?' or 'surely someone can loan you.'

I hope you get things sorted, OP. Been there!

Would anyone be able to drop your kids off and you take public transport to work?

Loan from employer?

Have you overpaid electricity, if you are in credit the company can return the money.

Are there any bills you can defer next month, if you call them?

Sounds like it’s time to sell everything you can at CEx. Cash converters also do a pawn service, OP, if that helps at all.

Have you tried zopa. Online credit union

Quick update. It’s looking like the dual mass flywheel needs replacing too. Hence why Halfords quote was so high. I called the other garages (hiding in the loo at work ffs) and they said yes it probably would need changing and if so it’s going to be anywhere between £1000-£1300.

I truly do not have anything to sell, everything has already been sold previously.

I did manage to get accepted for a £800 loan today, total to pay £1300 ffs. If I do borrow that at least I can get the car on the road this week.

I’m borrowing a friends car today and tomorrow as she’s on holiday but had to spend £45 on added insurance to my policy so the £331 is down £45 and £20 for school dinners.

Trying to keep positive and just bloody remember nobody is dying! We’re all healthy and here but bloody hell I feel stressed

Thank you all for your advice and suggestions!

I think I'd buy another banger with repairs that high. We paid £600 for repairs to our old banger but any higher than that I'd be looking on local FB pages for a run around.

What kind of car is it? Could you do the work yourself? I year ago I couldn't do anything other than change a tyre, but I taught myself with YouTube videos.

Cars are logic, and as a mechanic once said to me if you can drive a car you can fix one, disabilities notwithstanding.

I'm not in the UK and our local car parts store has a $20 per year membership for a tool library, so you don't even have to buy the tools. Not sure if you have anything similar?

Failing that, have you tried calling a local mechanics college and asking if one of the students wants a job on the side?

Also its really shit to come so far and then have this.

I’m happy to fix things myself. Change tyres, fuel filters etc but dropping the whole gear box out, not likely.

Even our local mobile mechanic said he wouldn’t do it without a garage

Can you ask other mums from school for lifts for a while?
How about co-wheels or similar, where you rent the car per hour?

Stick the car on ebay and see if someone will buy for spares / repairs and look for another. Bangernomics can be amazing, or unlucky. Ask around for any cars going cheap, check out ebay for anything near you with no reserve. My last car had a large bill that I wasn't willing to pay (related to security - not the ability for the car to run). Someone bought it for £300 and was delighted.

Really try to avoid going into debt again as you have been doing so well.

Do you have a 'local group chatter'?
Ours is lovely:
Ours talks about traffic lights, local issues, people wanting dog walkers/cakes baked; people needing help. My Dh can repair most things! You never know, if you beg nicely, a kind person might help for free, or minimal cost?

I'd consider selling the original car for scrap and buying a cheap runaround like a Vauxhall Corsa instead.

I didn't know you could check the dmf without removing the clutch.

Every day's a school day!

Aww good luck op, so sorry that you are p,urged into debt again.

Plunged

Do you have a local car club you could join for a while, while you save to get your car repaired? I have no idea if they have a minimum membership period (or maybe a free trial? ) or what costs are involved.