Can't afford minimum payment -advice please?

[daysmustgetbetter]

I know I'm a idiot
When I moved into my house I had nothing
I got my appliances /sofa from littlewoods
I put them on buy now pay later but now I'm struggling.
I get £1,000 a month
£460 is rent £100 is gas /electric £90 council tax and I pay them £240
I'm left with £110 for food
It's killing me
I've asked if I can set up a payment plan they said no
I honestly don't know what to do
If I don't pay the full amount will they pass me to a debt collection agency ?

Woman. You need work. You're on a very low income and your outgoings exceed your incomings. You need hours at a paid job. Any job.

Working retail and food service isn't degrading. I work in a STEM field but if they could only give me 20 hours a week and I desperately needed more pay, you bet your arse I'd tend bar/stock shelves/serve fries. No one is too good for that.

OP, you're making lots of excuses as to why you can't get a second job. You are working part time when you can't afford to, and people are trying to offer constructive solutions.

Working in a pub, restaurant or takeaway is NOT degrading. Choosing to work part time and then moaning about having debts isn't a great look. I'd be trying to find additional work/wages if I were in your position rather than be asking about UC and payment reductions. I'd also be charging my dc for board and lodging.

I know it's done now, but in future think about alternative ways of paying for items. DH and I are comfortably off, but almost all our furniture and appliances are 2nd hand, including our cooker, fridge freezer, dishwasher, and sofas. You can pick up really good items for a pittance if you hunt around.

I think that’s a bit unfair.

Yes it is OPs fault for getting into debt but when you’re on a low income, the only way to pay for big purchases like a fridge or washing machine is to do it through a catalogue/loan/credit card which charges interest.

It’s not like OP has spent it on clothes, holidays or alcohol.

Your kids need to help you. This isn’t fair.

Don’t ask live chat. You’ll need to phone them and talk to the debt recovery team.

I’ve got years of management experience but when I was made redundant in 2009, nobody was taking on staff. I ended up applying for cleaning jobs to keep the wolf from the door. I eventually found a ‘proper’ job a few months later, but I did what I had to do to pay the bills. Hospitality is entry level work. You don’t need experience, they’ll train you.

The only reason I was working part time was because I was looking after my mum
It's been nearly 3 months since she passed away
I'm looking for more hours but I'm trying to find a job I know I'll be good at.
I'm not going to give up this job for something I will hate or be useless at and potentially be sacked.
I love my job now and if I could get the hours here I would.
Unfortunately it's 4 25 hour contracts than 2 40 hours

This month just pay what you can afford.
They won’t take it to a debt collector straight away.

As a PP said, if it does go to a debt collected it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world because your monthly payment will be less.

I agree with PPs that you just need to find any job for now to increase your income.
Your life will be a lot easier if you have more money and you can pay off the debts a lot quicker.

It doesn’t have to be a permanent job.

I think you misunderstand OP. No one is saying you should give up your main job, just take something extra on while you look for a new longer term role in your spare hours!

You can't afford luxuries like completely subsidising your children and waiting for a job you "know you'll be good at". You really, really need to get your head out of the sand.

Hospitality jobs don't require training or experience. You show up and follow directions. Show up on time, smile, and do as you're told and you're a fucking superstar in hospitality. You could walk round the local pubs this evening and probably have work starting tomorrow by 11pm.

Get yourself a 12 months 0% interest credit card, pay off the Littlewoods debt and then pay off the lower monthly credit card payment

To be honest, you should have got the loan out before the huge interest incurred but normally the Apr is less then a catalogue but you can always check before accepting.

Even a couple of hours cleaning a day will bump up your money. You could do that around office hours.

Plenty of jobs you could work around office hours, especially hospitality, you can almost just walk in to bar work with no experience. The NHS have a load of full time admin too so have a look at NHS Jobs, filter to admin, your area and full time.

I know you only want to charge your children for the food they eat but they cost you in council tax too as you lose the single occupier discount for a single adult. Plus they also use gas and electric and water.

How much does each child come home with? It is all well and good that they are saving for jollies but you are drowning here and if it were my Mum I would want to help her out.

They could well cover the £240 between them if they are both working full time. If you want to look how much it would be for them to live out of your house then look on SpareRoom website to see how easy they have it. You are struggling, they should contribute to the household.

Just wanted to say, I have been in this position. I told Littlewoods I couldn't pay. It took 4 months to be referred to a collection agency, who offered me a reapayment of £31 per month and actually halved the amount they were coming after. I paid for 6 months and then got a settlement offer of a fraction of the original 'debt'. So don't panic too much, not yet at least

Which will impact on her credit history and potentially her ability to rent in future should the need arise to move home. Imo that makes this very bad advice for someone who can afford to pay with increased income, either from her children or employment

She does need to find more work but that’s not going to help her this month or possibly even next month and so she may not have a choice but for it to affect her credit rating.

She could charge her kids properly this month or next though…….

@ChairSpinner would they not let you set up a payment plan directly with them?
Rather than go to a collection agency?

Your adult kids need to be contributing to household bills. As a single mum on a low income I will certainly be doing this with mine!

I applied for McDonalds when I got made redundant last year and didn't even get offered an interview so I'm not sure where this idea that they will hire just anyone comes from.

It sounds awful but sometimes they won’t accept a payment plan until after you’ve missed a payment. You’d either have to increase your hours or think about debt solutions.

Firstly talk to a human being at littlewoods and be honest
They have an obligation to vulnerable customers and should at least freeze the interest
They should then ask you to complete a financial statement.
Please make an appointment with somewhere like stepchange
CAB were brilliant with me and liased with my creditors so took all the worry from my shoulders
In some cases they can negotiate £5 pcm
Do not use the card again
Ask for even £20 a week from your DC
I know we as parents don't like to, but if they're saving they can afford it
The important thing is to face it head on so well done for that