To not want to pay my debts back yet?

[EmbarrassedNameChanger2013]

Brief history I lost my job, home, had a break down and a child. In the years it took me to recover I accrued about 10k in debt.

I finally landed a new job a few months ago which is min wage and 40/50 hours a week over 6 days plustravel. I regularly leave the house at 6.30 and dont get back till 8. Once bills are paid including minimum debt payments I am left with £150/200 a month. My plan is to save this and buy new washing machine, cooker, fridge freezer and a slow cooker.

My reasons for this is because the washing machine has black mould I have tried all the tips to get rid and it never goes completely it is 10 years old and 3rd hand. Cooker again 12 years old second hand only 1 ring works, no grill and fares when cooking meaning lots of burnt dinners. Fridge freezer is 10 years and second hand and is only smaill with an ice box.

Im not eating properly because f the hours I do and being unable to freeze food And when I do ccook its 50/50 if its going to burn. In the long run having a working cooker and a freezer will enable me to eat properly and save money in the long run.

I was talking to my friend about it earlier and she really chewed me out about my plan and said ots disgusting that im npt paying back the money I owe etc. I am going to play it back as soon as I can my goal is to be debt free in e3 1/2 years.

AIBU?

I think if you are working now and paying off the minimum then I don't see how taking six months to get yourself domestically established with basic cooking and cleaning equipment is so irresponsible. Raising your quality of life by being able to eat properly and have clean clothes can only have multiple benefits.

After you are sorted you can start making over payments. Having 'frozen interest' does make it sound like even minimum payments will be making a dent, so again not irresponsible.

Has your friend had problems with debt in the past? Or perhaps never had debt? There are some friends I would never tell about my debt (about £8k in credit card and over draft which I am hoping to have cleared in two years) because it would horrify them as the cant bear to be even a pound over drawn. I've had my own reasons for debt (DH struggling to find work, my PND) but those who have managed to avoid it can't always understand.

Congratulations on the job. Take care of yourself x

Re the washing machine, I had the same problem. I put washing soda and white vinegar through the machine on a very hot wash. Do you use liquid detergent? Apparently that can cause the black mouldy gunge and I've now switched to the powder tablets and no more gunge.

If the washing machine is otherwise fine then it would be madness to change it just because of mould.

I think your plan sounds perfectly reasonable. You are paying the minimum payments for your debts and you are saving for what I would consider to be essentials, not luxuries.

I always use bleach in the washing machine on the hottest wash possible. Kills all the mould. Be careful not to use too much bleach though as it foams up to a bleachy foamy cloud that can escape from the top of the machine and engulf your whole kitchen (speaking from experience!)

Your friend is mad to think that you should be paying off interest free debt before sorting out what most people (in the Western world) consider to be essential (a working fridge-freezer & cooker)!

I agree with previous posters that it's worth trying to salvage the washing machine.

• use powder/tablets rather than liquid/gel
• run a boil wash at least once a week
• leave the door open when it's not in use

Definitely have a look on freecycle, eBay, local papers, shop ads etc for an oven & fridge, but don't feel bad if you have to buy them new - they'll probably last longer than second hand!

Why do some people seem to think that there's something morally wrong with being in debt?? Do they think that the people who own the credit card companies are feeding their children bread & water because people like the OP are making minimum payments??

Well done on getting a job & working towards being debt free, you should be very proud of yourself. Anyone who thinks otherwise isn't worth listening to!

As long as you're making minimum payments and don't owe family/friends then you're fine! Your friend sounds a bit bonkers.

Can I recommend you read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover (it'll be in the library) and listen to his (free) podcast? It's very American so the advice about investments etc isn't always appropriate for Brits but the how to get out of debt bits are brilliant. He approaches it from a psychological point of view rather than a strictly mathematical one so some people don't rate him but I think it really works as a method of changing your mindset about money. The first steps are:

1. Save a small (£500/£1000) emergency fund in cash and don't touch it unless there's a real emergency.
2. Take all disposable income and 'snowball' debts from smallest to largest while paying minimum allowed on the others. (Not based on interest rates. This is the bit that's debatable. He argues that the emotional high of paying off your smaller debts is so encouraging that it keeps people going, while going for the highest rate first might take a really long time if it's a large debt and then you don't feel like you're getting anywhere so it's easier to give up. It depends how disciplined you are really.)
3. Once out of debt save a proper emergency fund of 3-6 months outgoings.

OP: Your friend is being mean to you.
Slow cookers are not as expensive as any of the other items you need, so maybe buy one of those asap.
Then you will be able to eat better.
A lovely hot, nutritious meal waiting for you when you walk through the door after a very long day.

Best wishes to you.

I would suggest a halogen oven, they're only about £35-40 and you can do everything in them, grilling, roasting, baking etc

Can you not go on freecycle and get some second-hand but decent stuff?

Although there are some real bargains in the sale too if you can stretch to it.

Your friend is being daft, you have to live while you are also paying off your debts and the sensible thing is to do both at the same time- replace the really worst appliance, make do with the rest and steadily pay off the debts.

It will happen, you will get there, it's great that you are proactive about it.

By the way, if they are on 0% interest, I don't see the point of swapping to Payplan, most lenders will freeze at 0% but some won't and if you have only one or two debts with lenders and they are being nice to you now, there's no great advantage of swapping the administration around just for the sake of it. If you have multiple debts or you need them to negotiate with lenders, it might be worth it.

Can I just jump in here (but it may help the op too) and ask when people are talking about running the washing machine with bleach/salt etc where do you put the bleach or salt? In the drawer or drum, and how? And would it be OK in a washer dryer? We have the same problem!

When you're choosing your appliances I recommend John Lewis, they install, take away old appliance etc and you can trust the aftercare.

You'll be amazed at how appliances have improved, even the entry level ones now are way better than your old ones.

Another tip depending on where you live is just to always use the quick wash cycle. We only ever use this and our clothes come out spotless, even the mud encrusted ones (DS). We're in Scotland so we have soft water.

Go to the CBA site link here

You might be able to arrange an IVA or better still a Debt Relief Order which is specifically designed for people in your situation (it costs £90 and can be paid in instalments). Whatever you decide to do the details will stay on your financial record for six years from the date of the order.

Are you getting all the in-work benefits you are entitled to? Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit etc?

Good luck OP and I hope the New Year brings you peace of mind.

Cat98 Mine was a washer dryer and it was fine. Just make sure that you put the machine on a hot wash cycle when you add the stuff.

I cleaned around the door seal with some kitchen towel because this is where most of the gunge seemed to be situated. I then used washing soda once and white vinegar on another occasion. You can add it to the drawer or directly into the drum. There are instructions on how to do this all over the internet.

Once it was clean I switched to powder or powder tablet detergent and haven't had a problem since. The drawer sometimes gets a bit black from the fabric conditioner, but I just take it out and give it a quick clean.

The main culprit for gungy washing machines seems to be the liquid/gel tablets.

British Heart Foundation have stores that sell secondhand white goods - I bought all mine secondhand, they usually come with a guarantee for a few months. Safer than freecycle and cheaper than buying new!

You're doing fine OP, ignore your friend.

I'll echo the comments on Freecycle.

Also, do you have a local refurbishment scheme for household appliances? Through the one near me (part of Furniturelink) I got a Bosch washing machine for £90 delivered to my house. It's given me an excellent 2 years' service so far.

During the bad time when I was on benefits, I got fridge (£30) and sofa (£25) from the local Furniture Recycling place. Delivery was £5.

I'd prioritise the cooker as it sounds positively unsafe. The washing machine is fine. You can get a second hand fridge/freezer for not much.

Oh yes, British Heart Foundation are brilliant for second hand furniture and white goods at extremely good prices.

Join your local Freecycle Group and see what you can get for nothing. I gave away tons of good stuff when my Mum died last year, including a decent freezer, cooker and washing machine. It is amazing what people give away. Good luck.