To ask for help with paying off debt?

[IcyPlumCrab]

I have a credit card with a £2,300 limit and have about £30 left on it. I have got it up to a couple of hundred but the interest rates are high and I've found myself needing to dip into it due to cost of living.

Other than that I don't have much, I have a £400 overdraft but I'm not worried about that, and a credit card with a £200 limit but it's 0.
However the first credit card keeps me awake at night. I know people have much worse but it honestly makes me feel ashamed and fret. Currently have no savings as I recently bought a flat, so anything I did have went into that.

I've cancelled my pension contributions and waiting on a refund (civil service), but it's just taking forever to hear anything. However when I get that back it'll be around £1000 which will really help.
Without my pension I take home around £2060 net per month and I'm currently looking for a second job.

My mortgage is £440 a month.
Just cancelled my tv licence and gym membership which in total will save me £60.
Electricity is only about £35 a month.
Gas £35 a month atm.
Water haven't been billed yet but hopefully no more than £25 a month.
Council tax is £189 a month until March :(
Internet £24 a month.
Phone including handset £34 a month.
Pet insurance and monthly vet health care plan £32 (i have a cat)
As of March will be paying £120 service charge/ground rent a month.

There always seems to be something coming up like the dentist, household things etc. I think it's the credit card that's killing me, even if I pay £100, £50 is charged in interest.
I have a holiday planned to see a relative this month and in total that's set me back around £400, but that's not something I do very often.
Everything left good on food, transport (public transport, don't have a car), pet food, toiletries etc.
All my clothes and shoes are second hand.

Transfer balance to a 0% interest rate card?
What else are you spending your money on?

I applied for a 0% card but apparently wasn't eligible sadly.
I don't make any big purchases, sometimes go out with my boyfriend or family, I think I'm just finding living alone expensive and seem to need to replenish stuff every other day.
I think having no savings anymore makes me insecure, but I'll try to start this month even if it's just £20.

What else are you spending your money in? The bills you quoted leave £1060pm for food, credit card bill, travel so surely it’s doable and you don’t need to take out of your pension

You need to sit down and list ALL outgoings and see where you can cut down.
With that income and the fugures you've given do far you must be spending on other stuff.

It just seems to be little things, honestly I look through my bank account every single day.
Atm I have £160 left until the 31st Dec.

This month was a bit more expensive due to paying for the holiday. I'm hoping now with this new job I can pay a couple of hundred on the card a month.
I've had to furnish the flat too which has made a dent.

Please don't cancel your pension contributions, the civil service is an amazing pension and future you will really regret it. If you post your outgoing we can try to help see where you can save.

Don't start savings. Put all spare money on the credit card. If you have down your Christmas food shop then you shouldn't need to spend much more between now and the end of the month. Can you stick £100 of your money on the credit card now?

Are you still in the civil service? Paying for a holiday while cancelling your pension is not a wise choice.

The £160 is for all food, transport, cat supplies and emergencies until next week. I've got food for the next 2 days and Christmas day but that's it. I just always find myself like this at the end of the month.

I am planning to rejoin the pension scheme once my card is cleared.

Sign up to something like Credit Karma which will help you see why you aren’t eligible for the 0% transfer, and work towards that. Also, you must do a proper monthly budget. All bills, set amounts for food and other necessities, some for unexpected costs, and then you’ll know what you’ve got left for any extras or, ideally, paying off more from credit card. It’s too late for this holiday, but in future, try to save some each month so that you’ve got a holiday fund. There is a lot of really great budgeting advice out there and at your level of debt, it’s very doable.

An actual monthly budget, not just what's left.

Thanks, i do before I get paid go through and see what I've got to pay out. Forgot to mention student loan £30 a month. I feel like I've been really irresponsible

Going out is very expensive but there's only so much free stuff you can do.
I get discounted cinema tickets which helps and I don't drink or smoke, but once you've exhausted all the free museums and parks it does get a little boring.

Surely it wd be better to forego holidays for now. Clear the visa asap then restart the pension.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/debt-help/

This holiday is a one off to see a relative, but I don't really go away that much. I will restart the pension once it's cleared.

Can you change supermarket? Wd that help?

I'd strongly suggest you read and fill in the MSE budget planner: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/budget-planning/

You need to list out where you spend every penny, that makes it so much easier to see what is absolutely necessary and what you can cut/economise on.

As others have said, please don't exit from your pension - that's really shortsighted...

One tiny thing that helped me (as it meant that my predictable monthly outgoings were the same every month) was to change my council tax to be evenly spread over 12 months rather than pay more for 10 months and have 2 months "off".
It's easier for me now that it's the same amount every month.

You need to rethink your priorities at the moment. Holidays and going out are great, but not if you are panicking about a credit card debt so much that you have dropped out of your pension scheme.

Don't cancel the pension scheme! That's madness

Did you need to furnish the flat though, if it's just you could you not have made do?

It sounds like lifestyle creep and not wanting to 'delay gratification' you may really need to look at your attitude to spending. Before you buy something think "could I do until next month?" And if yes then dont buy it. If people want to go away and you have debt keeping you awake you need to say "No, I really can't right now"

I rarely go on holiday, but this is to see a relative i havent seen in a year, and it's been done on a budget. I don't go away much or to anywhere long-haul.
Christmas is always an expensive month too even though I've tried to do it on a budget.

In terms of furnishing the flat i meant I had to buy basic furniture like a bed, table etc.
It needs new carpets and windows but that definitely won't be happening atm.