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Original poster

We are screwed finiacally.

299 replies

misdee · 18/04/2006 17:57

ok, i know i am spendaholic, and need to stop. i have over 8k of unsecured debt. most of that was from before Peter fell ill, some of it is due to spiraling costs with him being in hospital. All payments are being met, but now dd2 dla has stopped (we are going for reconsideration), tax credits will go down (not sure how much by) and i could well have screwed up massively. I can clear over 2-3k straight away if i sell my car and my collectin of bears. But Peter says not to, as we wont get their full worth. But i dont know what to do. I am pulling the belt in as much as possible (all i need to buy for the next week or so is veggies, milk and some bread ingrediants.) and will be ebaying anything that stays in one place too long. but I am so annoyed that i got too complacent again. Its so easy to bid on things without thinking and paypal it. i want to shut down my paypal account but i dont know if thats possible. DD2 could well be reinstated within 11weeks(!!!) but i know they could just refuse it totally.

I dont know if i want advice or just a rant.

OP posts:
fuzzywuzzy · 18/04/2006 18:01

It's possible to close your paypal account (done it myself once ro twice).
RE; your bears, I think you've mentioend selling them before no?? Is it not possible to get them auctioned (dunno if you'd get their full worth on ebay), but a regular auction perhaps??

I'm sorry you're going through this on top of all you've already been through...

expatinscotland · 18/04/2006 18:04

close paypal. i did. it saved a lot. take those credit cards and freeze them in a tin, so it'll be a b*tch to get them out and you won't use them impulsively.

if you want to buy something, wait a month and then see if you still want it. if so, start to save for it.

Original poster
misdee · 18/04/2006 18:07

i have credit card which is stupid high interest and want it gone ASAP. in fact i will shred it tonight.

The bears are a bit of a niche market and will do best on ebay rather than a normal auction. I have a few in my collection that are worth 50-100 a piece, the rest are worth about a fiver each lol.

I will close my paypal account then. Anything i ebay will be cheque/cash/postal order only.

OP posts:
006 · 18/04/2006 18:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cece · 18/04/2006 18:09

change the credit card to 0% interest. check out the best deals on www.moneysavingexpert.com

fuzzywuzzy · 18/04/2006 18:09

transfer your credit card balance to one that offers a 6 month interest free option.....and then cut up the first credit.

Original poster
misdee · 18/04/2006 18:13

i cant get a credit card :( hence one with high inbterest grrrrr.

no equity, we are council tennants.

OP posts:
anorak · 18/04/2006 18:13

As cece said, get a card that's 0% on balance transfers for the first year or whatever and just pay off the minumums. Do not use the card. When you get to the end of the 0% interest period get another new card with the same sort of deal and transfer the remaining balance. Etc etc.

PeachyClair · 18/04/2006 18:15

Can you go to the CAb and get some advice from them perhaps?

Don't feel bad: apart from the fact that spending too much is easy when you're down, an illness -as someone else said- does take time to recover from, it took us a year after DH was ill and then only coz we cashed in house.

Sort out the credit card for sure, but think about the paypal: if you are (really and truly) going to sell on E-Bay, then most people will want to pay by PayPal and you could lose bidders if you can't take it. You could however ask for a replacement card and not change the details on paypal so it's not usable, thus keeping it available for incoming only. That's what I do as grant end approaches.

Original poster
misdee · 18/04/2006 18:20

how much do you think i'd get for each child?

i applied for a loan just to clear these small debts and get it all in one palce, the only place i could get a loan from wanted to lend me 2k but repayements would equal 3300 over 2years. i said no way.

i hate being poor.

OP posts:
Freckle · 18/04/2006 18:20

I know that this might seem a facetious suggestion, but have you tried advertising in Private Eye? I am always amazed by the number of people advertising for money (and merely giving their bank account details) for fairly naff reasons. Surely with your situation, you should receive a reasonable amount of support. I can't believe that people advertise there unless it has a reasonable chance of success.

Alternatively, go to CAB and get them to negotiate better repayment rates for you.

Original poster
misdee · 18/04/2006 18:21

lol@private eye. thats just begging.

OP posts:
jampots · 18/04/2006 18:22

your not selling yoru children ? Shock

Original poster
misdee · 18/04/2006 18:23

i am entitled to another grant from benefits to cover costs for fuel etc, which should get us 70quid. i can apply for that every 3months apparently.

dd1 is staying on school lunches as they are free, she wants packed lunches but am saying no.

do i sell my car? could get 1500 possibly? will almost clear my overdraft. that wil lalso mean no insurence to pay.

OP posts:
Freckle · 18/04/2006 18:24

Well, I know it's begging but it's a posher sort of begging Wink.

Original poster
misdee · 18/04/2006 18:24

nah, the kids wont clear the debts Wink

OP posts:
jampots · 18/04/2006 18:24

can Peters parents help out?

Original poster
misdee · 18/04/2006 18:25

they are also messed up finiacally as MIL isnt taking on overtime so she can go see peter. they are credit-carded to the hilt!

OP posts:
jampots · 18/04/2006 18:26

get the other 2 signed up to model? Grin

Original poster
misdee · 18/04/2006 18:27

lol, nicole they are willing to accept, but they arent 100% they will get work for her.

hmmm the kids bank accounts have 200 apiece in them. but i cant do that can i?

OP posts:
jampots · 18/04/2006 18:28

errrrr yes! but only for essentials.

How many pushchairs do you have - sell them all apart from 1 (cheapest)

likewise with the chldrens toys they no longer play with.

expatinscotland · 18/04/2006 18:31

you're not alone, if it's any consolation.

we had our tax credits stopped due to a computer error at TCO and wound up £3k in debt b/c of it.

it's going to take us years to shift that.

Original poster
misdee · 18/04/2006 18:32

nooooo not the buggies lol. was thinking of selling them anyway.

OP posts:
jampots · 18/04/2006 18:32

yes they must go BEFORE you touch the chldrens money.

Original poster
misdee · 18/04/2006 18:34

i cant touch the kids money, i dont know where the books are (i put them somewhere safe lol). i am going to sell as much as i can as possible over the next few weeks.

the bears are going up as soon as mt camera is charged.

OP posts: