Can we have a support thread for people who are massively in debt?

[Nerfmother]

Because you can't talk about it in real life? We owe 44k, reduced from 60k in a year. Not including mortgage.
It's so depressing.
Dh is determined to pay it off and so bankruptcy or plans isn't an option. I do think its doable, just hard hard hard.

kazza being on the electoral roll will help your credit school : its taken asa sign of "permanence" - I've always had problems with that bit because I'm forrin, so had notes put on my file.

YY to spreadsheets : there is a budgeting one linked from mortgages thread that people are welcome to download and play with if they cannot face starting from scratch ...

I use a spreadsheet already, which is fine bits just I rarely log on to my pc these days and need one I can use on my iPhone. Will the one you mentioned open on an iPhone?

Hi kazza, I haven't found one yet but talking's links are good to look at.
Another day of not adding to the debt. I keep thinking that until it's real money I can't buy it

Hello. Sorry to hear about the difficulties lots of you are having.
Most people in debt will be better off if they speak to a free Community Money Advisor. These are volunteer organisations which do not charge, but offer free advice and help. (Not to be confused with organisation who offer to consolidate your debt but charge you for it)
Community Money Advisors draw up a really detailed account of your spending and outgoings, as the basis of showing your creditors that you cannot afford the monthly payments you are currently asked to make. On the basis on what you have coming in and going out on non debt stuff, they make offers to your creditors based on what is affordable. It maybe as low as £1 a month. The people you owe money to are obliged to look at what Community Money Advisors send and accept the lower payment offer if a full account of your incomings and outgoings is provided.
They also write to the people you owe money to and have power to stop them constantly ringing or writing to you and making your life a misery. So whilst the debt itself doesn't go (although sometimes they can negotiate reductions or for you to effectively go bankrupt) it is manageable and won't ruin your life anymore.
Community Money Advice is free and all over the country. Look it up online. I am a volunteer advisor and have seen it make a massive difference to loads of people.
Best of luck everyone.

Hi chocolate. What a really helpful post; that is really useful to know. Thank you.

Evening all,been AWOL,stomach bug hope all well?!

NSD for me Su-Tu,had to buy milk today and picked up a reduced cheese and tomato flatbread which I topped with pepperoni and mozzarella from fridge!

Paid on Mon and everything has been transferred to where it should be...just to keep on top of it now! Based in my spreadsheet (I do like a good spreadsheet lol) by Feb payday I will have paid off 1% off my total debt at the start if the year...lol baby steps will get me there

Kazza...I use Numbers on our iPad and I think you can put that in iPhone but it might be a bugger to view. I'd recommend getting your budget upto date on the PC then email to yourself as attachment. Once you download app it should give you option to open with Numbers...see what you think. If you do work upfront on PC then it might be ok using on the phone for updates etc.

Thanks chocolatewombat, great advice

How would you guys feel about having some specific topics alongside our general updates? We could change every few days just to keep the momentum going...maybe some focus on trying to make extra money, budgeting, how to save some money, etc...anything that we might be struggling with or need some support with?

Good plan. Managed to spend thirty quid today though in tesco and Childcare to pay tomorrow. So frustrating now ; im resenting buying stuff rather than looking for reasons to spend money. Payday not til next week, can't wait as have my plan

Well done you! NSD for me today, .took lunch into work (and avoided The Book People) in the canteen at same time, shut Next ac,and unsubscribing from all the 'sale' emails I get as they come in.

DP gets paid in the morning so round2 of this months plans can commence

All my 'envelops' remain in tact and will til Fri when I have dentist bill to come from Health budget, around £25 I think.

I got in bad debt some years ago for various reasons. Ended up buying food and travel card with a credit card and about £15k in debt. It was so stressful. I eventually managed to pay it off and I now swear I will never get in that situation again when I was afraid to answer the phone or open letters. I had a good job too and wasn't even extravagant, but was single, not budgeting and things got on top of me. Good luck to you all, I understand how worrying it is.

And never get a Debenhams card!!

Thanks for your message Scarlet...love reading peoples financial success stories

£22.21 today...dentist, tooth extraction

On a happier note..budget remains firmly on track

Took my dog for her vaccinations, not too bad at £35. But she needs her teeth scaling and they have given me a quote for the work of £380!!!

I just don't have this money at the moment, so will have to wait til dh is working again

Hi all, just dropping by say what a great thread this is. We were in debt to the tune of £98k excl the mortgage when I finally made the call to Stepchange after making myself ill with worry, not sleeping, panic attacks you name it. That call changed my life . They listened , understood, didn't judge and listened to me pouring my heart out for two and a half hours !! We didn't want to walk away , we were determined to clear out debts one way or another.

Two years later, we now owe £42k, still a long way to go. Interest is frozen with all of our creditors, we have reclaimed PPI , credit card charges and thrown everything at the debt. I eBay like my life depends on it. 99p per item doesn't sound much, but 30x99p is more cash to throw at the debt, or to use for the occasional treat, after all we all need those at times ! Our credit rating is shot to pieces, but we don't ever want credit again. It's the best feeling in the world to buy your child a present and know it is paid for, there will be no bills coming through the door.

It's a hard slog, isolating at times, and depressing but there is light at the end of the tunnel, I am sure of it !

There's been some amazing advice on here , I will follow this thread with interest.

Oh and for credit scores try Noodle.co.uk , it's free !

Good luck everyone xx

Bloody hell lexy, what a fantastic achievement. You must be so pleased, and I totally get the wanting to pay it off stuff.
Hmmm. That's a lot for teeth!
Fergus - dentist tomorrow will cost 250 for dh and ds because we can't find private and I was gutted but a actually trying to accept that actually we have managed to save real money so won't be adding to the debt.
Granddad is in hospital so plan B (that is a joke btw, obviously, I've spent all day there while he was admitted and he should be feeling better soon)

Well done Lexi! Stay with it, and us-would love to hear your updates!

I guess I got off lightly with dentist bill considering yours Nerf...I'm lucky-our village dentist is private but every now and then takes on NHS patients...both DP and I got registered just after moving here

Likely to spend today. DP at golf but will head out with my list when he returns. Still have over half this weeks food budget left so should be able to pay leftover to Cc#1 on Monday!

Just opened my mail after last post, and it's CC#1 telling me my limit is going up from next month to £12k...seriously?!

Thanks but no thanks...still on track to reduce limit every month with a view to closing it in Dec when repaid in full.

That's ridiculous. I also got a letter yesterday from the card I keep trying to close offering balance transfers!

Wild, it's easy to see how vulnerable people fall for it.

So, meal plan done til a week on Monday! Using loads from freezer and cupboards so only a few things on shopping list then fresh milk/bread as required. Ive also started buying store cupboard ingredients...you know the stuff to complete recipes but wouldn't use every other day. So far have bought mustard powder, tarragon, cinnamon and today will pick up some vanilla essence. Plan on making banana and cinnamon muffins to use up 3 very ripe bananas (I'm loathe to throw anything out now!)...

Well now, have to say my budget muffins are fab! Had all ingredients except vanilla essence (which with hindsight I could probably have left out)...so 16 muffins for about 60p! Going to try freezing some for work later in the week stew in slow cooker for tomorrow, having with mash...had everything in so not costing anything additional

I'd quite like to join this thread if possible? I only have a smallish debt though but it's still wearing me down and I must admit I'm a little panicky everytime I see the postmans been

kazza
descaling dog teeth : I have a much easier system.
Go talk to your lovely local butcher and ask them for a load of pig bones : chewing on the cartilage will clean the fdog's teeth beatigully (have pork ribs for supper and the gristle off them is cat tooth cleaner!)

well done on progress.
tips from a habitual tightwad

• clothes from Charity shops are generally better quality and have already survived one washing machine
• unsubscribe from any emails and offers
• avoid going into town or near shops unless you have a list of the things you need and just buy them.

Of course you can Kitty, welcome! We're all at different stages of our journeys, what matters is we support each other as best we can, give advice when it's asked for...but most importantly, provide an environment we can all open up in x

I feel I must point this out so I don't come across as a knob, but the £2000 (thereabouts) is massive in relation to my wages as I'm currently stuck on a zero hour contract.