Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

i hate money [angry]

56 replies

MerlinsBeard · 22/08/2007 21:03

actually, more to the point, i hate having NO money.

All the bills are red, the phone is ringin almost constantly with people asking for money i have already written to them to tell them we havent got. our debts are crippling us, we need to move before the end of the year or there is a very real possibility we will be homeless shortly after new year, we need a car,washer and tumble dryer are ontheir last legs, i need to do some serious shopping...no not the nice kind, the food kind!

oh and DPs account has been frozen becauase we think it was cloned which means even if we had money to pay bills we couldn't because it all goes from his account

AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH

sorry, i don't want any replies, i just needed to get that out

OP posts:
Original poster
MerlinsBeard · 22/08/2007 21:50

jj...for now i am hiding and DP doing all he can. i have no income except tax credits and child benefit and that pays for shopping, my 2 direct debits (none moveable or cancellable) and any extras need to come out pf that as well (like birthdays/xmas/days out...)

i will take over in a short while when he gets too stressed. figured out that there is no point us both being stressed aboutit as the DS's suffer that way.

OP posts:
TheQueenOfQuotes · 22/08/2007 21:56

The first thing I would suggest is cancelling any Direct Debits you have. And if possible open a simple cardcash type account at another bank - doesn't need to be a fancy current account a simple "Cardcash" (that's Halifax) one will suffice - as long as you can make payments over the phone etc with it.

Then sit down and work out what you can afford to pay the people you owe money to. (you may already have done this). Then tell your creditors either in writing or on the phone (we found it more effective on the phone as unless they put the phone down on you they couldn't ignore you (see my 2nd powergen thread for proof of that LOL) what you CAN afford to pay and how often. They'll probably be stubborn and tell you that it's not good enough, but persistance pays off, ask to talk to someone in the credit department, point out to them that you're currently paying nothing, but this payment plan would mean they'd be getting their money back.

For gas/electric threaten to write to their CEO/CHairman, Energywatch (make sure you quote this one ), and even the newspapers (some of the tabloids would love a "Mrs Bloggs offers to pay back debt but company refuse and cut her off anyhow" type story). It soon makes them jump into action.

DON'T let them call you back - hang on the phone for as long as it takes..........if nothing else they'll get pssed off at you hanging on the line and agree to it just to get rid of you*

Original poster
MerlinsBeard · 22/08/2007 21:59

we are going through everything with a fine tooth comb tomorrow. we are just too tired and pissed off today to do it properly. will do the repayment plan thing. that was our next port of call really.

OP posts:
TheQueenOfQuotes · 22/08/2007 21:59

MoM - what your DD's that are uncancellable or unmoveable????

jennijo · 22/08/2007 22:01

I need to change the mortgage. The bank should be able to help, we have at least gone 12 months now with no arrears. Trouble is, I'm sh*tting myself because gas people & water people want money, like now! Can't see them accepting that I'll have money in a months time. Everytime the phone rings I'm scared and everytime I even hear a car door shut, I panic that they're coming to the door.
We had the most horrible situation last year, where we were literally 12 hours from eviction. I had to ask my mum for money AGAIN. She was furious.

Original poster
MerlinsBeard · 22/08/2007 22:01

the DDs in my acount are for the car and a loan which we have already used all our payment holidays for. Child benefit pays for one so can't move that as there will be no money there and the car one we can't change at all unless its to a different account. its with barclayloan and i have extremely bad credit with barclays in general so they ar enot shifting onthis.

OP posts:
TheQueenOfQuotes · 22/08/2007 22:11

ahh yes - see what you mean with those DD's - and Barclays are cr*p aren't they.

Original poster
MerlinsBeard · 22/08/2007 22:12

referred to as Wanklays inour house!

ty for 'listening'.

OP posts:
jennijo · 22/08/2007 22:15

Thanks for the heads up on the electric/gas QoQ! I'm going to make positive moves tomorrow I think. I need to get off here for now, I feel sick with worry. Good luck sorting things tomorrow MoM. I will come back, if you don't mind. My problems don't sound as bad as yours, but in my world its pretty rubbish. I know we should be thankful for our health, but it don't cut much, when you worry yourself sick. Take care & thanks for letting me gate crash. x

Original poster
MerlinsBeard · 22/08/2007 22:16

jj, don't worry about crashing, its fine!!

OP posts:
CantSleepWontSleep · 22/08/2007 22:21

mom - it seems that you also need a plan to bring in some extra cash. Could you take in ironing or offer to do some cleaning - perhaps you could put a notice up advertising in the shop downstairs? I know it's only small amounts, but every little extra will help.

TheQueenOfQuotes · 22/08/2007 22:22

no problem - if you looked at my 2nd link there's lot of other hints/tips from other MN'ers on it too .

I know it's hard to stay positive - but it helps if you do - and we found that making positive (all be it often frustrating) moves to try get things sorted helped (rather than sitting stewing on it.......as you well know they don't go away if you just stew on them LOL).

I have to say - we're still about 3/4yrs away from clearing all our debts (we had a LOT - partly due to setting up a business which failed sadly) - but the feeling of relief as the debts go down/are paid off is wonderful. DH's CC doesn't actually "exist" anymore - the account was closed (although we have to keep paying it off obviously) - when we started repayments just under 2yrs ago it was £3300 (credit limit was £3000) - it's now down to £2300 - we set ourselves little "goals" with it - £3000, £2750, interest down to £35 a month, £2500, interest down to under £30 a month etc etc which makes the progress (although slow) seem more real.

Original poster
MerlinsBeard · 23/08/2007 10:14

have written letters to everyone we owe too. just need DP to come home form work to fill in the blanks properly..ie iowe XX i can pay xx back. have asked for my accounts to be frozen and i will pay them off, DP is doing the same. hecleverly took all the paper work with him to work so i cant get current figures. he is back this afternoon though so we will do it then.

i can't take in ironing, have thought about that but our iron is also on its last legs and doesn't iron properly! I am a photographer and have some pictures up on a friends website(he sells mirrors, oils and prints) but he is financially challenged a bit at mo and he is coming round this afternoon for us to talk about the next plan of action. They are selling but only through local art shop type places at the moment.

i have sold everything i can possibly sell, bar the children and that is sorely tempting at the moment.

OP posts:
soapbox · 23/08/2007 10:33

MOM there are proper websites for selling photographic images.

I'll try and find out from my friend who is a professional photographer which sites she uses. It won't be until the end of next week though. She makes a very good living out of it - although the photographs do have to be excellent and they do need to be the kind of shots that people would use on adverts and commercial brochures etc.

FlameBatfink · 23/08/2007 10:42

Oh sweetheart

Please come on msn

Original poster
MerlinsBeard · 23/08/2007 11:01

soapbox, mine aren't that good! but ty

we are selling them framed but this afternoon talking of selling them just printed

OP posts:
Dropdeadfred · 23/08/2007 11:21

soapbox I'd be interested in those websites too please for my brother who is a photographer

MOM - have you thought of babysitting? cleaning? sorry can't think of anything else..

Original poster
MerlinsBeard · 23/08/2007 11:26

thought of it all DDF! can't do anything during the day as i would have to take the DSs with me (no point working just to pay for child care really) and in the evenings DP teaches privatly or gigs so not a regular night i can do anything in!

i think we just need a reshuffle and a sympathetic bank

OP posts:
Dropdeadfred · 23/08/2007 11:38

are you getting all the tax credit etc that you are entitled to?

Could you not do a cleaning job with your dc's with you?

Original poster
MerlinsBeard · 23/08/2007 11:40

yup get all we are entitled to.

and if i took the DCs it would take me ages to clean what they messed up lol! (they are 4 and 2)

OP posts:
Dropdeadfred · 23/08/2007 11:44

Is this something that just crept up on you or have you always been short of cash...? Does dp's gigging pay well? Or would it be better for him to stop that and allow you to get a job in the evenings?

Original poster
MerlinsBeard · 23/08/2007 11:57

we have always been in need of watchingour money and i don't know what has thrown us this time ( has happened before but to a lesser degree) his gigging is good money usually and i don't want him to stop that as momentum is getting going for his band and it could mean great things for them

tbh i don't know why i started this thread, i think i just needed a virtual scream!

OP posts:
Dropdeadfred · 23/08/2007 11:57

well...could you economise on food shopping ( sorry if thats been done)?

Original poster
MerlinsBeard · 23/08/2007 11:59

we are going to have to cut right back. back to basics so to speak.

OP posts:
Dropdeadfred · 23/08/2007 12:03

There were some great recipe ideas on QoQ's thread the other day..

Swipe left for the next trending thread