Extreme Financial & Housing Difficulties: Advice

[MrsSuggs]

It sounds like you were in a similar position to me, although I didn't have my own business. I earn reasonably well which is why it was so easy to get credit. But my new bank said the same, I don't owe an awful lot in the grand scheme of things but it's more than I can manage without the debt management plan.

Debt is such a taboo subject and it's all too easy to think you're the only one and feel thoroughly ashamed. I think it's important to realise that there are millions of others out there in the same position, the most important thing is that you do something about it as soon as you feel able to. It's a lot like getting help for a drinking problem, first you have to acknowledge it and then you can do something about it.

The £350 is on top of my mortgage and all the other priority payments such as utility bills, council tax and insurances but the point is, whether you earn well or not, and irrespective of your outgoings, the CCCS can and will help you and it's all completely free. There are a lot of companies out there who will do the same but they will charge a percentage for it and, in my mind, they are no better than the banks and loan sharks who make it so easy to get into trouble in the first place!

[loosebanana]

Believe me I tried!!

Might give the co-op a go though...

But I think my credit rating is so poor they won't even do it.

(Even when I was waving a cheque for £25,000 around).

I am used to living the way I do, I have had my money in a small cash account which has served me well for nearly fifteen years, if I want a book or a DVD I go shopping!

[loosebanana]

Top advice Luke, I just called them and they have run through the preliminaries.

All I've got to do is get my bum to Britannia with all my bits and pieces and it should be ok?

[loosebanana]

I bought a few nice things with it, but I spent a heck of a lot of it on drinking.

[loosebanana]

Yes, approved in principle, have a reference number to take in.

It will make things easier.

[loosebanana]

I've been a borrower and a lender, once borrowed 1200 quid off a mate.

Years and years ago my sister rang me up and said "I am in a terrible state, don't know what to do", I said "how much do you need?", got a cheque straight off.

The only thing it's taught me is that I can live on small money, but the bad times are when you get a job offer and there is expensive travelling to do and no sight of being paid for 6 weeks and no access to credit.

I hated that, having to beg for an 'interim' payment.

[lawrence]

The only thing it's taught me is that I can live on small money, but the bad times are when you get a job offer and there is expensive travelling to do and no sight of being paid for 6 weeks and no access to credit.

That's often been my worry lb.

I've been on Incapacity Benefit for the past 4 years but am now starting to activley look for work. It seems that is you are on a sickness-related benefit and start a new job you do get financial help, such as.....

4-weeks Housing/Council Tax Benefit following the start of the new job to tide you over until pay day.

In some cases, tax credits of £40 a week for the first year provided your income from your new job is less than £15,000 and you don't have much in savings.

Finding this out has been a huge weight off my shoulders, as I desperately want to get back into work, but that first month or more between coming off benefits and getting your first pay cheque is something I've always found scary.

There is help out there.

[orangetomato]

I was glad to read this thread.... it took away some of the "fear".... I have already lost my vehicle (gave it up voluntarily), no cable, no home phone.... all in an effort to survive.. But I'm only around 3 months away from Welfare.... (Canada)... which in Canada is around $600 per month. Rent here, for a onebedroom or bachelor runs around $700-$800, I currently pay $850, but that includes heat (which can be up to $100 or more per month) Internet (basic package) is $40 and electricity is around $25... That doesn't include food, or bus transportation... So anyway you do the math.... I have no idea how survival is possible.... but it obviously is. And I have applied to EVERY job... from cleaning toilets to professional jobs... nothing.

If you live in a tent in my city... they would put you in jail (which at least would be warm and you'd be fed I guess, so not that bad!) I'd also get dental care I think...and probably paid prescriptions.... so boy, it's sounding pretty appealing!

I admire those of you who have struggled through and found your way out. Kudos to Loose Banana!!!

I remain hopeful.... when my mind is clear from the drink..... that something will happen. Something has to happen right?

[loosebanana]

Sounds like the welfare system is about the same in Canada as it is here, i.e. not quite enough for a single person.

It's ok here if you've got 6 kids and have never worked in your life. The state will provide.

When I was in the tent the police would arrive and say "you can't stay here". Two weeks later they would come back and say "you're still here then?".

Eventually after so many slugs and jumping spiders I'd had enough anyway, so I packed up and moved. Not to mention the freaky thunderstorms and things moving about in the night! Chewing the tent or some beans I'd left. Probably just a hedgehog.

[Aaron.A]

I was glad to read this thread.... it took away some of the "fear".... I have already lost my vehicle (gave it up voluntarily), no cable, no home phone.... all in an effort to survive.. But I'm only around 3 months away from Welfare.... (Canada)... which in Canada is around $600 per month. Rent here, for a onebedroom or bachelor runs around $700-$800, I currently pay $850, but that includes heat (which can be up to $100 or more per month) Internet (basic package) is $40 and electricity is around $25... That doesn't include food, or bus transportation... So anyway you do the math.... I have no idea how survival is possible.... but it obviously is. And I have applied to EVERY job... from cleaning toilets to professional jobs... nothing.

If you live in a tent in my city... they would put you in jail (which at least would be warm and you'd be fed I guess, so not that bad!) I'd also get dental care I think...and probably paid prescriptions.... so boy, it's sounding pretty appealing!

I admire those of you who have struggled through and found your way out. Kudos to Loose Banana!!!

I remain hopeful.... when my mind is clear from the drink..... that something will happen. Something has to happen right?

Hi orangetomato. Do you not have any organisations such as the Christian housing association over in Canada? Here in the UK and I think the US, they offer subsidised housing to people recovering from drug and alcohol problems.

[orangetomato]

AAron,
Many thanks for your reply....

Here they do have subsidized housing, not necessarily for alcohol and drug problems.... it's driven by income levels and priority is given to those with children, or individuals coming from an abused household or relationship. I'm told the waiting list is five years. Yikes!

Am going to fill out the forms anyway..... now that I'm sober and can do it in some reasonable manner!

Orange

[Aaron.A]

I looked in my savings account today and I have £400 left. If I had been drinking still at £10 a day I would have had £20 left, sure I could have probably sold a few things on ebay but sooner or later the money would have run out.

[orangetomato]

Ragnor,

I'd see a lawyer.... if you are married, it's half yours. He can't kick you out.... he could maybe get you sent away for a while...but not kick you out...

[loosebanana]

If there is nothing on paper, i.e. you live at a property that is wholly in the name of the OH, whether owned or rented then the law in England states that you can be asked to leave at very short notice. This is largely to protect people who take in lodgers, where no paperwork is required, and if the person does not agree to leave (the notice period can be as short as a few hours) then the police are legally obliged to remove the person.

That's a worst case scenario.

On the other hand, if you do have your name on the deeds or tenancy agreement then the police will act in your favour and get your keys back, in this case only a court can stop you living there, either through the eviction route or via a restraining order (typically if violence is taking place).

Also, if the bank card has your name on it then it is YOURS, and the OH has no choice but to return it.

The police deal with these situations everyday and will help you, so perhaps a call to your local station? An officer will talk to you and the OH to find a way forward and see what has been going on.

They might call in social services to keep an eye on things but that can help to mediate things until a way forward is reached that is satisfactory for all.

This is how it works in England but I would think it's not so much different in Scotland.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do, I hope it sorts itself out.

[Strider3]

Thanks Rags, OT, and LB

My name is on the title deeds and I'm now getting almost 50% access to my wee ones. Thankfully once sobered up things got more reasonable (ish). OH and I are "apart" and I'm looking to rent my own place closer to the kids, homeless people actually will pay deposit and first months rent up front - didn't know that one!

Ironically, I am only a few months away from being a qualified lawyer but criminal not family - drat!

Oh and I made sure I got my bank card back!

But thank you so much for responding/posting, so good to know there's people here

Dxxx

[orangetomato]

Strider,

I myself, have decided to give it all up... Trying to get into long term rehab... figuring it will give me time to get my head together while being fed, and having a roof over my head. I've got multiple degrees as well (lawyer not being one of them)..... but always think I should have entered criminal law... SO KUDOS TO YOU!!! Finish your degree, get a job, and I'm told the rest will come.... Wish you lived over here... I could have used a good lawyer in my divorce!

Be strong.

OT

[Blackjack]

I've often thought of doing a minor crime so as to get thrown in jail for a year or two. Over here, across the pond, women's jails look to be not too bad. Ask Martha Stewart, right? Three squares a day, no rent, TV, education, libraries, etc., etc.

Well, I am just kidding, but struggling with no health care has been a problem for me. Our system is so screwed up, I've paid taxes all my life and can't get health care after losing my job, and the guy next door (that came over the southern border most likely), gets free health care without ever sending the gov. a dime! It is ludicrous!

Medicare next month, yea, I can finally get some things that I have been suffering with taken care of.

We do have lots of charitable organizations, though, thank God.

[Finley]

Hi Blackjack - poor you - it must be frustrating not to be able to get anything back when you've paid in your taxes. Here in the UK, we're used to having the NHS - which is 'free at the point of service', paid for by national insurance contributions - everyone gets it. Mind you, if our present government had it's way, that would change and we'd all have to have private health insurance and STILL pay the same national insurance
Mind you, we do risk getting horrible bugs in our NHS hospitals - partly, I think, because all of the support services (cleaners etc) have been tendered out to private companies who cost cut as much as they can. Private medical insurance here is astronomically expensive - I certainly can't afford it - but at least I get the same access to services as anyone else who can't pay for their treatment. I hope you get your ailments sorted soon

[Blackjack]

God Bless, Finley!

Our wonderful free USA has become so third world country for the middle class. There is no middle class anymore, really, just the rich, ultra-rich and poverty class. Reminds me of Russia before the revolution.

I really think we need another revolution here, yes it is a nice country in which to get rich, but for the average worker bee, right now it is hell. I love our prez, Barack Obama, God knows he has tried, but the rich always rule, don't they? The Republicans will just not try to help the poor and the jobless.

I worked hard all my life, but now that I am approaching 65, being a single woman, life is frightening, really, I must say, I have a hard time staying AF, because it is easier to drown myself in wine than to try to sort out which bill to pay or praying that I will not be overdrawn after paying the rent. Times are not good here, except for the the people, who have never paid taxes and will work for cheap, and qualify for sucking off "the system."

Never thought our great USA would come to this, very sad, very sad. Fight hard for your universal health care, because it is indeed HELL without some kind of safety net.

To think we used to be the modern country, now we are just poverty stricken and/or filthy rich. I ask not for rich to give up their wealth, but just change some laws so that regular people have a chance for relief.

Universal Health Care, what a concept!!!!!

Deanna

[Finley]

Hi Deanna - I can only imagine how frustrated you feel. Yes, our NHS is definitely something worth fighting for - no matter what it's shortcomings, we're far better off with it than without! I am 51 and don't think I will ever have enough money to retire comfortably - our government keeps on raising the retirement age anyway. I've been a single parent for many years and never received a penny from my daughter's dad, and am going to need to support her through university etc by myself too (she's a really good girl, and although still in her last year at school, has a part time job teaching maths and english to younger children - mainly with learning disabilities) and got the job off her own back, as soon as she was old enough to do it - so that I don't have to give her spending money any more.

I am all for people who can't support themselves being given every assistance and I think our successive governments have acted wickedly in reducing the support given to genuinely vulnerable and needy people to a level where it is impossible for them to do more than barely survive BUT I also do know (through my work apart from anything else) that there are a lot of people out there who think the rest of the country owes them a living and they take, take, take without ever a thought of giving anything back. It makes my blood boil

My own mum worked all her life and paid into pensions but because she was very low paid, her private pension is tiny. What that means is she is just over the threshold for receiving any kind of benefits, so has to pay out everything for herself. People who've never bothered to work or pay into a pension get there rents, council tax, water rates etc paid for them and I know of loads of people like that who are far better off than my poor old mum. Sadly, I seem to be repeating her history and if there is ANY state welfare left by the time I'm in my seventies, I doubt I'll qualify for any of it

Oh well, rant over. I ought to be grateful that despite having abused my body through cigs and alcohol for many years (I've stopped smoking now and am obviously trying to do something about the booze) I'm fairly healthy and can manage to walk my dog, swim, etc and be active in my middle age.

Hope you have a good day and you get your health sorted soon