problem with surviving, please help

[fiore]

HI,
I am having a huge trouble here, like everybody else of course.

my husband's salary goes out to pay for mortgage, a loan of initial £ 18000 which will end in 2011 and 2 credit cards for a total amount of 10k, plus all the bills.

the problem is that I have lost my job which was providing food and petrol due to health conditions.

now I don't know what to do because I can't work now and we can't give up eating.

he doesn't seem to come out with any suggestion and I am tired to talk to the wall.

can any of you come out with some suggestions please?

[stardust_john]

Probably a good idea for you both to seek advice from your nearest citizens advice to see if you are entitled to any benefits, you say you gave up work due to health conditions.

As for your debt, the priority is mortgage/food and heating and again citizens advice or national debt line are very approachable. The Debt forum on here is great for listing details of companies and how to approach them, so you know your rights and pay what you can afford, rather than what they demand.

[Bookworm]

plus all the bills

This is where you need to start.

You need to do an income and expenditure sheet, and work out how much you're paying and on what.

Have you got Sky/cable? Any subscription magazines, book clubs, etc? Gym membership? Do either of you smoke? Look for all those in some cases small things that all add up for ways to trim your expenditure.

Go to your council's website and see if they have on online calculator. You may be able to claim some or all of council tax benefit. Even if it's a small amount, it helps.

Click here to see what yo may be entitled to:

Benefits adviser : Directgov - Do it online

Also, start checking your bank statements and credit card statements and loan agreements to see if you've been hiot with charges and start the process of reclaiming those.

[fiore]

thanks for your kind replies
we did last year when things weren't going well with my job. we gave up smoking, cut all memberships like gym (and exercise at home), we only have the basic sky subscription with no extras.
the only "extra" we don't give up is our dogs (that's FAMILY and nobody will EVER take them from me)
everything else has been cut
the CAB seems managed pretty badly as the nearest is open only 2 hours 1 day a week

I am trying to sort out the troubles with my employer as I have been off sick due to work related stress and I am very exhausted even for my relationship at this moment.

tried the CCCS some time ago, might try again with them.

I just haven't got the head to deal with this and my husband seems 200% into his job and no time for any burocratic stuff.

not a good combination...

[IdaInFife]

I would go with bookworm.

Once you know exactly how much is coming in each month and how much you need to pay out for mortgage, utilites and food them make pro rata offers to your creditors.


idax

[PriorityOne]

When you've worked out how much goes out on essentials, come back on here with what's left and how many companies you're expected to pay out of this money.

I've been in this situation many times and offered £10 to each creditor, along with an income/expenditure breakdown.... and stating (not asking) that all interest be frozen until my situation improves.

Some are good about it and some are not. The ones who are good about it get paid each month and the ones who have tried to bully me into making payments I can't afford get challenged, usually with a CCA request (which can be explained at a later date, if need be).

[emmaf01]

Your local council will have a welfare rights officer who can see what benefits you are entitled to.