I'm in debt, and can't pay bills.

Unregistered wrote: »

Basically, times are rough for everyone, but want to share my troubles.

Mortgage - behind by a payment
Car - Not taxed for 3 months
Car - not NCT for 6 months
Car - not serviced for a year
Mobile phone - soon to be cutoff this week
TV licence - not paid for a month
Mastercard - maxed out every month
Babies - just had another one
Missus - On the dole
Me - working for multinational company

Struggling to put food on the table at the moment, don't know where my money is going. I don't go out at all, and have borrowed enough money from family to know when to say "I'm okay for cash".

I just wish things were easier.

You should start a simple budget. No computers necessary.

Just get An A4 pad line down the middle IN / OUT
Record EVERYTHING you spend and every income, Salary, Dole, Childrens Allowance.

I did this when I was applying for my first mortgage and cut my outgoings by 250Euro per month.

Mortgage - is it fixed? Talk to your bank, they will be helpful if you want to just lengthen your term and reduce the repayments. DO NOT let a payment go unpaid. PAY the unpaid as a priority.

A mortgage broker can shop to switch your mortgage to get you a better deal.

Car - 3 months is 75Euro - if it's more than that you need a smaller car.

Car - Self service - change the oil, clean airfilter are jobs that anyone could do...

Car NCT - how bad is it, mine passed twice with an oil change.

Mobile- Good, Credit phone is what you need.

TV Licence, Eating is more of a priority, while i'm not advising you to not pay i'm just pointing out that you have 3 weeks to pay when they catch you because 'you just moved in'

Mastercard - Get rid of Credit card. Now - no excuses. It's not that you need it. if you manage to pay it then you have the cash.

Babies - how many, time to stop for a while...they cost money.
Do you claim all child benefits? Have you enquired with revenue, citizens advice bureau.

You - Keep working

Sure it's tough but any situation can be made better by working Smarter not harder.

Unregistered wrote: »

Mortgage - behind by a paymenttalk to your bank,im sure theyre hearing this alot lately,they should help with this default payment
Car - Not taxed for 3 months (guards have always signed off on my arrears no questions asked but dont leave it much longer
Car - not NCT for 6 months no panic on this either can wait another while
Car - not serviced for a yearask around friends of friends who know about cars its not rocket science doing a service
Mobile phone - soon to be cutoff this weekgo pre pay or get rid of it, make any necessary calls from work if possible
TV licence - not paid for a monthyou will get plenty of warning letters from An Post before or if they fine you
Mastercard - maxed out every monthCUT IT UP end of, life goes on without them
Babies - just had another onecongrats,no need to point out the obvious on this one
Missus - On the dole€200/wk as well as your wage,shes had a baby give her a break and get a second job
Me - working for multinational companylucky you to still have a job

Struggling to put food on the table at the moment, don't know where my money is going. (Lidl Lidl LidlI don't go out at all, and have borrowed enough money from family to know when to say "I'm okay for cash".

I just wish things were easier.

Maxwell Smart said it all right! Good luck

sunnyside wrote: »

I wasn't suggesting that only ever making minimum payments is a good idea but it would keep the OP out of trouble with the credit card company. If he's behind on the mortgage and can't afford a tv licence where do you think he would get the money to pay off the card asap

i've never understood that logic. if he can't afford to pay off the credit card now it's unlikely he'll be able to pay it off plus all the interest in a few months. he can't afford not to pay off the credit card

Unregistered wrote: »

I have a bad cash flow at the moment too. Have a job and still live at home with parents so no mortgage. But I basically have me no money at the moment and I have been borrowing off people to get me by. Me credit card is maxed out too. I will basically owe out my full wage when I get paid next week (get paid by the month). It's very depressing. I have a bad binge drink problem at the weekends. I love going out. I need to stop but I can't because there's nothing else to do.

you should not be funding going out by borrowing from other people. that is one easy way to lose your friends and alienate family. instead learn how to say no, and if you can't say no to drink go to AA. anyone whose alcohol consumption comes before fiscal responsibility and their future security has a problem with drink and you don't have to face that alone.

wake up before life gets worse and you still have a chance of regaining control.

Speak with your local community welfare officer. They may be able to help you with some interim payments if your work payment isn't able to cover the costs of your day to day needs.

Contact whomever it is about your payment difficulties with the mortgage. Most would rather you pay something as opposed to nothing. Do contact MABS regards this. They will help and talk to them on your behalf so its less a stress on you and they can work out a payment that you can afford as well as your other debts into one monthly payment that wont break the bank.

I suggest that you should get a pay and go phone account. Get your account switched to pay n go rather than a bill phone. Take the bus or the luas or get a bicycle. Cars these days are expensive to run. You could perhaps sell the car and cover some of your costs. Maybe?!
Pay the minimum on your mastercard forthe time being till you get sorted when you can pay more, so you do not run into trouble with them
As to your tv licence, get a stamp book and buy stamps each week for 2 euros it will soon build up and you can pay your licence by that means.

Check with MABS and also the Citizens advice information. You just may be entitled to other benefits which you may not know of.

Other helpful hints n tips

I know it is tough going and it is hard for you to put food on the table but shop wisely for food and the everyday things you need. Go to Lidl and Aldi ( at the moment aldi are selling fresh vegetables and fruit for 49c. Go to Moore street market and stock up on vegetables.

You can get free stuff in different places that may help you in this difficult time.

If there are things you need such as clothes for your children try

www.jumbletown.ie

everything on there is free

If you are stuck for food

every wednesday between 10 and 12 am the capuchin day centre in bow street gives out food parcels to those that really need it such as those who are homeless and those on the breadline.

Also contact Vincent De Paul they may be able to help you as well either with things for your children or household payments.

I know it may feel like you are at the bottom of the rung when you get to this point in life, but people are out there and are willing to help you. Dont be embarrassed or worried, we all go through this in life at some point.

Do take care of yourself and the very best of luck,

Love,
Merlie

And stop making more fkn babies 'til you have yourself sorted. It's plain stupid and more importantly it's not fair on your children.

What is it with people and babies? Don't people get the impact they have? Like increase expenditure massively and decrease time/ressources available for actually making money? And should be therefore planned somewhat? And planned with your head instead with your heart/dick?

Yes op, you really should have predicted the recession and your wife becoming unemployed.:)

Follow the sound advise here.
Another equally helpful site is ask about money and there is a money makeover section where ya slot in all your incomings and outgoings. I find that helpfull