Well here goes!!!

[TREES57]

Oh my god, i've just filled in Melanie's form and had to actually list all of our creditors.It just seemed to go on and on,i don't even know how i've gone on this long ! I've tried to list as much as i can,the expenditure is hard as it's unpredictable and i'm sure i've forgotten stuff.I even put down haircuts for the other half and the boys.Perhaps i ought to provide a photo of myself so that the creditors can see that i DON'T go to the hairdressers !![:D]trust me i look as if i've been dragged through several hedges backwards especially after filling out Melanie's form !!! Must wait now to see if there's any hope for us,hope everyones ok?
Trees

[aguise]

Well done trees .
You will be fine with Melanie and her team. All the best. It is a lot when you have to ac tually list the creditors, mine totalled 17 between the two of us, no worry.

All the best
Ang

[vickir]

Youve done the hard bit - it frightened me when i wrote everything down and then i thought - how on earth did i manage for so long, now everythings approved, so much weight has been lifted of my shoulders, even my teenage girls say they have noticed how much i've changed.
I used to cut their hair myself, now they have it done properly - it does look so much better!!

[buttercup]

Trees57

I am a few days ahead of you I did it last week. I was shocked at the amount of debt & creditors too.

[Lisa2009]

HI Trees, im sure Melanie or a member of her team will go over your expenditure and jog your memory on any things you could have missed.
Have faith, Melanie has a fantastic reputation on this forum and you will find her to be very fair and honest. You are deffinately in safe hands.

mrs skint

[MelanieGiles]

We do not judge or have opinions as to how our clients have ended up in financial difficulties. Our job is to provide advice and options, and guide you through the process. And trust me - the worst bit of this process is writing down what you actually owe, as you may have been in self-denial for some time over the actual amounts you think you have borrowed.

[cat 1]

Hi.When I made my first call for debt advise I had no idea how much my debt was. I told the man about £40,000.When we went through it properly it was nearly £59,000.That was proberbly the best thing I ever did Trees.Cat

[aguise]

We were the same cat I thought about thirty and it was fifty two.

Ang

[Lisa2009]

And i bet theres not many of us that can actually remember where it all went nor have much to show for it.

[aguise]

Absolutely true as well, all on basic stuff no hols. I wonder how at times when we manage on a budget now. Learn the haerd way I guess.

Ang

[Lisa2009]

Wouldnt it be nice to have known then what we know now........educated to it before credit is used. Maybe we would have made better decisions.
Most of hubbys debts were from before we met but i hold my hands up and admit that a lot of it i was party to aswell although all in his name. Maybe i was naive and for once in a very long time, enjoyed being spoiled and my kids not going without what their friends had

Strange kinda lesson to learn but never the less we learned.

mrs skint

[aguise]

As they say sometimes we have to learn the hard way. Still all good. Look forward to 4 years time and enjoy life a little.

Ang

[debbie.s]

I think a large proportion of our debts were interest,charges and unemployment/sickness insurance on loans. When you get to that stage everything just snowballs.Paying one credit card bill with another credit card. Unpaid direct debits, going over overdraft limit. I think our debt doubled in just two years just keeping up with minimum payments. We definately have nothing to show for it.

Debbie

[cat 1]

I have definately got nothing to show for it.Nothing fancy or different in my home or car or lifestyle.I do think in a perverse sort of way though that being in huge debt helped me budget.I had so little real money that I robbed peter, paying Paul and owing Percy that I became quite skilled. I used credit to buy food and get cash in the last couple of months.I never thought it's on the card so I could spend £250 on Tesco shop instead of £100.So now, I really do have a budget and it's lovely and very scary all at the same time.I'm desperately trying to build up a contingency fund at the moment and therefore very conscious of every penny I spend.Possibly to the point of becoming very mean!!! Cat

[Lisa2009]

Cat my hubby and kids call me mr scrooge.
Our F&F was accepted in december and since then i have been awarded the highest rate dla for our son. Money isnt as tight now but im still very careful.
Even mr skint gets pocket money.
I have been leaving my sons dla in the bank along with mine and watching it build up, only taking some out if i really have to.
They kids laugh at me for it but maybe some of it will rub off on them and they wont get into the same mess.

mrs skint