Tag Archives: debt

Aug18

Can I get a car when I’m in debt?

posted by in Budgeting 1 Comment

Disclaimer: If you’re currently on a debt solution you may be breaking the terms of your agreement by taking out new credit. You should call your debt solution provider first to discuss any additional credit that you might be considering.

When you’re living with debt it’s important to keep your transport costs under control. But what if your car breaks down? What if you need one for work? Or you want a second car for your family? Can you buy a car? It’s something we get asked every day. 

Because everyone’s situation is different there’s no easy answer to this question. You can buy a car when you’re in debt but we recommend that you consider the following first…

Can I get a car when I'm in debt

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Jun19

A friend in need…what to do if someone you know is in debt

posted by in Living with debt 3 Comments

Don't let your friend suffer in silence any longer.

Don’t let your friend suffer in silence any longer.

You’ve known for a while now that someone you care about is going through a rough patch with money.

Their face is constantly tight with worry and there’s a stack of bills on their side table. You can’t have a five-minute conversation without their phone ringing, and every time it does they let out a world-weary sigh.

There could be a whole host of reasons why they’re struggling, some you may not even be aware of. Maybe they recently had their hours cut at work, or their partner walked out. Perhaps their household expenses have been creeping up in price over time (you no doubt know yourself how expensive things are these days). You want to help but don’t know how.

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Jun07

Don’t fall out with family and friends over money

posted by in Living with debt Leave a comment

If you’re on a debt solution with us, get in touch with us before borrowing money off a loved one. It might be possible to reduce your payments to your debts temporarily to cover any emergency expenses.

No one wants to fall out with someone they care about over money.

Back in September 2016, our research showed how debt can damage relationships. Sometimes the person lending the money is struggling too.

 

This added pressure could result in the person lending the money blaming the borrower for their difficulties, which can damage relationships.

With this in mind, let’s look at the alternatives to borrowing money from your loved ones.

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Apr18

Can you talk about debt with your partner?

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Did you know that money worries are one of the biggest causes of stress in a relationship? One plus One has released a series of videos that look at real couples’ stories about being in debt, how it affects relationships and how they got back on track.

One plus One is a charity dedicated to helping people build stronger relationships. They’ve recently been exploring the different reasons couples might get in debt, as well as the stresses that they experienced including working longer hours, spending less, and not being able to socialise.

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Jan11

How to start an emergency fund

posted by in Budgeting 2 Comments

So you’ve made the usual New Year’s resolutions. You’ve resolved to go on a diet, take more exercise, take up a new hobby and stop drinking.

There’s a lot of pressure that comes along with keeping a resolution. One minor slip-up, and it can feel like it’s all come crashing down and there’s no point in persevering with it. There is, however, one resolution that you should make and keep this year: start an emergency fund.

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Apr06

Debt statistics 2015: what we know about personal debt in the UK

posted by in Debt news 2 Comments

Today we released our Statistics Yearbook 2015, which is full of information about personal debt in the UK.

How much do people owe on average? What types of debt do they have? Are there some people who are more at risk of debt than others?

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Feb19

Rent-to-own stores “rip people off” say MPs. We highlight the alternatives

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Rent-to-own

Rent to own now, keep paying much, much later?

Have you ever bought a TV from BrightHouse or a sofa from PerfectHome? Then you might be interested by news that MPs have called for a crackdown on these kinds of stores. This comes after feedback you provided to us last year.

A cross-party group of MPs says the regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), needs to take urgent action to stop people from being “ripped off”.

Firms like BrightHouse charge APRs of 94.7% and make customers fork out for expensive cover that can treble the price of household goods.

For example, a washing machine sold for £295 at Co-Op Electricals will cost a whopping £1,092 at BrightHouse once insurance and interest payments are added in.

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