Changing jobs and money problems please help

[sunchime]

Hi I was hoping someone could offer me some advice. I owe �3500 on a credit card and am constantly at the limit of my �1000 overdraft. I do use the credit card for occasionally buying off the internet, so i don't think transferring to a 0% balance transfer credit card would be the right idea.... But i really want to pay back the credit card debt as soon as I can. I was earning �17,500, and i live by myself. After tax/NI/student loan i take home about �1000. i have rent of �400, council tax of �60, gas of �25, electricity of �20, Tv/internet/landline of �30, mobile phone of �30...on top of that i have to pay for food and also run a car. I was living on the breadline - so now i have applied and been offered a job of �24,500. This has been a massive boost, but the train to london will cost me �255 p/month. After tax/NI/student loan im not sure how much i will earn... will i even notice the difference? :( Please could someone offer me advice about the credit card issue. Should I tarnsfer the debt to a 0% card and take out a lower rate credit card which i will occasionally use for car emergencies? Im really stuck and feel really low about money. I dont have anyone to turn to.... Dad would go mental if he knew i had money troubles like these. He has helped me out in the past with other stuff and i feel like i have let him down, even though i know it is myself that has got into this mess. Please someone help me .....

[sense4all]

Have a look on this website, lots of folks with experience of cash flow solutions and money management tips

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

[bednobs]

hiya, its a bit complicated for me to work it all out, but see the cab who can work out a plan for you.
you say you buy things off the internet with your card - well a help would be to stop this, cut up the card and dont buy things you cant afford. Also, if you dont need the car now you'll be training to your job, get rid of that. If you have a mobile, do you need a landline? If you have a landline, do you need a mobile? You need to look at what you buy and how you could cut it down. Get a little book, and everythime you spend money write it in, so you can see where your money is going to

[saxy_jag]

You sound just like me. My dad was always bailing me out of debt. I know he thought the world of me and it must have been so frustrating for him. I know he thought he was helping but in the long term it just made me so blase about my debts and that's probably why I ended up in the state I did.

To the point of the matter - don't take out any more credit cards! Every time you apply it goes on your credit record and after a while it can make you start to look a bit desperate. Take note from someone who's been there - taking out one debt to pay another will catch up with you in the long run. Don't do it.

I've heard StepChange are very helpful (http://www.stepchange.org/), and as has already been said, the forums on Money Saving Expert are very good, as well as the general articles.