What happened?
Andy was in a secure job and was freely spending money. Although Andy wasn’t saving money, he felt financially stable and was enjoying life. This was until the day he got stung.
In June 2014, Andy unknowingly slipped into his overdraft and was now being charged £30 a day until the balance was cleared. Without having the available cash to pay the fees, clear his overdraft and survive until payday, Andy was spiralling into debt with no obvious way out.
What did Andy do next?
The initial feeling was panic.
Andy decided he had to take control. Unsure of the best place to turn, he reached out to a debt management firm to help him out. The debt management firm contacted those he owed money to and made suitable arrangements to clear his debt. They then consolidated all of Andy’s repayments into one manageable monthly payment which Andy was able to afford.
How did Andy take control?
The debt management firm helped Andy get on top of his repayments, but it was now up to Andy to make some changes. First step was to look at his spending, setup a budget and work out where he could make cuts in order to stay on top of his repayments.
How did Andy’s slip up impact his life down the line?
3 years later Andy had successfully taken control of his finances and had paid off his previous debts. He was in full control of a monthly budget and had successfully bought his own home with his partner.
However, this slip up in 2014 meant that his previous bank account had gone into default. This default along with his use of debt management is still recorded on Andy’s credit file and still impacts how lenders judge Andy today.
Only recently it meant that Andy was not accepted for a premium credit card and other finance products, such as car finance. When applying for a mortgage Andy was unable to go to the high-street banks and instead had to consider alternative “more expensive” loan providers.
What should you take away from Andy’s story?
1. Keep an eye on your spending. “Keeping an eye on your spending, it’s so important and will not only reduce stress levels but will save you a load of cash.” Get visibility of your spending today with Choose Wisely’s free budget planner.
2. Get help if you need it. “If you’re struggling with debt, help is on hand. Do NOT suffer in silence.” If debt has become a problem here’s a list of places you can turn for debt help.
3. Take control and you can turn things around.
“Being judged by decisions I made up to 6 years ago feels so unfair, I wish I had taken my finances seriously years ago”
Improving your financial status is not impossible, as proved by Andy. Choose Wisely can help you take control of your finances with a step by step plan.