Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Mum says ‘avoid my debt mistakes’
Christmas spending led to £6,000 arrears
A single mum- of- three has warned hard-up families not to get into debt for Christmas after she found herself £6,000 in the red and struggling to cope.
Donna King, 30, says she ignored a mountain of bills and buried her head in the sand as she was determined to make the festive season special for her children.
But, as last Saturday marked 100 days until December 25, she has urged people on benefits to consider how much they splash out.
“Christmas would usually cost about £150 per child,” she said. “Then you spend the same on food and drink, little gifts for other family members. It adds up very quickly.
“You obviously want to enjoy the time with your kids and don’t want them to go without, so you have no income.
“Something has to give. It’s been a real struggle.”
Caught in the cycle of avoiding paying bills for presents, and barely able to provide for her young family, the full-time mum entered the perilous world of pay-day loans.
Without a real understanding of interest rates and repayment schemes, the odd few-hundred pound loan snowballed, and more loans were needed to repay the original ones.
Ms King, who lives in Thanington, soon found herself £6,000 in debt and in what she describes as a “dark place”.
“You bury your head to it all,” she said.
“It’s embarrassing. You don’t want anyone, especially your children, to know. Every day is hard because you don’t know what will come.
“It is such a dark place living like that, and I would 100% advise people to seek help like I did.”
Ms King turned to Christians Against Poverty (CAP).
With the charity helping to budget her every financial move, she was able to pay off most of her debts.
It helped her set up payment plans, and showed Ms King how much was needed each month to not only survive but to slowly get back into the black.
Once the worst was out the way, she was able to save up enough every month for a first family holiday, and encourages others struggling with debt to follow suit.
She was speaking as it was revealed 1,340 people in the district are claiming universal credit benefits – up 40 on the month.
“People like the CAP are amazing, she said. “From coming round to my house to help with bills, to sending emails at all hours, to organising meetings with debt people – I couldn’t have done it without them.”