My dad at 68 now wants to get a loan to pay off his barclaycard. I so owe him just under two grand. Please email your ingienious money making ideas to liz “at” gonetitsup.com, either with ‘How to make 36 grand without any investment’ or ‘how to pay back the bank of dad in 10 easy steps’ in the subject title. You could also paypal me money at that address. If I do get anyone paypaling me I shall add it to my account toot sweet I tell ya!

Its late, I am tired and snotty…

Achooo x

Oh yes, Feb 2005, my employer drops a bomb shell at 5.30 on payday - there ain’t gonna be a payday. This continued for several months, late payments - almost 2 weeks sometimes. My debt has always been a knifes edge. Where did it come from? University and trying to get a ‘chemist’ job and career. Things got bad so I moved home.

Back to Feb ‘05! This is when the rope broke, I could not longer keep up with payments…..the debt spiralled. I did try to cope, but finally in July 2006 I joined up with a charity Payplan. They negotiate with your creditors, most of mine eventually gave me 0% (Please note that egg.com and capital one where gems in my time of need. Barclay’s were not and still not) so now £624 a month will pay off my debt in about 4 years.

6 months in and its hard. I am working at my sisters non stop to have money to live. I have sold a good 50% of my clothes and things - no new clothes or shoes for 6 months. I am now used to the budget, having no money!

I have saved more than I have for a while, I have enough to cover my car insurance and tax for 2007, not like last year when the bank of dad paid. I still owe dad £1800. I plan for this to be gone at the end of 2007.

The demanding letters have now gone and everyone has finally agreed to help out. Hopefully my credit rating will not die too much as I have been good and paid up instead of IVA-ing their asses!