I have made the call, now what

[LisaFire]

For sometime now my DF and I have been experiancing financil hardship (due to poor money management and spending choices on both our parts). Things have been spiriling out of control since I went on Maturnity leave back in December. I wasnt going to leave till 36wks, but had to leave at 6mths due to extream morning sickness and fainting spells making it impossible for me to get to work and work safely when I was there. Miss K is now 3mths old and my Mat Leave runs out in December.

I am looking at needing to go back to work, but due to struggling to get Miss K to have a bottle, I dont know if I will be. I do NOT want to go back to work. I was not happy in my workplace for a number of years and feel it will be counter productive for me to go back. I also dont want to leave Miss K (child care costs $$ and I know having family look after her will cause arguments).

I have rang My Budget and are waiting for a call back. I need to know if they can help us. We only have DF's income and FTB (and for another 5ftnts Baby Bonus). We are renting.

Does anyone know what my options are if My Budget cant help us? I have suggested bankrupcy to my DF and he has said a straight out no. What else is there?

[Liviam]

Good on you for making that phone call - it must have been so difficult so well done!!!! I don't have any advice i'm sorry but just wanted to say good on you for taking the biggest and hardest step of making the phone call. Hoping that My Budget will be able to help you. Best of luck.

[Pandora]

Hi there. I don't have any advice on the my budget stuff I'm afraid but I do have some experience with havingto go back to work early and bubs not taking a bottle. This happened with both my boys and I was beside myself with what to do about it. Both of them did it finally in the days before I went back to work.
Will your child be in daycare or with friends/family?

[Teeki]

Hi Lisa, I just wanted to give and good luck. I think the best thing of all is that you've made the call - sometimes it's so easy to just ignore the problem!

I don't have any personal experience with My Budget, but I work in a bank and have had customers with financial hardship who have been to see them. They honestly sound fantastic. They'll be able to work out where you can realistically cut back your discretional spending, the areas you absolutely have to spend, and they should be able to work out payment plans so all your bills and loans are paid gradually without leaving you broke.

From what I hear they help loads and should take a lot of stress from you. Again, good luck, here's hoping something can get sorted so you can stay home for longer

[Little Chicken]

I so agree, go to these guys and see what they can do for you. As someone who had basically no choice but to go bankrupt last year, leave it as your absolute last option as the ramifications last for years, but if you have to you have to you and there is no shame in doing it. Can I suggest (and I am sorry if you have done this already) that you sit down and write out every single debt you have to pay and what thier repayments are against what income you get for that period ie weekly, fortnightly, monthly etc. A financial counsellor will ask you to so this anyway. When you have done this just add in what income you would receive if you were to go back to work and just see if that will help you at all. There are lots of options before bankruptcy and lots of qualified people out there who can help you.

Good for you for realising you need help and seeking it out. That can be the hardest step.

[LisaFire]

Thanks everyone for your replys. I have had a call back from them and they have said they can help us. They are ringing back on Wednesday to make an appointment for Friday (DF finishes nighshift Thursday morning so Friday is our best option).

They have explained how they can look at helping us and are really confidant that they will be able to help us. I really hope they can cause I dont want to go back to work.

If I go back to work, Miss K will most likely end up being cared for by family (I will not be happy, cause arguments will entail- whole other thread), but I think Child Care would be best (save arguments). If I go back to work I will only be looking at approx. 3days a week which will only give me about $400 before tax. And I am yet to even now what the deal would be with work. Apparently they have filled my position and have put other people on- so they may have to put me else where with the company.

[Jas]

Hi,

Firstly a big for you. I have a friend who has quite recently started up with my budget an is really really loving it. Also I know it would suck going back to work but I think that would be a better option than going bankrupt, that has HUGE impacts! Also have you looked into what discount you would be eligible to get with centrelink for child care, it probably will cost you a lot less thn you think per week.