Janine Starks offers a six-step programme to help dig out of debt and break a vicious cycle of financial mismanagement and depression.

By Janine Starks*

From my mail bag:

Our debts have built up to a level where they feel out of control (about $30,000).  There doesn’t seem to be any way to get on top of things and I can no longer even afford to go for a beer with friends.  We don’t have much to show for the debt as we’ve bought cars ($17,000) and overspent on our credit card ($8,000) and got interest free furniture ($5,000).  I’ve suffered from depression in the past and feel like it’s creeping up again.  I’ve heard about these companies that consolidate your debt into one payment, but people have told me the interest can work out more than a bank would charge.  There are some religious organisations’ that help people, but I’m not sure about them.  My wife says we need to figure out what to do, but I can’t even talk about it, as I don’t know what to say.  I keep thinking we might be made bankrupt.  Have you got any suggestions?

Here is a bit of really positive news for you.  This year the Federation of  Family Budgeting Services saw over 55,000 client cases.  That’s 55,000 times that New Zealanders took the billy goat by the horns and decided to sort out their debts.  So if a town the size of Nelson or Rotorua can pick up the phone, so can you.

Here are a few suggestions – grab a cup of tea and have a think about this lot:

1.    Start talking.  Telling your wife you’ve been avoiding it and don’t know the answers, qualifies as ‘talking’.  Clamming up until you’ve discovered the solution on your own is all very gallant, but the lack of communication will be sending all sorts of unintended messages.  We women are quite good at inventing conclusions when faced with silence.

2.    Get to the doctor – your health comes first, as without mental stability, you won’t be able to deal with the money worries or put them in perspective.  Take your wife to the appointment, as you need support.  Catching the early signs of depression is crucial given you have a history of it.   

3.    Don’t take out any new loans and cut up the credit card.

4.    Make an appointment with the NZ Federation of Family Budgeting Services or phone on 0502 283438.  The service is free. Before you go, see if you can fill out the budget information using their online tool.  Collect all your bills, bank statements, salary, and copies of debts in a folder to show them.  Their advisers know how to handle creditors and can arrange repayment plans that you would struggle to sort out on your own.

5.    Don’t be afraid to use a religious based service such as CAP (Christians Against Poverty).  This is an international organisation (services are currently only in the North Island at the moment).  They offer free debt counselling and courses which provide education.  They help people right through the process, including bankrupcy if thats the only option.  There are good people involved with this organisation.  One of my ex-banking colleagues with 25 years financial experience is involved with CAP in Auckand, so it’s not a bunch of god-botherers meddling in money.  A good quote I read about CAP said “religon is why they do it, not how they do it”.  They won’t bat an eyelid if you’ve never been to church in your life – your debt and wellbeing is what they care about.

6.    Never assume you will go bankrupt.  There are lots of steps to go through before that becomes a reality.  Just to reassure you, lenders want their money back and they don’t want to see you made bankrupt, as they lose out.  One method of bringing things under control is a “Summary Installment Order” set up by a government department called Insolvency and Trustee Services.  This is a scheme where you can repay up to $40,000 of debt in installments over 3-5 years.  Lenders are not allowed to add penalty payments to your debts.  Have a read about this at www.insolvency.govt.nz. 

Look at your problem holisticly

Getting your debt issues sorted is likely to the easy part of this problem.  Its a step-by-step process and you just need to concentrate on the next task your budgeting adviser tells you to complete.  The experts rarely see a debt problem that can’t be sorted in some fashion.  Very few cases ever end in bankrupcy. 

Your challenge is to get to the root of the problem and ensure you take up some longer term counselling.  Your depression could well be a contributor to your relationship with money, so raise this with a counsellor.  Another layer of the problem is how your wife's spending and decision making is intertwined with this.  Figuring out what triggers you both to live beyond your means, is the only way you can stop this happening again.  It would be a huge shame if this cycle repeated itself. 

Email questions to starkadvice@gmail.com, subject line: Financial Agony Aunt.  Anonymity is guaranteed.   

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*Janine Starks is Co-Managing Director of Liontamer Investments. Opinions in this column represent her personal views and are not made on behalf of Liontamer.  These opinions are general in nature and are not a recommendation, opinion or guidance to any individuals in relation to acquiring or disposing of a financial product.  Readers should not rely on these opinions and should always seek specific independent financial advice appropriate to their own individual circumstances.

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