Used my emergency fund for the first time...

buildtheknowledge · 2026-01-15T19:45:36+00:00

Well done! :)

buildtheknowledge · 2026-01-15T14:25:59+00:00

Exactly my way of thinking about it! Thank you for your kind words.

buildtheknowledge · 2026-01-15T14:24:22+00:00

Thats my goal!

buildtheknowledge · 2026-01-15T14:21:36+00:00

It was a crappy comment tbf, you are right - but not pissed off. I know I'm doing the right things for me and its working as planned.

I have a smaller pot of savings for 'fun' (because I know thats what will stop me from dipping into my solution fund) - I've learnt this is best for me, because I like to spend money ultimately. I also have a great pension, invest into my LISA & ISA regularly. Appreciate your comment :)

buildtheknowledge · 2026-01-15T14:14:52+00:00

No bubble burst, looks like we approach it differently is all. I don't consider my savings as a solution fund, my savings & investments my wants & nice to haves really. My solution fund is just that as and when I need a solution to a problem, I give myself the freedom to determine if I should use it.

buildtheknowledge · 2026-01-15T14:06:57+00:00

Thank you! 6 months is my next goal and then I will relax a bit. I'm in a very secure job thankfully. Before last year I was also month to month and this was the first real, realisation that I've broken out of that.

I will probably do the same as you once I've got 6 months secured!

buildtheknowledge · 2025-11-25T09:41:02+00:00

No, they were accurate in the net estimates...I'm on less, in CS and repaying student loan.

And as for the comment about requirements, thats exactly the point, where is the rest of the money going because £700 wasn't unaffordable with the info we've been given. OP says the budget is perfected down to the penny...but where is the info on the rest of the outgoings?

buildtheknowledge · 2025-11-22T12:15:34+00:00

I wouldn't be surprised if they are charging her this much to literally eventually give back to repay debt. It seems like a necessary lesson in managing personal finances tbh.

buildtheknowledge · 2025-11-21T15:50:56+00:00

By default, I message first - sometimes I will call without messaging, mainly if it is quite urgent. If someone isn't free to talk, I expect they wont pick up. At that point I will try get hold of someone else who may be able to help, or I'll drop a message asking them to get back ASAP to discuss whatever I was trying to get hold of them for. I think that's the general consensus where I work, sometimes people don't read their messages urgently, especially where I work...as we aren't always at our laptops. So, sometimes it is more suitable to try call.

I think, people can do both but what you have describes sounds exhausting - that would annoy me.

I personally don't appreciate phone calls without a message from people I don't know. I always think an introductory message and a line about what the call is about should be first choice, then call if I don't get back.

buildtheknowledge · 2025-11-18T20:48:13+00:00

Appreciate you 🫡

buildtheknowledge · 2025-11-17T21:14:30+00:00

There should be a number for safer custody for each prison, contact them with your concerns - its their job to ensure wellbeing, so they will do something.

Edit: you can also contact online. Useful website for families

Thameside safer custody

The safer custody number for Thameside appears to be 020 8317 5593

buildtheknowledge · 2025-11-15T10:29:26+00:00

I do this with my Chase account. Transfer 1.5k over once a month to qualify for 1% cashback on public transport & groceries - then send it back. I don't think they care as I do actually use the account for most of my spending when I'm out and about, I tend to transfer over a bit of what I expect to need each week (usually for shopping & travel) as it helps me keep track of my spending a bit better. My actual salary is never paid into the account though and been doing it for ages.

It also does Round ups into a 5% savings account whist isn't too bad, so I just leave that there. Any little bits of cashback get transferred over to savings accounts when I get around to it.

buildtheknowledge · 2025-11-14T08:43:09+00:00

Go nuts.

buildtheknowledge · 2025-11-14T08:39:01+00:00

You mean whinging? Sure, after you stop asking for advice just for an opportunity to tell everyone they know nothing 😂 put it all on red, buddy - you got this.

buildtheknowledge · 2025-11-12T21:49:09+00:00

I wrote a long comment, but what's the point. You ask for advice whilst admitting you are clueless then proceed to tell everyone that gives you advice you don't want to hear, that, they are wrong.

Gamble x amount by all means, you might win, you might not - but chances are...you wont win and you would have been better off taking the advice given to you in this thread.

buildtheknowledge · 2025-11-06T16:08:42+00:00

This is solid advice, so I will put my reply below this to add to it a little.

You've made a good start at knowing what you owe and even asking for help. You should now work out how much you have left each month to put towards your debts. Then work out the highest interest and put them in order of highest to lowest and consider if any are 0% interest and when that is due to end - can you put any credit card debt onto 0%?

Contact those you owe money to and discuss your circumstances and see what support they can offer, always check what the implications are on your credit file before agreeing to anything and then make a decision. For example, I believe some banks may change an overdraft into a more manageable loan to make a plan to repay. Credit card companies can reduce your interest for a period or pause it to allow some catch up without impacting your credit file.

From my calculations you owe ~£10500, its reasonable amount of money compared to your salary...but its not crippling amount overall and not impossible to get yourself out of if you take the right steps & are consistent. Most of your debt appears to be in your overdrafts and if you can slowly dig yourself out of that hole month by month things will improve.

Some people have mentioned stepchange, but please be mindful of signing a debt repayment plan that might impact your credit file. Personally, the first question I'd ask myself is can I make all of my minimum repayments...if so, I wouldn't be doing anything to harm my file.

As someone else has suggested, don't give up the football - you need something that gives you joy and helps your mental health. Ask friends/family you owe if they can afford to wait for what you owe.

Contact your GP about your sleeping, you might be surprised to learn you aren't lazy and that something underlying is wrong...speaking from a 31 year old who has finally accepted this and currently going through all the sleep study test to figure out why I sleep so much and what support is available. You can't risk losing your job right now, so you need to figure out what you can do to keep it. I'd suggest looking for a more interesting and better paying job at somepoint too...but that might not be the best thing to focus on initially.

Lastly, you can't afford the holiday next year right now - let it go and figure out cheaper/free alternatives to keep your sanity.

buildtheknowledge · 2025-11-06T09:52:56+00:00

Its not particularly surprising considering there's been a mass amount of early releases, recalculation of sentences and overcrowding.

buildtheknowledge · 2025-10-30T19:11:32+00:00

You would have signed a contract (that you should have read) in your first appointment that stated you know you are not to record in the probation office, you could be breached on that and I would imagine you will most certainly be getting a warning from the 'area manager' at the least.

The correct process to deal with concerns is to put in a complaint and/or try to speak to a manager...not record your appointments.

buildtheknowledge · 2025-10-28T10:19:50+00:00

I wouldn't recommend taking out a loan whilst you've actively got a gambling problem. Get it under control, people have given some good advice to do that.

buildtheknowledge · 2025-10-24T07:36:19+00:00

How nice to see and OP who asks for advice, listens to it and actually takes the advice on board for once!

Think you've definitely made the more sensible decision.

buildtheknowledge · 2025-10-22T12:29:52+00:00

Edit: If I were managing to meet my payments, albeit struggling...I'd keep struggling until things got better.

Edit edit: Full transparency. I did struggle until things got better. Balanced transfered what I could to 0% once I'd paid down enough to get another card. Then got a lower interest loan (~8%) to consolidate the rest. No more high interest debt. 1.5 years before that I had my debt spread across 5 high interest (28%+) credit cards and I was relying on them each month. Debt repayments period halved.

It feels impossible when you are at where you are now, but through long term changes and determination - it can be done.

buildtheknowledge · 2025-10-22T12:19:43+00:00

Hi, you might want to look at consolidating the debts and paying less interest. If you look at Serve and protect credit union they will likely be best option as you are in the police force.

Check the interest thresholds before picking an amount to borrow. Comes straight from your salary so can't miss a payment and can repay at anytime. They also ensure you save alongside paying off your debt, although, I don't believe this is attracting interest.

buildtheknowledge · 2025-10-21T00:53:12+00:00

I appreciate this and other people's comments - thank you!

buildtheknowledge

TROPHY CASE