How Bad Housing and Debt Affects Our Children

Along with debt comes bad housing.

For children living in run-down, overcrowded and damp housing, the first concern must be that of their health. This in turn, affects their schooling. The eventual results of their lack of schooling lead to poverty later in their lives. This vicious circle of events is carried from one generation to another.

It is a fact that children living in overcrowding in their homes have been linked to tuberculosis, slow growth and a higher risk of heart disease in later life.

The lack of comfort in their early lives can also lead to under achievement in their careers, lack of confidence in themselves and the likelihood of their finding a partner who has come from a similar background to that which they had. The list could go on and on.

What is the answer?

The answer has to be more affordable rented housing for the less well off. Where there is a will, there is a way and there is really no excuse as to why children should be born into such a housing shamble.

One charity who constantly works for the advantage of the homeless and bad housing in general, is Shelter. Without this charity fighting the government for the rights of vulnerable people, what sort of society would we be living in?

All because of the circle of poverty, which is prolific in each city and town throughout each country? Just one step at a time and it can be eliminated.

Another reason why we owe it to ourselves to get out of debt quickly and live the life we want to live - as well as be in a position to help those who need our help.


Aine Callan
Debts Challenge

Homeless and alone!

News arrived today that up to 3,000 Polish people are now living on the street in Britain. This is since their country's accession to the European Union. They came searching for work only to find that there was not enough for them all.

What do they do? But turn to crime, drugs and alchololism in an effort to blot out their despair. Of course it is wrong to turn to crime but how desperate must people be in that position and what is the answer? Obviously having a job is the number one answer.

Surely there is work for everyone in the world? Learning new skills opens the doors to many opportunities which are waiting for good people to fill them.

Now that the colder weather will be upon us soon, it is harrowing to think of all the people sleeping in doorways because they have no family or friends to help them out. We, the strangers to these people, are fearful of getting involved and giving someone room in our our homes. We just have to turn on the news to realise what a cruel and violent society we live in.

Being homeless can happen to anyone at any time in their lives. Marriages break down and somethimes one partner will be completely ruthless in wanting absolutely everything out of the marriage leaving the other partner with absolutely zero. Hopefully, the person, who is left with nothing will have the support of their family and friends to help them until they can build their confidence up again and move onto the next chapter of their lives.

If we, who have our own roofs, moan - we should just stop for a moment and give thanks for all that we have and not always want more.

With love to anyone who is suffering today.
Debts Challenge

Save Money on Your Mortgage.

Today I contacted my building society just to enquire whether my rate could be reduced. It was entirely done as an exercise to give you the results. So the results of this little exercise means that I will be saving myself thousands over the next few years, especially if I do it on a two yearly basis.

Just by contacting your building society and telling them that you are thinking of changing your mortgage to another mortgage supplier may save you thousands over a few years too. They will go through the payments you are paying at the moment and offer you a better rate if they can.

Also, if you have a good record of paying your mortgage on time with no defaults but have now fallen upon hard times financially, you could contact your building society to find out if they have any 'holiday payments' periods. Holiday periods are generally six months of non payment of your mortgage with the unpaid amount being added onto the term of the mortgage. Most building societies now offer this option and if yours doesn't then it would certainly be worth while changing to a more flexible mortgage company.

Another option would be to ask your building society if you could extend the term of your mortgage to make your payments more affordable in the immediate future. Later, when times become easier financially you could pay more each month to reduce the term of the mortgage back to the original term.

The more flexible your mortgage the easier it will be to be in control when you have to deal with hard financial times which may be out of your control.
Aine Callan
Survive your Debts Challenge

Have you ever had your home repossessed?

Having your home repossessed is one of the worst situations you would ever want to be in. Has it happened to you? If so, please leave a comment of how it affected you and your immediate family.

• Did your family understand what you were going through?
  
• Did they offer any good advice which helped you?
  
• Were you too embarrassed by the whole episode that you did not want to talk about it to them?
  
• What impression has the day of your hearing in court left you with?


• What happened on the day of the actual repossession?

If you have had your home repossessed, it would be helpful to others to let them know what to expect, how you dealt with it and how you wished you had actually dealt with it.

It can be hard to relive these facts but someone would be grateful for you doing so.

Many thanks.
Aine Callan
Debts Challenge