As the cost of living crisis shows no signs of slowing down, more than ever people are feeling the pinch on their pockets. In fact, according to research, one in four people in the UK are behind on at least one bill.
Julie Andrews, 59, is somebody who knows the realities of facing money issues. When she realised she was £28,000 in debt, she hit rock bottom and kept her struggles to herself. Now she’s determined to help others in the same predicament and to stop anybody else going through what she did. Here she tells OK! her story…
“In 1999, everything changed for me. I got divorced and found myself a single mother to my children Carli, then six, and Ben, four. My ex hadn’t really ever worked, so there was no child support coming in. Not long after, I lost my father, who used to help me out, and my mum had died when I was young so I was on my own.
In 2002, after a brief relationship, I had my daughter Jodie, but her dad left when he realised I was pregnant. Struggling to survive with three little ones, it wasn’t long before I took out a payday loan. Back then, it wasn’t like it is today where it’s all online. You’d have people knocking on your door offering you £200 or £300.
I couldn’t say no. They needed school uniforms and nutritious food and I couldn’t bear it if they didn’t have gifts to open on birthdays and Christmas. I was trying to be both Mum and Dad and I didn’t want them to go without because they were from a single parent family.
Deeper into debt
But, of course, the loans were a trap. You start off borrowing a small amount like £200 and, before you know it, you owe double, then triple. It just never seemed to end.
When the bills for gas, electricity and water started piling up, I did the only thing I could think of – I threw them away. I knew I couldn’t pay them and it was easier to ignore them than to face the reality of my situation.
After a while, I had no choice but to turn to foodbanks. I resisted at first, feeling like there were others worse off than me who needed help more than I did. I was too ashamed to tell anyone and would walk there on my own with the double buggy. If anyone saw me, it just looked like I’d been shopping.
Even my closest friend of more than 30 years had no idea how much I was struggling. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her or anyone else. I lived in constant fear of the doorbell ringing, always warning my kids not to answer it. And every time I left the house, I was looking over my shoulder.
It got so bad that I hit rock bottom and tried to take my own life. But, thankfully, I was clear-headed enough to realise what I was doing before it was too late. I thought, “You lost your mother young and now you’re taking your babies’ mother away. And they’re going to find you.” I was able to get help.
Even after that, I kept my struggles to myself. Up until 2021, my debt continued to grow. My two older children had moved out and I started working as a care assistant. Now it was just me and my youngest, Jodie, who was still a teenager.
A life without fear
My breaking point came one day that I’ll never forget. Jodie called me at work. She was absolutely hysterical because there was a bailiff in full body armour outside our house threatening her. She was petrified.
I told her to put the phone through the door and I politely told him where to go. I broke down to my manager and she got the bailiffs to leave, but that didn’t stop the letters and people knocking on the door.
Now my children were suffering too, I knew I had to do something. I went online and saw financial journalist Martin Lewis talking about Christians Against Poverty. I called its helpline and said I needed help. To my surprise, they sent someone out to assess my situation and that’s when I found out the extent of my debts.
When they told me the figure was £28,000, I was mortified and disgusted. They said my only way out was bankruptcy. They froze my debts and got hold of my debt collectors. Bit by bit, we made progress and by February 2021, I was finally debt-free. It was amazing and overwhelming.
It wasn’t until then that I found the courage to tell my children how bad things had previously been. They hadn’t known that I tried to take my own life and they couldn’t believe I’d been so desperate. Even now, it feels unreal that I can answer the door without fear. The apprehension hasn’t completely gone away and I still jump at the sound of the doorbell. But it’s got better.
Money is still a struggle but I’ve learned to appreciate the simple joys in life. Now, if I work 30 hours, I can get by and if I get some extra hours I go to a Zumba class. I don’t buy things I can’t afford. I got my granddaughter crayons and a pencil case for her last birthday and it brought her so much joy. Love is what’s important.
I don’t want anyone else to go through what I’ve been through. No matter how bad things seem, talk to somebody – anybody. The worst thing you can do is to be secretive and pretend it isn’t happening. It’s hard to see it at the time but you’re not alone.”
For advice from Christians Against Poverty, see capuk.org. If you or someone you know is affected by the issues in this story, talk to Samaritans on 116 123