A STRUGGLING young mum has said the pressure of Christmas and the threat of being made homeless in the New Year has left her facing thousands of pounds worth of debt – less than a year after getting herself debt-free.
Alannah-Jayne Simpson, from Moray in Scotland, managed to clear £6,000 worth of borrowing in February.
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But she now fears she is going to be back to square one as she faces continuing high cost of living and eviction in the new year.
The 28-year-old, lives with her fiance Jaimie Loughton, 31, and their two-year-old son Odin in a two-bed private rental in Dufftown.
The family were told in November that they must leave the property by April.
The family moved in back in April 2021 and put an application in for council housing last year as rents began to soar in their local area.
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“We always knew we couldn’t stay here forever, as the house is our landlady’s retirement property – and to be fair she has been lovely and given us as much notice as she could,” Alannah-Jayne told The Sun.
“All the private rentals on offer now are at least £300 more expensive than what we are paying and we just can’t afford that.”
Despite Alannah-Jayne and her husband both suffering serious health and mobility issues, they have been on the council list since last year with no sign of a property becoming available.
With the clock ticking ahead on their eviction, Alannah-Jayne is becoming increasingly concerned that the family could be made homeless – and worries that trying to afford a private rental could leave her seriously in debt for a second time.
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‘Hard to keep up with the cost of living’
“I’ve currently got around £500 in debt again as it’s so hard keeping up with the cost of living and Christmas expenses, but that’s a manageable amount that I should be able to pay off with a payment plan,” Alannah-Jayne says.
“I’m worried that the cost of moving – especially if the council won’t house us – is going to make it impossible to repay those debts and add to what I already owe.”
Both Alannah-Jayne and Jaimie have permanent Stoma bags as a result of Crohn’s disease, and complications to Jaimie’s surgery has left him with an open wound that requires regular medical treatment.
The disease also causes a deficiency that means the couple need B12 injections every 10 weeks, chemotherapy injections and Alannah-Jayne’s treatment also requires regular iron infusions.
While they both suffer from chronic pain, Alannah-Jayne’s disease is particularly debilitating and has led to sciatica, chronic migraines and bowel blockages that prevent her from working, while Jaimie works as a delivery driver.
Their complex medical needs mean that they need to visit their GP as often as two to three times a week – which has a huge impact on where they are able to live.
“The town we currently live in has a GP surgery that I can walk to, which is essential for me as I don’t drive and Jaimie isn’t always able to take me to appointments as he works,” Alannah-Jayne says.
“We’re also 10 minutes away from my in-laws, who provide assistance with Odin when Jaimie and I need to go to hospital or if I have an appointment when Jaimie is working.”
After Moray Council told Alannah-Jayne they could not find suitable housing in her current hometown, she provided two alternative locations nearby as they provide suitable access to both her in-laws and medical services.
Despite this, the family have not been offered housing in any of the three locations – instead being told they could be housed further away from Jaimie’s family in a rural location with no easy access to their GP – or find a private rental.
“I’ve been looking and looking for any two-bed bungalows, but there is nothing we can afford,” Alannah-Jayne says.
“Our current rent is £450 a month, which Universal Credit covers £400 of, but all the two beds I’ve found so far are at least £750. There’s no way we can pay that much extra, our finances are already so stretched.”
To further add to Alannah-Jayne’s stress, Odin is due to start preschool in April in her current hometown of Dufftown – but she is now worried about the impact the situation will have on his application with their housing situation up in the air.
“We were already struggling due to the cost of living but the fear of being made homeless is having a huge impact. “I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, all of my spare time is spent constantly checking private lets,” Alannah-Jayne says.
“I should be able to provide a warm home and protect my child but this has made me feel like I’m not being the best mum I can be and it’s left me so down and frustrated.”
The family is just one of millions of renters facing rocketing rents in the cost of living crisis, at the same time as higher costs like food and fuel leaving budgets squeezed.
The average UK rent now stands at £1,201 per month, up by nearly 10% on last year, according to Zoopla.
Annual growth in rental prices in Scotland is 12.9% higher annually, up from 11.4% a year ago.
Rents are expected to rise in 2024, albeit at a slower pace, but for many they will remain at unaffordable levels.
The property rental company also said it expects the supply of rental homes to remain scarce as a result of low levels of investment, tougher regulations and higher mortgage rates.
A Moray Council spokesperson said: “We do not comment on individual cases.
Our Housing Options team is available to assist anyone who requires alternative housing.
“Moray Council’s housing is allocated in accordance with our allocations policy and additionally we will work with households to prevent or alleviate homelessness based on statutory responsibilities which arise when a household is threatened with homelessness within two months.”
Help if you’re struggling with debts and housing costs
Christmas can be a stressful time for many families, with additional financial pressures adding to cost of living woes.
Richard Lane, director of external affairs at debt charity StepChange advises taking a close look at your budget to see what money you have available to go toward Christmas.
He adds: “This will prevent you from spending more than you can afford and facing difficulty in the New Year.
“StepChange has a step-by-step guide to help you create a budget and create a clearer picture of your finances.”
Richard also says setting budgets for friends and family gifts or using ‘Secret Santa’ can also help reduce festive costs.
He says: “We are all feeling the pressure of increased prices for essentials at the moment, so it may be helpful to discuss with your family and friends the best way to help those who may be struggling financially this Christmas.
“It can be tricky to know how to approach telling children that you will struggle to afford gifts they may want, but it’s always important to have these open and honest conversations early to teach them good money habits which will have long-term benefits.”
Richard also advises switching to cheaper supermarkets where possible and trying to avoid Buy Now, Pay Later and short-term credit if you’re not sure whether repayments will be truly affordable in a month or two.
He adds: “If it will take a long time to repay money borrowed at Christmas, it’s likely your loved ones wouldn’t want you to fall into financial difficulty as a result of your generosity.
“If you’re struggling with debt or money worries, reach out for help and support.
“Christmas can be a time of joy and celebration, but it can also put great pressure on us financially, especially as we all continue to face pressures brought on by the cost of living crisis.
“If you’re worried about your finances or experiencing problem debt, a charity like StepChange can help with free and impartial debt advice. Visit stepchange.org to get started.”
How can I get debt help?
If you’re concerned about debt, don’t bury your head in the sand.
Citizens Advice says it’s important to work out a budget and keep an eye on your bank balance.
Try and pay off more than the minimum on credit cards each month, and pay your most expensive credit card first.
If you’ve got several debts and can’t pay them all, it’s important to prioritise.
Your rent, mortgage, council tax and energy bills should be paid first because the consequences can be more serious if you don’t pay.
Groups like Citizens Advice, StepChange and National Debtline can help you manage your debt and negotiate with your creditors.
You should always have a look at what free options are available for managing debt before you turn to a private firm for support.
There’s also a specific government scheme to help manage debt called Breathing Space, which gives you the right to legal protection from creditors for up to 60 days.
The FCA said consumers can get free and impartial advice from the MoneyHelper website or by telephone on 0800 138 7777.
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