Latest news with #financialstruggles
Independent Singapore
16 hours ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Steven Cheung, financially struggling, takes to Instagram asking for employment
HONG KONG: Even though singer Steven Cheung took on various jobs to make ends meet, he continues to face financial struggles and has publicly sought help, as reported by VnExpress. Photo: Instagram/Steven Cheung He took to Instagram and posted a Story, saying that he was in urgent need of a job opportunity and required HK$6,800 (S$1,116) today, and he said, 'Help me,' as reported by The Star . Difficult situation Cheung's wife, Au Yin Man, also took to Instagram to share a post about the couple's difficult situation. In a social media post, she shared her thoughts, saying that sometimes even a small amount of effort can turn things around in life, but then she also added that sometimes, even that's just not enough. Cheung and his wife are parents to four young boys, ranging in age from one to five years old. The couple has been struggling to make ends meet. Behind on their rent Things are tight for them right now. Au revealed that they're behind on their rent by a month and a half, and it costs them HK$15,000 monthly. She also mentioned that the landlord is threatening to kick them out if they don't pay the overdue rent by the end of the month. See also Netizens think that Cecilia Cheung is pregnant Cheung, 40, has held several jobs to support his family. He's done everything from setting up cable wires and working on construction sites to handing out flyers, delivering food, and even distributing condoms. Did not get many roles If you're wondering how Cheung got his start, it was in 2003 with a boy band. Before that, they were known as Boy'z but then switched to Sun Boy'z. They were quite popular in Hong Kong and even won several music awards. However, when the group disbanded in 2008, Cheung attempted to transition into acting, but his career didn't take off. He didn't get many good roles. Cheung tied the knot with Au, who's 34, back in 2019, but things have been tough for their family, especially after that cheating scandal in 2019, the one with four women, including actress April Leung. Following that, the singer was unable to secure a job, further worsening their financial difficulties. In 2003, Steven Cheung Chi-hang, 40, a singer from Hong Kong, made his debut as part of the boy group Boy'z. The duo, formed by Emperor Entertainment Group, also included Kenny Kwan. They were quite popular and received multiple music awards in Hong Kong. In 2005, Kwan left the group and was briefly replaced by Dennis Mak. Then, things shifted in 2006 when William Chan joined, and it was then that they decided to change their name to Sun Boy'z. However, in December 2008, the group officially called it quits.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
'There are so many hidden costs to raising a disabled child'
"Our bills are always higher."For Amanda, a mother of two sons, raising a disabled child comes with hidden costs that have forced her out of the seven-year-old boy, William, has medical conditions that leave him unable to attend mainstream school and with significant care has never been able to return to her job managing an opticians because of the difficulties in finding a specialist childcare provider able to accommodate from Skipton in North Yorkshire, told the BBC that her family also faced financial pressure because of the equipment and clothing that William needs. "I'm not a natural stay-at-home mum, I enjoyed working," she be able to afford to go back to work, Amanda would have to have childcare and claim it back through Universal Credit, but the carer would need to be Ofsted-registered."Finding someone who's registered and willing to look after a child with William's needs is nearby impossible." Her plight has been highlighted by The Family Fund charity, which has warned that families with children with additional needs are at risk of falling into debt because of care has epileptic encephalopathy, a genetic condition that can cause developmental delays, a movement disorder called ataxia and learning he was first diagnosed, Amanda was told that he may not survive until adulthood."He has a high risk of SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) where some children pass away in their sleep. When your child sleeps in you think 'is this going to be the day that they don't wake up'."Amanda said there was no "downtime" for parents in her situation and she faced "full-on and long days"."It's hard to explain because he is such an adorable lively boy, everyone who meets him adores him, but he never stops."She said the main challenge was William's behaviour."If you take him to a body of water, he will want to go in that. If we go to a soft play, he will pull on hair. The isolation is the hardest thing."You have no control over anything that happens, you just have to ride the waves and deal with it really." Her household budget is impacted by William's love of water and by food wastage."He has an obsession with water so we use water a lot. Wastage of food is a big one, I want to try and get him eating different things but he is restricted on what he will try."She said nappies and incontinence swimwear "cost a bomb" as does his clothing, which needs holes for his gastrostomy - a surgical opening in the stomach for a feeding tube."When we go out, we seem to pay more for specialist stuff, £50 or more for an hour so they can have fun and be by themselves or with children with additional needs."William has a place at a special school nearby, which has a nurse on site who can deal with his seizures, but holiday childcare remains a problem."I try to explain to people with neurotypical children that their kids can go to an after-school club, or a holiday club by themselves."William might get vouchers but he can't go to anything without a carer and they need training." The Family Fund provides grants for families with disabled and seriously ill children, and the charity said half of its service users cannot meet day-to-day living costs despite being in receipt of state disability has spent her grant on a garden house for William to play executive Cheryl Ward CBE said: "As caring costs increase for families, barriers to paid work as a route out of poverty remain unchanged, including a lack of suitable childcare."Until these challenges are addressed, families raising disabled and seriously ill children can't escape the cycle of living in debt, going without essentials like food, clothing and furniture and experiencing poor mental health."Amanda added: "Everything is so expensive, I wouldn't be able to feasibly buy a garden house for him." 'No choice' Amanda said that when families have a disabled child their "whole life is caring for them".She has an older son, Jake, and her partner has two children from a previous relationship."You feel guilty for saying it but you feel trapped. They will always be children. It feels like a jail sentence, which is awful to say as they are your kids."She said a year ago she would cry "every single day"."It was too much. Not having enough sleep and feeling out of control."All you get from people is 'I don't know how you do it'."Really, I have no choice. If I break down there is no one else. Unless it gets to a real crisis, there is no help there."Amanda said she had been proactive in accessing support which had made a difference."I use a carers' resource and they are my rock, they do coffee mornings, and the hospice provides counselling and support."I found communicating with other parents one of the better things, you just don't feel alone." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tutor Wonders If It's Okay to Ask a Family to Pay Her Throughout the Summer Despite Not Providing Lessons
A tutor turned to Mumsnet for advice on how to handle her challenging financial situation over the summer break She is contemplating asking one of the families to pay her over the summer, despite them not requiring any lessons 'In future, price accordingly, assuming that you won't be needed for the holidays. Incorporate your holiday 'pay' into the usual fee and set some money aside,' one reader suggestedA tutor is worrying about staying afloat financially over the summer break — and wondering whether it would be presumptuous to ask one of the families she works for to help. She detailed her dilemma on the community forum Mumsnet, explaining that she works for three families, all of whom have different schedules and payment approaches. One continues to employ her over the summer, and the second does not require her services during the break but still pays her year-round. The third family had the OP (original poster) working year-round the first year, but then the second year she was informed at the last minute that they would be away all summer, throwing her for a loop. "I didn't realize this was the plan and I wasn't paid all summer. I get the majority of my income from them and found it a real struggle for a couple of months," she said. Now that the current school year — her third with this particular family — is drawing to a close, the OP is anxious about her financial situation. The family has already informed her that her last lesson will be in a couple of weeks — "much earlier than I expected," the OP said. "This will leave me without pay for 3 months, which will set me back a lot," she continued, before explaining why adding new clients to her roster to cover the gap isn't feasible. "I'm unable to commit to other families who have asked for tutoring as they would want all the time, not just in the holidays." Her solution? To ask the third family to help her out — but she's not sure it's the right move. "Would it be cheeky to put this to the father and ask if there's any way they can pay me over the holidays and explain the situation?" she wrote. "I enjoy working with this family and would rather stay with them if possible, I know that I'm valued there, as the mom has told me in the past that they're keen to keep me/continue with me," she added. In the comments section, a lot readers shared the opinion that it would be wrong of the OP to make such a request of her employer, pointing out that her situation is the reality of being "self-employed." They argued that she should be budgeting her money better throughout the year to cover this window of time when she has less money coming in. "YABU [you are being unreasonable]. That is the nature of self-employed work. You need to plan for the times when you won't be working, not just ask your customers to pay you for nothing," one person wrote. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I think this is probably something you should have discussed with them prior to starting," another reader pointed out. "If they haven't previously paid over the holidays or paid a retainer, I would imagine they will not be happy to start now." Many people advised the OP that, going forward, she should negotiate full-year contracts with her tutoring clients or raise her rate to compensate for the summer downtime. "In future, price accordingly, assuming that you won't be needed for the holidays. Incorporate your holiday 'pay' into the usual fee and set some money aside," one suggested, while another threw out the idea of asking for "a retainer" from the family to keep their slot for the upcoming school year. Others wondered why someone working as a tutor would even expect that her services would be needed during a time when kids are on an extended break from school. "If the child is finishing exams in a couple of weeks, I'm not sure why you'd think you'd be needed throughout summer. They won't have anything to study for and will be taking a well-earned break," one person pointed out. Several people also suggested some ways the OP could supplement her income over the summer, such as waitressing jobs, proctoring exams or offering "summer catch-up sessions" for clients. Read the original article on People
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Why women are more skint than ever and five ways to make sure you get what you deserve from your husband
NIAMH Spence draws in a sharp breath as she opens the banking app on her phone. It is two weeks until she gets paid and she only has a few pounds left in her account. 4 This strikes fear in her heart. As a mum to four-year-old Evie, Niamh realises she still has to shop for dinner items, a kid's birthday present and a bottle of wine for the nursery's raffle. Although the freelance PR worker earns a good wage to equal that of her fiancé, lorry driver Stephen, she is always left skint weeks before pay day — while he is not. Does it sound familiar? Women across the UK are finding that their income is burned through much faster than their partners'. There are endless chats on forums such as Mumsnet around the issue . . . 'Skint wife and Rich Husband — please help', 'I'm so much poorer than my partner' and 'Spouses with very different spending habits' to mention a few. A study by credit company Intrum found women spend 64 per cent of their income on essential items, while men get through just 53 per cent. Women were also more likely to go into debt to cover everyday necessities. Niamh, 34, of Salford, Greater Manchester, says: 'Every month my bank account is hammered by our bills, while my partner keeps his healthily balanced. 'We split household bills down the middle, with him transferring his half to me weekly, when he is paid. 'But there are always extra, invisible expenses that come with the territory, especially for mums, which see me fork out more money than he does.' TV personal finance expert Jane Hawkes says it is a widespread problem and one that has been increased by the decline of the joint bank account. She says: 'It is clear women end up spending more on just about everything on a daily basis, from picking up 'a few bits' for dinner to buying presents for countless birthdays. 'And most importantly there is the death of the joint account, which is seeing women using their account for multiple purchases. Those everyday outgoings hit women harder.' Joint accounts are in sharp decline. TSB found in 2024 that only 12 per cent of couples share all their finances in a joint account. Of those with one of these set-ups, four out of five people also had an individual account. While ditching the joint account and having control of your individual finances may seem like a mark of financial freedom, there is a downside when it comes to running a family home — as Niamh, who doesn't have a joint account, found. She says: 'A joint account was never on the cards for us. So many bills were already set up in my name from before Steve and I lived together, it felt like a lot of admin to change that, and he's always just paid half of our monthly budget into my account. 'It always felt less hassle, which might be why we've fallen into this comfortable habit. I was always wary of a joint account for a number of reasons. 'A joint account seems quite outdated. But without one, the parent who does the lion's share of the jobs simply picks up a bigger tab.' In the current financial climate, women in heterosexual households are increasingly finding themselves broke. A study by consumer research company NIQ found that women make between 70 and 80 per cent of household buying decisions. Plus, nearly 60 per cent of female grocery shoppers did most — if not all — the food purchasing for their households, according to market research firm Statista. 'Donations and trips' Niamh says: 'The food shopping falls to me, but it's the other items too. 'I drop off at the nursery and therefore pick up the communications about World Book Day costumes, donations and day trips. Therefore, it's me who coughs up. 'I check Evie's bag nightly, so I deal with all the party invitations and buying the presents. 'None of those things cost a lot of money, but they all add up. 'When you look at it over the course of a month, it's a sizeable chunk of cash. 'Add in dance classes and gymnastics, all of which I take her to and organise, and there's a few hundred pounds extra I pay for each month.' A big problem with the money balance in couples is that admin often comes down to mums. A 2020 poll found 73 per cent of women who live with a partner felt they did more 'invisible labour' than their partner. Niamh says: 'It's always me realising Evie needs a new coat or has outgrown her shoes, so I foot the bill. 'I'm the one who purchases things for our home, I notice we need an air freshener, a candle or that Evie's had her nursery pictures taken so we need more photo frames. 'These just don't come into Steve's periphery. 'Also, the pink tax, where products marketed towards women are priced higher than their male counterparts, even if the products are essentially the same, is a real issue. 'If I buy toiletries for myself, they're always more expensive than Steve's. I don't treat myself to anything special, but everyday things like razors are about £2 more expensive for women for the same product. 'It's not that Steve wouldn't want to pay. 'In fact, on the odd occasion I've mentioned it, he has been mortified that I'm left out of pocket, and has insisted on transferring money over to me to cover costs. 'But the amounts are so small, it doesn't feel worth mentioning.' A TSB survey found that 40 per cent of people who thought their financial situation was unfair had never raised the matter with their partner. 'Serious implications' Niamh says: 'I'm not going to sit around in the evening, as we enjoy our precious hour of alone time, saying, 'I had to put in £5 for a teacher collection today, can you transfer £2.50 to me'. 'But that's how it all adds up, and really, he can only pay for what he knows about. 'Steve has always been really upset on the odd occasion when I have pointed it out. 'I know he's not deliberately trying to make me pay more, it just feels like financial ignorance — and not intentional either. 'I'm the one who feels sick watching the money drain from my account every month. We have spoken about trying to make our finances more even, because we know it could have serious implications for the future. 'We live in a house that I own from before we met, but we've looked at getting a mortgage together in the future. 'When we looked at how much we could borrow, I was rigorously questioned by the mortgage company on how I could afford the huge amount that leaves my account every month. 'Whereas Steve has a near-perfect credit score thanks to his predictable, regular payments to me.' Steve says: 'Niamh has just shown me how much extra she is spending every month. 'It has come as a big surprise. It's really important to me that our bills are split equally. 'I've heard the phrase 'invisible admin' before but didn't realise it was happening to us. 'I'm going to make sure she notes everything down as it really isn't fair. 'I'm shocked.' FIVE WAYS TO GET EVEN PERSONAL finance expert Jane Hawkes explains why women find themselves out of pocket – and advises how to even things up. GET A PAPER CALENDAR: Almost three-quarters of childcare is taken on by women, which means expenses over the school holidays also fall mainly to Mum. A paper calendar is your cost-sharing friend. For each day of the school holidays, make a note on the calendar about what the plan is. Pop a note beside it detailing expected costs. Your other half then needs to put half of this cost into your account by the end of the week. ADOPT THE SQUIRREL METHOD: The little extra spend of 50p for the PTA raffle, £2.50 for school dinner or £2 on parking mount up – and leave you out of pocket. Whenever you make a bigger purchase, squirrel the change away and build up a fund to pay for the little things So if your grocery shop comes to £100.75, put that 25p in a separate part of your wallet – or a separate account – and ask your partner to do the same. At the end of each week, put this money into a real or virtual jar, which becomes the 'family squirrelled away fund' for small spends. USE THE 5-4-3-2-1: A study in the US found men referred to their wives with terms like 'project manager' or said they were 'keeping track of more'. This mental load for women comes as a financial cost. Remembering to pick up a few bits for dinner on the way home, even if it is as little as £4 a day, adds up to £124 a month. Curtail those daily trips to the supermarket with the '5-4-3-2-1' grocery shopping method. This idea suggests choosing five vegetables, four fruits, three proteins, two sauces and one grain at the beginning of the week. You then mix and match these items to create meals, while keeping costs low by using what you have in your store cupboard to bulk it out. SET UP A TREASURE CHEST: The decline of the joint account is a problem for women because they make the majority of purchases by dipping into their own funds. Set up a shared 'treasure chest' – a physical box or virtual fund using an easy banking app such as Revolut – to accumulate money for joint buys. Each partner contributes a set amount weekly or monthly. The accumulated funds are then used for agreed-upon shared expenses. DIVIDE AND CONQUER: Women make more than 70 per cent of the household purchasing decisions, studies by research firm NIQ found, which means there are expenses your partner does not contribute to. This can be remedied simply by using the Notes app on your phone. Every time you spend on anything for the family, regardless of the cost, jot it down.
CBS News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Should you settle your delinquent credit card debt or go to court?
We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. If you're facing a lawsuit over unpaid credit card debt, settling is an option to consider — but so is defending yourself in court. Getty Images More Americans are struggling to make ends meet in today's tough economic environment, and, as a result, credit card debt problems are growing. Not only has the number of maxed-out credit card accounts been increasing, but the average amount of credit card debt has, too. Right now, the average cardholder owes about $8,000 on their credit cards — and they owe that much at a time when the average credit card rate is north of 21%. As a result, more people are falling behind and becoming seriously delinquent on their card payments. When the credit card payments stop, though, the debt collector calls, notices and legal threats tend to follow. And if you're sued over your unpaid credit card debt, you may wonder whether you should try to settle or face your creditor in court. Settling might save you money and avoid a judgment, after all, but it requires cash and negotiation. Going to court could work in your favor, or it could end with a wage garnishment and a long-lasting hit to your credit. So, it's a high-stakes decision with real financial consequences. Understanding when one option makes more sense than the other, though, can help you navigate the situation. Get expert help and start the debt settlement process today. Should you settle your delinquent credit card debt or go to court? The right approach depends on several factors, including your financial situation, the strength of the creditor's case and your willingness to negotiate. Here's a breakdown to help you choose the best path forward: When you should settle your delinquent credit card debt There are a few situations in which it makes more sense to settle your delinquent credit card debt, including: When you haven't been sued yet If your creditor hasn't taken legal action yet, you're still in a strong position to negotiate a settlement. Creditors often prefer to recoup some money quickly rather than risk the time, cost and uncertainty of a court battle, so reaching out early to offer a reduced lump sum settlement can stop the situation from escalating. The longer you wait, though, the more likely the debt will be pursued through the courts, and your negotiating power may shrink as that happens. Learn more about how to handle your delinquent credit card debt now. When you have access to some cash Having some money on hand, even if it's not enough to cover the full balance, gives you leverage. Creditors are typically more inclined to accept a reduced amount if it can be paid quickly, and a lump sum can be especially attractive to them because it guarantees immediate recovery without further effort or risk. When you want to avoid a judgment on your credit report A court judgment can damage your credit for years. It also opens the door to legal tools like wage garnishment, property liens and bank account levies, depending on your state laws. These consequences can linger for years, but by settling before legal action begins, you can resolve the debt on your terms and potentially limit how long the negative impact sticks to your credit report. When the debt is valid and you know you owe it If you know the debt is yours and the creditor has the documentation to prove it, settlement is often the most realistic way out. Fighting a valid debt in court rarely eliminates the obligation, and even if you delay the process, a judgment is likely in the end. Settling also helps you avoid the legal costs of a drawn-out case where you're unlikely to prevail. When going to court makes more sense And here's when it could make more sense to defend yourself in court: When you've already been sued Once you receive a formal court summons, your options narrow. At this point, you're legally required to respond. If you don't, the court will likely issue a default judgment in favor of the creditor, granting them legal rights to pursue repayment through more aggressive means. But by showing up and participating in the process, you may be able to negotiate a better outcome, request more documentation or even get the case dismissed in certain situations. You're judgment-proof or truly unable to pay Some people, by legal definition, are considered "judgment-proof," meaning they have no wages to garnish, no valuable assets to seize and their income sources, like Social Security, are protected from creditors. If this describes your situation, you may not need to settle at all. A creditor can win a lawsuit, but if they can't collect, the judgment might have limited real-world consequences. When the debt is too old to legally enforce Each state has a statute of limitations that defines how long a creditor has to sue you. If the debt is beyond that limit, it may be time-barred, meaning you have a legal defense to get the case dismissed. Creditors sometimes file lawsuits hoping you won't realize this, or that you'll respond in a way that resets the clock. If you're unsure about the debt's age, reviewing your payment history is important before taking any action. When you suspect the creditor can't prove the debt When debts are sold to third-party collectors, critical paperwork, like original account agreements or payment records, often goes missing. If a debt collector sues you but can't produce sufficient evidence to prove the debt is valid, it may be possible to have the case dismissed because the debt collector didn't have the documentation needed to support their claim. This strategy isn't guaranteed, but it can be effective when there are clear gaps in the case against you. The bottom line If the debt is valid and you can afford to settle, doing so before a lawsuit hits your mailbox is usually the best route. But if you've been sued, or if the debt is questionable or uncollectible, going to court may give you a better shot, especially if you're judgment-proof or the creditor can't back up their claim. Whatever path you take, though, it's important to know your rights, understand the risks and get help if you need it. A well-informed decision now could save you a lot of money — and a lot of future stress.
