conversation: User (A_Broken_Boy): "Hello, r/personalfinance\n\nAfter lurking for sometime I've finally decided to reach out for some help. I'm a 25 year old male living in England. During my years of adolescence of living away from home (6 years), I've racked up a fair amount of debt. I would like to go back into education and start a fresh but I believe my only priority now should be to get another job with more hours but that's easier said than done.\n\nMy current employers have been dangling a promotion to assistant manger above my head for more than a year now. About 2 months ago I handed in my notice because I had found another job with double the hours in a nearby village. They then sat me down to ask me to stay because they appreciated me as an employee, (I've worked with the company for 5+ years) and that they're almost ready to process through the paperwork to get me the promotion. So I told them I would stay as it seemed like a better prospect and that they appreciate what I do. However 2 months on and the promotion has hardly been mentioned and I feel absolutely betrayed, my manager knows things are financially tight for me but continues to seemingly test me. (Sorry for the rant)\n\nIn a nutshell my debt is as follows;\n+£1,800 bank loan\n+£1,500 overdraft (which I keep going over, I've tried raising the limit but my bank has refused, which may be for the best.)\n+£457 in arrears from the last place I lived at. I now live with my mum which has made my situation a lot easier.\n\nI earn £605 a month, unless I get overtime which isn't often. £200 goes towards my mum for accommodation. £52.99 for my phone bill and £55 in loan repayments. £10 for gym membership and £15 for a Cineworld card (I can go to cinema as much as I want but hardly go so I'm considering canceling). This leaves me with roughly £267 for the month to live on.\n\nI'm sociable person which has probably been a major factor to me adding up debt. I used to heavily abuse alcohol daily. But I'm currently 24 days sober and feel confident when I say, there's no chance of me hitting the bottle anymore. So that's one less costly thing that I have to worry about. I still go out a lot but all I'm paying for is entrance fee's to clubs and my share of taxi costs.\n\nAll in all, I know where I've gone wrong in life. I know other peoples circumstances are a lot more desperate than mine but any advice on what I can do to help my financial situation would be appreciated. I know things will turn around once I find more work but until then I thought it best to seek help where I can get it.\n\nThanks for reading. I'm about to set of to work, I'll read and reply to any comments as soon as I can.\n\nEdit: Thanks for all the advice given. It's given me a lot to think about, consider and take action on. I feel a lot better now about getting out of this rut I'm in, thanks again!"
  Self: "You're only working at what, equivalent 20/h week at the minimum wage? This is your problem, you need full time hours and that promotion, talk to your manager and start a job hunt.\n\nAlso your phone is really expensive, I assume it is a contract that included the phone? You can easily get sim only deals for £10/mo."
  User (A_Broken_Boy): "Yeah, the job is really low pay. I should and will aim for better. I'm about to actually speak to my manager, she said earlier last week she had something to discuss but couldn't get into it at the time. Maybe this will be an update on the promotion, if it isn't then I'll make it about the promotion.\n\nUnfortunately the contract for my phone is quite new, in hindsight it would have made so much sense to get a SIM only contract but my old phone was very unreliable and having a good phone something I rely quite heavily on. But I think that's a topic for r/society."
  LikesToSmile (LikesToSmile): "I would speak to your manager and tell him that while you really enjoy your job, you are concerned that there will not be any opportunity for advancement. \n\n\nWhen he mentions the Asst Manager position, tell him that you are concerned that this was already promised and there has been no follow through. Give a specific date that the promotion must be complete. " unless the promotion paperwork is completed by next Friday, I am sad to say that I will need to seek alternative employment"."
  User (A_Broken_Boy): "This is a good idea. When I initially handed in my notice it gave them a boot up the arse to push things  even if it was a little bit. \n\nWriting a formal letter like that might make them consider my position some more, I'll take that on board. Thank you"
  