Post redundancy help!

Hi all :)

I was recently made redundant at work, as I know many people have been lately and I am sure many are yet to be. Being motivated, I'm not sitting around doing nothing and have been to many interviews, had a few trial days and am about ot start some casual work as well. I want to send some encouraging words to others out there who are in the same boat to not lose hope!

My question is in regard to a vehicle I have leased in my name that I had only as a requirement for the job I was made redundant from. I was paid a car allowance on top of my wage for the vehicle and had it structured so that all operating costs, insurance, fuel and repayments were covered by the car allowance. It is a van, that has a 1 ton payload and is therefore classed as a full commercial vehicle and carries with it the associated tax benefits provided it is being used for work. What I would like to know is if anyone knows a way of getting out of this lease (like lease assumption, which to my knowledge unfortunately does not happen here in Australia) or some other way. I have looked at my financial situation and am sensible with my money. While my commitments were by no means extreme, with the added expense of the lease on a much smaller income (meaning NO car allowance), this has the potential to bring bankruptcy or look into using the services of a debt relief company, like Fox Symes.

I am just over 12 months into a 4 year lease and have a residual payment at the end of it. I had never leased a vehicle before and to be honest, should have listened to my instincts when I felt uneasy about entering into it in the first place but at the time I needed the job and required the vehicle for the job.

Any help or advice you can give me is greatly appreciated. :)