Road to Recovery - My Diary

Hope78 · 31 March 2007 at 2:00PM

I have chopped up my EGG Credit Card!!!!! Feel wonderful.

It arrived in post this morning and immediately I chopped it into lovely little pieces (also did the one that expired and was hiding in dad's wallet just to feel extra super duper).

I've almost been a DFW for nearly a month and while things aren't easy and my overdraft is still -£600ish (and it has been the month when my union and professional fes come out). I have not spent on any credit card for a month and I feel wonderful. Which is amazing as before my LBM it was -£1000 and I was a bit of a plastic fantastic!

I've decided to make a weekly diary as I'm getting downhearted my how little I seem to be doing. I'm also going to set weekly and monthly targets and update my sig monthly too. Did get a shocker today when I got credit card bills in and was able to see how much interest really is! Made me feel quite sick and panicky that I'll never clear them. But trying to focus on positives.

Cheers
Kx

Sugarhunny1 · 31 March 2007 at 6:56PM

Just read both of your threads and your doing so well. I know it can be disheartening but try and keep focused. A spending diary is the way to go! Car sharing is also a good way to go.

Are you ashamed of your debt or just a private person? I've found alot of people are in the same situation but just dont admit it and it can become a really good talking point and its good for sharing ideas and tips.

Keep your chin up. I'll bookmark your thread and definately be back (thats not a threat!) LOL

Sugar xxx

tigzem · 31 March 2007 at 7:23PM

You're doing really well.... remember it's baby steps and they soon get bigger. As long as you can keep motivated, I find reading the diaries on here helps me. I'm not making massive dents in my debt at the moment due being on benefits etc but I've taking the steps to get a job and have an interview on monday.

You've done really well so far, so keep going..... xxx

Hope78 · 31 March 2007 at 9:13PM

Hi Suga and Tigz

Thanks was in need of support! I'm both really ashamed and very private. I don't express feeling or share thoughts and opinions with anyone, even friends I've known my whole life! I've always been seen to be the strong one that everyone depends on. I feel I've had that exterior (hard shell) for so long noone would believe I'm a softie inside who takes things to heart, feels a failure etc etc. On top of that I know I've just been greedy not needy when it came to spending and have nothing to show for it and I am embarassed as I earn more than a decent salary and am in a profession where "I should know better".

Over the past few months as I'm nearing 30 friends keep pushing and pushing for me to get on the property ladder and I'm running out of excuses as to why I'm still at home. My closest circle of friends are all married/living together and have had their first kids and are now onto their big detached family homes and I just feel a failure. I've more or less withdrawn from them now as if I'm not getting nagged about moving out it's the whole "do you think you'll ever settled down??" One of them even asked me a few months ago if I was considering having a family on my own! Sometimes I just want to scream - they're so wrappd up in their own worlds and expect me to be there for every crisi but the shoe is never on the other foot.

I do want to settle down one day but what they don't realise is with them all cosied up and unable to breathe withought their partners I don't have the opportunity to meet someone. I get miserable so I spend money to make me feel better then that makes me feel worse so I spend more vicious circle.

Well must've been feeling emotional and had a little cry - rant over!

Good luck with the interview they'll be lucky to have you. Let me know how you get on.

Kx

Hope78 · 10 April 2007 at 6:11PM

I've made it through my first month as a DFW and although I've had a downer lately I'm feeling positive again now. Think it's because I've seen that I cleared more than £1000 off my debt and that's without paying any extra which I will hopefully one day soon.

I booked a city break for July which initially I felt really guilty about and wasn't going to admit to it on here but that would have been the old me. However I know the type of person I am and if I didn't go away on hol during the summer (7 weeks off I get) I'd have frittered money away going for lunches etc this way I'll have had a lovely time and can be thrifty when I'm back Also wasn't away last year and it really dampened my spirits. Previously I'd have stuck it on a CC but not this time. I made £40 with my first 2 sales on ebay so I used that along with £20 my lovely mum gifted me to pay the deposit going to put more things on ebay and going to carboot sale on 21st so anything I make will go towards my break.

My Achievements:
1) Cancelled online music subs of £5.99 a month which was on CC so had interest too.
2) Cancelled life insurance at £25 a month I've no home or children which need protected.)
3) Sold 2 items on ebay £40.
4) Submitted first stage of claiming back bank charges.
5) Started washing car myself saves £13.98 a month.
6) Reduced overdraft by £400 by keeping a spending diary.
7) Chopped up a credit card which is the first one I aim to clear.
8) Cashback reward earned £6.68 Pigsback earned 170 points
10) ipoints earned 637 greasypalm earned £2.50
11) You Gov earned £6 Valued Opinions earned £2.00

Month 2 Targets:
1) Put £10 emergency money under car mat (never got round to it yet.)
2) Get bank mandate from finance dept (never got round to that either).
3) Decide which parachute account to open (I've a shortlist).
4) Be more committed to cashback sites for daily clicks etc and check them before buying anything.
5) Ebay everything that doesn't sell at car boot.
6) Start thinking ahead to Xmas budget (I'd like to start buying in summer.
7) Knock another £100 off overdraft.

All in all I guess I've had a pretty good month and need to stop being so hard on myself. I probably was over excited and over eager in first two weeks and planned to do too much at once and that's why I hit the downer.

Cheers
Hope x

tigzem · 11 April 2007 at 7:05PM

Hi Hope,

Wow - your achievements so far are fab!! Well done :T :T :T

I got the job, and am starting on the 23rd - can't wait!!

Keep on with the diary, it really helps me.

Where is your city break? My Mum has just got back from Prague, she met my brother there as he's currently teaching English in Poland. She loved it.

Don't feel bad about it... you've done well so far and well done for not putting it on your cc.

Tigz xx

Hope78 · 12 April 2007 at 12:35PM

Congratulations! :j Told you they'd be lucky to have you. I'm going to Rome though I've been told by frineds I'd love Prague due to my love of music and architecture. Once I'd listed what I'd actually done it gave me the boost I needed.

Cheers

Marlowvian · 12 April 2007 at 12:58PM

I've been in debt for like forever but was comfortable with my 2 loans, and 3 credit cards. I had them and never missed payments etc. I knew (well thought) I would eventually pay them off in a few years but then I got ill and found I couldn't quite cope anymore. Once it was all totted up with the interest it all amounted to £50K - couldn't believe it.
Thought about bankruptcy but in the end went down the Payplan route.

I banked with Natwest at the time. I'm now with Lloyds.
I owe Natwest £1700 for my overdraft and about £9000 for a loan, which will probably get paid off when I'm like 80 as its a tiny pro rata payment.

I got totally stiched up with bank charges from Natwest despite them knowing the score with Payplan - they charged me £40 every month for a long period and there was even a month where I received 6 x £40 charges!

Am I entitled to reclaim bank charges against Natwest despite owing them money?
Has anyone tried this or aware of the implications?

Would they then ask for the money back? Or would it disgruntle my other debtors and nullify the agreements I have with them?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Hope78 · 13 April 2007 at 3:35PM

I would think you should be but I'd check on the bank charges forum that's where you'll get the best info.

art_student · 13 April 2007 at 7:13PM

Hi Hope!
Well done for getting on top of things - sounds like you have made a brilliant start.
Don't let people who are telling you to get on the property ladder etc bother you - they don't know your situation. Just do what's best for you.
Keep up the good work!

Road to Recovery - My Diary

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