I've been really stupid

*twinkle*_2

Polly, cady mrs pacman (((hugs))) thank you all.

Mrs pacman your website sounds fab, I got web domain months ago intending to blog my journey to being debt free and add links to free help, of course I never got around to it, but I will start it asap now.

Can't believe where these 10 days have gone! I'm feeling much better thank you, its nice to feel in control of the finances again to be honest, think the shock was necessary or a a few months time we would have been in a mess even if hubbys wages hadn't dropped. I sometimes get panic attacks about it, but there is a voice that keeps telling me its only money, half hour playing on the snowball calculator usually calms me down lol.

An update...

I start my first course to be a budget coach on saturday, I won't start volunteering until I know everything is under control with my budget, but at least i've been able to start my training, really looking forward to it.

My eldest DD has got an afterschool job, really proud of her as it was her first interview and it means financially now we don't need to give her pocket money or buy clothing.

Younger DD has agreed to take sandwiches which has saved another £10 a week.

I'm amazed how well we have done on our food spending, I've gone from about £110 a week to £65 this week, spent all day yesterday cooking for the freezer so there is no temptation to go to the chip shop.

No news on the £6000, think the people buying it are having trouble getting finance, i'll give them a bit longer, but will then have to re-think plans.

I have a job interview tomorrow...yipee! I really, really need it, 16 hours temporary, but it fits in well with my current job so cross fingers. All the money will go straight to the CC's.

I've told both sides of the family we won't be buying christmas pressies this year and it was fine, everyone understood. It feels like a weight has been lifted and i'm looking forward to enjoying christmas with no frantic shopping, just a nice family christmas.

I feel as long as nothing goes wrong we are ok for the minute, hubby thinks his wages could go down another couple of hundred so really pinning my hopes on getting this job as a safety net. Thanks for all your support guys, it means so much just to have someone help you see there is light at the end.

GeorgeUK

So glad things are looking better for you Twinkle.

Good luck with that interview.

*twinkle*_2

I got the job :j We should have £250 extra a month now to make overpayments off debt. Hopefully OH's wages won't drop again and mess up my figures!

The £6000 for the item i'm hoping to sell is still up in the air so i'm going to presume I don't get it for working out a my figures. Our mortgage comes off fixed feb 2011 so my aim is to be debt free by Jan 2011 hopefully I can do it a bit earlier.

The job will be for about 10 months at least, first pay begining of Nov.
10 months of minimum repayments will be £6130 plus overpayments of £2500 = £8630

Used to pay off....

1. Clear overdraft £900
2. Minimum loan repayments £313.72 a month = £3130 leaving a balance of £10525
2. Nationwide CC £4750 pay £3250 off leaving a balance of £1500
4. M&S CC1 £1085 repayments of £25 a month= £250 leaving a balance of £836
5. M&S CC2 £4404 repayments of £110 a month = £1100 leaving a balance of £3842

Total debt left at Sept 09 £16703

First goal overdraft £900

Extras to put towards this £120 for private work hopefully next week.
look at things to sell on ebay

GeorgeUK

Great news twinkle. Hopefully you can reduce the interest you are paying with that BT.

Just call and ask what your current interest rate is (after you receive a nil statement)
Then ask if there are any BT offers.
If you don't like this, just ask to close the card.
You will be put through to either customer retentions or card closures.
Tell them you were discussing BT's with one of their colleagues and who said they may be able to offer something. Hopefully you'll get better than the first offer and can get a reduction in any interest you are paying.

Don't forget to have a little fun while you're at it though. You've worked hard and made good progress. Reward yourself - you deserve it.

*twinkle*_2

Well its been two months since I posted so time for an update..

Things are alot better, OH's job not great, but they did make his pay up this month to the normal amount so that was a big help, he also has an interview in a couple of weeks, less money again, but its more secure and alot less hours. We will have to buy a car though, I want to buy something for £500 for now, OH not agreeing so we will see
I'm plodding on with 2 jobs, first full pay packet tomorrow :T I did get really fed up of it, but i've kicked my butt and I know I just have to get on with it, decided i'd rather be tired than worried sick like when I first posted.

M&S have upped the interest rate of my CC, i've never even been late with a payment so not very happy with them :mad: the good news is though the £6k I was hoping for should be here next week and will pay it off.

I'm trained now to do voluntary work and start in a week helping with budgeting :T I'm nervous, but also excited :beer:

Financially our overdraft is paid off, I really don't know how i've managed to pay off a thousand pounds in 8 weeks, but its wonderful :T Not including our loan after the £6000 arrives we wil have about £3500 left on CC's, the goal is to pay it off by April.

As horrible as this has been to go through, its been a real wake up call and its made me sort things out. I can't believe how much money we have saved and for the first time in ages money has a real value and I feel in control, I can even check online banking without holding my breath :rotfl:

phantom9999

congratulations on your achievements so far!!!!

Pollycat

I'm glad to hear your news, Twinkle.

Even if you did fall off the proverbial 'wagon', you realised it pdq and sorted it out before it turned into a big problem.

Keep it up!