It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

katholicos

taplady wrote: »

just when it looked like things were looking up a bit DH has got to have a new exhaust on his van before tomorrows MOT not sure how we're going to afford it as our savings were all used up when DH was off work for a month and we had to help out DS with his mot. I could cry.
I know things will ease soon - 4 more payments to go till debt free but it seems like everything is being thrown at us lately.

Oh dear, I'm sorry to read this. It is often the way...things can be bearable for a while but then WHAM! all sorts of things happen at once. On the positive side, you will soon be debt free. Well done you!:beer:

taplady

Thanks Katholicos our debt repayments are pretty steep(over £500 a month) so we will be rolling in it in the summer:D the first thing I will do is save save save - cant ever be going through this again.

ginnyknit

Taplady, this is just possibly the last hurdle before you are debt free, so keep going a little bit longer and then you can breathe a big sigh of relief. Then its time to celebrate probably in true MSE style with a budget meal and homemade wine???? :beer:

taplady

ginnyknit wrote: »

Taplady, this is just possibly the last hurdle before you are debt free, so keep going a little bit longer and then you can breathe a big sigh of relief. Then its time to celebrate probably in true MSE style with a budget meal and homemade wine???? :beer:

I cant wait ginny - no wine though as we dont drink - I for some strange reason dont like the taste and Dh is on a lot of medication so cant. But yes we will be having a good celebration!:beer: Its been a long hard 5 years but we've managed to pay over £30,00 back!:eek: we've learned a lot of lessons over this time and gained a lot of good advice and tips thanks to you kind people.:)

we have one more hurdle to go yet before we are debt free and that is to MOT my car as well! so fingers crossed we make it to the finish line!

kidcat

taplady - good luck, I found that the twelve months leading to our debt free date were a nightmare and a real struggle and everything seemed to be thrown at us, but we kept our heads down and got a nice surprise six months down the line when our last two creditors offered us a final settlement that we could afford, so we ended up debt free six months early. It took a while to sink in and we didnt celebrate at all cos we didnt fully feel it was over. Sending hugs to you for the MOT may the MOT tester be gentle!!

taplady

thanks kidcat:T and well done on being DF:T

pagangirl

Hugs Taplady - sounds like you are really going through the mill atm, - can't believe you've paid that amount back in only 5 years - well done you :beer:

Went to BnQ yesterday, in the hope they might have a couple of odd tiles to use as slow cooker base - were they helpful - nooooooooooooo !:mad: On way home, called in local bathroom merchant on the off chance - they couldn't have been nicer - guy showed me pile of odd tiles they didn't need and said help yourself AND wouldn't take any money for them Only took 2 large ones - restored my faith in people which is sadly jaded lately. Thanks for the advice given on here. :T

Got free recipe yesterday for Mars Bar slice - never heard of this one before.
Melt 4oz spread/butter and 4 x 54g Mars Bars together til smooth liquid. In seperate bowl put 3oz Rice Krispies. Pour liquid over, mix well and spread put on baking tray. Melt 200g Cadbury choc & pour over top. When cool, put in fridge. Sorry about mixed oz/gram but just copied from recipe. It was yummy.

Primrose

pagangirl - Isn't it refreshing when a business bends over backwards to be helpful, even when there isn't any profit in it for them? I sometimes think that businesses grossly under-estimate the power of good customer service as a tool to encourage their customers to return.
We once had a broken plunger in our ancient toilet cistern which turned out to be obsolete. We went to B & Q and like you, found they weren't helpful at all. So we went to a local builder's merchant who showed us how we could make a new replacement part by using a cut-up heavy plastic builders bag as a pattern. This replacement cost only pence and is still working two years later. So guess where we go now, whenever we need something in that line of business?

kidcat

pagangirl wrote: »

Hugs Taplady - sounds like you are really going through the mill atm, - can't believe you've paid that amount back in only 5 years - well done you :beer:

Went to BnQ yesterday, in the hope they might have a couple of odd tiles to use as slow cooker base - were they helpful - nooooooooooooo !:mad: On way home, called in local bathroom merchant on the off chance - they couldn't have been nicer - guy showed me pile of odd tiles they didn't need and said help yourself AND wouldn't take any money for them Only took 2 large ones - restored my faith in people which is sadly jaded lately. Thanks for the advice given on here. :T

Got free recipe yesterday for Mars Bar slice - never heard of this one before.
Melt 4oz spread/butter and 4 x 54g Mars Bars together til smooth liquid. In seperate bowl put 3oz Rice Krispies. Pour liquid over, mix well and spread put on baking tray. Melt 200g Cadbury choc & pour over top. When cool, put in fridge. Sorry about mixed oz/gram but just copied from recipe. It was yummy.

Oooh will def be trying that recipe, got two parties next Saturday for the kids (provided they both get better in time DD4 still ha pox - 2 wks and counting and a perforated ear drum) and DS5 has got vomiting bug!!

pagangirl

Well said Primrose - I certainly won't be going back to BnQ anytime soon :mad:

Kidcat - sound you got your hands full atm - hope kids feel better soon - hugs from me ! (Only trouble with that recipe - it's very more-ish - you'll need a lot of willpower to stop at one piece) :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: