Debz66 Debt Fighting Diary - Bring on 2009!

Debz66

Hi all!

After being inspired by another MSE blog on here I have decided to try and keep one myself, which is something I have never done before.

I have quite a lot of debt from attending university, then choosing to have a child and never quite making the career after that Not including my government student loan (which I don't because will only start paying when I earn enough) I am in debt at about £30,000 :eek:

The end of this year cumulated in me not being sure I could meet my outgoings and then getting worried and stressed about bankruptcy etc (although I have now realised after some research into this that I am not there by quite a way yet!). I have just managed to keep my head above water by starting a new job with more hours about 7 weeks ago and having some lucky money in like benefit payments I wasn't aware of and money from a relative for xmas I didn't expect.

I am currently trying to clear £300 in rent arrears and struggling to pay my council tax but apart from that should be able to pay everything this month, which is a lot better than the last couple of months.

All this happening has been an eye opener however, making me realise that this year I have to take control of my money even more firmly than before. I have never racked up debt due to compulsive spending on clothes or anything like that, but there are still areas I could work harder in.

There is just myself and DS in the house now, and we have been living back in Cornwall for just over a year after separating from OH, so that was a massive upheaval as well resulting in me having to get a job, a house and sort benefits pretty sharpish.

It was not a situation I pictured myself ever being in, but I am and so now have to get on with it. I am lucky to have most of my family around me down here and they give me great support when I am feeling down (especially my sister, so mega thanks to her ).

Despite all this and the not great ending to this year, I am feeling positive about 2009 and getting ready to start trying to bash my debt!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas, and here's to a great money saving new year to all as well :beer:

Lemon_Tree

great to see you here Debz and ready to face the challenge ahead of you. have you posted a SOA before? if not then if you follow a link at the top of the boards you'll find it and lots of clever people (not me) will be able to give you some good pointers.
Glad you're feeling positive, i've started trying to up the anti this week will lots of mini challenges i've set myself as i don't want to stagnate again and really want to push against my debt so we can try for a sprogett.

Jolly2009

Evening guys,

Debz - sounds like you are positive and ready for the challenge of 2009. Onwards and upwards eh! Sorry to hear of your upheaval last year but 2009 is new beginnings for all of us and I think most people on here will be fighting the debt with a new found determination at the moment so it's a great time to join the site and start your own blog.

I'm pretty new myself and just finding my way around and reading peoples post/advice for ways to start tackling my debt so not so great on advice as yet but will be popping back from time to time to see how you are getting on.

Good luck, xx

Lemon_Tree

i'm trying to figure out how to report spam jolly

Lemon_Tree

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

i'm trying to figure out how to report spam jolly

reported it, but not sure how quickly we'll get it removed

Jolly2009

You're better than me, couldn't work it out!!

Do you have a diary LT or just post now and again?

Debz66

Hi Lemon and Jolly, thanks for popping by!

I had been a lurker on this site for quite some time before I posted and attempted (badly lol) some challenges in August this year.

I couldn't believe the amount of information available on this site when I started looking, its amazing :T

I'm definitely feeling positive. I am going to try and really not buy anything that I don't need (must control the wants, as I tell DS I want doesn't get :rotfl: ).

I am registered self employed at the moment for making jewellery, and as I only ever started it as a hobby its never really made me any money and the self employed status is a bit of a pain in the bum with being on housing benefit and stuff. So figured if I close it down and sell everything off thats a good start to getting some money, as I had put quite a lot into it. Might keep a few bits to play with though, as did enjoy it

So that has made me feel quite positive about clearing my immediate problems with rent arrears and council tax anyway.

Car is due for MOT Jan/Feb (must check lol) and I have already had a heads up from last year that is probably won't pass though, or be worth saving, so thats another thing to face soon.

Doesn't ever stop really does it, but hey, chin is up at the moment so going to try and keep it there

Off to bed for me now I think, good luck to you both (and everyone else out there) with squishing your debt in 2009.

Lemon_Tree

hi i've never started a diary, my life is too boring. I've been on here for a couple of years and generally post most days.

what sort/style of jewellery did you make debz? I'm a crafter but daren't try anything new due to the cost

Debz66

Well, i'm sitting at computer in my Pjs and dressing gown, after working 8.30-6, collecting DS and from my sisters and getting home too tired to do much else lol.

Lemon, I mostly made jewellery using sterling silver findings and semi-precious stones, although did also use glass foiled beads and other things I found I liked a long the way.

When you say crafter what do you make? My sister and my mum are both into card making, and my sister likes knitting as well!

I agree that anything like that is quite expensive though, my business owes my credit card £600 odd now and I really need to clear that off and there is more besides that I have put in and could do with getting back. I'm not ruling out jewellery making in the future as did enjoy it, but decided now is not the time!

I don't consider my life particularly exciting for blogging I have to say, but I think it will help me to get every thing out this way and keep something I can also look back over

I have to work tomorrow morning, then intend to finish sorting though my kitchen cupboards as crammed stuff in to make way for xmas stuff, and now it needs sorting so I can actually get to everything again, definitely not exciting, but necessary!

No spend day today though, so thats good :T

Lemon_Tree

as a crafter i do cross stitch, knitting, card making and scrapbooking so it can get very cluttered around here and very expensive
i supose i never started a diary as i'm not sure what i would say most days.
today i really need to get started, get dressed and tackle the long list of jobs that need to be done. should help warm me up as i'm bloomin freezing at the moment

Debz66

Back from work and picking up DS now, and I agree with you Lemon, it is VERY cold. I keep having to turn the heating on when at home but I hate doing it as know the bills keep rising. I am always wearing 3 layers at the moment and still cold!

You definitely share the same interests as my mum and sister then Lemon, as they both used to cross stitch too, although neither scrap books.

I am going to work out what money I have in and out for January now and see how good/bad it is looking :rolleyes: . The end of Dec to beginning of Jan is looking quite positive, but this means I am just worrying I have forgotten something :rotfl: