Jo_R's debt-free diary, slow and steady progress!

Jo_R_2

Thanks for that Malc!

Okay so been super-busy today with money stuff, main thing to report is that I've finally managed to post my letter to start the ball rolling with reclaiming the PPI on my loan. I'm fairly confident I have a good case, so it's a matter now of playing the waiting game - basically as far as I'm concerned anything I do get back is a bonus:j

Feeling pretty organised and I think having a spreadsheet is going to be the making of me - once I get the hang of using one that is!:eek::eek::eek: It's going to take some time I can tell you - I've never really used one before and it's taking some getting used to!

Had a bit of a blip earlier, was reading around the DFW board and reading about some of the debts people have got me thinking about this loan and how I wouldn't have it if I hadn't met the ex... Of course I wouldn't have my DDs either who I wouldn't be without but I must admit at times although I am very zen about it, today I had a flipout thinking about how he is a complete pr!ck and has shown no inkling of responsibility and gets to flit off scot-free whilst I sit and effectively pay for his debts, and how much we could be saving towards a house whilst he goes off on 3-week holidays to USA and wherever he feels like...

Anyway I am now over it - I sincerely believe in karma and whilst I wouldn't wish harm or anything like that towards him, I am sure that one day he will land himself right in it because he hasn't changed - I really feel sorry for his wife - I never got married to him, whilst she has, poor her - I actually mean that as well, I feel sorry for her, I bet he's spending her money too now.

And that's enough of that - it happends from time to time then I get over it!

[Deleted User]

Morning Jo,

I love spreadsheets, I have one for almost everything. Everytime DH logs on the computer he sees another spreadsheet for something else poor thing.

I can understand your frustration at ex-OH but as you say Karma is a good thing and it will come back and bite him when he least expects it.

Will check on you later. xx

Jo_R_2

Quiet day today. Not much planned on the finances front, just need to check online banking and going to have a play with spreadsheets again.

Also hoping to list a few things on ebay later and take photos of the stash of cloth nappies so I can sell them on. Have listed but not sold much on ebay this month (as per signature LOL!) so gonna try again with more stuff.

Hope everyone is well!

bevan840

Hi Jo

If you're having any problems with the spreadsheets I sent you let me know and I'll try and explain them a little better If you were closer I'd of given you some training like I do with Mum on her computer

I understand about the XOH, thankfully there were no children involved with mine but there was money involved! In the end because he was causing me so much stress my Mum stepped in as middle man, I never heard from him for ages and Mum got all my money back We have got some sort of friendship back again and say hi every now again. Have you thought of going to see a solicitor for the free half hour to see if there is anything you can do legally to get him to help out with the loan repayments? It doesn't seem fair if it's his loan and your paying it for him (sorry if pointing out the obvious) I believe Karma will well and truly come round and bite him on the a***

Well done on posting the letter Hopefully if you get it back you can pay more of something off, maybe put it back on the loan or put it away for your house deposit

BTW you couldn't say the wrong thing, you've always been so lovely and friendly
*Hugs* xx

Jo_R_2

Sal - interesting idea about getting a middle "man" /person involved:D I should set my mum and dad onto the ex, they absolutely detest him and I'm sure my dad would be able to persuade him to do the decent thing - I don't think it would be very diplomatically done though so on second thoughts...!

It makes me angry at times because effectively he's shirked any responsibility for his spending back then, left me to deal with it and gone on into his 'new' life having shed his baggage. Okay he does see the girls and pays maintenance based on his lowly full-time wages (which I am fairly sure he lied about but have no proof and don't want to cause an all-out war between us and which took a good year-and-a-half to materialise) but it makes me feel angry, not just for me, but for the girls (it's less money to go towards them, I could be saving a little something for their future) and for OH (he's left working round me shelling out so much a month and it's affected his opinion of OH as they used to be friends way before I came along and he feels quite bitter about it.)

The irony is that what he contributes in maintenance covers the majority of the loan repayment each month, short of £34, so really the girls aren't getting any benefit from what he's paying at all:mad: And when he said last time I approached him about it that he couldn't even remember what the loan was for and could I remind him, and anyway he doesn't have any free cash each month, I was so mad...

Anyhow I know in my heart I'll never see any of that money from him, I don't want to perpetuate a bad atmosphere each month but the only thought I have left is what you mentioned about getting someone else involved. OH has offered, only I know he'd get really angry about it, but it could possibly just shame ex into contributing something. I discovered a stash of statements from when I took out the loan of ex's then-debts so I know exactly what the loan paid off, so I might send OH round at some point

Keeping_Positive

Have you still got the original bank statements showing the payments made? Could that be used as evidence? TBH he is such a git that just det your lovely Dad on him. Anything back would be a bonus.

Jo_R_2

KP I would get my dad round tomorrow (well as soon as!) but with them having their baby due anytime now it's just not the right time. Maybe a month or two down the line - although I did mention a while ago that if it got left until after their baby arrives it would just be another reason for him not to contribute - and knowing him he'd somehow try and make me feel guilty for asking.

Loving spreadsheets, getting the hang of it now and customising it for my money, I love being super-organised!

Jo_R_2

Okay so a couple of questions for those who are more organised than me - although I'm getting there I think!

Pocket money - how do you do it - do you do it in cash, or have a separate account, or is it in with 'other' money?

What do you do when you have spends that don't fall into any particular group? For example, I need to buy a new laundry basket (kids think sitting in them and dragging each other about is a great game but it always breaks them - makes me laugh though:D) and curtain hooks (my fault, OH always tells me off for being too heavy-handed opening the curtains:o)

Which pot does stuff like that come out of - my initial inclination is to use a little out of the surplus each month then at the end of the month allocate the remaining surplus to overpayments which sounds logical in theory and useful in case anything comes up but seems like an awful temptation, or at the very least makes it easier when you're having a moment to dip in and then have much less than you'd like at the end of the month...

bevan840

Hi Jo

Glad to see your getting the hang of the spreadsheet now

Pocket money, DH and I have £5 per week pocket money (really wish cashpoints would give out £5 notes again!!!) My £5 is going on my ipod at the moment, so every other week I take out an extra £10 and give it to him to do what he pleases with. I have to take about £200 a week out to pay random things (rent, shopping, petrol etc you'll know what I'm on about as you have the spreadsheet ) and I prefer to do it cash instead of card (how we ended up in Overdraft in first place) I did want to pay his £5 into his seperate bank account but he says its easier to use the joint account (easier for him maybe but not the one who's trying to keep an eye on them all!! lol)

Random spends tend to come out of whatever money I have on me at the time I take out £20 a week for petrol but I don't always need £20 so I keep the rest for myself so if there is anything that needs buying (laundry basket etc) it normally comes out of that but it would probably be easier for you to work out which way you would like to do it as it may work better than how I do it

Sending Dad or OH around to see X might be a good idea, if they can try and keep a clear head, don't want any assault charges brought on because of it Is there any way of him upping his maintenance to cover the loan and a little extra for 'his' children, does he know that none of the maintenance really goes on the girls because of this loan? (I'm guessing if he does he's a total p***k!!!) Definitely hold onto the documents though as you have proof of why you took the loan out in case he want's to get difficult

Jo_R_2

Okay so new SOA!

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 3
Number of cars owned.................... 1 - currently off the road
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 787.19
Other income............................ 120
Total monthly income.................... 907.19
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0*
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 134
Electricity............................. 73 - joint DD for gas and elec
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 56.69
Telephone (land line)................... 25 - line rental + calls - need to watch daytime calls
Mobile phone............................ 10 - PAYG
TV Licence.............................. 12.12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 16
Groceries etc. ......................... 0*
Clothing................................ 20
Petrol/diesel........................... 40 - have included this as car may be fixed soon, if not then will allocate it towards debts
Road tax................................ 15.83
Car Insurance........................... 0*
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0*
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 9.4 - DD2 at nursery soon, has a long day Friday - this covers her breakfast and lunches
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 22.5 - monthly contact lenses @ £15 and share of dental hygienist
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 30 - slightly high but want to get some saved for Christmas, will reduce it after
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 50
Personal items - hair dye, lady things!. 14
Total monthly expenses.................. 528.54

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 995
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 995

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Loan...........................6323.02...154.......12.7 - in process of reclaiming PPI
Virgin credit card.............430.85....8.62......18
Tesco credit card..............2137......64.11.....6.9 - just balance transferred a huge chunk from Virgin card
Overdraft......................800.......0.........0
Tax Credits....................268.......20........0
Housing Benefit................110.......15........0
Council tax....................50.36.....36........0 - have included this but last payment is next month! :j
Total unsecured debts..........10119.23..297.73....-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 907.19
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 528.54
Available for debt repayments........... 378.65
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 297.73
Amount left after debt repayments....... 80.92
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 995
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -10,119.23
Net Assets.............................. -9,124.23
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.

Anything with a * OH pays.

Anything in blue I'm going to query.

Anything in green I need to implement.

Fairly happy as it stands - the surplus will go up in theory to £116.92 after last council tax overpayment but will allocate that to Virgin card, plan to have £10 a week pocket money so about £40 left to use for other overpayments plus any money saved on phone calls plus any extra made on ebay.