SA's voyage through bankruptcy ......

startagain_2

Good Morning everyone....

Welcome to the first post on what is going to be a year long rant, :mad: waffle :rolleyes: and diary of my BR journey..... I shall try to keep it as light hearted as possible, but the dark days and dark times do crop up now and again and I am sure you will get to hear ALL about them.... Not only dealing with my debts but getting over a broken heart as well has been a real learning curve. But it is getting better day by day.

Since being delared BR on 12th Jan I have experienced relief with not having to pay my creditors just about all my income, happiness that I can move forward again after years of treading water and also nervousness and worry over the OR interview which was a whole 5 and a half weeks after my BR.

That is over and done with now and I am making a fresh start. I am learning new things all the time... living on a cash budget with no plastic or credit. No means to borrow my way out of a financial corner, thank heavens.

I have already said on yellowmonkeys thread that living on the budget that has been submitted on the SOA can be tricky in reality ..... Originally I had put £55 a month for electricity. The first 5 weeks of this year resulted in a bill of £88 so I had to adjust the budget at my interview.

I was proud of the fact that I have almost reached payday (Friday) with a surplus of £90 ..... yesterday the exhaust went on my car. As we speak, it is in Kwik Fit! From an original quote of £168 I have managed to get it down to £140 .... and it took all my persuasive charm but I still have to live on virtually nothing for 4 days! :rolleyes: Thank heavens for my little piggy banks that I have been putting my change into. My horse riding will have to be put on hold until next week as well.

So it just goes to show, anything can and does happen and always seems to be at the worst time. Just remember that you cant reach for a bit of plastic. If you haven't got it, you really haven't got it! I am going to have to try and leave a bit of surplus in my account all the time just in case of emergencies.

I have printed off an application form for opening an account with my local Credit Union. I am very pleased with the Co-op but I would like somewhere else just to put £10 -£20 a month in and let it build up. Having read the recent stuff about Barclays, i don't think I will bother.

Kwik Fit have just rung to say that the car is ready.
In the past I would have been depressed about the unexpected expenditure, but I am actually relieved that it wasn't the catalytic convertor (veeerrry expensive) that Kwik Fit is 5 minutes from my flat and that they have done it straight away (putting other work to one side) and at a discounted price.... result. I can now go to work at midday with no disruption to my routine.
I am trying to turn into a glass half full rather than half empty person which is what years of debt seemed to have turned me into.
I also have to thank my psycholgist who has worked wonders on the strange routes my mind takes sometimes and the upside down way I have of thinking and behaving.

So that is it really..... expect more of the same in the days, weeks and months to come.

Hugs to you all, and a sincere thanks for all your help and support over the last few months. Invaluable..... :T

SA

mike1966_2

Well done SA, I'll be watching closely to your progress.

Ta
Mike

jenni75

Hi Startagain

Sounds like you got everything under control. Shame about the car but well done on getting the price down, and done quickly too. Its good to hear you are dealing with everything in such a positive way.


Jenni x
p.s
I have never heard of a credit union ? ?

startagain_2

jenni75 wrote: »

Hi Startagain

Sounds like you got everything under control. Shame about the car but well done on getting the price down, and done quickly too. Its good to hear you are dealing with everything in such a positive way.


Jenni x
p.s
I have never heard of a credit union ? ?

I hadn't really until my HA went into a massive Debt Management programme at the end of last year and entered into a sort of partnership with Leeds City Credit Union. They offer a basic current account, savings accounts and loan facilities (no thanks).. Online facilities are available. Here is the link to the Association of Credit Unions.
http://www.abcul.org/page/index.cfm

I am going to apply for a regular savers account just to put a bit away each month just in case.

SA

jenni75

Thanks for the link, I will have a look at that today. We've got a co op account but would like something for the pennies to make for a little bit of savings. Always good to have a bit of back up that's not made of plastic!

Jenni

headoutofsand

Hi SA nice to hear from you. Are you going to watch the Inter V man U game? Should be interesting. Anyway glad your OK;)

yellowmonkey

Hi SA

Nice to see you starting a Diary/rant thread. I will follow with interest

ym

philnicandamy

look forward to following your journey

delcon68

Good Luck SA, I will watch you post with interest. I will also have a look at your link, as i too thought it would be a good idea to keep some money seperate if possible for emergencey.

startagain_2

headoutofsand wrote: »

Hi SA nice to hear from you. Are you going to watch the Inter V man U game? Should be interesting. Anyway glad your OK;)

Most definitely, I shall actually be in the office probably working on this very match..... I am one of Ronaldo's biggest fans - I just wish he hadn't started falling over again at the slightest touch! :rolleyes:

yellowmonkey

startagain wrote: »

Most definitely, I shall actually be in the office probably working on this very match..... I am one of Ronaldo's biggest fans - I just wish he hadn't started falling over again at the slightest touch! :rolleyes:

Are you one of the people in the background on Gillette soccer Saturday and if you are can you hold up a board saying " Hi yellowmonkey" next time

ym