The Golden Goose's Quest For The Golden Egg - AKA A Debt Free Life!

The_Golden_Goose

Hello All,

I have been reading a few diaries and they are very much an inspiration and the kick up the butt that I need to keep me motivated, so I am going to follow the bear and copy you all.

Hey - copying is a form of flattery right??

Okay, so the situation is (in no particular order!):

1. Married to a lovely guy who adores me (result!)
2. Living in a nice house with a mortgage
3. Mr Golden Goose has a job that pays not half bad

.....and I have just been made redundant.

I, personally, have a shed load of debt - about £24k, which I was merrily chipping away at each month since my recent THIRD LBM. Yes, ladies & gents, you read that correctly, THIRD.

In between my second and third LBM, I managed to live a very merry life spending on my CC, as if I didnt have a care in the world and money to burn.

Only problem being is that the money I burnt was someone elses and now I have to pay it back. Fair do's.

I am getting some money from my company but ideally I'd like to not have to live off it and be able to throw it at my evil MBNA card and get shot of it. Then it would leave me with one CC less to pay for.

On the positive side of things - oooh get me being all positive for a change - I stopped spending frivously on my CC and I have only added to it when in dire straits, eg: petrol. So in one sense, I have cut back massively in that I REFUSE to use my CC as a debit card or to use it to treat myself.

Everytime the statement came in, I'd just shove the unopened envelope in a cupboard somewhere. I was really in massive denial. The real problem being was that I continued to spend as it made me feel better - made me feel like I did have money to spend, that I could afford it, that I was like everyone else and could wine, dine and dress to my hearts content.

Only person I fooled was myself.

I can't afford it so I can't buy it is my new mantra.

Mr Golden Goose has his own debts and he says he is tackling those himself, so I am leaving him to sort that out. The more I hassle him or go to overboard on MSE ways, he just shuts down. Perhaps its pride, perhaps its cos I am a nagging witch, perhaps its because he has yet to have his LBM.

I have had mine and so that is half the battle started and half won surely?

We have our ups and downs (mainly cos I stress about money and I am not spontaneous in that I don't want to go and spend money we don't have) - yet the whole time I am doing my nut or freaking out he still adores me (even bigger result!) but we muddle through and we'll work it out.

Since being on MSE again and surfing the forums Mr Golden Goose and I have made some drastic changes to our lives / spending :

• No holidays - AT ALL
• Cancelled all plans for outings / unecessary expenses
• Minimum entertainment - eg: friends houses - take a bottle, no more pubs/food out (we haven't been out for weeks to be fair - though Mr GG wanted to go out to celebrate Paddy's day - I said no and he got the hump but it meant we didnt spend - he says we cant not go out ever again - I said true (atually that is a big fat lie - I said something else which is a bit rude!) but that its better to not spend rather than just for the sake of it - we are not even Irish.... and have never celebrated Paddy's day - so touched confused - perhaps he had cabin fever???)
• Purchasing Value/Own Brand stuff at the supermarket
• Lots of batch cooking / home baking / bread etc
• Being discount/offer loyal - all we are loyal to now is the cash in our wallets
• Purchased Star Drops for the first time - can you use it on granite????
• Always buy the cats the cheapest cat food on offer in the shop
• Only drive when necessary - recently we walked into our local town and back again, ok it took ages, but it saved us the parking and the petrol
• I am notching up vouchers and tokens doing surveys so I can use those to purchase presents throughout the year - making it a neutral spend
• Started doing my daily clicks - though have not been so good at those recently due to the redundancy thing, but I will get there again - am a big fan of this money for nothing larky and cashback
• Have put books on Green Metropolis but nothing is shifting
• Know I have to sort through all my trainers and handbags as surely I can sell them - but dont know where is best? Suggestions?
• Reduced the Sky package - no more Sports and no more Movies
• I moved some debt from my CC to two 0% cards for 14mths
• Nearly paid off one of my loans (finishes in June!!!)
• No longer frightened of the postman
• Still a bit scared to check my bank online and I am being charged left right and centre with fees
• No longer scared to look at my weekly text from the bank (at one point I was trying to delete the text without reading it - pathetic I know but I really was ignoring the fact that my finances were spiralling outta control
• Mr GG and I are spending more time together - we now take lots of long walks - and walking is free and good for you too!

My main focus at the moment is to find new employment. Mr Goose's mother suggested I sell my body - but I am not sure there is a market any more for used limbs?!! Plus I need all my vital organs to survive. Somewhere in there MIL was trying to be funny and to lighten the situation.

Despite earning a good wage, I am overdrawn on my OD, even after upping it. Don't ask me how, but I am nearly £2k OD but my limit is only £1750.

So I still have debt, but I am not adding to it excessively.

I've grown up, I am taking it on the chin - though for the amount of debt I have, I really should have a bigger chin..... perhaps I can rest it on my butt instead! LOL.

I have debt.

I will repay it.

Just need to get a damn hot job and very soon (when I say Hot I mean in terms of being paid well - not one pinching hot cars! Just felt the need to clarify this!)

Reason for starting a DFW diary was mainly for my own benefit - to keep me motivated, to share my highs and my lows (I guess really sharing and unloading the burden that debt is). I have some very dark moments in that I feel like everything is crowding in around me and I am just getting swallowed up by my financial worries. I am very concerned about defaulting on any payments, keep thinking I will end up on DMP, plus I only have Mr GG to talk to it about so I am sure he feels like I am all doom and gloom - just everytime I see a light at the end of the tunnel - some little so and so goes and adds another mile on the tunnel......

If only I could turn back time eh? Well I would have had to turn it back to when I was 18 and got my first CC. I used to do the weekly shop for my mother and pay for it on my CC and keep the cash..... you can see where this is going can't you....???

I've always been bad with money but no more. From now on I am going to be good with money.

Those friends of mine who I thought were unnecessarily tight or difficult when it came to spending, I now envy and wish I had been more like them as I would not be in the situation I am in now.

None of our family or friends know about the debt - we use the line of "Sorry, we'd love to come but we can't afford it" "Sorry, but we already have commitments - perhaps next time?" It is as I have read in a few diaries, that having debt is like a guilty secret, its certainly no guilty pleasure.

I am not looking for sympathy. No one made me spend the money. I am just sorry that I didn't haul myself in sooner, as maybe I'd be looking at a much smaller figure to repay.

Don't even have much to show for it.

So depressing knowing that each month over £500 is going on debt, I have no savings, after I pay my contributions to the household running, I am literally left with nothing. I have nothing in the kitty for insurance renewals, replacement car tyres, car tax, household insurances etc.

Its dire straits at times, it really is.

No point beating myself up about it. It is what it is.

I will be debt free.

Thanks for reading.

Until the next installment............

mrscmr

Mrs Golden Goose

i have just read ur diary and loved it! couple of things i might comment on if thats ok... sell stuff on ebay, i have only been selling for the last 3 weeks and by end of today i will be up to 85 pounds sold so far. not a fortune but better of in my pocket that junk lying around house.
i know exactly what you mean about spending without a care in the world.. i used to splash the cash for no reason at all, just made me feel happy. i was the worlds best shopper - if they had given degrees in it then i would have 1st class hons!
keep positive, keep going, you can do it! as for OH - he will catch on soon enough!
hugs
mrscmr

The_Golden_Goose

Thank you!

I will get myself geared up to tackle EBAY. Just need to get my camera working as I'll need to post pics on the site.... Great tip.

Sadly I was hanging round with friends who were loaded and I guess I was trying to keep up with Ms MoneyBags. Lesson learned, lesson learned.

savingholmes

Hi golden goose - welcome to diary world - I hope you manage to get a new job soon. I too am losing my job but without the benefit of redundancy money not been there long enough! Good luck with the job hunting!

The_Golden_Goose

Thank you also.

I am on the job hunt like a woman possessed. Alas nothing going at the mo, but where there is a will there is a way.

Plus there is always something I can do, but whether its enough to pay the mortgage and bills who knows, but hopefully it won't come to that.

Mr GG is being super supportive and lovely, so that is good and is helping me stay positive.

Sorry to hear about your redundancy, it seems noone is safe these days.

All I can say is make sure you CV is the best it can be and get firing it out - but tailor it and your covering letter accordingly. Those that look like purely spec CVs literally get filed in the bin, as it doesnt look good to the prospective employer, more like you are just hedging your bets and sending it to any Tom, !!!!!! or Job Agency...... Just speaking from experience..... from the employers POV. Good Luck!!!!

savingholmes

HI GG - thanks for your advice.

I've been spending 20-30 hours a week job hunting as well as working and still have had no luck. Did get to interview stage for 3 jobs - but didn't get any of them... I am also seeing an outplacement organisation who have advised me on my CV and technique but although the agencies like my content and style of CV loads of jobs seem to be being put on hold! which just keeps delaying the process... In theory I could suddenly get loads of interviews at once but with more people chasing 80% less jobs its tough out there! Just have to keep dusting myself off and trying again... It's not too bad while I am still in work but I am worried that I could get depressed if I was out of work too long which as you can imagine would be really counter-productive in the job hunting stakes!

Sorry - not feeling at my most positive today... I'm hoping that things will suddenly turn around and all be okay but who knows? Did get rung up about 2 jobs yesterday which I was put forward for - less than I want to earn - but better than not earning!!!:rolleyes:

Have you been job hunting long?

The_Golden_Goose

Don't worry savingholmes, we all have days like that.

You've just got to think that is really good that you have been put forward for the jobs - shows that you do have skills that employers are looking for.

I have not been looking long, but its tough going. One job I thought of applying for had nearly 100 applicants! Scary or what?

Daily Update

Well I have had an interview today, seemed to go quite well, and I am being invited back next week to the second stage. So mini celebrations this weekend. This has bolstered my confidence a heck of a lot and I hope its the start of some great new things career wise.

If I dont get the job I am going to be grown up and put it down to experience, then I'll have a bottle of plonk just to drown the "rejection" part of the experience, then I'll get surfing the net again! Obv the plonk will be cheap plonk - prob less than £4.....

All my pals have been supportive and texting me and calling me to spur me on and keep me positive. When the you know what hits the fan its your good friends who stay in touch and motivate you when you have a severe lack of selfbelief. So I am very grateful to them all.

I have finally received cheques from Music Magpie and from Envirofone. So I must pay them in.

Mr GG is not keen on me flogging his CDs (read flogging as "don't you dare sell my CDs I need them, all of them, you'll only get a couple of pence for some of them) to which I replied "Oh those CDs that have sat in the CD cabinet for over 5 years and you have never ever even played any of them EVER IN THE WHOLE TIME I HAVE KNOWN YOU?"

The fact that I have sold some of them and he hasn't noticed is good enough for me! So just shows how much he uses them...... NEVER!

This weekend I want to sort out the wardrobe as there are loads of clothes in there that I never wear and I want to get shot of - not sure what is the best way? Suggestions? Do clothes sell? I will try and sell the trainers and bags I have that I no longer use as they will make a few pence.

I am only setting myself one target as then there is more chance of me actually tackling it.

Lets see when I next report back if I have made a start on said wardrobe!

Mr GG tells me British Gas have been in touch regarding providing us with electricity, so I need to look into that as well. Anyone had any good / bad experiences with them re : supplying electricity.

I also need to lay my hands on £40 as I need to make the first payment on one of my 0% cards, I don't want to miss it and default. Will see if I can scrounge anything off Mr GG. Got a few days yet.

Tonight we have been invited to a pal's house for some dinner, so that is good. Just trying to decide to see if we can get a lift there and back so we can have a little drinkypoos or one of us will drive. No more taxis for us. We can't afford it.

I have learnt loads from MSE - I am a changed person when it comes to money now. I actually resent spending money unnecessarily I really do. Its my money and I intend to hang on to for as long as I flipping can.

Seriously, I do get the "well you can't take it with you" attitude, but whats the point of being miserable or leading a false life hiding a mountain of debt? As some people say its the journey not the destination that is important. My journey has changed from being First Class Premier Elite Champers Dahlink to Economy Cheap Seats with Savings Made Wherever Possible and I am not ashamed to admit it.

Making my money work for me and go further is now the type of journey I am enjoying.... admittedly I probably won't enjoy this trip the whole time but eventually reaching the destination of being DEBT FREE is inspiration enough.

Don't want to be a pensioner trying to live off £5 a week, cos we frittered all our money on stuff that wasn't important.

Until next time..... be good..... spend wisely....... where possible just don't spend at all......

savingholmes

Hi - well done on getting through to second interview! That is fab news!

On utilities - have you joined quidco and cash back kings and sites like that yet - you should look at what prices other utilities charge - british gas is one of the most expensive in the market... I think we are with eon - if we had moved to them via a cashback site we would have probably got about £100!
Definitely check them out... You can even be paid up to £1 for searching confused.com and other similar companies if you do it via a cashback site

Hope that helps - see you again soon!

mrscmr

hi mrs GG

sounds like you have had a good day. great news on interview. dunno about if clothes sell ok on ebay. im just a newbie ebay seller but im slowly making tiny bit of money. i am hoping car boot will get rid of the stuff i cant sell on ebay. might try some books see if they sell on amazon.

well its a lovely sunset tonight after a gorgeous sunny spring day
have a good weekend
mrscmr

The_Golden_Goose

Latest Update

Quite frankly, its gone a bit Pete Tong.

I was finally caught by this wretched sickness bug that is doing the rounds. On the plus side (indeed I can already hear you guys thinking "how can there be a positive side?") I only got it mildy. Whereas my dearest Mr Golden Goose got struck down with the double whammy of sickness and the deadly beast of the double sickness (including the other end). I can only be thankful that neither of us needed to be in the bathroom at the same time as that would have been very blooming unpleasant indeed.

Fortunately we are both on the mend now. Pretty lucky really as my second interview is very soon.

Feeling pretty glum of late. Not sure why. It might be to do with being stuck in the house 24hrs a day with the husband! LOL.

My target of sorting out the wardrobe didnt get met, couldn't really do that whilst lying in bed trying to surf the waves of nausea. However, Mr GG has just put all the clean washing away that was lounging around in the other bedroom, so I guess that is all progress. Just not my own progress.

Went into town today. Only cos I had to. Needed to pay my credit card bill installment, and am getting close to the deadline date. So paid the min payment plus an extra couple of quid. I didnt have all the money as I don't get paid til tomorrow, so Mr GG gave me the difference. I think the "I am gonna have to take a few quid out on my CC1 to pay my other CC" shocked him into handing over the readies.

Whilst in town, I bought a new suit. I know I don't have the cash but I dont have another suit to wear and am stupidly worried about wearing the same suit twice to meet the same people. So I feel loads better and perkier about having a new suit to wear but really rubbish about spending money I don't have.

I also paid in today, finally, my MusicMagpie and Envirofone cheques. It came to just under £14. I see it as £14 that I didnt have before. Beggars can't be choosers, so I shouldnt complain.

Just going into the local town nearly killed me, absolutely crazy what a couple of days sick to your stomach does to you. I am sure it must have done wonders for the weight loss. Not that I am actually trying to lose any weight.

Do any of you ever feel like running away? Just to hide? I do. I'd never do it. I do wish that I could turn the clock back though. Shouldnt spend your life regretting stuff I know, but sometimes things do get me down. They shouldn't. I have a lot to be thankful for. I shouldnt be so selfish.

Can't help but feel really hacked off still about being made redundant. Mr GG and I were thinking about starting a family real soon. Well once we'd made great headway in reducing our debt. The way things are going I am getting older, our income is getting smaller and our debts are...... well......not going anywhere fast. Which is our own responsibility I know. Not trying to lay blame anywhere else, other than at the feet of our bad money management skills.

I really should add up my debt as I haven't for awhile and it should be looking better, except for the suit I bought today. Still wondering whether to just take it back........ cos it as £65.... can I get away with not wearing a suit for the second interview or should I just think "oh whatver" and wear the same suit again? Trouble is that its quite obvious, though I am sure the guys won't notice but the woman might? Men never notice anything like that really?

Mr GG is irritating me. Prob more me getting all hormonal and looking for a sparring partner. I hate PMT. Its like being Jekyll and Hyde isn't it?

Not to mention I was in the middle of a Toluna survey and it crashed on me. Things are not going well. Its not my day.

So sad about Jade Goody. I know she wasn't everyone's cup of tea, downright annoying at times, but I do feel for her loved ones that are left behind. If it wasn't for Jade I still wouldnt have had the bottle to go for my first test. Glad I did. Results came back normal, so that is good.

Hope everyone else is having a better time of it and I hope I haven't bored you both to tears (that is savingholmes and mrsmcr).... plus any lurkers out there!!!!!

Until the next installment.......

mrscmr

mrs GG, sorry to hear you have not been well. its just what you dont know when you are feeling down. as for suit and the interview - you know what ... i bet they wouldnt notice. maybe if you have a scarf or something use that. you dont need to buy a new suit unless its really necessary or u need a cheer up!!!! sounds like mr gg is doing a good job of supporting you through these times which is nice to have instead of going through it on your own. good news you have paid in ur payment etc and maybe do a status report of where you are money wise.
as for work and finding a job its really hard. i went to an agency today and registered for temp work but there is none, the agency spent all of 7 mins talking to me - didnt even test me to see what i could do.
keep going on the road to debtfreeness. and yes i feel like running away often but you know what ? its still there and you take it with you in your head. be strong you will win in the end. try the ebay thing..?
lots of hugs
mrscmr