Clawing my way out of debt!

Lemon_Tree

glad you got the washer sorted, sorry it was something silly like the socket. It always seems that way doesn't it?

Lemon_Tree

hi just looking at some numbers for you and need to check so things:
What does the £1000 your half of the bills cover? only we have that as the full costs of running this place (only a one bed flat) and feeding ourselves so it seems really high. Does it include any minimum payments on your loan etc?
Do you have minimum payments on any of the debts?
Do you have any agreements that you won't pay for x amount of time?
I know you've said Welcome is 65% interest, has this been front loaded or are they adding it back on each month?
Just to confirm that you're not paying interest on any of the other debts?

sorry for the 20 questions, you don't have much to play with because of paying £1k for your share of the bills, feel free to pM me if you want to.
oh and do you have excel at home for me to send you the spreadsheet? if not it's not a worry i'll just summarise what i've done.

I hasten to add, this is just what i would do, it's not financial advice or anything.

Have you considered moving your bank account away from Barclays? They can offset your current account against your loan if they feel that there's a need.

catspaw

of dear, been away for a while and I have slipped/sort or slipped.

Have spoken to Barclays and set up a standingg order for 100 to start paying the loan off, I can increase this at any time and there is no interest to be paid on this.

Welcome keep adding and adding and are a pain in the a....... well , you know. and won't give me a balance!:mad:

The 2 loans to friends are a pay when you can bit.

After I have paid off the car fine the extra will then be added to the barclays to get it down quicker. I think,maybe, am not sure whats best:o

mmmmm as for what I pay now..... rents round here are very very expensive and this is for a 2 bed...won't move from the area as dd's are settled and dd1 has started her gcse's a year early

The 1000 is a lot but as we have no idea what the bills are ( as they haven't had any yet) we are both putting a lot in just in case,.......mainly worrying about the first heating bill.

This covers rent/food/bills so far that we know. The last 2 months we have had 400 spare in the account. Now after 1st set of bills come in we will then re adjust what we are putting.

I have also started earning commission: my first lot is due feb or march at latest so will be 100 to take off a bill.

I know it is going to be hard but I need too do this: am hoping that march/april will see me only putting 800 in.

All help/spreadsheets are greatly appreciated!

Soooooo, what is my plan for feb? not sure, to spend as little probably:p am having one of the scared momenyts when I know what I am doing is right but am unsure if I will ever see the end of the tunnel.....at leats before I am retired ( and I really really don't still want to e paying debts off for the next 25 years)

catspaw

So, today had a NSD which was an improvement and hopefully tmw as well, and paid 10 off my car fine.....I really wish I could sort thsi american keyboard out the dd1 seems to have added and can't now turn off as I have no idea where the pound sign is lol:mad:

I am still beating myself up about the debt and then panicing on how long it will take to clear and then beating myself up and panicing....get the picture? and as much as I say I wont I still do:o

Am aiming to get through the week with modest PADs to clear the fines and see where I go from there, sometimes I expect too much from myself. I feel as though I must forgo every pleasure extra what ever to clear the debt and mustn't spend anything ever, and then feel guilty when I need to get things such as food:o

I really need new clothes for work: I have 3 sets of trousers and 5 shirts and 1 suit oh and 2 pairs of heels: not the best for a role meeting cliennts.
But I don't want to spend the money! Is the silly I ask myself?

Lemon_Tree

hope you find your £ sign soon

well done for reducing your balances, every little helps as they say.
Don't feel bad for spending money, sometimes you just have to especially when we're talking about food, i guess the only half way house is to know you're getting what you need and not wasting it.
I'm terrible when it comes to work clothes, i have 2 skirts or 4 if i bring back another two into service and about 8 tops and i just continually wear the same things.

catspaw

Had to go and buy a new dress an shirt for work. I had a rather posh meeting to go to on Sat and had to go get something smart as nothing I had would have been ok:( am annoyed that I had to spend the money though.

Things seem to have got worse again. I have to pay the rest of DD1's ski trip by the end of the month 309, but to be fair as I got asked late as she joined the scholl they have given us an extension.
But then again I have also got to fork out for my half of the welsh dresser OH bought....and we did need it aas the place acame unfurnished.

And then, my previous landlord has sent a letter demanding payment.......looks like it is nearly 6K!!!!:eek::eek: and I know d**m well i didn't owe that in any way shape or form.
The letter in in my drawer at work and I am just too scared to open it.:eek:

Just when you think you are getting there.
I will pay off the ski trip , transfer things like TV licence /house insurance to the joint account and then my chunk over next month. Then the extra for the ski trip will go on the bills. Also my commission will go on the bills.
But al leat I can see the bank loan coming down.

It would be good to see big chunks coming off so that I know that I can concentrate on the major like WF, would be nice to finally get the bills sorted. I know its astruggle and a lot of it is my own mess, which I can deal with. But the mess that isn't is starting to get me down.
But we will survive:) and on the plus side, I have managed 3 NSD so far:)

Lemon_Tree

well done on your NSD!
open the letter it will only get worse and worse in your imagination!
sit down and work out what you think you should owe the old landlord and then you have something to start the negotiations with.