Today is a new day!

scrooge2008

I was interested in the fact that it has taken 9 months to get to your target.

This debt free journey has taught me something similar. Big changes don't take place overnight, but over the longer term, if you stick with it through the ups and downs, they become apparent.

Well done as always.

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

Well, Scrooge, I was meant to read your post today. Been feeling sorry for myself this am, in fact had a good cry while getting dressed, made dd cry, we both cried together, had a hug, told each other we loved each other, got dd to school late and now am back home, still feeling a bit weepy, catching up with the work I should have got done last eve but was too tired to do. So, no gym today, and this I need to address , but I have done some stretches and sit ups here! Just need to get my books sorted, get some out today, do some del, and some phone calls.

So, I think its the weather, the wind is still so strong here, and with the rain, Im using up more effort to get about, I haven't fallen over which is good, but its just a lot of effort, and extra time, always feeling behind this week, then this impacts on my tiredness levels which then impacts on my mood and positiveness. Yes, Im on a bit of a downer today. Last night is the last night I sleep in the chair. I woke up , realised I must have fallen asleep about 8ish, so thought it was say midnight only to find it was 4am. Went to bed for 2 hours or so, still feel tired now. It just has to stop. It's really wearing me down.

On that note, I must get on, remind myself of all that I need to be happy and grateful for and stop being a misery guts!

claire0788

As for the misery guts part, its hard not to have lows when your trying to get debt free. It can be really draining so dont be too hard on yourself ! Plus we are here if you need somebody to bleather to

scrooge2008

I agree the weather has been exhausting, and we're approaching the winter solstice, so not getting as much light as we probably need.

The perfect time for hibernating!!!!! It was such a struggle to get out of my bed, this morning, too.

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

Well, it is a new day, and my total sales for the last 4 week period total £3800 which considering we were in Newcastle for a little of that time, I'm very pleased, then I have an order of £220 to go through already to start the new period, so averaging £1K sales per week. Not bad, would like it to be nearer £1500 on average per week but am very grateful for those sales. Basically, from that my income for 4 weeks I've earnt £1400 and with my other income bits and pieces that is where it needs to be with a £500 monthly spending budget to then cover all my outgoings and stay even. It's tight but very doable, so it is quite appropriate that we are nearing the end of the year of my LBM and that is the situation. So, the hope is to start 2010 knowing I can cover everything w/o dipping into any credit cards which bar one are all destroyed anyway, and then by focusing on my team building which I will be doing with renewed vigour from next week, the only way with my income is up. Also, next year, I can look forward to my mortgage interest rate reducing assuming the rate stays more or less at the level it is, so that is also good. So, all in all money should be freed up, and more should be coming in so that I can then get ahead of myself. Today, my 3 pictures are going to auction, next week my grannys clock and some tableware. At the weekend, two other pictures going on ebay, next week my dds bed is going into the local paper to sell. I am certainly trying with all my heart to keep a hold on the situation and be in control of it.
Things are tight right now with mortgage going out tomorrow, life cover, and other things pending, then next thursday, I can relax again when my kl bonus is credited.
Mantra for the day: We will be ok, we will be ok, we are doing ok, we are!
On that note, off to work!!!

InaPickle

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED wrote: »

Well, it is a new day, and my total sales for the last 4 week period total £3800 which considering we were in Newcastle for a little of that time, I'm very pleased, then I have an order of £220 to go through already to start the new period, so averaging £1K sales per week. Not bad, would like it to be nearer £1500 on average per week but am very grateful for those sales. Basically, from that my income for 4 weeks I've earnt £1400 and with my other income bits and pieces that is where it needs to be with a £500 monthly spending budget to then cover all my outgoings and stay even. It's tight but very doable, so it is quite appropriate that we are nearing the end of the year of my LBM and that is the situation. So, the hope is to start 2010 knowing I can cover everything w/o dipping into any credit cards which bar one are all destroyed anyway, and then by focusing on my team building which I will be doing with renewed vigour from next week, the only way with my income is up. Also, next year, I can look forward to my mortgage interest rate reducing assuming the rate stays more or less at the level it is, so that is also good. So, all in all money should be freed up, and more should be coming in so that I can then get ahead of myself. Today, my 3 pictures are going to auction, next week my grannys clock and some tableware. At the weekend, two other pictures going on ebay, next week my dds bed is going into the local paper to sell. I am certainly trying with all my heart to keep a hold on the situation and be in control of it.
Things are tight right now with mortgage going out tomorrow, life cover, and other things pending, then next thursday, I can relax again when my kl bonus is credited.
Mantra for the day: We will be ok, we will be ok, we are doing ok, we are!
On that note, off to work!!!

It sounds like you are doing mighty fine, and the fact that you are in control enough to know what is going on, how and why is the most encouraging of all. Well done! :T

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

Well, just arrived home from doing deliveries. Dd been really good in the car while I finished them off after collecting her from school club. Managed to also get 167 books out today for collection on Mon so am really pleased with that. Have a clear to do list for the weekend, and am looking forward to completing it. Feeling good about the fact that the money is in the bank as of this afternoon to pay the mortgage which goes out tomorrow. Huge sigh of relief. Thank you god for helping me to keep things going. Two customers gave me Xmas cards today, one gave me a £5 Xmas pressie, and another a box of chocolates. It just makes me feel so humble that when things are so tight for everyone in general, the good old Kleeneze lady is remembered! Makes me feel so blessed to be doing what I am and hopeful for the future. Really looking forward to Xmas, and 2010 with fulfilling my goals to pay off more debt, increase my business income, achieve regular visits to the gym, more quality time with dd.

Yes, feeling good this eve. Just about to have a cheaty supper and chuck a pizza in the oven that my mum had left over from a recent shopping trip. Looking forward to a cuppa, relaxing with dd tonite and getting organised with one thing and another over the weekend.

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

Well, had a good sleep last night although fell asleep in the chair at about 8.30with dd on my lap, woke up at 12.30 this am, went straight up to bed and just come down to start the day, so although it was still a broken sleep at least it was getting up to bed at a more reasonable hour.

Just checked my bank account online, and the Halifax are offeringme a loan for up to £13K at an interest rate of 9.8% max 11.8%APR. Am thinking shall I apply for 11K over 5 years and get rid of my MBNA debt which is being charged at an extortionate 27/29% its somewhere up there! Its too depressing to know what it is exactly!! I cold ask for the full amount - £13K - and pay my od off with them as well. Particularly since to have that od will cost me £31 a month from the 10th dec. Would I be paying more or less if I had this loan, not worked that out yet!

If Im accepted, the advantages would be:

lower interest rate
no penalty for early repayment other than up to 56 day interest charged.
3 month repayment hols at start which whilst not recommended would be helpful to me! I could throw the money at other debt on higher rates.
repayments are on a par with what Im paying MBNA each month currently if anything it could be slightly less so am going to be no worse off in my monthly budget.
Its unsecured.

The disadvantages, what if Im not accepted, but then why would they have it there on offer to me? Am I brave enough to take the chance. According to Halifax when I enquired about interest only re my mortgage Im not in financial difficulty so surely all would be well?
Its yet another loan with Halifax, my mortgage and secured loans are with them. I visualise myself paying them all off and being free of them.

Oh well, if anyone has an opinion let me know! Off to start the day with a boiled egg and soldiers and a cuppa!!!

hypno06

I did the same - had cards with APRs of 30% or thereabouts, so put them on a loan which was a lower APR.

The danger is, of course, that you run up the card and the overdraft again thereby causing you even more debt - so at the end of the day only you know if you are disciplined enough to cut off the temptation by cancelling MBNA and the OD completely.

Consolidation is generally frowned upon, and I can understand why, but in some circumstances it could be the right thing to do - it gives certaintly, so you can budget, and if you do your homework properly, you should be ok.

We have mortgage and secured loan with hfx too, and earlier this year I took out a loan with them to pay off another loan that was at much higher rates.......then found an even cheaper loan with barclays, so was able to cancel the hfx one within 14 days, or whatever the cooling off period was, with no charge......

I found they were very helpful on the phone, so why not give them a call and have a chat before you make any decisions, and know that even if you change your mind once you put the phone down, you can get out of it without any problem.

scrooge2008

Hi PAF,

It sounds very sensible to me. You'll be able to pay off more debt with the same amount of outlay and you are not incurring additional debt.

Like you say, though, you need to do all the calculations first, but i'd be looking to get rid of any debt charging 29% APR, because that'll be costing you a fortune in interest.

Have a great weekend.