A fresh start

Seaxwyn

A red letter day. I received the payment for last month's freelance work and my NatWest overdraft is gone!

This 18%-interest monster has weighed me down for the best part of two years. This year it's never dropped below £1750. And it's gone!

Today's debt total is £21452.08 - more than five grand less than at the beginning of the year. I've got some bills to pay, and not small ones, so it might creep back into OD by the end of the month but with next month's freelance pay I hope to be shot of the overdraft for good.

I'm still planning to apply for the lower paid job. I know it will make life very hard in some ways, but in others it will be an improvement and it could take me in a new direction. After my firm words with OH the other day he does seem to be making more effort. He's taken a few loads of clutter to the dump at least.

In other good news, there are four large bags of cast-offs from a well-dressed friend waiting to be sorted. Unfortunately my three daughters are now all much the same size as me and we will have to share the booty fairly.

lucielle

Morning Seaxwyn, could you lower the limit a bit on the o/d then it can't creep up as high. Well done btw.
L

hypno06

Excellent news - I think it would certainly be worth lowering the limit. something that is there for emergencies or tight months, but yet doesn't get scary or demoralising....maybe £500 or thereabouts - which is some way better than owing over £1750!

And the total debt figure is looking good too - soon be in the teens!

:T

Wordsmith

Wonderful progress! Just reading your post I can tell what a relief this is for you. Take a moment to congratulate yourself, rather than worrying about the next debt. And reward yourself by taking a sneak preview at the bags of pre-loved and snaffle a few items for yourself.

chevalier

Getting and doing the lower paid job would be fine IF you could rely on some input financially from your OH that is regular and dependable.

Do you really think that that is going to happen? Sadly this would be my biggest consideration regarding taking less money. You were horribly stressed when you were relying on freelance work. You were stressed when you had work and you were stressed when the work dried up.... And now on top of this you have your council work to do now too.

I would go for the interview. It is good practice after all. But you would have to have another really tough talk with OH, if you were actually offered it.

You have come so far in reducing your debts. You have paid off an overdraft that has been such a millstone to you. And that is mainly due to having to use it because OH didn't come through for you and the family AGAIN.

Yeah to the lots of hand me down clothes. And how very even handed of you to allow your daughters to share!!!!!
chev

beanielou

Great news on the OD.

taxi73

great news on the overdraft

millionaire_in_training

That's fab Sea well done. Such a boost when a debt disappears :j

chevalier

How are things going. Did you make the decision? Tough one I know...Good luck with whatever you decide.
chev

Seaxwyn

I've applied for the job so the time to make the tough decision will be if they offer it to me (interviews next Friday). I am inclined to take it as though I can't guarantee freelance work, I have been lucky in the past. And just this morning I've had a call from a client that I last worked for in 2006, so that's very promising.

If there were months when I didn't have any freelance work things would be tough but I've survived that in the past, and my quality of life would be so much better that would be a recompense. Also I'd have more time for my family, including frail parents, so it's not just me who would benefit from the change. We'll see.

It's a lovely autumn morning, I've been out for a run through beautiful countryside and that always makes life seem so much better.