A fresh start

hypno06

I know what you mean about the KJP transactions - when applying for a loan once, I had to produce statements......it was during my mad free bingo frenzy a couple of years ago, when both OH and I were signing up to dozens of sites for the free £1 or £10, and of course we were using all our debit cards to make the most of multiple bingo accounts........

I almost WANTED the opportunity to explain myself......but we were rejected before I ever got the chance......if only they knew I was making money not spending it!!

Savvy_sewing

My dreams of catching up with everyone just has not managed to materialise.
I am loving my cottage, (drafts and all), but still highly involved in the twins. Currently I have DGD, twin1's daughter, as twin1 is unwell. Social Services not thinking she is coping and stirring things up a bit. Not the best time in the world. Hopefully I will actually get to read whats been going on and catch up eventually!.
Thinking of you all, Love Mooloo

Seaxwyn

Hi Mooloo! I'll pop over to your diary to catch up.

Job offer confirmed! They've offered me an 18 month full-time contract at 30k. So now for the first time ever I have a chance to do a real budget. It is a relief. Freelancing was great for a time, but it's time for a new phase.

hypno06

It will be such a relief, take it from one who has made that transition!!!

The certainty of a salary gives me a whole lot less stress than I had before - ok, my job is stressful, but that is stress I can deal with, whereas the other sort was the keeping-me-awake sort which is not so much fun.....

Enjoy doing those new budgets - there will still be a shortfall, but at least it will be a calculated shortfall.

taxi73

That sounds heaven being able to do a budget and a relief from being freelance...18 months of certainty must be a fantastic feeling.

lucielle

So pleased that everything is coming together.
L

Seaxwyn

Monthly update time. In November, I reduced my debt by £598.11. That's not as good as I hoped but it's partly because I had to spend £390 work expenses, which I will get back. So long as I can pay off £330 in December, I will end 2009 in less debt than I started it.

OH has applied for Jobseeker's Allowance and *touch wood* his claim has been accepted and the money will start to arrive. We need to explore what knock-on benefits there are, eg reduced council tax and free school dinners.

We have a lot of unavoidable expenses coming up:

• season ticket for next year - £2192
• tax - about £1500 due in January
• lots of car repairs (insurance co wants to write car off and give us £550, but we think there's more than £550 life left in it. No idea what we have to pay out to get it up to snuff)
• christmas presents - would really like to get the kids something this year
• scout camp deposits for two DDs

So I hope to limp into 2010 under £32k then whammo, it will be back up high.

hypno06

It has been a difficult year, so if you can get to the end of it without having incurred any additional debt, then that is pretty good! in years gone by, the debt would have increased, so to stay the same is good enough in my book.

Once you get the big expenses out of the way and know what OH money/benefit is, you can really start to look at the bigger picture again, and perhaps getting a bit more paid off, or saved for next year's expenses.

Sea78

hi hun

is the car *really* worth it? Could you look at a few cars like yours and see what price they are?

Big hugs to ou hun - have you got the kids anything for xmas so far? What kind of pressies you thinking of?

Sea xxxx

buddiebabe

Hey Seaxwyn

Just think how far you have come this year and all the changes you have made. Even if its only a few pounds less than what you started the year with you've made it through the year and you are getting there... we all are and we can all do it together.

Im looking forward to 2010 to make a fresh debt busting start

What kind of things are you hoping to get for the kids?

Buddiebabe x