Massive debts

fs110

Hello Gargrave (and others)

I have read your entire!! thread today. ( i couldnt sleep this morning so started at 2am and before i knew it, it was 7am! ... and then finished reading it throughout the day at work!) What an inspiring read. Congratulations you have done so well. Good luck with it and the job decision!

You have made me realise i really need to get my finger out and sort my own finances - which frankly are a mess

Keep posting :j

SingleSue

Well, it has taken me a week but I have finally managed to read through the whole thread! So inspiring Gargrave, not sure I would have had the stamina to do what you have over the last few years.

catchooky

Hi there I just wanted to say I've been reading your thread with interest and it has given me a wee kick up the botty - going to get up super-early tomorrow and get listing on ebay!!!xx

gargrave50

fs110, singlesue and catchooky:j

Wow! Haven't logged on in a while and was just trying to pass the 10 minutes to bedtime so thought I'd check my thread. I can't thank you all enough for reading the thread - its almost as massive as my debts!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

You have used the word inspiring which really humbles me because when I had my lightbulb moment I read some stories which inspired me. It's not an easy road - you still make bad decisions (I have applied for credit a couple of times over the years knowing I would be rejected - god knows why I did it!:mad:) I've continued to fritter money on things which don't make me feel any better and don't help me become debt free. Then I get another wind of enthusiasm and get right back at it.

When I become debt free, I will never repeat my mistakes. I still do things on the spur of the moment, but this time with a plan in place to pay for them. Ashamed to say I have just booked a holiday for next year because I have had a particularly crap month, but have budgeted 2 bank shifts a month will pay for our holiday.:o

It's not easy or we would have done it before and pulled our heads out of the sand long ago! I'm still waiting for it to become "addictive" as it has for many MSE users, for me it is still a chore. And I am still ashamed it has come to this, but I'm proud of what I have achieved and wish you all luck with doing the same. Join me as I tackle the last 50%, I am aiming to be debt free for April 2014. Don't know why that date other than the fact my son will be 11 and I'd like him to start seeing a good example of money management!!!!:T

gargrave50

Still waiting for my student loan overpayment refund:mad:

Plan to call them on Monday and threaten to set the debt collectors on them:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:. This money is going towards my council tax arrears!!!!

gargrave50

Have just applied for an nhs cashback black card (a pre pay mastercard) which earns cashback when you spend. It cost me £2.99 and earns cashback at most major retailers. Got this tip from a colleague at our little night out last night, she tops it up by £300 per month and uses it for her grocery shop, and uses the cashback to buy some gifts at christmas. Decided to try it out..........will of course keep you all up to date with my cashback earning

gargrave50

BTW my colleague is also an avid MSE user!!!!:D

gargrave50

Tixy wrote: »

Wow Gargrave - you have been making progress over the last couple of days.

Well done on the F&F, hope you manage to sort the littlewoods charges - I thought the letter was probably the right tone for the circumtances.
Great news on the job offer but definitely a tough decision. If it was a permanent decision I think new job in Scotland would be the way to go for sure. The benefit of being at home I would think would outweigh the overtime for paying off the debts, so even if your debt repayment slowed down a bit you've already more than halved it and are definitely on top of things.
And I guess you must need to do a lot of overtime to pay the rent/flight costs and then still earn extra on top of that? And whilst working crazy long hours in the short term is do-able I do worry that you will work yourself too hard - I don't think anyone can work such long hours long term.

Obviously the fact this job is temporary is a worry though - have you spoken to them about what the chances are that it could become permanent? or that they might have another position? If you take it and then it does finish what do you think the chances are that you could get another job where you are now is? is there always lots of overtime because they are short-staffed and struggle to recruit? if so then that might mean it should be pretty likely that you would be able to apply for another job there if the scotland one doesn't work out? but in the meantime you'd have had 6months of being at home with the family?

Toughie for sure, but I think you'll make the right decision knowing you. I guess there is nothing to lose by applying for it and see if you get it and then make a final decision?

Have fun at the cinema!

A late reply Tixy so my sincerest apologies:p

Flying home on Monday so will sort out the Littlewoods account number debarcle! Could it be they can't find my account because it is with the collections department because I copied the account number from my statement. Think I will fire off an email from work tomorrow suggesting this?

I have in the end applied for the job in Scotland (they are also advertising bank for the same unit!!! and have applied for this too!!), my unit in London are begging me not to go and I know I could get my job back in a heartbeat..........:(

I really want to work at home (preferably in Glasgow of course) and have some sort of normal family life, maybe it will come. I didn't win the euromillions which of course put a major spanner in the works:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

The problem is I have £1k deposit in the rented house I share with 2 friends just now, if I go home and come back to London I will have to have at least that to start again! Lets wait and see if I get an interview!

Had a lovely day/evening out yesterday evening - spent £70 which in London is not bad considering I went out at 2.30pm and left at 11pm. Transport included!! Had a good time and was home in bed and surprisingly hangover free today:j

I know what you are saying about the overtime;)

No normal person could sustain the hours I work, but the way I look at it is 2 major benefits

1. the time I am home (usually one week at a time) I get to do nothing but be a mum, a wife and a moneysaver:D

2. the overtime is getting rid of my debt and will eventually allow me to live a very pleasant life when I am debt free as we both actually make a good income (at least 4k a month).

I am very fortunate that even though they have reduced our rates i can still do 2 night and bring home £410. It seems like a hard choice to make, but until i have a job offer i don't have a decision to make..........

mustBdebt3

deleted........

gargrave50

Home!!! Now to thrift through the pile of letters which await me........