Milanns mutterings on this last milestone.

milann

Hi

Not quite sure where to start without boring everyone into a state of stupor :rolleyes:

Until several years ago I'd never had a credit card at all - I'd lived within my means, managing my budget well the way my mum did as I was growing up - there was myself, two children - now grown and flown the nest and a couple of daft dogs - sadly long since gone. I got my first cc when I needed a new cooker as my old one broke and was going to pay it off within a couple of months - I'd just got a part time job and it would be easy peasy - famous last words . I never did and added then to it - then got consiliditation loans.....and so the spiral continued:eek::eek::eek:

I'd always manage to meet the minimum payments and would occasionally spurge out and pay it all off - but then used again them cos I'd no cash left - and so it goes on......:o

My DH has always paid the all bills from his wage and I always dealt with the food, house and kids - it worked for us. Neither of us had well paid jobs.

January 2006 - my cards were maxed, my overdraft to it's limit, I had 2 loans - this was going to be THE YEAR to sort it out - my new years resolution was to change my bad habits and sort it all.... however my body had other ideas and I was rushed into hospital with a perforated stomach on 4th January. Six weeks later a couple of bouts in ICU and 2 major operations and all the complications that go with it, I came out of hospital. I'd been worried about my health during my more lucid moments in hospital but was more worried about my finances. This is when I realised I HAD to do something - this was NOT right. I knew I'd probably face further surgery at a later date - which I did. All in all I had 11 months off work, went back for 6 weeks then had a further 9 months off after another op - the final straw came 2 weeks before I was due to go back to work and I'd been walking to build up fitness - I went over on my ankle and broke my foot - just a little bone but after everything else - it soo nearly sent me over the edge - I was soo close to losing my job, and I wasn't even sure if I'd be fit to do it when I did go back.

In a funny sort of way - it all did me good. I couldn't get out to the bank or the shops in the early days and got full pay for 6 months, then half pay then sick pay. My overdraft was cleared, purely because I couldn't touch it and the ppi kicked in paying my loans and ccs. I made overpayments to bring totals down. I was forced to change my habits I don't know how much I owed - it was over £20,000 - but more than I could face to see at the time. Since then I have put whatever extra I could into paying extra but also into having an extension and new kitchen on the house :eek: Something we'd wanted for a long time, it had been badly neglected and since I knew I was going to be off work for a long time - seemed like the ideal opportunity because I'd be there to let the workmen in. And I needed a focus other than my illness - madness I know - but thats me.....
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

So in the last three years, I have fought myself back to health after three lots major surgery and a broken foot - had an extension to the house and paid a fair chunk of debt off and started new mindset

I have been back at work nearly two years now and feel I am on the last leg of this debt free journey.

I finally phoned around to ge the total amounts I owe - it is £5,245.84. If it hadn't been for these boards - which I wish I'd have found much earlier than I did - I would have still been imagining it being nearer 10 grand. It was only last week I was able to face this and was pleasantly surprised :cool: I know this will be like a splash in the ocean to some people on here, but it has been lke a millstone dragging me down.

DH is continuing to pay the bills including the house improvement loan we took out for the improvements in place of our martgage we paid off 3 years ago.

It's a pride thing for me - I am stubborn and since I got myself into the mess - I want to get myself out of it.

So a new year at work, I go back on Monday. (I'm a nursery nurse - working mainly with children with special needs) and by the next summer holidays I WILL have paid everything off.

My date to finish the last loan is April 2011 - but I'm hoping to bring that forward - wary of committing to a date - (feel I'll be tempting fate as am having further tests on tummy and hope I don't have to have more time of work). I have just transferred £2012 to a 0% credit card - until Jan next year. I don't think I'll be eble to pay it off before Jan but will give it a go whilst still having a life :cool::cool: :cool:

I don't know if anyone reading this is still awake, but if you are thanks :A. I found it quite fulfilling seeing it written down.

NOW ITS WRITTEN I'LL HAVE TO DO IT :D:D:D:D:D

claire0788

:j Youll do it, you sound very determind and the people here will help anyway we can.

edinburgher

I'm glad that you're staying positive and making real efforts to sort out your problems instead of wallowing in them. Oh and never feel the need to apologise for your stubborn DFW pride and wanting to sort things yourself - it's a trait that a lot of us share and I wouldn't change it for the world

Primula

Hello
I think a lot of people will be able to relate to what you have siad about living within their means, but then bang slap wallop the first c/c comes along, followed by consolidation loan, repaying, doing the same thing again, and so the cylce begins! You have done fantastically well paying off so much already and you sound very determined pay the rest off before it's "due date to finish" so good luck. Please keep posting. I'm off to subscribe now.
P
x

milann

Thanks for the reply guys

What a wasted day - I've been tracking my account waiting for BT's to go through but no joy. I got onto Abbey to see why and they had no record :mad::mad::mad:. SOooo.. to cut a very long story short I have been trying to find out via phone banking why when it was all agreed over same phonelines!!!!

After getting dizzy form going round in circles - kept getting cut off and had to start story over etc etc:eek: I decided to go to the branch and speak to a proper person. I did and came out with a better offer - a lower rate interest with a 0% on bts for 12 months instead of 4 months - apparently my old card was taken over by MBNA and not truly Abbey (Santander) so they could offer me the new offer as technically I was no longer a Santander customer - even though I took the card out with Abbey and my statements say Abbey - sooo the outcome is I've transfered £2grand plus to this new card - will cancel my old card and have 12 months 0% interest on it - silly Sanander think I'm going to spend on it - but I have other ideas :rotfl:- will pay it off asap.

Parked in Mr t's carpark to avoid parking costs and decided to go in for milk and bread - £56 later.....:eek::eek: - but I should have virtually enough for the month with that and what I had in the cupboards. Everything portioned and frozen and big pan of chicken and veg soup made from carcasses ready to freeze when cool for lunches when I go back to work - I'm on a mission NOT to buy from local butty shops - mmm - hope it lasts longer than when I tried it last term:rolleyes:

So night... DH off work tomorrow but weather looks as if it will be rubbish so not sure what we're doing.

Milann

turfy6

Wow thats great determination, you have cleared lots already and seem very determined to get DF.
Well done on the cc offer sounds brill, great when they think they are doing you a favour and you'll spend when you have other ideas;)

hypno06

Hello!!!!!

milann

Hi everyone

Good to see you today.

Had a lazy day - went to see MIL and planted some bulbs and primulas for her as a very early mothers day pressie - theory is..... they should be in flower on mothers day - I've kept some bulbs back to pot up in a tub to take round on the actual day with some other flowers that look good on the day. She's happy to have had garden done - I'm happy to give her something she wants that'll come up year after year. I'm not 'really' tight - its just soooo hard to get for her recently - she's 88 and when she said she wanted bulbs but found it hard to plant these days - I thought here goes. She is too proud to accept help but would accept the concept of 'early present' - eehhh after 30 years I've finally found how to keep her happy lol :rolleyes:

DH has been off so we have treated ourselves to a yummy pub lunch - it's back to work for me on Monday so thought we deserved a treat. A carvery that was melt in mouth delish for £3.99 each. Won't need to eat for a week now.

Going to try and get a dooyoo report done later - got screened out of yet another lightspeed survey - not sure if its worht the effort anymore as getting a bit fed up of being thrown out but after they have a fair bit of info from me.:mad:

Got an early start tomorrow - going to Welshpool with DH to see some trains then will see what's going on about the area. We were playing with the idea of finding a b&b and staying tonight but weather has been AWFUL - so decided not to bother.

Have a Fab Friday :j

Milann

milann

After moaning about Lightspeed - I've just completed 3 surveys - that

meant I could send for 2 £10 Amazon vouchers towards my Christmas
fund :beer:

milann

Had a day out yesterday before going back to work tomorrow.

Not much to report. Washing and ironing done, all away in cupboards - quite out of character.

NSD - that makes 3/6 - so quite pleased with that

Planning on taking dinners every day next week - big pan of soup at the ready. Just have to get up in time to remember to take it out with me!!

Good intentions are there - now just got to make them happen :eek: :eek:

Milann

taxi73

WOW..you've really been through the mill the last few years with your health and hopefully you are at the end of it.
You've already made great headway with your debts and I'm sure you'll be debt free in no time.