Update from northernbird

Northernbird_2

Hey you guys,

You may not remember me. I posted a while back a few times and you were all great. I haven't left, just had quite a few things going on (as you will see) which has meant I haven't been able to post much.

I am in a huge amount of debt (with OH but most in my name) and I've been fighting fires as I like to call it. I still am, but thought I would let you know how I've been getting on. Bad things and good things. This site has changed my life and I wish I had found it earlier. I'm even affecting the guys at work with my attitude.

Good things (the bad is just too bad to go first):

Wrote to Natwest as my debt had gone from £1000 to £1500 despite paying them over £600 over the last 2 years. They didn't have my change of address (despite writing to them) and they had been adding charges. Result - complete refund and halved the debt owing. Will be free in less than a year.

My Intelligent Finance account is now at zero. Even cancelled the overdraft so I wasn't tempted to spend it.

Wrote to Capital One with regards £40 of charges. Result - £60 refund applied to my account. Now within my limit!

Wrote to MBNA with regards £177 of charges (old account). Result - agreed refund of £170 though I'm still waiting for the cheque, but still..

Wrote to Abbey with regards charges (one due to DD error). Result - refund of £140 of charges.

Paid off arrears with Egg and now have 3 month payment break so I can put the money towards more expensive debts for that time (should clear 2 credit cards in full).

Wrote to computer retailer with regards my computer which has been rubbish over the last year and eventually crashed completely 2 months outside of warranty. Quoted the Sales of Goods Act and they are repairing the machine free of charge (will get it back in a couple of weeks). This was one of my worst 'stick it on a cc' purchases ever!

Submitted my CV with my local pub. Just waiting for the call!

Requested bar work with my local cricket ground. Might have something soon.

Managed to borrow a laptop from a friend so I can now ebay the two boxes of stuff I have found about the house and make some cash.

Sent one phone to Envirophone and waiting for the cheque. Posting another tomorrow to get another cheque!

Just need one more ink cartridge to send to company that provides cash and I can get £10.

Sunday is my big cooking day for the week. Lost a stone since doing it and not relying on bought rubbish (thank you old style).

Buy the crisp and chocolate deals in the supermarket so I don't go to the machine at work. For example, BOGOF on French Fries crisps 10 pack = 7p a pack. Machine 45p a pack!

and now the bad stuff:

One bank is not accepting my offer of payment and are calling me 5 and 6 times a day despite my asking them to just write to me.

OH has been laid up with bad back for two weeks

OH has not worked for 2 weeks and if he doesn't find work soon we may have to look at bankruptcy as I'm the only earner. This would ruin my career that I have worked at since I was 10 years old (education, career etc).

OH has a tax bill and we're paying as much as we can but they're on the verge of coming round to take our stuff (not that there's much!).

I'm weary and tired. I feel exhausted and even laughing feels like effort.

I'm supposed to go on holiday with my mum next month and I'm going to have to tell her I can't go. She doesn't know about our debts, and I know there has been much discussion about coming clean on here but we have a very complicated relationship. This would kill it, I know it would. I have no idea what to do...

Anyway, the good things I have taken from this site, the side effect if you like:

Never take anything lying down
Fight for your rights - every penny counts
Every penny counts
Just open the mail
Look at your bank account every day

Anyway, you guys are great. I haven't read much from Bluezone for a while so I hope you're ok girl (I felt a www bond), and everyone else take care.

oops_a_daisy

Hiya Northernbird - another northernbird here Firstly well done on everything that you have done - you are definately not going down without a fight. I hope you manage to get the situation with the bank sorted soon - honestly why cant they just accept it and let you get on with it. Fantastic results on reclaiming thoses unfair charges too. I do hope you manage to get that second job and you OH gets better soon. Sorry that I cant offer any more advice on your situation but I can understand why you are feeling weary and down. Keep your chin up and keep coming on here for support. All the best and good luck.

Northernbird_2

Thank you. I'd press the thanks button but it's gone - where is it?

xxx

dawn2dusk

:beer: hi northern bird, southern bird here. Can,t offer any advice. Well done on what you have achieved so far. best wishes and my thoughts are with you.

southernscouser

Hey NB!

Well I definately think the good stuff outweighs the bad stuff by a tonne! You are doing brillianty hun!

Maybe posting a new SOA will help!

lynzpower

Hi, im fairly new here, so pleased to meet you!

So inspirational you are going for it, given me the kick up the !!!!!! I need

Off to sort out car boot stuff NOW xx

Northernbird_2

Cheers for the replies guys. Makes me feel better and not quite so alone!

I'm on big ebaying thing today so busy busy. Fingers crossed stuff sells. Cheque arrived from MBNA today so yeh! They waited the full ten working days as well before sending it to me!

Take care guys.

In_Search_Of_Me

Another newby here. Felt on the verge of tears reading your depair Northernbird and know how desperate it feels...huge hug
One thing I have to ask you people is how the hell do you manage a grocery budget for 2 people of 100 a month!! Little old me & four cats have a total of £400 to live in a month (includes everything, petrol, food, hobby, excercise!!) & are very chuffed that at one month we've done it but reading that am thinking I should spend far less!! How please! So far have resorted to Tesco (instead of M&S & sains!) etc but hints welcome or a link to suggestions!

Northernbird_2

Hi guys,

Thought I'd give another update on here. Things have gone worse again. The place where my OH was due to start work this week is moving premises and they're having problems moving there. Until they have moved, he has nowhere to work. It could be another month or even 2! So at the moment, we're now hitting the 5th week of no money from OH.

He's getting really scared, and I'm trying to keep him calm so that he can go out and find something. My approach is:

1. Sell everything we can find to raise money. I'm even selling my beloved flute (sob!) and OH's guitar.

2. I'm looking for weekend work

3. OH to go out and find anything. He's highly skilled but in a specialist area so it's difficult. I've told him to go pubs, bookshops, anything to make some money

4. Approach our budget in a worst case scenario. We used to pay everything together, there was no 'my money his money' thing. So I'm going to do our budget on my money alone and speak to Payplan. His debts will have token payments of £1. I'm going to see if I can do a DMP.

4. Stay strong!!

I have to add the last, because I need to stay as positive as possible. Doing ok, but I was reading the last book in Stephen King's Dark Tower series, and I started to cry on the train to work. Not good!! I'm hoping it was just because it was a sad part and not my state of mind!!

lynzpower

fishface-69 wrote:

Another newby here. Felt on the verge of tears reading your depair Northernbird and know how desperate it feels...huge hug
One thing I have to ask you people is how the hell do you manage a grocery budget for 2 people of 100 a month!! Little old me & four cats have a total of £400 to live in a month (includes everything, petrol, food, hobby, excercise!!) & are very chuffed that at one month we've done it but reading that am thinking I should spend far less!! How please! So far have resorted to Tesco (instead of M&S & sains!) etc but hints welcome or a link to suggestions!

100 pcm isnt actually that bad for 2, me & OH are doing it and its getting to the point where were comfortable. but thats just for food, no pets, no hobbies or petrol. Just fod toiletries & cleaning products. Perfectly easy when you get used to not popping to the shops every day and not living on gruel either, we eat like kings!

Avogirly

Hi Northernbird

Keep your chin up and keep going on that debt free quest. You have been doing so well. I'm sure things will turn themselves around and all your hard work will pay off.

Good Luck
Avo
xXx