Lost in the middle - getting organised and debt free

Marru

Story so far:

2000: Moved to UK, had well paid job but old personal loan, car loan and sky high rent. Met guy, got engaged.
2001: Moved together, gave up well paid job to something that I am passionate about but doesn’t pay. Despite huge pay cut tried to keep up with the life style of then OH.
2002: Gave up low paid job and went back to my old career but still no light bulb moment for me
2004: Had my DD, during maternity leave consolidated debts and took more than needed as to catch up on my share of running the house costs
2005: Entered into franchise that was a disaster. Didn’t do my homework and research and lost over £10k (all paid with credit)
2006: Took part time job, relationship that had been really rocky pretty much from the start going rapidly downhill. Paid our food bills with my over 17% credit card until finally put my foot down and told then OH that this is not on
2007: Got diagnosed with severe depression, got medication and support, managed to get out of the bad relationship, used DD’s savings for 6 month rent, was stupid enough not to apply for housing benefit straight away, pushed CC up to the limit due to having to buy washing machine, fridge, some furniture and crockery etc (yes, I did get most of it from freecycle)

2008: Started DMP, went to college to study toward new career (the one that doesn’t pay)
2009: Had to quit college as self employment job I had been doing to finance it finished so needed to go and get a job, despite earning more had some unexpected necessary outgoings (car repairs!) so faulted my DMP. Met a lovely man and started to believe in future again. At the moment I have BR date arranged but I am going to cancel it and try to negotiate F&F settlements. Everybody keeps saying not to borrow money from relatives/friends but if I can get deals from the creditors I will do it and then push myself so hard to pay it all back. But still dreaming of that other career path.


So far I have tried to:
-Get help for depression
-Live a year with only £4k
-Declutter
-Sell stuff
-Get things done
-Earn extra money
-Do little things
-Get to grips with grocery budget
-Lose weight

And I am sure a lots more but despite them all being fantastic threads, I am still unorganised, living in the middle of the clutter, in debt, playing catching up with my finances and getting fatter.

So with the help of this diary I am going to get a grip and find my way out of this mess.

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Marru

Get F&F offers from all my creditors
3 paid, 3 to go

Be up to date with other payments (ie rent + nursery)
- Find out balance outstanding to nursery

Live on £5,000.- for the year (doesn't include: rent, car+travel, child care and study)
Spent/Remaining 0.-/5,000.-

- Get cheaper mobile contract
- Get cheaper land line
- See how to get gas bills down

Declutter: going to go through the whole house and put everything into one of the following piles: * Need it, * Love it, * Sell it, * Freecycle it, * Chuck it

Make as much money as possible from selling all the stuff that I come across
Earned so far:

Get rid of all my books (approximately 5000 of them )
Logged so far: 246 books
Sold:

Run Sport Relief Mile in March - completed

Run Bupa 10km in end of May - raise £300 for Guide Dogs
Training schedule

Start Matched Betting again
In saving pot towards MB float: 169.86

Do at least 3 units towards my professional certification



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sophiesmum_2

Good luck with everything Marru, i'll be around if you need a cheering section

yellowmonkey

Hi

Just seen this so thought I would pop in and wish you luck with your diary

Pippilongstocking

sophiesmum wrote: »

Good luck with everything Marru, i'll be around if you need a cheering section

I'll keep a weathered eye and be there with SM in the cheering section and YM in the goodluck section

here's to your list (WE ALL KNOW LISTS ARE ACE XX)

honeybear_2

Hi Marru

I don't know how you can post this:

Marru wrote: »

So far I have tried to:
-Get help for depression
-Live a year with only £4k
-Declutter
-Sell stuff
-Get things done
-Earn extra money -Do little things
-Get to grips with grocery budget
-Lose weight

Then this:

Marru wrote: »

-Finish budget for next six months
-Create cash flow forecast for the same period
- Get cheaper mobile contract
- Get cheaper land line
- See how to get gas bills down
-Cancel BR court
-Complain about bailiffs to their head organisation (long story)
-Contact Tax Credits about changed child care costs
-Take payslips to council as not to get nasty surprises later
-Contact people that want me to house sit for them
-Send bank account details to delivery company that is giving me some leaflet drop work
-Start eating porridge for breakfast
-Make plan for healthy snacks for work and home
-Drink more water

And say you're disorganised! That's organisation right there! :T

Hope keeping this diary helps you tho & I'm here on cheerleading/motivational duties whenever you like

xx

jo1972

fayjmck wrote: »

I'll keep a weathered eye and be there with SM in the cheering section and YM in the goodluck section

here's to your list (WE ALL KNOW LISTS ARE ACE XX)

That's not fair!! I want a section in Marru's diary! What section can I head up?

Marru, quite a story you've got there. You have come a long long way and I think with the help of this diary, lists and people in various sections you will be sorted in no time at all

Look forward to reading about your progress xx

Pippilongstocking

And Fay moves over to let JO in the choklit, goodluck and cheering section

jo1972

Oooh, am I in charge of choklit cool :cool: :EasterBun

honeybear_2

Can I run the "chasing Marru round with the hoover" section, if it's ever required? :rotfl:

jo1972

honeybear wrote: »

Can I run the "chasing Marru round with the hoover" section, if it's ever required? :rotfl:

Oh god, poor Marru




















*thank god she's not chasing me with it*