The big challenge - pay off £20k by Christmas 2010

BabyBetty

Hi everyone,

I haven't posted on here for a while. Have been out of work for a couple of months, so not been able to make a dent in the debt.

I have just checked my bank account this morning and the final payment for my Halfax loan has come out of my account (yippeeeee):rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I am well pleased with that as it mean £562.28 can go to the next debt.

I am also starting a new job today (10am), so will be back on track.

Well done everyone.

Taxi, you are such an inspiration.

BB

taxi73

What a lovely positive post....well done on all that and have a good day in your new job x

Moneytroubles_2

Well done on clearing halifax, and good luck with your new job and future debt busting xxxxxx

Happytogetdebtfree

Wow that's amazing and well done on finishing a loan :-) x

gailey_2

Hi guys

Just letting you know im still alive and keeping to challange slower than I would like.

Scary how fast time goes as last post was april and my baby has grown loads be 1 soon.

Want to be totally honest with you guys.

I havent fallen off wagon but got very down last couple of months and really stressed about money hence why have not posted as progress has been so slow been disheartening.

Just when we think we on track something breaks and bankcharges, interest cancel out some good work made.

The buffer we we had from hubby making huge payment to one credit card has gone as hes paid off bankcharges and car.

car was towed again and another 150quid work done to it.
I need to raise 160 next month for cartax and dreading its mot.

The laptop died dad trying to fix it currently borrowing sisters old one with dodgy keyboard.

scottish power sent us letter they say they want more monthly payment even though we will probably use less in summer and even out so need to find another 45quid extra per month.
we worked out finances and do have 50quid defecit plus 45quid power increase means 95quid defecit.

we trying to cut back food currently on 250 which is about right really need to try trim it to 200 for 2adults, child and baby on solids although still breastfeeding and use cloth so save money there.

rent went up 10 quid, blooming council tax 20quid as 200annual increase so already had to find extra 30quid.
Petrol costs 15quid more to fill up tank than last year.

Hubbys having no luck finding better paid job job markets crap.
I applied for job but they changed hours so i couldent get childcare.

mum brought daughter new trainers and summer shoes.
she needs new clothes so loking ebay, carboot and nct.
oldest daughter starts school in september so made a start buying dreaded uniform.

went asda other day as 10quid uniform deal got 5poloshirts, 5shirts and 2kirts plus 1 summer dress so good to start.
still need another summer dress, 2skirts, pinafore and cardigans have to be brought direct from school not sure of how much they cost plus new black clarkes shoes, tights,socks ect.

She wants school dinners but not sure how much they cost.
back to preschool this week but have 35quid term lunchclub fees, 30gymnastics summer term plus think i need to pay 50quid in advance for sumemr clubs as need to book up early and summer holidays such a long time.

Daughters had lots of birthday parties to attend which has proved costly.

Brought invitation book as lots of vouchers for money off and days out.

I have been really good brought lots of good stuff at last carboot I now have shoes without holes in and made 30quid cant wait to do more.:A

paid 120quid arrears on mobile bill.
im switching to pay as you go when contract ends in sept.
sold 2prams and lots other stuff on ebay.
have just 45quid left on next cant wait to clear one debt.:T

slowly plugging away update since last post.

80- 2 months loan
180 bankcharges/od interest
37barclaycard
10additions
5 next

total 312-sorry pound sign not working:rotfl:I have no pounds

hubby
april cards 150
maycards-150
400 may loan
100 bank charges.

total 815 plus mine added to previous 5520= 6632 so far .

Do hope I havent missed anything realy should update more often.

payments left for june

me 37 phone
26 ebay fees-fees are now stupidly high but neccesary evil to sell.
93additions
75 barclaycard
90 bank charges
40loan

total 360

hubby
150 cards plus 400 loan so 550

910 plus pp tot 6632

so hopefully by end of june thats 7542quid dec-june.

still got jul, aug, sept, oct, nov, dec.

6months-say for example can keep up with payments so far and double that figure be 15thousand and 85pound 500 quid short of 20grand target.

Am I only one who drives myself mad with pen and paper daily working out bills , workin g out potential value of income and things sold to get better debt forcast.

I do hope we meet out target plus it demonstrates not that we dont already know what a large proportion of our income goes on debts but determined not to go down dmp route and stay positive.
Last year I lost heart and got down but realised cant let it beat us we can still live happy frugal life and money sitiation helped us appreciate simple things in life and closer as a family .
It wont clear but make huge dent.

lots of home grown veggies this year.:D
collecting nectar points even on petrol so hopefully 50quid towards xmas food shop.
am going to start xmas shopping in august but some things ebay,carboots as kids wont know and try put some money aside so dont have crap xmas .
Am trying to improve cooking even more with homecooked biscuits and cakes.
going stawberry and blackberry picking with kids making lots of jams and chutneys which also will be xmas presents I be like kirtie alsop xmas but making stuff myself but on far less money.

We also going on holiday sun 15quid holiday min of 4 even kids so sent cheque for 60quid got our 3rd choice st ives cornwall later this month.
But had surplus charges added and has risen to 110quid so much for cheap holiday.
petrol be fulltank 60quid but would probably spend that on weeks petrol to work so wont count that.
self catering so will cook out won meals and just buy cornish pasties and icecream.
I have daughters wetsuit, bucket and spade and beachmat from last year.
Will take packed lunches and try avoid costly stuff at service station.
Might do one day out but daughter just loves beach which is free so hoping be quite cheap we need bvreak will cheer us up.

Realised its not how much money you spend on kids its fond memories you create by doing stuff with them.

Still want to get bikes and sandpit for garden.
Might join freecycle as we desperatly need more storage.

my main aims for 2010 is clear catalougues and barclaycard as be so much better off but its a lot 2500 so will see.
That just leaves me with loan 4years left from nov 2010.
overdraft 1750 will slowly try and clear once other debts paid off.

Hubby will keep paying cards monthly until cleared.
loan another 4years as well unfortunatly.
So 4years time we will be debt free want to cut that down to 2-3years.

Well done everyone on progreess will take me ages to catch up..

huge well done money troubles with our common enemy very 44percent interest nearly paid off will continue padding very as its my worst debt.

will try post more regular.sorry for essay.

sarahs999

Wow Gailey, that's a mammoth post! You're obviously still trying very hard, try not to get downhearted. The journey will always have bumps.

Just a thought - have you rung scottish power? I talked my amount down by quite a bit, they were trying to double the amount we pay from £50 to £100. I toldthem to take a running jump. It's now set at £80. How much in arrears are you?

Happytogetdebtfree

Wow gailey, sorry you have had a rough time of things, is your dad a computer engineer? if so yay if not drop me aline telling me the exact problems and model number i will ask oh who is a computer man and spends all day diddling laptops maybe we can give you advice lol .... dont get dishearteend about paying debts, ive now made it fun i have jars and i seperate cash and i am paying from each jar as needed i overpay when i have teh amount to close teh account it will get paid in the same time but looking at my money grow gives me incentive to put more money in my long term saves for paying off teh debt .... i used to get down but then i just though well
1) i enjoyed spending it
2) i enjoy the thought of one day the banks desperate for out custom and we can say no thank you
3) making lots of nice friends on here
4) building a better example for our family when we have one
so chin up and dont beat your self up think positive..... im all upbeat now it makes teh world a better place to hell with the banks im posting them pictures of my a++ when i have finished but of course it will be anon lol lol lol
big hugs gailey
pps signiture update some loan paid some credit cards paid now 37.5 percent yippeeee x

gailey_2

Thanks guys for being so lovley feel bad not been about putting it all into word makes me feel better and we all in same boat.

sarah we rang scottish power few months ago they upped it from 80 to 100 it was after cold spell only gas we have is central heating, oven and small heater fire is electric.
All bulbs are energy saving ones , i try to switch lights off but 4year old daughter is terror for switching fire,lights on ect plus had heating on alot as had small baby over winter.

got letter saying 100-140 we 200 in arrears they wont budge said lets pay 140 for next 3months and see how it goes we need to use less.

as for laptop was top of range hp one when we brought 5years ago from comet.
rang commet ist 60quid just to look.
got mates husband to look as hes good with computers he wasent helpful just said screens gone they dont last forever get a new one.

the screen went dim like someone turned down brightness button on tv so it works but cant see it.
you press the catch biutton and it flashes bright so screen cant have gone.
My dads not computer engineer but hes handy and clever hes researched and thinks it could be loose wire or inverter as common fault with hp that hp are aware of.
hes going to do his best, borrowing sisters old laptop.

I rely on computer for ebay and shopping couldent manage without one.\
cant afford new one.

hate blooming car and want to change it as keeps going wrong and not big enough.
hoping it passes mot next month its practically brand new its had to many new parts.

Im trying to stay positive and look on brightside.
looking foward to break in cornwall just hope place not as bad as online reveiws say.

we trying to make food last and now onto inventive dishes and stuff we would rather not eat.
fed up of blooming fonecalls barclaycard rang about payment not due until 22nd and spoke to my daughter saying is your mummy there they really pushy.
Lloyds charges are a joke cant wait to tell them where to go.

Happytogetdebtfree

I will ask oh when he gets home re computer, I think banks are pushy full stop I was ringing my loan up to find out about how much is left owing and he was practically begging me to take another loan out I said no thanks. Geesh can't a girl get some piece lol :-/ I'm glugging water and been good on diet :-/

gailey_2

Thinks its banks job to make customers feel rubbish its like yes we rip off have a nice day now anything else i cannot help you with.

Just tried to catch up on posts and wanted to say so sorry taxi about your bad news, hope you have speedy treatment and recovery and thres me moaning about money seems so insignificant health, family and freinds is what matters.
taxi you such an inspiration and done so well.

well done hyno too hubbys bonus got cancelled last year and seems unachieviable this year too.

I will try not let constant phonecalls get me down or dread what postie brings im all up to date at moment but its seems like constant struggle at times.