Ok, it starts here

kissjenn

The bank can't change your contract and as long as you're making your payments chances are you won't hear from them at all until just before your fixed rate period runs out. Before you remortgage for 17 years I'd ask for quotes on how much it would cost for 15 years and 17 years, you may find it's a very small difference for an extra 2 years of payments.

Also given your take home suggests a salary of around £35k plus you've unsecured debt of £27k you may not be able to do much with your mortgage except the rate your current provider offers and the existing term.

williamD1964

Morning all. Pouring down with rain, very grey and overcast. YUK.

Morning all. Thanks for the info and support people. All is appreciated.

Had a lay in today. Wife had kids, as I though I had a 16 hour work day, but because of the rain, my colleagues golf game is cancelled so I don't have to go into work until 2pm! Kids off to church on at ten.
Feeling very drained lately. Got to the train station last night at 11:30 and decided to get a taxi home. Was too exhausted to walk and no buses that time of night. An extravagance but would not have got home in the state I was in.
Started taking additional vit c tablets and hope that I get myself fitter.
Total spend out of budget of £25 from wednesday 24th until today is as follows:
£3.50 for taxi, 17p for a tin of basics soup, 44p for discounted rolls.
Small steps...small steps.
Last bet 24th Feb 2010

kindofagilr

Well done William you are doing great, 4 days with no bet is fabulous! (((hugs)))

williamD1964

Am at work, on my break. Been a quiet few days, keeping my head down and looking for money making ideas. Anothyer clean day. A new month, a new step.
Have made an appointment. Not spent much, dinner tonight was chicken and mushroom soup, with a few bread rolls. Allso had some rice and mixed veg from home.
Going to go through my book collection and see what is selling on ebay, but is pennies rather than the pounds I am looking for, and as alwayd to make the pounds you need the moey up front...ah such is life. More later

kindofagilr

Pennies add up to pounds you are doing great William

HalfPint

an old saying mum taught me...."look after the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves"

your doing fab...keep going.

HPx

williamD1964

Morning all. Woke up with a headache. Coffee and paracetamol for breakfast.
Found out this morning that a dad in my kids class had died yesterday. Don't know the details but the poor kid is only 5 years old. Makes you think about your own mortality and what you want to do for your own kids before you go. Know I want more than scraping around to provide for them.

williamD1964

Evening all, been quiet for a few days so will add to the diary later tonight after work. Suffice to say I have stayed clean, thats 8 days. A long road ahead but staying clear. Have just found that theres a gambling thread on here and subscribed to it. Hopefully get some support and advice from there too. More later after a beer and a shower at home!

Raini

Took me a while to find this again! How you doing?:)

williamD1964

Forgive me people, but I have failed to post since the 9th March. Things have moved on, life is full of bitter sweet moments,. ironic twists and moments when you want to take a sharp intact of breath.

Got home on the 4th to find out that I had lost a good friend, died suddenly, was 46. Died of "natural causes", in his sleep. He was a good man. Always did the right thing, wasn't perfect, but was a good, good friend to me. He never judged, just accepted, and was there to help. I had known him for more years than I care to think about. In fact, I knew him at infant school. Knocked me bandy when I heard. Life huh? Then, a few days later I started getting toothache. Finally got to see a dentist after the funeral and found out I had not one but TWO abscess’s under one tooth! Was put on major anti-biotic for two weeks, and even heavier painkillers. To say I have not been good company would be an understatement! I have been snappy, moody, and will admit to getting very drunk on more than one occasion (not very sensible on antibiotics)! My wife, has been a rock, as have my two beautiful kids. Slowly I have pulled myself back to normality and have had the first part of three root canal treatments last week.

Throughout all of this I have stayed clean. I have not gambled, but the cost of the dental treatment has had to go on the card. Fortunately, I have a HSA plan so half of it will be reimbursed. On Thursday, I went to the graveside and put some flowers down. I knew then that I will do this, stay clean and get out of debt.

THEN, on Friday afternoon, this happens:

Mobile rings...

Them: Can I speak to Mr. XXXXXX
Me: Speaking
Them: Good afternoon, my name is XXXXXXX, I am from XXXXXX. Congratulations, you have won a holiday.
Me: Yeah right!
Them: No REALLY! You entered a competition in December and you have won the top prize of a Holiday for two, flights, taxes & transfers included, to Florence. You’ll be staying in a 4* hotel for three nights, with a cookery course and market trip thrown in and £400 spending money. You can take the holiday anytime between May and December 31st.
Me: What’s the catch?
Them: No catch.
Me: Is this a wind up, because...
Them: No Mr. XXXXXX, (laughing) it’s not a wind up. Look, why don’t I send you an email, with all the details to confirm what I have said. Let me send the email to you and we can chat later about when you can arrange to take it ok?
Me: Your not joking are you...this is for real?
Them: Yes Mr. XXXXXX, it’s for real. I’ll call back in a few minutes to let you check and catch your breathe....

After two minutes, the email popped up, and I end up in tears, trying to explain to my wife why I am crying, and a frantic hunt for my shifts for the next 8 months!

To top it all, the competition I won was on MSE on the competition site!

Life throws you so much crap, and always seems to kick you when you are down, but once in a while, JUST ONCE IN A WHILE, you DO end up winning.

THANK YOU MSE, THANK YOU SO MUCH

KEEP THE FAITH PEOPLE