Clearmydebts - new chapter to becoming debt free before moving home

clearmydebts

Hi all,

Here is the link to my last diary:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1220899

I decided to be really honest with myself this morning and add up my debts. I was really surprised that I have let things slip back so far as I have been doing really well, so from now on I am on a mission to get debt free asap.

A bit about me: I am 33 and had my first baby in March 2010. Up until I was working full-time and so was OH. He had only been working since September after taking 2 years off to pursue a music course. During that time I was the breadwinner and also paid back our debts. I had been doing really well but have started to slip again since DS1 came along. Babies can be very expensive, but I have also become far too quick to place an online order for stuff that we can do without.

I am on maternity leave and was originally due to go back in June but I couldn't leave DS at such a young age so will be going back 1 day a week in September. My contract then finishes in November. I am not looking for work at the moment because we have decided to return home to Ireland and I am hoping (very optimistically) that we will be back before Xmas. Not before OH gets a job though, so we have to wait and see if oen turns up.

So, my aim is to cut back dramatically and start to pay off these debts. Ideally I would love to be debt free by the time we go back to Ireland, but looking at these figures, I am not sure how we will be.

On the plus side, I have nearly all my Xmas presents bought and paid for except for OH (who won't be getting much!) and DS. Virgin have also mucked up my 0% card so I should be getting some money back from them and OH is due a small bonus and some relocation money which will all be going off the credit cards.

Although I am shocked at the figure it has motivated me into action and I am glad I am being honest with myself.

OH's credit card: £2850
My RBS & BOI card: £4150
Virgin card: £6638
My overdraft: £1850
Store cards: £328
Total: £15791 :eek:

tirlittan

Hi CMD.
Well, it's not all that bad. At least you've been honest with yourself and taken action.
You know you can do it!

Hope your plans about going back home to Ireland work out and your OH gets a job there soon.

Good luck! Have subscribed.

Tete_en_l'Air

Hi CMD, never quite kept up with your old diary so will do my best with this one! I know what it's like to pay off debt and then slip back and be kicking yourself, but you've got the worst over with by totting it up and now you can work towards reducing it. ONline shopping is the devil's work, it doesn't feel like shopping at all! Hope you manage to find a way to be home by Christmas, is you OH Irish as well?

clearmydebts

tirlittan wrote: »

Hi CMD.
Well, it's not all that bad. At least you've been honest with yourself and taken action.
You know you can do it!

Hope your plans about going back home to Ireland work out and your OH gets a job there soon.

Good luck! Have subscribed.

Hi Tirlittan,

Thanks

I got a real shock when I see the final figure but I wasn't too surprised as I know we have been putting stuff on the credit cards and spending far too much. That, and me not having much of a wage have put the credit cards up. I am being totally honest now though as I have never included my overdraft before. Never saw it as a debt really, but I understand now that it really is.

Hope you are well.

clearmydebts

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Hi CMD, never quite kept up with your old diary so will do my best with this one! I know what it's like to pay off debt and then slip back and be kicking yourself, but you've got the worst over with by totting it up and now you can work towards reducing it. ONline shopping is the devil's work, it doesn't feel like shopping at all! Hope you manage to find a way to be home by Christmas, is you OH Irish as well?

Hi Tete,

Thanks for the support, it means a lot I just need to keep my head down now and stop buing things that we don't need. I think my spending in the Next sales was the straw that broke the camels back. I realised things have gotten out of control. Max does have more or less clothes for a year now though, so I won't have much to buy him for a while.

Yes, OH is Irish as well so it won't be too much of a culture shock for either of us.

clearmydebts

I have 2 more packages waiting to come from Next and I have already decided to return 4 items from the 1st package, as they are things that I am not keen on. Am hoping to do the same with the next packages so I can knock some money off the debt.

Tete_en_l'Air

Well that's a good start! You feel like you're being 'good' buying sale items but sometimes you buy them because they're cheap even if they're not quite right, then you end up not wearing them or using them and it's a waste. Don't forget Max will get lots of clothes and stuff for Christmas from relatives too (does that sound a bit greedy and calculating? I don't mean it like that!) so he'll be well stocked up

clearmydebts

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Well that's a good start! You feel like you're being 'good' buying sale items but sometimes you buy them because they're cheap even if they're not quite right, then you end up not wearing them or using them and it's a waste. Don't forget Max will get lots of clothes and stuff for Christmas from relatives too (does that sound a bit greedy and calculating? I don't mean it like that!) so he'll be well stocked up

No it doesn't sound greedy at all. Its true he will get a lot at Xmas. I have already told my parents and OH's parents that I just want 1 small gift from them every Xmas and if they want to give more they can give me money for his bank account or for buying clothes/essentials during the year. I defo don't want him being spoilt.

Dinah93

I'll always follow you to a new diary

Your money situation might not be as you'd like it, but Max is gorgeous and a real achievement, and sometimes we have to let one area of our lives slide a little to make space for a big change. The important thing is you've realised the situation and are determined to tackle it.

I'm the same with Next sales, gave my mum my credit card to go looking for curtains - she spent over £600!!! (luckily £400 is going back)

clearmydebts

Dinah93 wrote: »

I'll always follow you to a new diary

Your money situation might not be as you'd like it, but Max is gorgeous and a real achievement, and sometimes we have to let one area of our lives slide a little to make space for a big change. The important thing is you've realised the situation and are determined to tackle it.

I'm the same with Next sales, gave my mum my credit card to go looking for curtains - she spent over £600!!! (luckily £400 is going back)

Aw thanks Dinah. That means a lot and you are right, Max is a lovely happy chappy so I have that to be very grateful for.

Now onwards and upwards with this 'realistic' debt busting!

Tete_en_l'Air

Hmm, I went to the Next sale yesterday and it had been decimated! There was literally a few outdoor lantern thingies and about four bright yellow plates!