60k debt - anyone else with one? - Got a new job!! :D

Brassic

Hi guys,

Good to hear you are forging ahead with the debt clearing. Things are kind of tough for us atm as I've outlined before. We're struggling to afford food and leccy/gas at present, and with starting the new job it's been tough to keep up with chat - just making sure we have food for the kiddies is the main priority

Not been doing badly this month owing to an unexpected quidco payment thankfully, but feb/march are looking grim, with feb being short 50 quid, before food and gas/leccy, and March leaving us with just 100 for both of those things for the month.

My new job has told me I have an extra months training (making 3 months in all) which means another month of full time child care - hence the problems. It's a b*gger too as I was hoping to be able to give up the pub job soon as I'm just knackered all the time which doesn't reflect well with new job, but just can't afford to now

I need some serious fingers crossed for me that my bank charges come through soon, otherwise I'm not quite sure what we're going to do.

Anyway - hope every one elses 2007 has got off to a good start.

Cheers,
Brassic

owessomuch

Hi Guys

Brassic, I'm sorry to hear things are so tight at the moment and as requested I have my fingers (and toes) crossed for you. How is the training/new job going? Are you enjoying it?

I'm having a bit of a strange week, my BF and I have had a huge row and haven't spoken in a week and I don't understand it but I'm not worried about it at all (just checking to see if I still have a heart beat!) I seem to have so much going around in my head at the moment what with changes at work and trying to reduce my debt that I don't have any room in there for silly arguements to worry about too!

I'll probably think differently next week and cry my eyes out every day but we'll have to wait and see.

Hpno06, How's things with you?

Have to go now so I'll speak to you soon.

Take care

Owessomuch x

hypno06

:grouphug: to both of you, things will get better.

A mixed week here in the hypno house.

Tomorrow is snowball update day and I am strangely excited about it and have been selling bits on ebay and amazon which has been a bit of fun as well as raising a bit of cash to bung at the debt.

But then my husbands mobile phone bill came in at £70 more than usual. :eek: He doesn't get itemised bills so we can't tell where it has gone! He went to France over new year but we were so careful with calls, only ringing briefly once a day, and a few texts because of the money situation, and now it seems as though they have charged us for phone sex or something!

Anyway, will have to try and get an itemised bill from them tomorrow but I certainly don't have that money in the budget.

I got a letter from Mint rejecting the smallest of my bank charge claims which was a little disappointing, but whizzed off the next letter without delay. I have yet to hear from Barclays but their 14 days for response to letter 1 is tomorrow so another letter about to be prepared methinks. I am sure they will take it all the way though, so I am ready for that.

I hope the rest of the week goes well for you and hope to hear from you soon.

owessomuch

Hi guys

Hypno06, I know what you mean about the phone bill. Mine was huge after coming back from my hoiday last year :mad: I've learnt my lesson never to use it abroad again. Think I'll buy a phone card instead or just not call anybody

Do you do a snowball update regularly? I would like to do another but I'm scared it will give me a later debt free date than I already have and make me feel as if I'm stepping backwards!

Glad to see your very organised with claiming back you bank charges. Do you think it will ever get to the point when they stop refunding the money? I keep telling everyone to get theirs done straight away just incase the banks find some kind of loophole to get out of it. I can picture people in offices working night and day to try and figure out how to make this problem go away :rotfl:

Still no word from BF have to tell myself it's his loss though.

I might look at snowballing again on the weekend so please keep your figures crossed the my debt free date is reduced!

Speak soon

Owessomuch x

Brassic

Hello all, long time no speak!

As some may know I've been having a bit of a hard time, but thanks to this lovely board have been able to realise that it isn't the end of the world, and I will survive (I will hold my head up high la la la la )

Soooo, we now have an extra 3867 quids worth of debt thanks to some overlooked business rates when hubby sold the pub. However, we have written to them with a payment plan, just waiting to see if they accept.

Other bit of bad news is the cheaper car we bought (having sold the older more expensive one) in order to be able to pay for my month without a salary, has broken. It's going to cost us at least £70 quid to find out what's wrong - god knows how much to fix. Hubbys b'day money is having to pay for that, the rest on the credit card, hopefully to be paid back by bank charge reclaims.

I'm also having to give up pub job as I can't work it round my shifts.

On a more positive note though :

• My new job is going great :j
• My leek seeds have turned into seedlings :j This is the first thing I've ever grown from scratch! Still waiting on the onions.
• Have made a list of everything I can sell, gonna photo it all this week and stick it on ebay/amazon.
• I've found the best ever carrot cake recipe to take in our lunch boxes

Owesomuch - any news on the boyfriend? Deffo his loss if not. I do update the snowball religiously so I can keep an eye on it. I have to be a bit anal about these things otherwise I just do a rather splendid ostrich impression and refuse to look at it for months. :rolleyes:

Take care all,
Brassic

owessomuch

Hi Guys :hello:

Brassic it is nice to hear from you. I'm really glad you are enjoying your new job. And also well done with the leeks :T

I'm sorry to hear about the extra debt raising it's ugly head and your car going wrong. Do you have anyone who could fix it at 'mates rate' or is you hubby any good at mechanics?

I'm ok thanks. BF and I have kissed and made up which I am very very happy about!

I am very determined to have a good sort out this weekend. I'm going to strip down my debts to see where I can save some money, I'm calling it "Light Bulb Part 2" I know there must be somewhere I'm paying to much for something and I will find it!

I'm also going to snowball again :eek: I didn't have the courage to do it last time!

Hypno06, how are you?

Speak soon

Owessomuch x x

hypno06

Hi everyone, things are ok at this end. Still ebaying like mad although with mixed fortunes. Three things we ebayed reached a combined profit after postage, fees etc of £2.03!!!!! I have to say that I didn't go rushing to update my snowball with that figure!

However, every little helps I suppose and other things have sold reasonably well.

I got my Mint bank charges back today - the smallest of my claims at £265 but, again, I am quite happy. So 2 down, many more to go!

January has been a long month and hubby didn't get any overtime in this paypacket so I think February will be just as long, even though it is only 28 days! Roll on March :rotfl:

owessomuch

Hi Guys, how are we all on this very beautiful day?

Hypno, great news on the bank charges :T like you said it's the smallest but everything helps Do you have many other accounts you have to claim from?

Well I have arranged a meeting with my bank on Saturday morning :eek: to discuss one or two things. This is all in my attempt to shave some money off my debt so please everyone keep your fingers crossed for me

The woman at the bank really didn't want to make it Saturday morning but it was the only time I could. I can't afford to take time off work!

I'll let you know how I get on.

Any news on the car Brassic?

Anyway hope you are all well and I'll speak to you soon.

Owessomuch x

hypno06

Fingers well and truly crossed for Saturday Morning.

We got our gas/electric bill in this morning - £516.17:eek:

Now, I know that it is for the winter quarter, and I know that the readings are correct, and not estimated but that was one scary piece of post to open today!

This is the first year that I have worked from home, so heating is on during the day (not all day) and our electric usage is obviously more now because I am at home. (Addiction to MSE site is not cheap!!).

We pay monthly fixed amount but we are currently over £300 in debit. This will obviously even out over the summer months and we have had a chat at home about reducing bills, but because of the debit we cannot switch suppliers because that would mean paying the £300 in full on termination.

There is always something that comes along and bites you on the bum :mad:

Better go and put another jumper on.....

Re bank charges, I have a big claim with my main bank which, if successful, is £4500. We then have other possibles with credit cards, but because they are not closed balances, we are a little reluctant in case they ask for the outstanding balance back!

The one I have just claimed is for a CC that I managed to clear last year. As soon as it was clear, I asked for my money back!

We have successfully claimed £3265 so far. All thanks to these boards and if the Barclays one comes through, that will be another CC able to go completely which would be immensly satisfying.

Brassic, how are you doing today? Sun is shining so I may go for a walk. Nice and cheap activity and no need for the heating/electric on while I am out!!!!!!

chevalier

If your are working from home, could you ask your employer to pay a contribution?
chev