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The light at the end of the tunnel... it's burning my eyes

Capt_Splash
Posts: 6 Forumite
One Sunday night back in May 2003 I made a decision that set me on a path to this Thursday.
I've often considered myself to be a trend setter, an early adopter. Well in 2003 I did something that didn't become fashionable until at least 2008. I went financially bump. The levels of debt could no longer be sustained, it was out of control, some 80-90% of my income was going on nothing but debt. I was never out of the red, even when i got paid. It was a crazy time. That Sunday night I faced the truth and bit the bullet, i had to put an end to it so I resolved to pay off everything, not default, not go bankrupt, but pay everything, every last penny. Loans, house, cards, everything. Then sell the crappy house and leave and live somewhere nice. (Mrs Splash went "bump" in 2005.)
Its taken 8 years, no big holidays and no going out but we are finally done. All the debts went last summer and the house is now sold. We leave this house on Thursday and at 45 we have a clean slate. Banking the house money and we're off to rent for a year and take our time and decide where we want to live.
Back in 2003 i contacted CCCS and they helped me with my debts, in truth i don't think i could have done it without them. Most importantly they taught me how to deal with my creditors. Some of my creditors were great (Capital One). I explained the situation agreed a part payment and off we went, i never heard from them again. Some of my others though were a different kettle of fish. Lloyds Bank were a nightmare, they told lies and were the very models of sharp practice. Most of my financial dealings were with Lloyds - Mortgage, loans, insurance, Children's bank accounts etc etc. They turned their back on me and got really really heavy with me. Every time i phoned them they would threaten me with something (usually Court action). My response was always the same "if you want to take me to court then please do so, that's your decision not mine and issuing hollow threats really isn't helping". I recently went to see my Lloyds bank manager to close my accounts when he asked why i hit him with 7 years of frustration and pain. I also told him that i would NEVER give Lloyds bank another penny of my money
I also got "head hunted" last Thursday into a much more senior position, so my work life will change too in July. In the last 4 years my career has really taken off and i now wear a suit everyday. One day i came home and a guy over the road actually pointed at me in the street, i think he thought I was CID or a benefits investigator.
It was an incredibly hard slog to get through it but you just have to be determined (and have a partner that you are happy to see every night of your life ) I love gadgets but I had to just accept that i didn't have the money.
We were always taught to be responsible to accept the consequences of my own actions so bankruspsy was never an option for us. We accepted our part in it and put our heads down. In 48 hours time will will be away form one of the scummy parts of Birmingham and off to a very nice bit (were leaping 6 Council tax bands from A to G)
The hard work finally paid off, the light that was once so far away is now burning our eyes. I just can't remove the smile from my face. For the first time in my life I'm not angry about anything, I cant wait to leave where we live and start life afresh. I've never been so happy.
G
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I've often considered myself to be a trend setter, an early adopter. Well in 2003 I did something that didn't become fashionable until at least 2008. I went financially bump. The levels of debt could no longer be sustained, it was out of control, some 80-90% of my income was going on nothing but debt. I was never out of the red, even when i got paid. It was a crazy time. That Sunday night I faced the truth and bit the bullet, i had to put an end to it so I resolved to pay off everything, not default, not go bankrupt, but pay everything, every last penny. Loans, house, cards, everything. Then sell the crappy house and leave and live somewhere nice. (Mrs Splash went "bump" in 2005.)
Its taken 8 years, no big holidays and no going out but we are finally done. All the debts went last summer and the house is now sold. We leave this house on Thursday and at 45 we have a clean slate. Banking the house money and we're off to rent for a year and take our time and decide where we want to live.
Back in 2003 i contacted CCCS and they helped me with my debts, in truth i don't think i could have done it without them. Most importantly they taught me how to deal with my creditors. Some of my creditors were great (Capital One). I explained the situation agreed a part payment and off we went, i never heard from them again. Some of my others though were a different kettle of fish. Lloyds Bank were a nightmare, they told lies and were the very models of sharp practice. Most of my financial dealings were with Lloyds - Mortgage, loans, insurance, Children's bank accounts etc etc. They turned their back on me and got really really heavy with me. Every time i phoned them they would threaten me with something (usually Court action). My response was always the same "if you want to take me to court then please do so, that's your decision not mine and issuing hollow threats really isn't helping". I recently went to see my Lloyds bank manager to close my accounts when he asked why i hit him with 7 years of frustration and pain. I also told him that i would NEVER give Lloyds bank another penny of my money
I also got "head hunted" last Thursday into a much more senior position, so my work life will change too in July. In the last 4 years my career has really taken off and i now wear a suit everyday. One day i came home and a guy over the road actually pointed at me in the street, i think he thought I was CID or a benefits investigator.
It was an incredibly hard slog to get through it but you just have to be determined (and have a partner that you are happy to see every night of your life ) I love gadgets but I had to just accept that i didn't have the money.
We were always taught to be responsible to accept the consequences of my own actions so bankruspsy was never an option for us. We accepted our part in it and put our heads down. In 48 hours time will will be away form one of the scummy parts of Birmingham and off to a very nice bit (were leaping 6 Council tax bands from A to G)
The hard work finally paid off, the light that was once so far away is now burning our eyes. I just can't remove the smile from my face. For the first time in my life I'm not angry about anything, I cant wait to leave where we live and start life afresh. I've never been so happy.
G
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Comments
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Wow. Fabulous story. Huge congratulations.........enjoy the rest of your life.:beer:0
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Congratulations!!! Enjoy itBecame Mrs Scotland 16.01.16
Became homeowners 26.02.16
Baby girl arrived 27.10.16
Baby boy arrived 16.09.2018
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Thats a pretty inspiring story. Congrats!0
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You moving over to Sow-Ley-Hull then Cap'n?
Very well done, I will be joining the debt free brigade summer 2013 as things stand, hopefully before, but that will rely on circumstances over which I can exert no authority.Like all revolutions, guerrilla goodness begins slowly, with a single act. Let it be yours.
Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.0 -
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what a lovely post
congratulations and well done and jolly good luck for the future0 -
Well done Capt!
I hope you enjoy the new place. Sutton is lovely and you sound as though you've worked very hard and deserve to live somewhere lovely!
xCommon sense?...There's nothing common about sense!0 -
Fantastic! Good luck for the future, I hope everything works out for you x2013 NSD challenge 3/100
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Thanks everyone.
It is worth it in the end. Stick with it, learn the lessons and move on.
G0 -
Excellent post, and really encouraging to all of us, who have targets, paying off debts or mortgages etc. Very well doneFeb 2012 - onwards MF achieved
September 2016 - Back into clearing a mortgage - Was due to be paid off in 32 years in March 2047 -
April 2018 down to 28.00 months vs 30.04 months at normal payment.
Predicted mortgage clearing 03/2047 - now looking at 02/2045
Aims: 1) To pay off mortgage within 20 years - 20370
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