Debt Free - Let's do this!! Medical related!!

miggy

Hi there, good to hear your first day went well!
Those sound like sensible money options to me. A shame to have to increase the OD, as you say, but just think of the money skills you are acquiring in the meantime, and how that will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life.
The journey from A to B will soon be history, keep at it, you're doing a fine job.
All the best for Wednesday.

learning_to_drive

Ty, I'm also starting the Sunday - Sat spending challenge too

I'm keeping a spending diary so I can monitor my spending, kept it for a week and a bit so far, so I'm going to continually monitor that.

My plan is to ring CCCS and FD, but also write to my creditors to negotiate token payments for 3 months, this will allow me to get on my feet with salary from ASDA and overdrafts and things, then I can get on top of my budgets etc.

We shall see what occurs.......

learning_to_drive

Hi guys, managed to get an overdraft extension to cover my car insurance etc. I'm looking at sorting out the car repayment next, potentially getting a loan (17% APR) better than 27% APR plus I would be able to own the car and potentially look at selling it on etc. Something to bear in mind.

Going to ring CCCS just for some advice really surrounding my payments / repayments so that If anything else health wise happens (god forbid) I shall be sorted with an idea of repayments etc.

I dont have much experience of CCCS (well i have none) Im just wondering what they are like, Martin raves about them so we shall see!

miggy

Well done for the extension, and all the plans. Sounds good to me!
Is it Wednesday you have your counselling session? All the best for that.

learning_to_drive

Hi Miggy :hello:


It is indeed Wednesday !! Just an initial assesment, to see what the best course of action is, I'm going to be open and honest and see what happens, I do think that I'll require some counselling etc, but not much, perhaps a course of 8 or something, I just have ups and downs.

I do often wonder if I worked at Sainsburys Dewsbury too long, before I knew what was even up with me I just kept working through the problem so I was really forcing myself, I wonder if I did more harm than good.

Thanks for the good luck message, bless you all on here

Sweetrevenge

HI from someone who is taking baby steps back into work after long absence with depression! Know where you're coming from, well done with the job, one day and one goal at a time!

Haven't had time to read all the post on your thread but - can you open a new bank account which doesn't charge interest on your overdraft like the Alliance and Leicester premier direct?

Also, could you cancel your phone contracts and get a pay as you go sim? That way you can limit yourself to say £15 per month - let people ring you rather than the other way round!

Ask about car sharing at work - see if there's anyone nearby who'd do it for help with the petrol costs - and saving the environment of course!!! :A

Also, I know its a bit cheeky, but sounds like you have a good relationship with parents? Check out some of the interest free balance transfer offers on credit cards (on this site) - if your dad has one of those, would he take your outstanding balances on at 0% interest for 12 months? If so you could get a breather from interest payments, by which time I'm sure you would have paid some of them off?

Finally, please please please don't extend your overdraft - instead look at reclaiming all these overdraft charges, which are unlawful. Again all the threads are on this site. I've just done that and got back £607 with no argument or need to file a court claim.

Hope this gives some ideas and I'm not barking up wrong vertical flora!:rotfl:

Best of luck

learning_to_drive

Hi!!!! :hello:

Finally, please please please don't extend your overdraft - instead look at reclaiming all these overdraft charges, which are unlawful. Again all the threads are on this site. I've just done that and got back £607 with no argument or need to file a court claim.

Already done!! Sent off first letter to First Direct for £361 and to HSBC for £106! Both sent by recorded delivery so they have around 12 days to respond now!

Also, I know its a bit cheeky, but sounds like you have a good relationship with parents? Check out some of the interest free balance transfer offers on credit cards (on this site) - if your dad has one of those, would he take your outstanding balances on at 0% interest for 12 months? If so you could get a breather from interest payments, by which time I'm sure you would have paid some of them off?

We have already done that, with the car insurance, that's £400 on there, the other agreement with the Mint is something that I could certainly look at!

HI from someone who is taking baby steps back into work after long absence with depression! Know where you're coming from, well done with the job, one day and one goal at a time!

Thank you, such a lovely post! I'm hoping to get myself back on track sooner rather than later, ASDA will be good, especially considering my previous experience from Sainsbury's!

Haven't had time to read all the post on your thread but - can you open a new bank account which doesn't charge interest on your overdraft like the Alliance and Leicester premier direct?

Did apply for the A+L acct via Quidco but didnt get it, I got the basic account instead, I'm lookin at moving on from FD once the overdraft is paid back, I'm not going to have an overdraft in future!

Also, could you cancel your phone contracts and get a pay as you go sim? That way you can limit yourself to say £15 per month - let people ring you rather than the other way round!

Indeed, the CPW one has gone, Ive given them 30 days notice so that will go, its a saving of £35 a month, however I'm monitoring my Orange contract (another 9 months on that ) so as soon as my free messages are up I use my PAYG sim (£15 for 300 msgs a month) hence meaning I spend £45 a month max on phones, instead of £93 like I did this month on my Orange bill Plus I get a phone upgrade this month early because of my heavy previous spending on the account

Ask about car sharing at work - see if there's anyone nearby who'd do it for help with the petrol costs - and saving the environment of course!!!

Something I will certainly look at!!!

Definitely going to call CCCS tomorrow, see what advice I can get!

Sweetrevenge

Fantastic, well done.

I've been reading through while you were responding. You sound like a different person to the one who first posted. Remember to take time to reflect on everything you have achieved in a few short weeks. Mark your goals on a big piece of paper, stick it to the bedroom wall, cross em off and play your favourite song while dancing round the room like a lunatic. :j There's no better endorphin maker (great for the depression).

One day soon, your life is gonna feel like fun again. Enjoy. :T

learning_to_drive

Very true, I realised the other day (with help from CAFC girl!!!) that I wasn't celebrating my success enough, and was annoyed with myself because I wasnt just back at my old self, which is daft, I have had a rough ride, this has happened so I should be delighted that I've taken such big steps, sorting out cash / claiming charges / overdraft increase / Lightbulb moment / New job (in a career I wanted).

Marvellous, the advice on the first page about ASDA is refreshing to read, I'm going to print both of those comments off (feelinggood and someone else i think) and stick them in my diary!

learning_to_drive

Morning guys,

Hope we are well, first night tonight, first night of many!!

Counselling first at 5:30, that should be good, nice to get a bit of outside expert opinion on my situation.

Bank charges reclamation has begun, letters sent last week, however the FD one is still showing as "its on its way" on the Royal Mail website, so I'll have to chase that up. I anticipate the claim against FD will go straight against my overdraft pushing that down. However my HSBC one will be used to clear my overdraft with them (£-47) then the rest will be put into my A+L account and be used to start matched betting with!

A no spend day today has been ruined by the need to put in petrol in the car, however I'm driving some mates over to Liverpool on Saturday (I was going to go but had to pull out, I have a Sainsburys do to go to ((paid ages ago)) and no money) but I get £25 to drive them over there, so that should sort out my fuel for the week after providing I dont go over 70 mph .

Hope we are all well! Ringing CCCS in a bit, just for some advice around my issues to see what they suggest.