Everything looks so much better now!

fabulously_rich

Dear all, phew! I read a lot of threads on here last week and it motivated me to do something about my finances.

I'm a single mom with two little boys at home, had a failed business which resulted in my owing a whopping £35k to the banks. Sold my house, used the equity to pay off £25k and now rent.

So just a little bit to go, but I wasn't doing anything about it, just feeling low and useless!!!!

But now, I've taken out a new credit card as advertised on here which gives me 18 months interest free on my balance transfer of £2,200. I then opened a new account without an overdraft facility, resulting in my two active accounts (with overdrafts) being treated as 'loans', so can pay them a bit at a time from my new account.

Have sold some gold I wasn't ever going to wear, have requested a refund from my electricity/gas account and am thinking .... 'I'm gonna be ok'

It is my intention to purchase another property so it's imperative I have good credit, at present it's 'fair' and on the move towards 'good'.

Happy to receive any further actions I can take along the way from those of you in the know :beer:

Today is a good day and I intend to keep it that way :rotfl:

fabulously_rich

Well, this is like keeping a diary!

Received £163.25 from E.On as a credit. Found out that my Student Loans will be written off in December when I turn 50! Received £185 from Cash for Gold (4th offer they made started at £122 ... thieves!) So have been able to make payment on my Barclays Loan that I missed in August, so am up to date with all payments, no arrears, so can answer the phone again ... arrrgghhh

Have received all new bank details for new account (Barclays) and have set up standing order for £20 to savings each month.

Just need to swap all direct debits, nightmare. Salary also needs to be changed to be paid into new bank account. Need to do that today, scary move as I don't want to miss any payments and they all come out at the optimum time to my salary coming into account.

Feeling really motivated. Did a car boot on Sunday last week. Took all 300 of our DVDs (we rarely watch them) and some other bits and pieces (200+ coat hangers), made just over £50 which brought the boys their new school trousers, shirts and underwear items for the new term, and I took them for their back to school haricuts (I was geneuinely scared that I wouldn't be able to afford it)! They also took a large box of toys and laid them on the ground selling for 20p etc and made over £5 each, they were chuffed and we had a really nice day out doors sitting on the ground, chatting!

Having done the car boot, claimed back my elec/gas credit and sold a few pieces of broken jewelry, I have been able to not spend from my bank account, so all is well!

curlytop12

hello.
great progress you are making.
why don't you fill out the "statement of affairs"-(the link is in the stickies at top of debt free wannabee page,6th one down.)and post it here for more ideas to help you.
good luck

fabulously_rich

Thanks @ Gem68 ... I've just completed the budget planner on the site and I'm actually not that bad off, I think I just see free cash and spend it! Most of my problems are due to poor money management, for example I only recently realised that one of my direct debits was coming out the day before I got paid, so every month the bank paid it and charged me for it, a simple phone call changed the date and no more charges ... I spend a lot of time online, but obviously not doing what would help me with my finances, and now that's changed.

Thanks again Gem for your comment, really appreciate it!

bottleofred

Hi fabulously rich,

As well as completing your statement of affairs and getting tips/advice on how to save cash, you could also start a spending diary. You can get small notebooks from a shop (less than £1 in the co-op) and you record absolutely everything you spend in it. That way, you will see if you have spent any money that you really didn't need to and will also allow you to see where it goes. Well done on being proactive with the 0% card and the refund from Eon though. In order to improve your credit rating, continue to try to make your payments on time and just keep on going.

Good luck

Red

fabulously_rich

Right, here I am again. Just as everything felt like it was getting better, the boys both mislaid their school shoes so had to buy them new ones, and they needed new jumpers because 'dad' had brought them new ones so why hadn't I? total outlay £50. Oh and their dad thought that the small hole in my son's trainers was not acceptable and sent him home in his socks, putting his trainers in the dustbin to ensure I brought new ones....

Blood pressure has risen again and back to sleepless nights. Then knackered all day at work and angry as hell by the time I get home with the boys in the evening.

Depression is back, as I feel useless again! Just keep taking the tablets I suppose

So took one of the boys to football this morning, didn't have the money for his subs and the petrol light came on in the car (then went out again ... divine intervention?)

Situation, boys have to go to their dads tonight for 3 nights, need petrol to get them there, no money till Tuesday. Dad is horrid, so dont even suggest he help out! He pays maintenance so that's that as far as he's concerned, we dont speak due to his violent nature.

I'm supposed to go to my monthly 'come dine with me' experience with my girlfriends tonight, but dont feel up to it, and more importantly do I have petrol to get there and back home ... boys need to be dropped off at 5, come dine with me is at 7.30??? Can't afford the 2 trips.

Then I remembered, I have about £20 in my Halifax account should tide me over till Tuesday. ONLINE BANKING AND TELEPHONE BANKING UNAVAILABLE THIS WEEKEND???????????? I destroyed cards last week in an effort not to take out money I don't have, and now I need the money can't get it!!!

I'm :mad: to say the very least, gonna make a cuppa!

Oregon

It's horrible to hear you've lost the positivity.
Especially as you are doing so well

Just keep on keeping on x

JLL

Don't worry we all have days like that. I had £300 in overtime this month, which was gonna clear my Dorothy Perkins card then my DH car went for it's MOT. We thought all it needed was a new tyre how wrong we was. The bill came to £280. Needless to say i was P***ed off.

Try and stay positive cause your doing a great job. Trying to get debt free is a lifestyle change and you've done the hard part in realising you need to get rid off it.

Stay on track and we are here if you need us for a chat and let off steam

jellybean39

oh Sweetie

Keep your chin up just a bad week!!! Think your ex needs his butt kicked. What if you really had no means at all to buy those trainers. He is obviously totally thoughtless andits obvious he knows hes getting at you by behaving that way. Dont let him pull you down he really isnt worth it if he behaves that way. Rant over i have an ex like the who didnt pay maintenance any way another story!
Everytime he enters your head just thin of something really silly like how small his hmm is and laff to yourself. And if you see him u can laff all you want inside.
Now back to the important things.
Explain to girlfriends what is happening and i am sure one of them would pick you up. I know i would. Secondly tell ex he will have to pick the children up ( thats if hes allowed near you with his past)
Why do you have to do the running around? Mind you by the time you read this you probably gone. i hopex
There will get to a point when he wont make you angey no more but dont let him un do all the good you have done, if the kiddywinks have gone this weekend why not have another clear out and see if you can find any bits you can find to sell on ebay? And when the kids go back to school nail there shoes to thier feet lol;)
Keep smiling it will come good x

Oregon

Jellybean you're a star. Your post well made me laugh!!

TeaForOne

Didn't want to read and run.

Hope things are feeling less hopeless this morning. You've done brilliantly so far so try to look on this as a little blip. You may have lost this battle but you'll win the war, and all that.

Easier said than done, I know, but please don't let your ex (and his totally inadequate "hmm" :rotfl:) have the satisfaction of upsetting you.

Love the username btw.