£25,000 to clear. Ready...steady...GO

hillside777

Hi Banwa,

It's great to see you. I am very sorry to hear about the job and hope that something comes along in the next few days.

Keep positive. I know it's easier than done.

Take care.

debtfreewannabe321

Hi banwa, i'm so sorry to hear he lost his job please do come back and update us, perhaps we can pool some ideas for inspiration. Does he have any interviews lined up? xx

ZTD

banwa wrote: »

Hello, just thought I would pop by to say I am still quietly MSEing BUT Mr B got sacked and things have been difficult to say the least. Full update later. Need some inspiration in how we are going to make ends meet over the next few weeks

First thing is that item which we all know and hate - the SOA.

Second thing is to open a thread on the main DFW board (not the diaries) as that's where the real experts live. They may recommend you contact creditors and make token £1 payments - that all depends on circumstances.

Thirdly: :grouphug:

Knitting_Nora

Seconding Z's 'thirdly'...though with normal big hugs!

Just keep swimming, hon.

Nora.xx

banwa

Oh my word, you guys are so lovely:heart2:, I made things sound much much bleakerthan they are, I'm sorry for worrying you.

Here's the full update

The sacking
In the fourth week of his job, he got a puncture on his lorry. it was on thedriver's side and he was on a motorway. When the repair man came out, Mr B saidhe would pull the lorry as far on to the hard shoulder as he could so that therepair man didn't have his back in the first lane of traffic. Only when hetried to pull out again, the lorry was stuck in the mud on the verge and therewas no budging it without a tow vehicle.:shocked: And the policy with the company isthat the driver is liable for any damage (there was no damage btw) and he wastold he would have to pay the costs of recovery (£1000) to keep his job. Sothey parted ways.
I was in shock, but I fully support him, his intentions were good, he justmade a mistake.

My company
When I walked out of my well paid sales job 6 years ago, I had no idea whatI was going to do, and someone from where I work now offered me a job, it wasbadly paid but I thought 'why not…? And Mr B fully supported me,
I started in a crappy job, it's the only way for someone like me to startwith no qualifications, but they recognised my hard work and now I am in management, have areasonable wage with private healthcare, in a job I enjoy and for a company Iam really proud of.

What next for Mr B
Unbelievably, he got offered a job the same afternoon (he phoned a companywhere he had been offered a job a few years ago but had declined), drivingabout 20 miles from home.

But because I knew that the agency that provides factory shift workers at myplace was recruiting (a rarity) in the next couple of weeks, I suggested thathe wait a couple of weeks and come and work here. The wages are rubbish, £6.50on days and £7.15 on nights, both of which he will be expected to do. But inthree months that goes up to £9 and £13…and if he keeps his head down, thestarting wage for a permanent member of staff is £27k. Which isn’t much less hegot for a 60 hour week where he didn’t come home between Monday and Friday. Andthere are loads of opportunities for development. He started last Saturday, anddid 72 hours last week.


So all in all we’ve taken a bit of a gamble but I really have a good feelingabout the future

But sometimes, when you are down to your last fiver, it’s difficult to seethat, and that’s where you guys come in. Things are going to be tight, in thevery least for the next 3 months (which are the months I am worried about), andthere is no guarantee that he will get a permanent job so there is that worrythere. And a load of our 0% deals are coming to an end and I think our luck has run out with these, I think that is my biggest worry right now.

I think posting my SOA is a good idea anyway if only the one for the next three months

Be back soon

Banwa:)

debtfreewannabe321

So glad things aren't as bad as they seemed I hope the next 3 months fly by and DH gets the full time job given to him! And bless him doing 72 hours, at least the company will recognise he is a good hard worker :T I hope you come back and post more often, so we can all buoy you along on the bumpy road! xx

Itsadogslife_2

Hi Banwa,

Glad to hear that you managed to sort OH's job out - I hope that is still going well?

You are very right, sometimes it is hard to look forward when you only have a fiver. At least you have good feelings about the future, sometimes that good old positive mental attitude can really help boost moralle

banwa

Hello everyone again

I have done my SOA and redone my SOA. I can't see any way of making this mission any easier, and the idea of consolidating keeps rearing its head

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4060567

Anyway, if any of you clever people have any ideas, I am all ears

• We are making mimimum payments on all cards monthly.
• We make £2 payments to each card each week so that it appears we are making more than minimum payments too.
• The exception is the Natwest card to which we pay £48 per week
• We ALWAYS make all these payments, we NEVER pay extra, we NEVER spend on credit cards or extend overdrafts so incoming and outgoings are realistic.
• We did extend the joint and Mr B's overdraft (by £400 in total) when he was out of work. Overall though the debt continued to go down, as our payments exceeded the £400
• The debt has slightly increased since last posting, due to balance transfer fees and also I had miscalculated the barclayloan by one payment.

I vow to start posting the good things and bad things again very soon, it's just there have been no good things lately:(. I'm sure that's all about to change though.

Thanks for sticking with me, hope you are all ok

Banwa

Box_of_Fluffies

Hi Banwa, I've only just caught up with your diary and it seems you've had rather a lot going on. I was sorry to hear about Mr B's job but also that your gamble re a new job paid off. I have my fingers and toes crossed that he gets a permanent job at the end of it.

Well done on posting your SOA. Being half way around the world I don't feel I can comment on it but I'm sure you'll receive lots of support from others on here.

Keep your chin up. {{HUGS}}

debtfreewannabe321

hello :waves:

I just had a quick look and noticed the sky, can you not call them and explain your situation and haggle? I know of a few people on here with full packages for less that £30 (i'm sure i read one had the full package on the min. payment!) I pay £16 but only have the min. package. (potentially save £25).

Do you use AF for food (can't remember if you do or not now) if not i'd get an order in for when DC stay over as their snacks will be next to nothing. (could potentially save perhaps £20+ a month)

Also agree with what someone said about presents, perhaps halve this by shopping in sales etc and if you know where the DC like shopping, do surveys and request vouchers for those stores (i.e top shop) you wouldn't be spending anything then? (potential saving, £50?)

Sorry not great suggestions but would definitely give the sky a go. They are begging for customers and will easily reduce your bill for you!

Hope you are well anyway aside from financial dramas xxx