A Thread for After Debt?

JulieGeorgiana

Oh my, the last time I was on MSE was OCTOBER!!! How did that happen?!?!?!?

I have been really good though, sticking to my budgets. I made my DD some skirts, and have been working and learning my way around the sewing machine

DD was 1 middle of last month, of how time flies, she's all growing up on me. After reading my last posts I realise I stopped coming online once DD started walking. I have no idea why, it could be that I don't use the laptop when she's awake because otherwise she's be typing for me

But we all know once they start moving they need so much more, so we are going out more, having more people (children) over!

Anyway, we are happy to say that our savings are at a healthy level (ie. if the car goes we'll be ok) but we now need to save for our electrics (need a new circuit board and a total rewire outside)... so we are plodding along, saving money, scrimping around and living tight!

BiB So glad to hear the relationsip is going well x

SOT glad to hear you're buckling down

Brokenpromiseland perservere - when a child learns to walk, they fall down over and over and over... but they always get back up and try again. Eventually they gain their feet, learn to balance and they are sucessful (with the odd spill now and again). This is how we learn, and this is how you learn to be debt free, how to save and how to manage... you make mistake, and keep trying until you get it right. But, you WILL get it right in the end x Good luck x

SOT2011

Hi JG

Lovely to get your update, your little girl is already nearly 1 - how on earth can that be??? Seriously though, where does time go?

Your avatar pic is lovely and sounds like she is keeping you busy :rotfl:

I am really pleased to hear that all is going well for you

SOT x

JulieGeorgiana

SOT she really is keeping me busy! I was at the Drs today and telling her my daughter is almost 14 months really surprised me! Add to that DS is nearly 11 and just got his place in his secondary school today! EEEEEKkkkk!

I have been teaching DD baby sign, and she communicates her needs really well, and it's completely changed our lives. She was getting so frustrated, but not anymore. I have had to teach her from books, as a course is £50 for 12 weeks, which is just too much money. I have spent a total of £10 of 2 books and and app, and it's everything you need!

The avatar picture was taken by my SIL and it encaptulates her completely, she's so quiet and contemplating

Anyway, off to do my finances... I may have over spent today

Oh and I got all my easter eggs etc... just got to buy fresh eggs and dye them... then I have to dig out all my easter decorations

Jx

166million

Hi all

really neeeeeed to start sticking to the budget and getting some 'household' savings fund. Things needs fixing in the house and I keep spending all the money on food!
Still I think I'm up this month so far as its a council tax free month and I will get some expenses soon so hopefully can stash a chunk away heheheheeee!

Mort

It's been a while since my last post.

Budgeting is going well, have just come back from a holiday in the sun which was much needed, or should that be wanted?

Something which has not gone well is my plans to change my account from a basic to a standard current account. I thought I would check out my credit rating first and it was just as well that I did, I have a free Noddle account which shows that my rating is poor with defaults but everything is paid. However the other two reports both show that I still owe Lloyds TSB and that nothing has been paid for over a year :eek:.

All a bit frustrating really but in one respect I am not surprised as Lloyds were a consistent source of irritation throughout my DMP.

I suppose I really should have checked my rating sooner but never mind.
Letter writing is on the agenda for this weekend.

Hope you are all OK and will have a good bank holiday.

JulieGeorgiana

Hello Mort, glad to hear you had a nice holiday. I do hope you sort your credit score, I haven't checked mine in ages, but we got a good mortgage last year so I've been a bit lax

Anyway, not much change here, living on one wage is hard, but we're coping. Saving for what needs doing, and hope the electrics and garden (new wall needed, and paving etc) should be done by the time we here 2 years (been here 10 months already!)

Anyway DD is now 16 months and almost potty trained (well she is, until you put clothes on!) And is due to move into a toddler bed in 2 months! Shes all growing up!

We have another baby due 15th November (DH birthday) and just had the dating scan today. DD will be 22 months, DS almost 11,5 years by then.

DS starts secondary school in September, he's grown up too fast!

Better make the most of this one, its my last... I just get so poorly it's not fair on everyone... Plus I don't want to buy a new house to fit in the children

Hope everyone is well x

kilgore1080

...since I was here (September 2012!) so thought I'd check back in.

Happily settled in NZ now, partner & I both have good jobs and have a growing pot of cash with a view to buying a house next year. The habit of money management from my debt days seems to have stuck so we're doing well, we spend on our credit card (to earn the reward points - so far we've had a couple of free hotel stays, a new drill, kitchen stuff etc) but pay it off in full at the end of the month. We're careful and budget for everything, but still have nights out, holidays etc. And a couple of weeks ago we got our Resident visas so we can stay as long as we like now!


Seems like a long time ago I had my LBM and realised I owed 40k, but stick with it folks, it may take a long time but you'll get there!!

JulieGeorgiana

Wow Kilgore that sounds great!

It goes to show that hard work and perseverance means we can achieve anything you want. It sounds like things are working well for you

I've been debt free 3 years and achieved what I never thought possible, I bought my own house, and became a SAHM! I never thought it would be possible, but actually we are able to save a little, and overpay the mortgage, while living how we did while we had debt, only quality of life has improved a lot

Being in debt always made me feel there was no light at the end of the tunnel. But when you get there if you don't change your mindset anything is possible

kilgore1080

Great effort JulieGeorgiana! You've done so well!

Its an incredible relief when its all paid off and so mentally freeing. As you say its just about maintaining the habits and not slipping back into old ways.


Keep at it, I'm sure you'll have the mortgage paid off way before its due!!

JulieGeorgiana

Just booked a holiday for 2015!!

We are going to Scotland for our 5th Wedding Anniversary, with our friends from Norway, who have their 10th Wedding Anniversary at the same time!

We are staying in a huge house (4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms - 1 with a Jacuzzi bath, 2 sitting rooms - 1 for children with a Wii, PS2, DVD and Freeview TV, a washing machine, tumble drier, dishwasher, BBQ)!

As it's June it'll only cost £280 a family and is situated 30 miles from where they got married, 50 miles from where we got married and 40 miles from where we honeymooned!!!

Set a budget yesterday for daily spending, and for the extra's I know will happen (Day trips, meals out) and am happy to say it's all in budget.

I am going to eBay baby clothes next year for extra money, and I am due some survey money. This will all become my personal spending on those WANTS while we are away.

DH will save any '£25 vouchers' he gets as a 'bonus' at work. We'll spend it on groceries and set the money aside for his spending.

DD will get pocket money once she turns 2, so we'll save it for her to spend on a toy or two while away

AND we've just booked a 2 night camping trip for the summer holidays this year. I'll be 28 weeks pregnant by then... so wish me luck x

Hope everyone is doing well x