I want my life back

MsDaisy

Okay, I'll try and keep this brief. Got myself into a real mess with money. Just trying to pluck up the courage to do a SOA and post on here (if I'm not too embarrassed). Was going to do it at the weekend but since my workplace is closed today because of severe weather I think I ought to do it today. Feeling very scared about what it might reveal but keep telling myself it's the first step to getting my life back. Thanks for listening, will post later.

MsDaisy

Oh dear, dear, dear. Much worse than I thought. I didn't think I'd feel this sick about it but here goes. Any advice greatfully received.
I have to say my parents are wonderful and regularly and willingly bale me out each month. They know how tight things are but I'd like to stand on my own two feet if possible. I think I've just realised how bad things are because child maintainance payments stopped last month (£300 down) and child tax credit (£42) has also stopped.

MsDaisy

Oh my, the wind is really blowing a gale round here. My roof is creaking, the lights are flickering and the satellite signal is off. Just hope when it's all over that I still have a roof and my neighbours and I aren't sharing an open plan back garden.

road-runner15

Hope you're ok (and your roof!). I'm not v experienced with SOAs, but didn't want to read and run. x

MsDaisy

Ok, thanks anyway x

My roof is still on! Yippee, no repair bills (yet).

Think this might be in the wrong place, I'll try reposting somewhere else.

mrshep

Hey

Well done on posting! I'm not very experienced in this either, but I think you are right. You've posted this is the diarys section, if you go back to the main debt free wanabee page and repost there you will get lots more support.

Good luck and well done for posting here!

xx

MsDaisy

Well, it's been a roller coaster ride since I took my head out of the sand last Thursday. I vacillate wildly between utter despair at my situation and elation that I'm doing something about it. Is this normal? :undecided

I'm cutting back on ALL non-essentials and some essentials too. All insurances except house and car. Food budget slashed. Heating on for limited hours each day - favouring the jumpers, woolly socks and blanket look instead

I've been through my finances with a fine tooth comb and have started trying to claw money back for things like missold PPI etc. You never know, I might be lucky. I hope so.

Off work on Thursday past due to weather so that was a NSD. On Friday, 75p on postage (PPI claim so essential!) and £100 to Lloyds TSB cc. Minimum payment is £91 approx but snowball tells me that at minimum payment it would take me more than 75 years to clear this debt. Since I'll be 50 on my next big birthday this is probably not an option However, as all you MSEs will know, paying a little bit more brings this in at a more realistic 5 or so years!

Today, I hope, will be another NSD. I can't decide if I should go to the butcher today or on Monday. We'll see. For now, I've made big pot of veg soup so I'm going to have a bowl while I watch a Christmas movie on the TV. After that I'll put the tree up and scour the house for abandoned pennies and their more wealthy relatives (anything silver!!). This will start my sealed pot challenge.

Have a good day everyone x

MsDaisy

Just a catch up on yesterday and a note of plans for today.

I didn't go out yesterday so it was a NSD. I decided to use some chicken I had in the freezer instead of buying bacon. 2/3 nsd so far.

Today I have several things to do. I've identified some items that can go on ebay. I'll photograph them this morning and list this afternoon/evening. I'm going to do price comparisons for gas/electric and telephone/internet. I'm out of contract for all so I can move if I find a better deal. I'm going to try to use quidco or similar and see if I can make some money too! Not really sure how this works but I'll try and figure it out :think:

I read through the thread about saving on motoring costs. When I'm out next I need to inflate my tyres (I know they are a bit low and therefore I'm wasting fuel) and I've also located my cheapest local petrol station so that's where I'll be heading. I'll clear the boot too so I'm not carrying unnecessary weight - it all helps

Okay, off the have breakfast now :coffee: and watch One Man and His Dog. I love watching these working dogs, they are so clever. Have a good day everyone x

gallygirl

Just popped in to say good luck - you are in the right place to get a lot of support :T. And yes, it is normal to go from elation to fear and back again, and this will happen quite a few times .

freebyfifty

Hi, just wanted to wish you luck and you've made the right move by coming on here. It was the best thing I ever did.
There will be days when you will be so motivated and determined and days where you'll feel utterly demoralised by it all. The swings of emotion are all "part of the journey" (I'm sorry, I'm embarrassed just writing that - journey -pah!)
Just remember that you are now fully aware of your situation and its not getting any worse and if you can get through each day without making it worse it can only get better :think: Does that make sense :think:

Anyway I am subscribing to your diary and now you have no choice, if you don't you will have to answer to the wrath of freeby :rotfl:

MsDaisy

gallygirl - thank you for stopping by. Although I plan to work hard at getting DF a little bit of luck would be nice .

freebyfifty - thank you, the support on here is amazing. And I think one of the things that will keep me on track is the responsibility of updating my diary. Thanks for subscribing, I'm going to need all the help I can get You're right, now that I'm aware of my situation I won't let it get any worse. That in itself is a positive thing :j That makes me feel better


Today's update:

Another NSD Will need to spend tomorrow though coz I need petrol and a card reader (see below)

Ebay - I looked out quite a few things and took photos too, lots of photos! Then I couldn't find my card reader so I can't upload them to ebay Now I've missed the Sunday evening auction closing time. Never mind, I'll just have to do it tomorrow. I'll go to a cheap pound shop tomorrow to get a new card reader.

My lovely mum wanted to go to Aldi today so I went with her. I used my supermarket trolley token in a mini trolley and couldn't get it back out. Now I'll have to replace it, £1 down

On a more positive note I shared the soup I made yesterday with my mum, she was really pleased. She loves homemade soup. I also found lots of pennies and some big, shiney silver ones lying around the house. They have now been rehomed in my sealed pot

I did a price comparison on car insurance today (don't really know why coz I have 3 months to run on it. Would have been more profitable if I'd looked at utilities/telephone!) Anyway, I made £1.80 on the cash back site :j Amazing - just for looking at quotes!! I did find a good one though so I'll keep it in mind for when I need to renew. At some point this week I will look at utilities/telephone. Not sure when though coz I'm back to work tomorrow. Will def do it by next weekend. Tomorrow night will be spent on ebay.

Packed lunch ready for tomorrow, tea/coffee at work.

Expecting a call from an insurance company tomorrow. They have been trying to trace a policy as I have been paying a DD since I don't know when. Oh the shame :embarasse. Now you know I haven't been checking my bank statements (hangs head in shame). The new me, however, will be checking and rechecking them. It's just possible that this DD should have been cancelled by insurance company a while back to I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping I might get some money back. I'll let you know. If, like me, you don't check you bank statements, please, please, please do it now. I can't believe I didn't even notice this DD going out every month - I'm too embarassed to tell you for how long :silenced:

Now, I haven't had a glass of wine for about 6 weeks. There's a bottle in the kitchen that keeps calling my name :j so I think I'll have a glass to celebrate my new found DFW status. Hope this won't incur your wrath freeby

Have a good Monday everyone x