Lotte123's DFW diary

lotte123

Wow! What an amazing month. Have finally managed to find somewhere to rent after living in a caravan/ with friends/ temporary accommodation since February. Had to get my dad to be guarantor but have finally managed it. Phew! Can't wait to start making a home again and for my daughter to get a room back - having spent the last 9 months or so sleeping in the same bed as her mother I think she is a little sick of the sight of me!

But the worst and best news is that while very sadly my utterly amazing nan passed away this month she's left me £10k in her will. Which means that continuing down the same path I have been walking this past year moneywise, I could conceivably be debt free within the next 2 years :j. I am so excited about the possibility of actually starting to save money instead of paying debts it's unreal! So this is a big big thank you to the wonderful Marge :beer:. God bless you nan :A xxx And here's to a fresh start in our new home ...

boredofbeingathome

Good luck in the coming year, and for getting out of the caravan at least its slightly warmer down south, unlike us up in t' freezing north!! orry to hear about your gran though, i expect that her money is well recieved and its a tiny bit of comfort.

lotte123

Finally managed to get back online for a few minutes at a friends- don't yet have internet at home as not yet in the budget!!! :money:

Things I have cleared

AA credit card -interest free period came to an end just as the money from my nan came through so paid that off
first direct - paid £2k off that
AA loan - about to clear that as an early settlement (just been trying to check that will be OK on my credit history on here!)
British Gas - only about £200 left
HSBC - about £500 left to pay
John Lewis - interest free for life of balance, paying £31 a month

Have also paid £1500 to friends that I owed them for their caravan that we lived in all summer.

Think I have about £5k left to pay and nearly all of it interest free. I'm getting there! :T

lotte123

Another 4 months gone and more debt busted!!! My outstanding debts now come in under £2.5k - that's down from the £20k or so it was 18months ago - seems like a lifetime ago. Have a new well paying job, a new rent paying boyfriend and a bright debt-free looking future :j.

Just over £300 to pay on a joint account with my ex that ended up with a dca. Have done well moneywise this month mainly due to doing my landlady's bathroom in exchange for 2 months rent free! So will speak to them tomorrow to see if I can get some money knocked off and clear it in full. That leaves my first direct which I am paying interest on and have just under £600 left on. Will put the £40 that I was paying towards the joint onto that and will be clear by the end of the year if not sooner. And finally my John Lewis that I am paying £31 on interest free. Just over £1600 remaining on that but am not stressing about that as no interest and no black marks on credit history from it. Still would be nice to be completely debt-free. Am hoping to sell my van as no longer need it so that could clear that.

All this has been almost entirely down to Martin :money:and all the wonderful peeps here on MSE. Without him and you guys I would never have found the courage to tackle it in the first place, never have gotten my bank charges back, never have believed it was possible to do and never have hung in there. I've had some lucky breaks along the way but the rest was down to belief and determination. So thank you to each and every one of you who has had some input along the way :beer:. And if you are reading this at the very beginning of your DFW journey just keep checking in to this forum and listening to the people who give their time and advice and know that there is a way out from what seems like an inescapable nightmare :A. C xxx

lotte123

Have just paid off my HSBC which is not just another debt gone but also the last financial tie I have with my ex gone!!!:j Have now upped the standing order to first direct from £60 to £100 and,with some of the extras that I have put in there, it should be clear by my birthday in November. Will then start paying some money into an ISA. Am tempted to get my John Lewis clear for the psychological boost but as I am incurring no interest and it is showing as healthy on my credit report I might as well start saving and making some money. :money: Martin would be proud!

lotte123

Have just been brave enough to get a copy of my credit history to see how horrific it was. And not bad. Apart from showing as in default with a John Lewis card to which I make agreed regular payments and an AA loan that I agreed a reduced settlement figure with.

John Lewis is OK as I have a copy of the letter where they state that making the payments will start to restore my credit rating so have spoken to them and followed it up in writing as they requested.

AA/ Centrica is slightly different though. For some unknown reason I have not kept any record of the loan, the repayment, letters - none of it :eek: And I'm usually so good with this.

Are they likely to deny the agreement - they have never asked me for the money? I have heard all kinds of horror stories about financial organisations chasing for money long after someone believed it to have been settled. I am panicking somewhat and wondered if anyone had any kind words of advice or reassurance? I am going to contact them to ascertain the current status in their eyes and go from there.