Keeping up appearances.......

please-let-me-be-lucky

Hi HappyNow!

Not really sure how I've managed to miss your diary up to now, but I've just read the whole thing and I'm pleased I did! I knew when I saw all my pals commenting on it that it would be a good one and I'm not disappointed!

Massive congratulations on all you have achieved so far (even more so for doing it singlehandedly!). All the best to you for 2013.

PLMBL Xx

Boomfloom

Three years ago, my health failed and I lost my job. Thankfully, the money they gave me paid off my debts so theoretically I am debt-free but asset-free too (at the age of 30). Please, do not kick me off your thread because of my lack of debt! Going from £30k to £9k a year was difficult. Not getting back into debt now is even more so.

I used to spend £120 on groceries for myself every week (or thereabouts - how would I know lol), now I keep the two of us on half that money and aim to reduce it further; I pay less for gas and electricity now than I did three years ago despite the outrageous price rises); the pets died but they were well looked after until the end and they are not being replaced even though we would love to have a pet again. In fact, we are so desperate that last summer we actually took care of a slug we found in a head of lettuce but he disappeared after a few weeks.

Thankfully, over two years ago my OH and I found each other. He fully supports me and it makes everything so much easier. He has been looking for a job since he graduated but it's impossible. I could possibly work from home part-time but there are no such jobs in my field. We are also worried about how we are going to survive the transition period between the last benefit payment and his first salary coming in. We were meant to be getting married in September but we cannot even afford to pay for the necessary documents. Also, it is difficult to cope with other people who view us as benefit scroungers as if I chose to become disabled and made the economy collapse as well so that my OH remains jobless so that we can drain the society dry to fund our lavish lifestyle.

Anyway, new budget starts on January 4 and I am joining the grocery challenge and the 2013 challenge then. We will tighten our spending even more and hopefully get some savings set aside. Also, I will keep reading Mrs Happy's lovely diary to keep my spirits up - I get depressed easily and your cheerful attitude has been doing wonders for me since I discovered your thread a few days ago.

NewLeaf_2

Happy Look at how many people support you! I love your spirit.

Welcome Boom!

HappyNow

poohbear59 wrote: »

I am now frustrated that my double figures aren't moving up fast enough but as DH isn't working again we are back to making minimum payments. It is good to know that if things improve I can get onto a faster track again.

I hope it's a very short-term setback for you Pooh. I know how frustrating it is to be just making minimum payments, but at least you are managing those, so things are ticking over until you're up and running again x

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

Hi HappyNow!

Not really sure how I've managed to miss your diary up to now, but I've just read the whole thing and I'm pleased I did! I knew when I saw all my pals commenting on it that it would be a good one and I'm not disappointed!

Massive congratulations on all you have achieved so far (even more so for doing it singlehandedly!). All the best to you for 2013.

PLMBL Xx

Hi PLMBL and thanks for stopping by . Wow, that must have been a marathon read . I've noticed your name around the diaries too but tonight is the first time I've seen your own diary. I'm only up to page four (well it is 3am!) but I am well and truly hooked and I will be reading it right through tomorrow. You've really been through the mill and I hope things are going better for you now (I was going to have a peek at the last few entries to check, but forced myself not to because I like to start at the beginning and see how things pan out).

HappyNow

NewLeaf wrote: »

Happy Look at how many people support you! I love your spirit.

Welcome Boom!

The support IS wonderful NewLeaf . It makes such a difference as you know from your own diary .

Boomfloom wrote: »

Three years ago, my health failed and I lost my job. Thankfully, the money they gave me paid off my debts so theoretically I am debt-free but asset-free too (at the age of 30). Please, do not kick me off your thread because of my lack of debt! Going from £30k to £9k a year was difficult. Not getting back into debt now is even more so.

I used to spend £120 on groceries for myself every week (or thereabouts - how would I know lol), now I keep the two of us on half that money and aim to reduce it further; I pay less for gas and electricity now than I did three years ago despite the outrageous price rises); the pets died but they were well looked after until the end and they are not being replaced even though we would love to have a pet again. In fact, we are so desperate that last summer we actually took care of a slug we found in a head of lettuce but he disappeared after a few weeks.

Thankfully, over two years ago my OH and I found each other. He fully supports me and it makes everything so much easier. He has been looking for a job since he graduated but it's impossible. I could possibly work from home part-time but there are no such jobs in my field. We are also worried about how we are going to survive the transition period between the last benefit payment and his first salary coming in. We were meant to be getting married in September but we cannot even afford to pay for the necessary documents. Also, it is difficult to cope with other people who view us as benefit scroungers as if I chose to become disabled and made the economy collapse as well so that my OH remains jobless so that we can drain the society dry to fund our lavish lifestyle.

Anyway, new budget starts on January 4 and I am joining the grocery challenge and the 2013 challenge then. We will tighten our spending even more and hopefully get some savings set aside. Also, I will keep reading Mrs Happy's lovely diary to keep my spirits up - I get depressed easily and your cheerful attitude has been doing wonders for me since I discovered your thread a few days ago.

Thanks for sharing Boomfloom, and you are 100% welcome on this thread, debt or no debt . Anyone who cares for a stray slug will fit right in around these parts .

As you say, keeping debt-free when you're on a low income is a struggle in itself, especially if you're not in the best of health, so you have plenty to be proud of and congratulations on the adjustments you have made. Hopefully the MSE challenges will help you make even more savings so you can afford both a pet and a wedding. I hope you will stick around so we can follow your progress x

please-let-me-be-lucky

HappyNow wrote: »

Hi PLMBL and thanks for stopping by . Wow, that must have been a marathon read . I've noticed your name around the diaries too but tonight is the first time I've seen your own diary. I'm only up to page four (well it is 3am!) but I am well and truly hooked and I will be reading it right through tomorrow. You've really been through the mill and I hope things are going better for you now (I was going to have a peek at the last few entries to check, but forced myself not to because I like to start at the beginning and see how things pan out).

Wow good luck with that one, I can talk . Unfortunately I can't even direct you to bits you can skip, my life makes Eastenders look boring and normal :rotfl:. There is always something going on!! Xx

PinotGrigio41

Hey Mrs H, how you doing ?

Im afraid I think I forgot to wish you a Happy New Year which was very bad of me, so here it is !

I have so much to catch up on your diary, I will try and settle down for a read later today !

Can you believe it was a year ago we all started chatting , how time flies !! xx

Honey_Bear

BoomFloom It might be worth considering offering a pet rescue charity yourselves as a Fosterer. Lots of animals have to be cared for by charities that have a policy of not putting healthy animals to sleep, and they can be oversubscribed in terms of space, particularly at this time of year. Often, older animals don't cope with being in kennels at all well after a life lived at home. If you are home all the time and would consider taking on an animal as a fosterer, I believe there are charities that might pay pet care costs on that basis. I can't name any, but it's worth considering as anyone who cares about a slug needs an animal!

PS Just remembered - the local Cat Protection League are looking for people to have cats for the weekend. They arrive with all their own bedding, food and anything the cat needs, to give them a break from the cattery. Is there one anywhere near you that you could approach?

Honey_Bear

HappyNow Your point about not knowing when and by how much your debt accumulated is well made! Taking your original unsecured debt figure of £69,579 and dividing it by the 15 years it took you to accumulate, it would be a figure of £4638 (and small change) per year, so in effect you've turned the juggernaut around by that plus the £2520 you paid off - giving you a figure of £7158 - and you've done it without your family really noticing it.

Respect!

NewLeaf_2

where are you happy now?