Tackling our crisis ourselves - before seeking professional Help - Our Journey

ScottAnne

I'm not going to say we had a LBM, we've had several over the past number of months but with my impending return to work following maternity leave, I came to the point of being completely sick and tired of being in debt and not making any dent in it at all.

Our debts are a mixture of personal and business, some through pure and utter stupity and others for survival. I posted a SOA only a dew days ago and recieved the warmest welcome and some very good advice. General advice was to go down the DMP route.

We were seriously considering a DAS after researchingthis but have decided to have a SERIOUS GO AT TACKLING THINGS OURSELVES before we call in reinforcements, I think we may be able to do it. Currently we have an excellent credit rating and we just want to say 'at least we tried' before giving up and caving in. It may not come to that, please god it wont.

I wanted to start my diary now as I feel very motivated and have made some savings already which I wanted to document. I do sincerely hope we can make good this desperate situation and have a life with only mortgage payments and essential household bills. That's my dream and it's time to make that dream a reality.

I hope you will follow me on this the hardest task of our lives and I hope we can share in our experiences, highs and low's.

Debts currently stand at £32000 approx. Household consits of Mum Dad and two beautiful young boys, our world and for whom we must make this situation right.

ScottAnne

My debt busting success this week:

Clearing some of the lower credit card balances with some savings - need to document this by means of reducing my balances in my signature. Amount approx £800. This reduces my monthly debt re payments by £110

Sold 2 lots of baby clothes on Ebay - £29

Requested Sale of old mobile phones with an online company - Valued at £68

Husband got a wee 'homer' for the weekend - £250

Did my shopping today for £28 at Tesco, lots of reduced items no unessentials.

Meal plans made for the week, freezer full to the brim with meat, bread, homemade soups, meals etc that I was gathering up for last 3 weeks, not buying any meat or bread as part of my weekly shop until this is deminished.

Cancelled an organised birthday I was going to which included a meal and drinks, no no to extra's like that. Feel much better for cancelling.

So far that's it, I am waiting in vain for a call to work this weekend (my new second job), possibly for one day only as my husband is doing his wee 'homer' job one of the days.

Husbands birthday on Sunday, have a lovely full chicken in the freezer so we can have a full Sundayt Roast, thankfully his present was sorted some months back, even at a saving too.

Oh and I found some beers left over from Christmas in the back of the cupboard so I'm going to treat myself to one of those this evening.

Then it's back to work on Tuesday for me after 10 months maternity leave.

tootallulah

Didn't want to read and run WELL DONE on your start. I too think that you can do it and at least this way you will have tried. It is important to remember that it is a marathon and you need to work out a way of living and debt busting. One thing is sure you will benefit hugely if you can pay things off whilst your children are young, they get much more expensive! Good luck and do keep posting it will help.

HappyNow

Hi, just wanted to say welcome to DiaryLand. Wow, you have been busy already - well done .

I am completely unqualified to discuss DMPs or DAS's, but I know all about large debts (check out my sig to cheer yourself up!!)! Personally, I faced up to the harsh reality of my finances just a couple of months ago. Already I feel like I've taken back control of my life and I can see things starting to get better, little by little. And yes, you might have to do without the odd meal out and you might need to shop at different places, but in return you get to sleep better at nights, appreciate what's really important, and find your stress levels returning to normal. It's a good feeling, and if you approach your new lifestyle as an exciting challenge it can actually be surprisingly enjoyable and satisfying!

You will get loads of advice and support on here. I have subscribed to your diary and will keep popping back to see how you're doing x

ScottAnne

Thank you for your replies.

Tootallulah - good point about remembering it's a marathon. I'm sure I will have some depressing days ahead. The feeling of owning my situation has given me some relief so far, I am determined to keep focused.

Happynow - Thanks for your reassuring words, I do hope I feel the stress levels decreasing as time goes on and I can stay on top of my debt busting. Every little helps..

Come to think of that saying, I actually forgot to record a minor success I had today in the form of a £10 gift card from Tesco's having complained some weeks back about their Tampon's.. Yes you read that correctly, I did say in my complaint letter it probably wasn't their usual topic of complaint but honestly I was so fed up of their useless applicators that I felt I needed to let them know. £10 towards my next shop... well worth it.. lol:rotfl:

Jee's I hope I'm not putting the male readers off their dinner.. Sorry some things are just worth a mention.

ScottAnne

So I'm just dropping in to advise of some good luck I've had today.

Opened the morning mail to see a cheque from Blackhorse Finance to the tune of £726.. which we were not expecting. I'm hoping its not a mistake, my husband had his work van on finance from them and as part of his t&c's, he could surrender the vehicle voluntarily as he was over half way through his plan. Seemed a great way to save £300 a month considering he got a van as part of his new job. So we filled all the documentation in, it was collected and that was the end of that... Must look into it, why would they rebate us?

Gave Annabel Karmel a run for her money today and made two entire batches of lunch and dinners for my wee boy who goes to the childminder from next week for 3 days as I go back to work. Should last me a month considering my freezer drawer was already stowed out with meals I was making.

Put my beloved watch on Ebay and within an few hours it has 12 watchers, hopefully make a sucessful sale from that.

Booked a table, cost £8 at a very good indoor car boot sale for March, this is where I am going to sell my baby stuff (well what my son 8 months has grown out of so far)

All in all a good day, I made some pasta sauce last night in advance of tonights dinner too so no prep needed.

Have a good night all.