Reactions of a mountain goat - or not!

Becks81

Thank you both :A I'm sorry for my rant yesterdat I do feel a bit better today, and I know I should be thankful for the positives in my life.

I've posted on the DFW board, and am having help over there with regards to the bailiff. I think I'm feeling the way I am is because if my ex was here he would be dealing with this. I feel quite vulnerable on my own, and answering to a bailiff at 9pm really shook me up.


I didn't hear back from the job today - possibly tomorrow? The extra money is the only thing keeping me going in that sense. With everything coming at me at the moment I could sure do with it.

I have decided to keep a check on my spending again, have taken my eye right off the ball this last month so will start a spending diary again this month, so far 1 NSD!

girlatplay

Oh I'm sorry Becks, I didn't mean you are not grateful for the positives, I just meant that you need to remember the positives, think about them and focus on them when you feel low. You have done incredibly well coping with all of this on your own and you should be proud of yourself.

Becks81

Thanks GAP - I know you didn't mean it like that but you are right I'm not one for 'bigging' up my self IYKWIM. I do forget how well I've done, and everyone who meets my DD's says they are real credit to me, they are rarely in trouble and make my life so much better - goodness knows where I would be without them.

I have spoken to the council with regards to the debt - as it happens ex dh was not paying what he should :mad: I know I should have checked but back in 2006 I was in a very dark place, looking after my DD's and at this time they were both under 2 years old. Looking back I'm sure I had post-natal depression but never reallly did anything to tackle it. So that is now paid off and I wont get a nasty bailiff turning up at my door. I just hope nothing else like this crops up, seems the ex was never really honest with me

So that is taken care of now, I have £90 in £2 coins saved for my holiday money, as well as DD's pocket money totalling around £300. They want to use this money for activities and ice cream whilst we are away - bless them. I'm thinking if I save around £400 between now and the end of July I should be fine.

My mum took me shopping the other day in a bid to cheer me up, managed to get some lovely dresses from Matalan in a size 14 :j:j In my entire adult life I have never worn anything this size. So that really cheered me up.

I didn't get the job. Apparently I wasn't aggressive enough, but was their second choice and will be considered if the other lady changes her mind. Buy hey ho, I've applied for a few more jobs this afternoon. It was not meant to be.

Becks81

God I love my mum!

She has recieved a 0% balance transfer from one of her credit cards, and she has suggested I use it to pay off the Barclaycard. This will end up saving me £409 if I manage to clear it in the year.

So based on this I will have to pay £200 a month to the 0% card in order to clear it within the 12 months. This I think is totally doable depending on whether I manage to secure a new job when my contract runs out where I am now.

I'm currently only temping where I am now and have a weeks notice, as the lady I am covering for is due back after recovering from cancer.

I have applied for a few more jobs as I really do not want to be out of work. I have my girls to think about, but I want to move away from admin. Although I am really comfortable doing this sort of work it does not excite me at all! I was thinking about going back to college and doing a course in teaching or childcare. I have a degree already and Im really not putting it to use in admin.

Am at that cross roads again my life where I think a change is in order.

Becks81

A Bit late then never, but thought I would update my June totals.



Unsecured Debts
Description.................Debt......Monthly.. .APR
Barclaycard................[STRIKE]£241.97[/STRIKE] £0 :j
Barclays Loan............[STRIKE]£9209[/STRIKE] £9159
Cahoot.....................[STRIKE]£4092[/STRIKE] £4042
Mum........................[STRIKE]2588.02[/STRIKE] 2428
Mastercard................[STRIKE]£738[/STRIKE] £708
Bristow Suitor.............[STRIKE]£576.56[/STRIKE] £0 :j
Total unsecured debts..........[STRIKE]£16844[/STRIKE] £16337

A whoping total of £917 paid off the debt - including totally clearing the Bcard, and clearing an unknown debt for un paid council tax Apart from the £92 Bailiff fees I am contesting :mad: this is now sorted.

Becks81

I do have another payment to add to my mum's barclaycard but as I am moving this to a 0% card next week I am not too worried about it

Today I signed up for a distant learning course in childcare, the course cost £373 but after this I will have the qualification I need to get a step closer to teaching.

Its 9 modules, and I submit them all online, I can take as long as I want to complete them, but I am aiming to have completed and passed the course by no later then October this year. Coupled with the volunteer work I have arranged at a local lower school for September I'm finally making progress in my chosen career :T

I've always wanted to teach - just having my DD's at the time I did halted the progress and it had to take a back seat. Since leaving my ex I've had time to really think about me, and what I want and I am so determined it is untrue.

I've already completed around 2 hours reading this evening, and am enjoying it as well as understaning the contents (which is always a bonus!)

In other things, work have told me they are able to keep me on until at least September, so that will keep tacking the debt ticking over nicely. Only problem is relying on my mum for childcare throughout the summer holidays. She doesn't mind, and my girls are always so well behaved with her - but it doesn't stop me feeling guilty I wish I could do more for her.

It's DD's birthday party tomorrow, she actually had her birthday in March but this is when the ex left and everything was so up in the air, I could not afford to giver her a party.
She is having a bouncy castle (inside - bloody weather!) But we are all looking forward to it, what with the end of term fast approaching and the holiday coming up I'm starting to let my hair down a bit. Hopefully everything goes to plan and she and all her friends will have a lovely day.

meow5678

Hey Becks! Where've ya been!? We've missed you!

Good news on the course and the voluntering, it must be great to have a career plan, I've just been winging it since uni!

Becks81

Whoa.... has it really been that long.

We returned from our holiday to Spain yesterday, we were there for 2 weeks and the weather was beautiful. Spent most of it lounging by the pool reading (I'm another one that has joined the Christian Grey fan club and am on the third book). We also took a lovely trip to Gibralter and had pictures taken with the monkeys! I didin't spend too much and only really brought food and drink, and some perfume for my siter as a thank you for taking care of the kittens, so I also came back with 200 euros spending money. I will now put this away as we have already planned another holiday in February to tenerife! very MSE!

So I'm treating today as day 1, and will commence another spending diary and try to update on here. I did not manage to transfer Mum's barclaycard to the 0% deal, so will attempt to get that sorted this week. I have completed my first assignment in my distance learning course and am part way through the second. I am really enjoying it and glad I bit the bullet and started the course.

Unfortunately, whilst I was away I missed an interview at a lower school, I'm still employed and temping until September, but I really want to get another job lined up before I leave, and ideally in a school. But hey ho! It wasn't meant to be, I will keep applying and try my hardest to remain in employment as I want to keep ploughing away at the debt and bring my DFD closer.

I will work out my budgets again later and update... Oh and day 1 of not smoking (again) I will be successful this time!

Becks81

I've found that flickering light that I once called my LBM... It's just about going still so I will act upon it now whilst I still can.

Gosh a lot has happened since I've last posted. I've managed to get my self a new job - unfortunately its not in childcare or anywhere down that road but it is something I feel I could get into and turn it into a career (finally at age 31 I start to use my degree) :T The pay is fantastic compared to all of my other jobs. I'm earning more part time, then I was working full time as a receptionist!!!

Money-wise we've been ticking along. Unfortunately (not from my doing) but the debt has increased. I'm now backing back just under £1,500 to Tax Credits, as DH said we were using childcare when we weren't :mad: I'm liable for 50% as it was a joint claim. But I've sorted it and will have it all paid back in 12 months thanks to my new job.

I've done 85% of my Christmas shopping, only a few more bits for my girls and something small for my Aunty so I shouldn't be spending any more then £50. Plus I get a tax rebate in my next pay in December - all of which I will pile on the Barclaycard which I've managed to run up again! But I am in control.

With my new job my DFD comes down by years, I just have to be sensible and manage my money, I am feeling positive for once. Long may the feeling continue.

Becks81

Updated SOA

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1518
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 335
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1853

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 666
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 121
Electricity............................. 50
Gas..................................... 65
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 15
Mobile phone............................ 0
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 24
Internet Services....................... 21
Groceries etc. ......................... 280
Clothing................................ 20
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 28
Other child related expenses............ 50
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 20
Haircuts................................ 15
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1387


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 0

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Barclaycard....................752.......100.......29.9
Barclays Loan..................8959......50........0
Cahoot.........................3840......50........0
Mastercard.....................708.......30........0
Tax Credits....................1370......105.......0
Mum............................2978......100.......0
Total unsecured debts..........18607.....435.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,853
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,387
Available for debt repayments........... 466
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 435
Amount left after debt repayments....... 31

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -18,607
Net Assets.............................. -18,607