Road to Recovery - My Diary

Hope78

Day 2 - Monday 5th March 2007

Things are still looking good. Still sleeping much better - all night again for the thrid night never felt so refreshed! Still overwhelemed at how fantastic sharing all my worrries feel, yeah I do go on but it's helping to keep me focussed. I cancelled my online subs so that's £5.99 a month saved plus interest as it was on one of my credit cards. I also phoned re cancelling life insurance and after chatting this through with some folk (whose opinions I value but don't know anything abouy debt) I agreed it was a waste of £25 per month as I've no children or house resting on it. It's strange how you're thoughts and feelings change when that lightbulb comes on! When I took the policy out I was advised there was no need for it but I was totally blinkered and adamant I was getting it.

Still need some advice re the order to tackle my debts as I said before my mindset is to try clear something to get that sense of achievement but is this me being emotional rather than sensible?

Got a wee deal going with my mum. She rarely goes out and has taken to going to cheap night at the Bingo only costs £3.50 for everything however she doesn't drive so her arrangemnet is if I take her and stay to bring her home she'll pay my books and she won! Only £15 mind but she halved it and we used it to pay for ticket to nieces dancing show whcih means I'm saving £8.50 out my salary this month. I've just realsied how small an amount that is buy I really was a spendaholic. Also decided not to buy niece the flowers I usually do for show night thus saving another £15 well £30 really as I've 2 nieces in it now and wouldn't buy one without the other so neither is getting.

Well I'll stop droning on now.

Seaxwyn

HI Hope

Good to hear you sounding so positive and all those small amounts saved add up to big savings - well done. How nice of your mum to share her winnings too.

Hope78

Yeah she is great! My granny and all her friends did that when they bingoed and it's stuck with her as just the right thing to do. Having a good day?

Hope78

Well it's day 4 and I've been proactive since the weekend. Already managed to make changes to my SoA any you not so newbie monesysavers got any sugggestions?

Monthy Incomings £1719.07
Current Account Balance Today -£281 (still have 2 dd to pay for March)
Nationwide Savings £0.05 Halifax Savings £1.18

Outstanding Debts
Capital Bank Car Finance £11155.13 end date May 2010
Nationwide Loan £1518.26 end date July 2008
Northern Rock Loan £3021.00 end date December 2008

Egg Credit Card £3984 (limit £4000) 16.9% APR
Nationwide Visa £11214 (limit £11750) 17.9% APR
Halifax Visa £12717 (limit £12900) ?APR

Total Debt £43609.39


Monthly Outgoings
Car Payments £299.87
Credit Card Min Payments £330 + £260 + £80 = £670
Nationwide Loan £94.87
Northern Rock Loan £149.56
[STRIKE]Life Insurance £24.40[/STRIKE] cancelled it!
Phone £35
Materials for work £35
Petrol £60
Dig Money £65
Birthdays £40
Xmas £40
Clothing £35
Haircuts £25
Yearly car insurance £40
Road Tax £15
Prescriptions £13
Dental £2.80
Optical £17
Car repairs £25
Car service £3.50
MOT £3.50
[STRIKE]Work Lunches £4 [/STRIKE] - no more school dinners mum making them
Socialising £25
[STRIKE]Online Music Subs £5.99 [/STRIKE] - cancelled it
Union Fees £11

Nationwide loan allows additional payments of £100 plus and I'm happy to do that if I can afford to in order to clear it early.

Hope78

Adrenalin is still pumping and feeling less stress. Feel I've achieved something in last few days. Posted letter about cancelling life insurance and dd cancelled with bank. Nest letter writing task is those bank cahrges letter itching to be printed but ran out of ink - new stuff should arrive tomorrow. Than I'm set.

I've signed up for two cashback sites but not very good at remembering who I've signed up for with thigns like that. So that's another use for my wee diaries. Postie brought some gifts today also. £3 voucher from Staples reward points and £5 voucher garden centre (which I'll use instead of own cash to buy pot and soil for school potato growing comp).

Also managed to save money on birthday pressies. I'd budgeted £20 each for niece and nephews and I've 3 this week! Anyways bought nievce a top £14.00 whihc she loved and couldn't make a difference between her and her brother so put £15 in his card. The other I found Pjs for £9 (Bob the BUilder his favourite) so feeling pretty chuffed all round. Thing is she was just as thrilled with top as she was with obscene amount of stuff she I got her for Xmas.

The stat of my afffairs must really ahvehit home as class are organising a spring tea dance for their grandparents and usually I'd have abk rolled it and bought all the supplies but not this time! Following the lead of my colleagues who ask parents for donations each child bringing in something from box of tea bags to tray of sandwiches to teaspoons from £1 shop. Previously I'd never have dream of asking parents but they seem thrilled to be asked. Which is great as not long moved jobs and hadn't sussed parents out, had heard parents were a bit stand offish due to issues with Head teacher so chuffed on two counts.

Not much else to report still having a mini panic over applying for parachute account over bank charges - can I get through a month without OD?????

Hope78

Still feeling upbeat thanks to all the posts on here. I've posted the initial letter asking for list of bank charges and so one of my targets this week is to set up new acount. Also going to have look at Xmas and birthday budgets to see who I can cut out and where I can stop being... well.. lets say over generous!

I've again managed to avoid taking mum to Tesco so not put anything in her trolley - this time I went home to do paper work and she called when ready maybe I'll just be honest next time about why I don't come in.

There's a car boot at school in a few weeks, £5 for you plot and anyhting you make is yours so this week goign to look out stuff to sell. Whatever doesn't go will be put onto ebay.

I managed not to spend anything this week so feeling really proud of myself. Got a lift to work 3 days and saved some petrol - considering suggesting a car share with person who took me - this is something I'd never have dreamt of until I had my LBM.

Getting more frugal got a 5% off code for ink and have stuck it onto computer for next purchase before becoming a DFW I's ahve shredded the delivery note before reading it properly.

cazziebo

Hope78 wrote: »

Day 1 4th march continued


My journey is just beginning but would like to have even a little inkling! I've heard it's best to clear highest rate first but there's a chance I can pay an extra £100 to my Nationwide loan and pay it off by Xmas 2007 and knowing myself I think this would give me a boost in my mental atttitude. Can anyone offer any advise?


Do have one little cloud over my head though as I'm about to start claiming for bank charges from Nationwide I'm petrified noone else will give me a current account. No point stressing until I've applied I guess.

You can apply online or over the phone for a Co op Cashminder card. All done very quickly and professionally and unless you are declared bankrupt or don't satisfy residency rules then you should get a card regardless of your credit status.

Claiming back charges from Nationwide is very straightforward. Just follow the processes and you'll get the money in your account 7 days after you lodge the court claim. However, it's very likely they'll close your account.

Good luck and well done. Great to hear of people climbing out of the debt mire. The support on here is fab - it's so lovely not being scared to answer the phone or open the mail. You're right - it's about taking back control

Caz
x

Hope78

Can anyone help???

Whilst I'm taking my first small steps to recovery I've started thinking of ways to earn extra cash those of you who are parents - do you think there's a market for private tutors in primary education?

Also, I'm going to be applying for another bank account - get paid again on 29th March when should I apply trying to cause minimum disruption to dd -this is big fear of mine.

Not much else to report, trying to get the hang of all those cashback sites etc I've signed up to. It's Monday again and bingo night (£1 night) maybe one of us will win even £10 gives you a wee boost.

Cheers folks!

Hope78

Thanks Caz

I'd heard about Nationwide that's why I wanted to try sort our bank account sooner rather than later. Charges request letter only went in post today so thought I'd start looking at options.

Will look at Co-op account, I'm not sure we've a Co-op branch near us (Scotland) but again I don't actaully go into bank much that's another thing I'm just a big wimp about - what if I sudden;y had millions of cheques/coins to pay in - drama queen me!!!

Hope78

Thiink the first throngs of excitement about gaining control are over feeling a bit low and have neglected my DFW ways over past two weeks. Haven't been keeping upto date with my little targets. Not that I've went out spending just confused about what to do next need to get refocussed and remotivated - actaully just need a good kick in the pants!!!

Seriously need to look into getting second job to help clear debts but then a bit of a wimp as not told anyone about extent of my debts and all my friends go on at me to get on property ladder so totally petrified that if I take a second job and someone sees me they'll start putting 2 and 2 together as someone with my job shouldn't need a second job (if that makes sense).

Could make a thousand excuses but not going to that'd be the old me. Going to go through all my posts and draw up a new list of weekly targets and post them on here so I can see them all the time and be remind of my ultimate goal. Well rant over.

Cheers.