Every Penny counts! Pun intended!

pencakes26

Its been a couple of weeks since my LBM and I'm feeling positive.

Gone are the nasty credit cards (4 of them to be exact!, 1 with a nasty 39.9% apr!!!) and now I have one loan, one monthly repayment and a DFD in October 2013. :j

All very manageable and I'm not longer spending £'s ever month servicing debts that weren't getting any smaller.

The next step is to get that DFD brought forward. I have a default on my credit report which gets wiped in July 2013 and I thought that would be a great month aim to be DF too so I have a double celebration! My total remaining debt at that point will be £3,537 which would be great to pay off in one big lump. If I break that down into 12 overpayments (to my savings account because if I try and pay my loan off before the final 3 months of it maturing I will get penalised) then I reckon I can do it.

What do you think?

pencakes x

pencakes26

Any suggested challenges to join would also be appreciated as I am definitely still cutting my teeth on this DFW life

pencakes26

Shock to the system at lunch. Went to a new "healthy" sandwich bar place for lunch (felt poorly yesterday so hardly ate a thing) so I could have something nice to eat. I didn't want to go crazy so I just bought a wrap and a drink. It cost £7!! They were really yummy but I wont be going back there again.

My reaction has made me happy though because before I wouldn't have batted an eyelid, but it just shows how things like that add up and you end up in £12k worth of debt!

The cupboards are a bit bare (bear?!) but I don't want to buy any food - we're off to Greece on Wednesday for a wedding so it will just sit in the house going off. We've got some chilli and hopefully some chips in the freezer so thats tonight's tea sorted.

I have a MOUNTAIN of washing to do and I think the OH is allergic to the cheap detergent I bought because his skin is all red raw and peeling in funny places. I seem to be ok, but he has sensitive skin. Looks like I'll have to go to the shops tonight which I was trying to avoid.

Can anyone recommend a good detergent that is kind on skin but wont break the bank?

pencakes x

Hovel_lady

List of challenges here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3708739


ETA
Might be worth asking on the Food and grocery shopping shopping board about the washing powder.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=175

pencakes26

Not been on here for a week - been in Greece for a wedding, which was very lovely and I had a great time without needing to spend a great deal either

Back to reality with a bump though, and no that sinking feeling has returned. The !!!!py job and the lack of friends is really starting to get me down. I feel like I dont remember how I got myself in this situation.

I've got my finances back on track and will continue to work towards paying all my debt off and start saving hard (houses dont buy themselves after all) and now I want to do the same with the rest of my life but I dont know where to start!

I need someone to talk to, that isnt my OH, and I wondered if you can get counselling or therapy or something... free of charge? Its not so much the debt that is getting me down, but the rest of my life. Having suffered from depression in the past its definitely a place I want to avoid.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as Im feeling pretty down in the dumps right now.

pencakes x

Hovel_lady

Glad you had a good time at the wedding.

Sorry you're feeling down in the dumps.
Have a dodgy hug :grouphug:

Counselling should be available free of charge if you speak to your doctor although the waiting lists can be long.

pencakes26

Hovel_lady wrote: »

Sorry you're feeling down on the dumps.
Have a dodgy hug :grouphug:

haha that made me smile at least

I thought that might be the case. Do you know of any groups/charities that provide free advice? Or at least a board on here that might be seen by the right person?

Sorry for all the questions, just want to keep on top of this thing before it gets any worse..

pencakes x

triple_choc_chip

pencakes26 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a good detergent that is kind on skin but wont break the bank?

pencakes x

Hi First of all try using vinegar in the final rinse instead of conditioner. You can use any cheap brown stuff, Asda sell it for about 13p for 500mls.

It makes sure that ALL soap residue is removed from the fibres and also helps to soften clothes - maybe not as much as softener but it keeps colours bright and makes ironing easier.

If you don't want to take my word for it there's loads to read on the old style boards but I've been using it for a year now and I wouldn't change.

Hovel_lady

I know exactly what you mean about dealing with it before it gets worse.

The Marriage, Couples and Family board might be worth posting on to see if anyone knows about groups/charities for advice.
It's a pretty active board so someone may know.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24

pencakes26

Thanks again Hovel lady, will be sure to check those boards out.

triple choc chip, silly question, does it not make the clothes smell of vinegar?!

My day just got better - arrived home from work to find a letter from Capital One offering to refund me old PPI charges! All it took was one letter (template found on MSE) and two months later they offer me a refund I was very surprised, I didnt have to put up a fight! Its only £104 but that is better than nothing and as soon as the cheque arrives I will put it straight into the debt payment account!

badger_

for your PPI refund