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Tackling my Debt and Simplifying My Life

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  • Thank goodness it's the weekend. No plans to spend, just hoping to have a relaxing time before the madness of Christmas starts!

    I am starting to get stressed about the expense of Christmas. Past Christmases have been funded by CC- this wont be happen this year, so I feel a bit guilty cause DS will be having significantly less. We have started to explain to him but its still going to be huge shock not to have masses of presents (he is 11). Any advice gratefully recieved.

    Back to listing on eBay and cleaning for the viewing on Monday ...
    GLx
  • Ladybird.
    Ladybird. Posts: 235 Forumite
    Morning GL!

    We have just moved, downsizing into a smaller rented house- with 4 dogs! It did limit us but I was surprised at how many were happy to have us. A good letting agent who knows what you want and can keep an eye out is well worth their salt! So, don't rule out the idea of renting for a bit if it might help :)

    Starting to fret about Christmas too, time to start thinking of cheap and cheerful festive ideas!
  • Thank you ladybird!
    Its good to hear from someone who has done similar- has it been worth it? Its a little scary thinking of coming off the property ladder- everyones aim has been to 'own a house' for as long as I can remember- trouble is- it seems to me, I'll never actually own it- just spend the rest of my working life paying a huge mortgage. Do you have a diary?

    Ebay has gone well, DH has just transfered £300 we have made in past two weeks into our bank- hopefully it'll be cleared in time for the weekend to pay off a CC.

    I know we cant keep selling at this rate, we'll soon run out of stuff, but I will keep going as long as theres stuff to sell- plus planning on another carboot sale at end of month, think I'll put that money towards Christmas.

    The Christmas word keeps popping into my mind, its quite frustrating since I am trying not to spend or accumulate more stuff. I do like to get organised early. Have spoken to DS 11yrs about the plan to buy much less this year, not only to save money but also to ensure we dont build up more clutter with stuff we dont need. He seems fine about it but not sure if he fully understands he will get less this year- dont want a disappointed boy on Christmas Day- any tips or suggestions gratefully received!

    Also its DS's BD a week before Christmas- was thinking of an experience/day out rather than a present. He loves London so that could be an option.

    I am continuing to click 'unsubscribe' on all the e-mails I get from shops etc. The only ones I want to receive are the updates on the minimalist sites and of course MSE. its cut the time I spend wading through e-mails dramatically, and also gives me less temptation to spend.

    Had a viewing on the house over the weekend- feedback was that they liked the house, however there is a semi (ours is detached) for sale in the next street for £40k less than ours, and they preferred the gardens there- gutting- but onwards and upwards! EA advises to stay at price we are for another few weeks- I know what shes saying but feel anxious things not moving.

    Just have to keep telling ourselves that the longer we are in this house, the more that'll be paid off mortgage and debt.

    Time for bed now, will write and catch up with others diaries tomorrow.

    GL x
  • Hiya
    just found your diary- I too am trying to declutter and make money to pay off debts- not a huge amount, but its all relative- I earn very little so its a huge dent trying to keepup!
    I put a load of stuff on ebay last night and am pleased to have bids and watcers already and it doesnt end til Sunday :)
    I am selling things like brand new Uggs I have never even worn- just bought on credit andnow hate them cos of what they represent- buying aspirational items I cant afford. Whats wrong with my other 5 pairs of Uggs (I know,I know *blush*)? I am trying to train self to save and pay things off instead of throwing money into a hole in my , i dunno, heart? head? life? fuelled by ads, mags and celebrity b*ll*cks!
    I have subscribed and will happily join you in our march toward unmaterialistic happiness :)
    Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.

    £117/ £3951.67
  • Ladybird.
    Ladybird. Posts: 235 Forumite
    goodlife10 wrote: »
    Thank you ladybird!
    Its good to hear from someone who has done similar- has it been worth it? Its a little scary thinking of coming off the property ladder- everyones aim has been to 'own a house' for as long as I can remember- trouble is- it seems to me, I'll never actually own it- just spend the rest of my working life paying a huge mortgage. Do you have a diary?
    GL x

    Morning GL!

    Our situation is slightly different as we were forced to move to a new area with my husbands job, and we can't afford to sell the large house we have mortgaged because it is in negative equity sadly. Our plan is to rent as small and cheap a property as we can here in our new location and rent out our house. All a bit stressful!

    Issue of finding tenants to cover the mortgage on the old place aside, I am enjoying living in a smaller house. We have only been in a week or so but there is so much less housework to do, the bills are lower, and everything feels so much more manageable. Once our debt is paid we will turn our attention to the mortgage and then hopefully have a few more options once we build up a bit of equity :)

    I do have a diary, it's not very interesting though!! :Dhttps://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3977531

    Glad to hear eBay is going so well! :T Don't do what I often do and forget all about the final value fees, they always send the bill ages after listings finish so I now try and remember to log on to my account as soon as items sell to pay the fee before I transfer my PayPal funds into my current account!
  • Fae
    Fae Posts: 664 Forumite
    Hi GL,

    We've recently downsized, we still own (or rather the back does) the house, but with a much smaller mortgage and we don't regret it at all not so much to clean, heat etc, and also gave us the chance to do a bot more decluttering and sell a few things :) I think whether you rent or buy, you wil find lots of benefit in downsizing, and I feel your pain on playing the waiting for the buyer game, but you will get there, we ended up taking ours of the market for a couple of month, and when we put it back up, it was under offer within a few days and we moved two months later it will happen for you too. :D

    Fae
    LBM 29/10/2013 £14,218.00 As of 13/04/2014 £6477.00
    Paid 54%
    3 months to go 13 weeks
    DFD 28th August 2014
  • Thanks so much idris, ladybird and fae. Its good to know i'm not the only one who is starting to move away from materialism and aim for a more simple life.

    Its kind of you to share your experiences- thank you.

    A NSD today- work has been so busy I didnt get time to think of it. Need to think of more things to put on e-bay! Had more of a de-clutter this evening ready for car-boot, DS toys he''s outgrown are piling up- hope those car-booters are after some Christmas bargains in a few weeks time!!

    Our attic is now clear apart from Christmas decs and memory stuff (I have cut them down dramatically). That means attic is ready for moving to new house, when we sell of course.

    Usually I like to spend a couple of hours in the evening watching TV or reading but I cant seem to settle at moment- feel I need to be e-bay listing or setting myself other tasks to save money and declutter- hope I can soon relax a bit soon.

    Off to declutter the bathroom cupboards now ........
    GL x
  • Fae wrote: »
    Hi GL,

    We've recently downsized, we still own (or rather the back does) the house, but with a much smaller mortgage and we don't regret it at all not so much to clean, heat etc, and also gave us the chance to do a bot more decluttering and sell a few things :) I think whether you rent or buy, you wil find lots of benefit in downsizing, and I feel your pain on playing the waiting for the buyer game, but you will get there, we ended up taking ours of the market for a couple of month, and when we put it back up, it was under offer within a few days and we moved two months later it will happen for you too. :D

    Fae


    Thank you fae, that's cheered me up a bit, its hard not to get despondent at times
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
    Ninth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited 11 October 2012 at 9:56PM
    Nearly the end of another week, will be glad for the weekend. Only spending today was for postage for some of the late payers for e-bay.

    Continuing to take lunch to work, so am pleased I'm doing that. People nagging at work because I have said I'm not going to Christmas party night- its just too expensive. DH has said he wont go to his either- they'd both cost us approx £250+ with tickets, taxis and drinks etc, thats without an outfit. We can't justify that, DS birthday is in December, so that, plus Christmas is a mega expensive time. Nobody at work seems to understand despite me being upfront (ish) about our money worries.

    It seems my new ways are isolating me from the girls at work- Costa coffee everyday is too expensive each lunchtime- I am saying no to nights out also. I suppose some of the cause of my debt problems has been this sort of lifestyle- lunches out, coffee, shopping trips etc. I have always had to work hard to 'fit in' and I suppose its difficult letting go. Also because I am community-based it means the job can get quite lonely if youre not meeting up at lunchtime with colleagues. I have taken to spending my lunchtime reading my book in the car, rather than spending.

    Got another viewing on the house on Saturday- although Estate Agent has already told me the couple initially rang to view the cheaper house opposite and she suggested they view ours too- so more cleaning for me!!

    I don't want this diary to sound like a moan- I really am positive about becoming debt-free and keep to lead a simpler life- the process just isn't always easy.

    Got more to list on e-bay this weekend- clutter to be sorted and money to be made!!

    Right, off to read other diaries now. Nite!

    GL x
  • Ladybird.
    Ladybird. Posts: 235 Forumite
    Yikes those really are pricey Christmas nights out!:eek:

    Well done for sticking to your guns GL. I can see how the whole work lunchtime thing would be isolating. If it starts to get you down could you go along one day a week maybe and keep it as low spend as possible? Something to look forward to and a bit of a catch up with your friends?

    Best of luck with the house viewing. Our mortgaged house is on the rental market now so fingers crossed for some viewings here too :)
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