Getting my head out the sand. Newby to DFW!!

PRINCESSX87

Hi to anyone & everyone who wants to pop by my dfw thread.

For me, This is a list of personal goals for 2013. Its a list of everything that OH & I have need to complete & pay off.

About me / us:

I'm 25, Currently not working due to illness. However i have just gotten a part time position which i should start after the holidays. OH is 26, Been working for his brother for years. Hes a tiler and work is slow at times, So he's wages are always different. We have 2 doggers and 2 kitties.
2012 has been a a hard one for us as a family. Both OH & I has been on depression medication and still struggling with day to day. Its going to be a long progress. Hopefully a fresh start to 2013 should be a kick start thats needed.

I am writing our list of debts now with amount still tbc.

Lloyds TSB personal loan. £4k
Council tax summons £800
Water Board £360
Various Catalogues. £400
Sofa from Df$ £354
Tv Repayment £700
Overdraft on Joint account £100
EDF Key meter £500

(This is what was owing when i last checked. Nov 16th. As i stated above will be contacting checking asap.)

Loan:
Want to get this paid off asap. At the time, This was the only loan open to us and we need to pay £2.5K in interest. Over a 4 year period.

Council Tax:

This is one of those...How the hell did this happen debt. Confusing, Misleading information, Illness got us here. So, Again getting legal advice and getting this paid off asap is key.

Waterboard:
We was on a meter and payment plan, They only just decided to tell us that the current plan we're on does not cover our usage. Therefore this bill is over a period of 9 mths. Non urgent debt as ive contacted these and have reinstated a new payment plan of £51 per month.

Catalogues:

STUPID, STUPID, STUPID. These have been with us for a few years when we was living with parents. At the time with no other bills they was easy to manage. Until we got our own place. Sadly these was left and have now gone to a debt group. However this is a non urgent debt as i have a payment plan of £20 a month in place.

Sofa
Need to double check this, Because we've been paying for over a year and need to double check the balances to see if once the above payments have been paid, The extra cash flow can take a chunk out.

TV payments
This NEEDS to go. The APR on this is high. Although the min payment is £6 weekly, Over the long term we're paying £300 in interest. :eek:

Joint Account

From the new year OH & I will be getting onto the banks and arranging for the joint account to be used only for bills. At the moment we have 3 accounts and bills coming out of all of them. Ideally we would like all of the DD to come out the same day, Same account. We have decided to keep the over draft as its something at present we can afford to use as its no interest just £5 for the OD.

EDF

Nothing nice to say about this company other then, I would like to get this paid up & move to a better...CHEAPER service.


I know i will have loads more to add as they come in, But just getting this off my chest means i feel like im making a start (Dent) In getting my head out the sand.

Thank you in advance to anyone who decides to support, assist me along the way!!:money:

[Deleted User]

Your Council Tax is THE priority debt.

While your loans could, potentially, see you in the County Court, your CT has the potential to see you in the Magistrates Court.

After that, to save paying more interest than absolutely necessary, you should use all spare cash to attack the debt with the highest APR (probably the catalogues), and so on.

PRINCESSX87

BEDSIT BOB
Thanks for the advice. I'm in the process of getting legal advice. This is something that is first being tackled. Many thanks again

beanielou

Wishing you both well on your DFW journey.
Take care.

PRINCESSX87

Thank you beanielou:o

Well, I haven’t updated in a few days as I’ve had loads of bank statements & paperwork to get through to find the right totals of our debts.

Still waiting for a handful of finance companies to get back to us with written itemised bills…So will update when they arrive!

On the upside, This is our day 4 of NSD’s and its feeling rather good.:T

On the downside of the nsd is that OH seems to be having a breakdown as there’s “nothing” food wise in the house. :rotfl:

(Fridge is nearly empty. Freezer running down) However, This was my plan, As our new shopping budget is kicking in this Saturday and I wanted to know what its going to cost us, Buying items that’s needed rather then wanted.

PRINCESSX87

So reached day 5 of nsd.
Today was the food shop....Something ive been dreading because this is one of OH & I's biggest down fall. Normally every fortnight, We spend over £100+ for 2 adults, 2 dogs, 2 cats.

This is something that needed the chop asap.
Today we managed to spend a grand total of £ 98.92 and had £31.00 money off coupons! That total also inc cash back, Which all loose change has been up in the money pots & note money has been stored for "urgent" bills, items ect.

£15 was put towards the electric.
£100+ put away for the bank loan.

Now, I feel totally broke - But its great knowing that the bills are slowly being brought down. :T

Waywardbird

Hi princessx87 I'm in a similar situation with council tax and I'm finally getting this paid of asap too. Good luck with your DF journey. Hope you don't mind me subscribing.

PRINCESSX87

Hi Waywardbird. Of course not. Your more then welcome!!

This morning i counted up all my loose change that we've been putting in glass jars (Now over taking me kitchen :O) We've got a grand total of £16!! This is something thats going towards the Council tax.

This morning, I'm finding moneysaving & becoming DF really hard. Feels like this last week has been a really hard & we've nothing to show for it. Sounds silly i know, As i started a week ago and over the christmas period - Its hard getting to the banks, ect. But...As much as i would love to run & hide...I know from Jan 2013 we WILL be seeing a real difference!

PRINCESSX87

Reached day 9 of NSD. Normally, OH & I would be out spending every little penny on new clothes in the sales. This year, Starting Moneysaving & DF on top of christmas might not have been the most sane thing to do, However, I have to say, That so far its been on of the most stress free christmas we've had!! :j

Ive been thinking the last few days. This is the best time to have a good clear out. If its not used or needed...Its being rehomed!

I've made a small list of items to get in the sales. Things like plastic boxes for the attic, Wrapping paper, Cards ect. Once this is all brought, Its being seeled for another 364 days!
Also, Any of the decluttering thats done, Can be boxed up tidy, Then its easier in my eyes to sell.

Now for the worries...Our court summons is in the next few days for the council tax. I'm still in shock how we managed to make such a pigs ear out of this. I was talking to the OH about extending the bank loan & taking more money out from it to pay it in full...And this years too. Making it one last thing to worry about. But, we have decided to wait until Saturday and hit the bank. Explaining the sitution & await the outcome.

Last thing i NEED to do before the new year...Is work out my income.

I've got myself a job stating 16 hours weekly, At £6.20PH. However, I need to find out if i will be taxed on this. If so, How much? And how this will affect my HB / CT payments< We dont get alot now, Hence above.

Enough of my rant.....Hope everyone enjoyed their christmas!

PRINCESSX87

Don't you just hate it when you manage to have a lazy day!
I do! All day i have been trying to understand how OH & I have got into this mess!!

Anyways, As we have nothing to do tomorrow, We've decided that we're heading down to our banks. The area we're attending has everything in the one place to kick start us into our DF year.

So on tomorrows lists are:-

Heading to the court. Oh has been asked to give evidence in a non related to us case. This happens to be the same court that we have been summonds by for the council tax payment. The letter we have got is confusing as page on says" You must appear on x/12/12 at *pm".

However page 2 says" Your not required to attend as this case can go to the judge without your persons"

So, we're clearing that up.

Next is of to the housing office. As they have told us we can set up weekly / monthly DD for the council tax, But there is no information provided within the letter.

Citizens advice. Follows after the above. We need to find out sharpish how this is going to affect us.

Lastly,

The Banks.
We are having all DD & bills removed from all our accounts to one single account. This is something that has caused us alot of issues never knowing when, what or how the bills are getting paid.

Tonight... I'm getting paper / letter ready for a long days worth of becoming DW!

eco_farmer

am subscribing to this thread i'm loving the momentum you are building up! your determination shines through i wish you well on your journey:j

eco