Time to stop pretending it will be ok!

julie2710

Well the eBay items went really well, Total sales were £243 which will give me about £195 after postage and packing! I was amazed at how well some things sold. I had 3 lots of perfume which had been partly used and were sat in. The bathroom cabinet as I don't really like them now. Several times I have taken them out and considered throwing them away but put them back! Well one sold for £32 and the others around £20! I will be moving the money across from my PayPal account and working out what to over pay and where. Probably going to pay the extra on the little Barclaycard one to bring that down a bit more.

I am desperate to get my payslip through this month. Not because I'm looking for the money but just because I want to work out my payments and what I have left this month! :-) My expenses were pretty high too so I'm over my float at the minute which is a pain, basically subsidising my company! We've all asked so many times for fuel cards to prevent this but the just don't seem to get it :mad:

I've also discovered £256 roughly that I may or may it be able to claim. Long story but many years ago (1989) I had a mortgage and endowment policy with my partner at the time. He was basically violent towards me, police called out and we split. (1992) I moved back into my parents and he moved out of the flat. I was too scared to move back I so tried to sell it. There was about £2k negative equity at the time and Abbey National as it was then refused to complete some of the forms to allow us to sell. I felt I had no option but to hand them the keys. Six years later, I had bought a property and was living on my own happily and a solicitor working for Abbey National contacted me looking for in excess of £26k - total including interest of the final loss. After a lot of negotiation they accepted £2,500 in full and final settlement of my liability. I still have all the paperwork and this was in 1998. Just as this was agreed I read in the local paper that my ex had been found dead in his then home. I notified the solicitor of this when they asked me about his whereabouts. I'm assuming they were looking to pursue him for the rest of the outstanding money. Anyway I have discovered that the endowment that was linked to the mortgage which payment into was stopped in 1993, has never been claimed on. There is £256 available but apparently as it was charged to Abbey National I would have to get written release from them to get this money myself. I'm wondering if it is worth going to the effort of trying to do this or whether they will just take the money themselves? Don't want to be wasting valuable time if there's nothing to be gained.

Right back to some eBaying I think. Everything's packaged ready for posting tomorrow

MiMi66

I've just read over your debt diary and you absolutely have my empathy! From the whole single parent with two children, head in the ground (or clouds?) and then walking up to the reality of it all. So well done you for getting this far and keep on at it - we are in similar boats - sort of nice knowing that there are others as happy and daft and tackling ebay and pensions all in the same breath!

julie2710

Thank you MiMi66. Sometimes I just feel its such a huge mess and I not know where to start. It just feels like a mountain to climb and I too feel depressed sometimes although I've never gone down the antidepressant route even though I've been advised to on occasion. I've read through your diary and there are so many similarities. I have a reasonable job and don't live extravagantly, mortgage and childcare makes sure of that!

I'm finding things tough at the moment. Boys have been particularly trying of late and I feel so tired all the time. Can't even begin to explain it. I think I could easily sleep for a day. Have even considered a check up at the doctors. Can't find the time though!

I'm sat now waiting for a customer to turn up for an appointment. They are 15 minutes late already! I'm betting they don't show now! :mad:

I have to head home after this as the car lease company from work are delivering a car for me to try for three days then hopefully I can order my new car!

Just managed to book my opticians appointment and also need to book my now car for an mot!

Have another eBay parcel to post as well, then I have a ton of admin to do! DS1 has ballet tonight then I have a friend coming round for coffee and a catch up once the boys are in bed.

Lawn so needs cutting but just haven't got round to it! Maybe Friday evening once the boys are at their dads if the weather holds off

emmaglet

Definitely chase up that £250ish - it is yours and you could really do with it now!

Great news on the eBay front, well done.

julie2710

Well the lease company delivered the car this afternoon for me to try for three days and I love it already! The one they delivered is white which was the colour I was thinking of as well. It's so comfortable. Feels huge but I love it and the emissions are really low so keeps the tax down on it. The boys love it too so that's decided. Just need to get it ordered now.

Oh and the people I was waiting on the morning turned up. Half an hour late admittedly but it's the NHS so I'll give them that

A couple of friends came round this evening for a catch up so all in all a great day

Oh and tomorrow I'll be phoning Santander to see what I can do about tat £250!

julie2710

Well I've spent the morning doing a ton of admin and now I've just sat and paid the credit card bills. I find this bit so depressing and I know it's partly my own fault and I just need to keep up what I'm doing and I will get there. £910 on repayments :eek: That's just pretty much the minimum too just rounded up to the nearest pound Trying to be positive and once over sorted this mess out I'm going to be so much better off.

Lease car has gone back and new car now ordered. I didn't go for metallic paint or any extras as that would up the p11d value and ultimately the amount of income tax I have to pay.

Still need to phone Santander might have to wait to next week now as I have to pack the boys bags for a weekend at their dads then do the school run.

Must find more ways of making money

julie2710

What a gorgeous day today. Everything seems so much better when the sun is shining. I even came home and mowed the lawn

I have to be honest and say I'm struggling to stay motivated at the minute. I have to keep looking at things and reminding myself that they are going in the right direction and that things will get easier.

I did a shop today too. Needed fresh stuff, salad, fruit. Bought a punnet of grapes and the boys sat and ate the lot after tea I don't like to begrudge them fruit but its so damn expensive! Oh they ate half a dozen plums too :eek:

I think I'm going to bag up my piggy bank and pay that in tomorrow. Don't think there's much in there but it can be my extra payment this week.

Also need to see when the next eBay free listing weekend is and get some more of this stuff listed.

Right off to empty Mickey Mouse

Verbatim

Hi Julie
I was just thinking how well you've done after checking out your then and now totals! perhaps if you added the total debt figs to your signature it would help to see just how much it has reduced by??

julie2710

Verbatim

Thank you so much for your post. I think part of me didn't want to look at the totals as they are so scary :eek: They also make me want to kick myself even more for not doing something about it all sooner.

I've done it though and added it to my signature to update regularly so when I start feeling down about what I haven't done I can remind myself about what I have done.

Thanks again!

Sellurgranny

Just wanted to say well done on what you've achieved so far.

As a single parent myself, my hat is off to you for the huge amount you've already managed to pay off.

Its hard staying motivated every month when you see the £££s going down so slowly. At the beginning of the DFW journey its exciting getting everything in order and making those first few overpayments but when you realise you've got to repeat the same process over and over, month after month.... the tight budgeting, meals on a shoe string, denying yourself and the kids every little last luxury, scrabbling around for things to sell on ebay and then finding the time to actually list it all, that's the hard bit.

I've been doing it for less time than you aswell so I can well imagine how those cheesed off moments multiply as the months go by.

I can't quite believe that I'll ever be able to relax my belt a bit but reading everyone's stories on here (including yours) is what keeps me motivated.

So good luck with the next month, all together now.... breathe in and tighten them belts! :rotfl: