21/03/2013 - A day of change!

TooAshamedToBeNamed

Good morning MSE's

I'm a newbie and this is only my second thread, but its my first introduction (the other was in a bit of a panic for immediate advice and I cant thank those who responded enough)

I've already noticed many people start off posting a SOA (which I think is great) but I'm not going to do that. I'm in a rare position where I think it would be beneficial to wait a teeny bit. Basically I'm a homeless mother of two just now, but, I have just spoken to a landlord who seems to genuinely want to help out someone who needs it in return for a little tlc on his property, he's agreed to a bond by tenant deposit dot com as I obviously cant afford one outright and a slightly lower than average rent as the last tenants did a lot of damage, condition is I put up with it while the repairs are going on and arrange convenient times to allow workman access. there is a lot of damage but its all cosmetic, who am I to be fussy anyway?

Anyway I'm off track, as my incoming and outgoings will change drastically over the next couple of weeks I'm trying to sort out my attitude. I've given myself 10 goals and would like opinions as to whether I'm heading in the right direction, suggestions for anything I don't seem to have given thought to but should of, or any other input at all really. I just desperately want to start off on the right foot this time if you know what I mean?

Anyway, here are my (initial) goals:


#1 - complete SOA by my 30th birthday (3 weeks)

#2 - to arrange payment plans with all willing creditors.

#3 - depending how many are unwilling consider using a debt help charity or hounding them in the same manor they do me until we reach an agreement.

#4 - complete an action plan to reduce outgoings

#5 - reduce existing debt to below £15,000 before the end of 2013

#6 - avoid all buy now pay later options for the rest of the year (baby steps, the date will change as it gets closer)

#7 - Put enough aside to manage a basic christmas/birthday present (and school uniforms!) without failing #6

#8 - explore new ways of generating income . . . with no outlay

#9 - review my SOA by the end of the school year and make adjustments

#10 - start feeling more optimistic about my financial future!

Starting debt (21/03/13) - £16880.79

timetogrowup89

Read you previous posts the other day and just want to say that I am delighted that you seem to be getting a bit of order for you and your children.

Good luck!

TooAshamedToBeNamed

timetogrowup89 wrote: »

Read you previous posts the other day and just want to say that I am delighted that you seem to be getting a bit of order for you and your children.

Good luck!

THANK YOU! . . . members like you are why I am quickly starting to love this forum, previously I asked for advice on netmums and . . . well lets just leave it at thank you and not go there!

Little_Miss_Uni-Debt

Hello TATBN

Just wanted to say hi and see how things are going for you! I think your goal list is great!

With your #6 the buy now pay later, it's good to keep a list of the things you think you need/want, then you should check out freecycle, there are usually LOTS of appliances and household items free to a good home. You can still have what you need but it doesn't need to be expensive!

When I started out on my journey I made a page containing all of the contact details of my creditors, e.g address, freephone phone number & the button sequence to get through the automated script to the right department.

I use it all the time and it makes following up with important letters/calls very simple. I used to put that kind of stuff off and that was my downfall. I've learned that you have to be persistent to get anywhere. The banks rely on stalling tactics so it's important to do what you can to make dealing with them easy!

I hope you see some progress over the coming weeks. I look forward to checking back as you hit each one of your goals.

NinjaSavingKat

OOooooh 30 years old in 3 weeks!! Me TOO!!! I like the sound of the living arrangments, it has the potential of becoming a little palace for you and the kids and you seem to have a lovely landlord! Congratualtions on that!

I just wanted to wish you the best of luck - you are on the right track being here so well done!!! I read your other post too so you have come FAR already!!!

I am loving your list though.. just use a snowball calculator to see how best to invest the money you have to pay off the debt with the highest interest rate first!

You CAN do it!!!

Onwards and Upwards!

TooAshamedToBeNamed

Little_Miss_Uni-Debt wrote: »

Hello TATBN

Just wanted to say hi and see how things are going for you! I think your goal list is great!

With your #6 the buy now pay later, it's good to keep a list of the things you think you need/want, then you should check out freecycle, there are usually LOTS of appliances and household items free to a good home. You can still have what you need but it doesn't need to be expensive!

When I started out on my journey I made a page containing all of the contact details of my creditors, e.g address, freephone phone number & the button sequence to get through the automated script to the right department.

I use it all the time and it makes following up with important letters/calls very simple. I used to put that kind of stuff off and that was my downfall. I've learned that you have to be persistent to get anywhere. The banks rely on stalling tactics so it's important to do what you can to make dealing with them easy!

I hope you see some progress over the coming weeks. I look forward to checking back as you hit each one of your goals.

Hi, feel silly, I have been looking at your post for almost 10minutes to work out who TATBN was and what they have said . . . ITS ME! lol.

I think my problem with #6 is it was never for things I 'needed' it was extra xmas gifts etc for my girls (ironically I usually done this because I felt bad I couldnt afford to take them on holiday or anything!)

I love the idea of one page that has ALL details (organisation and planning seem to be the parts that motivate me) so thanks for that one, I'll start putting it together once I finish harassing everyone. (It's amazing how reluctant they are to have a regular payment in place just because its not for the amount they want, I know its not ideal but I'd hoped it was better than nothing!)

TooAshamedToBeNamed

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

OOooooh 30 years old in 3 weeks!! Me TOO!!! I like the sound of the living arrangments, it has the potential of becoming a little palace for you and the kids and you seem to have a lovely landlord! Congratualtions on that!

I just wanted to wish you the best of luck - you are on the right track being here so well done!!! I read your other post too so you have come FAR already!!!

I am loving your list though.. just use a snowball calculator to see how best to invest the money you have to pay off the debt with the highest interest rate first!

You CAN do it!!!

Onwards and Upwards!

HAPPY 'early' BIRTHDAY!!!

Thank you so much, everyone here is lovely. Id never heard of a snowball calculator (so thanks for that) but Im sat just now calling all my creditors and trying to bully them (see how they like it) into freezing the interest, even if its just temporarily then Im sure you can guess what I'll be doing next!

Think I will learn a lot from this forum!

Off topic slightly, but are you doing anything for your birthday? I had my day out early as its an event that only happens once a year (google TheNutsChallenge if you want a giggle) I'd booked in a year ago and raised money for GOSH (£7600) . . . pity no one would sponsor me personally to do the next one and clear off some debt for me! :rotfl:

pennypusher

Hi Good luck with your new home. If you look around the boards you will find threads on feeding you and your family cheaply. You can also find ways to make extra money.

Make sure you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to. Check online for the cheapest insurances, electricity etc

Make sure you get single person discount on your Council Tax, usually 25% off.

See if you can manage to put a little money aside each month towards Birthday presents and Christmas presents for your children so that you don't get further into debt on those occasions. Keep your eyes open for free items on freecycle and buy presents when they are greatly reduced.

Hope this helps. All the best.

katep23

Re food costs, check out http://agirlcalledjack.com/ who feeds herself and young child on £10 per week; really good recipes and ideas. Also, head over to the Old Style boards where there is loads of advise and support on living cheaply and make do and mend. Good luck, sounds like you are very determined to make this work.

Find_The_Real

Hello, just wanted to say welcome and good luck with it all and I hope everything goes ok for you.

With your list, I would skip #2 and go straight to #3 and speak to one of the lovely free charities that can be found listed especially as you are moving into a new place, which is enough sorting out without trying to deal with creditors.

Look upon it as life definitely begins at 30 and have a happy birthday.

jaxsmar

Just a quick reply to day good luck on your journey:T