Determined to be debt free by Dec 2014

debtbustingdeb

Want to be debt free once and for all.

My background

Aged 46, married for 25 years( well will be next month). 3 children all still living at home DS1 aged 22, DD aged 20 and finally DS2 aged 9.

My situation now

My husband works full time and I now work (35 hours over 2 jobs).

My LBM

This happened in Sept 2012.......

Here we go.....

I was working full time in one job and my DH was working full time plus 10.5 hours O/T every week (this was an agreed working arrangement). We had been working like this for the last 5 years. We had Debts like 3 credit cards, overdraft, two club books and a small loan but because we could afford the minimum payments were never in arrears we just plodded on.

Things then started to change for us........

My husbands company sold part of their company off and he was given a 40 hour week agreement. His o/t began to become less certain and money began to get tight (always lived on this as it was his agreed hours for the last 7 years).

My big mistake..........:mad:

If only i could turn the clock back. With not enough to live on and pay bills i started using payday loans. Yes mad with myself but once you start it's very hard to get off them.

Although i worked full time i did two days a week as overtime. Again I had worked these hours for the last 5 years and had been living off this wage. Warning bells were ringing loud what if my o/t hours went we were already starting to struggle.

My LBM came in Sept 2012 when i started my DMP as most of the debts were in my name alone i took a DMP on my own. My starting figure was £10,761 and at starting my DFD was June 2015.

Glad i had my LBM when i did as my o/t did go in jan and it became a battle to get any that was going. This made life at work really miserable so made the decision to get a second job and take myself out of the o/t war. I work 10 hours less and i'm £200/month worse off but so much more happier.

My DFD at present is March 2015 but have some water arrears that will be paid off next Feb and will then add this to my DMP payments which will bring my DFD to 1st Dec 2014:T

I'm hoping to try and find a bit extra to chuck at it so can finish by Nov 1st.

Here's hoping this diary will help me on my journey.

SammyJo1206

Good luck, look forward to tracking your progress! x

debtbustingdeb

I feel better already by starting my diary. Even if i'm rambling to myself putting it down in black and white helps me stay focused.

debtbustingdeb

with definately no money for a holiday this year we have one week home together (me, DH and DS2).

wanted to go to london and stay for a few days but out of the question to find funds for that.:(

So have decided to go for the day. Have a budget of £150 max for the day.:)

Petrol will use the fuel we would have used going to work= 0:T
Parking £11.50
3 football tickets £75.00
transport (tube) £21.00 (ordered online abit more expensive but no stressing over buying tickets when i get there.)
lots of free sightseeing £0:T

£47.50 left for food/drink will be a long day

This will be the highlight of our week the rest spent close to home (gromit hunting) making it as cheap as possible.

debtbustingdeb

Post man just delivered our football tickets for next week.:j
Adults only!!!!:mad:
Was no mention of adults only when i bought them. At least have not told my son he would be gutted if i then said we can't go.
Have emailed chelsea fc to see if we can get a refund but not holding out much hope. If not will have to try and sell them to recoup my £75 really can not afford to just let it go and do something else special for my son instead.
Had originally planned on a tour of the ground but at a cost of £52 when i saw these tickets available for the match thought i had a bargain but not now.:(
Well fingers crossed we can sort this out have no other funds to plan anything else instead.

debtbustingdeb

Had reply back from Chelsea can get a refund if i get them back to them 48hrs before game.

Put them back in the post so heres hoping the post will not loose them.

Will have to look and see if the tour is available instead that day.

SammyJo1206

Ohh no! How frustrating! I really hope you get your refund, or at least be able to sell them. Fingers crossed for you! x

debtbustingdeb

Thanks Sammyjo

Have put them straight back in post so should get there in time. Match is sold out but didn't want the hassle trying to sell them.
Tour fully booked for that day. My plans just seem to get worse. Have paid for parking and tube tickets so going another day is not an option. Not told DH yet i know he will be gutted aswell but can still take son to see Chelsea stadium and visit the shop (perhaps will spend refund on him there instead). Also we will not get stuck in traffic when we leave and won't be such a late night home.
Will plan to try and go to a match again but will make sure i get the right tickets next time.

debtbustingdeb

Went to the cinema on sunday with DS1 and his girlfriend was out of the blue total cost £15+:eek:

Went to the cinema yesterday (totally planned) with my friend total cost £4.75:j

I go out very rare but £15 to watch a film (ok popcorn and drink as well) i could have kicked myself.

Yesterday i used orange wednesday to get in 50/50 with my friend and took a can of coke with me.

Tomorrow i plan to take my son to see "The Croods" old i know but have not seen it yet. 2 tickets ordered online £2.00 (save £1) drink and sweets in bag for me £2.10. Have not took him anywhere this week so will get him a kids tray £3.40 (max i hope). Total £7.50 which works out £3.75 each.:D

Message to self
Never again will i go to the cinema unprepared.

DebtFree2012

Hi - good luck with your journey - having a diary helps to stay focused as you say.
Now you've started doing this, it will become addictive.

debtbustingdeb

Think i already am addicted but putting down on here does help.

My challenge now is to stay within my budget.
Not a lot left over for extras so will need to find a way i can make some more money. Hate putting that on DH but lost over £400 when work cut back and could only find a job to replace half my lost income.

Free listing on ebay today so have at least one thing ready to list (so much to sell but need kick to get started) perhaps if i list one thing will get addicted to list more.

Going to set myself some goals:

25th anniversary 10th Sept have got tickets for a show in London (paid for) need £200 for travel/hotel(booked £92) and meal

Birthdays this side of XMAS £200
Seems a lot but inc 3xparents £30X3 hope to cut this down to £20each
1xDS1 £50 and mine I'm not bothered but DH will want to get something for me so will have clothes which i need anyway and cheap meal out( try getting out without kids but thats impossible so will look for 2for£10 pub.

Dreaded Xmas:

Children..........£500 this is already sorted saved with Dad

parents..........£150
niece/nephews.....£150

me/DH...............£100 same as birthdays always buy a need rather than a want.

£400 need to find for presents

£70 extra for food/cards/wrapping paper (saved£50 bonus £20)

will add these to my signature
have £80 o/t booked in my cleaning job for sept but was really dumped on in my main job (been there 19 years and now can't face doing any o/t for them). I know cutting my nose off but will start to look for job no3 to see me through xmas instead.