Mr and Mrs K's New Journey to a Debt Free Life.

AlexLK

Saturday 26th October, 2013.
Day 56.

Dear Diary,

Having been woken up by a customer calling to say he wanted to "buy, buy, buy"! I knew today was going to be an eventful one from the moment I, rather groggily, answered the 'phone. However, I hadn't planned on getting more done today than I can remember in a long time and Mrs. K. being so very keen to help.

Still, I am not too sure where the energy came from as yesterday I was all ready for a nice quiet day in. Fortunately, the weather was nice in the day but now I can hear the rain bouncing and there were weather warnings along the motorway already from tomorrow and Monday. Happy to report the chair bought needs very little work doing to it and due to collecting that this evening, I've not had a drink either.

Nothing to really report on the debt front other than listing 4 more items found in the spare room on eBay. However, every time I get a few deals I was not expecting, I must confess I do think I am getting closer to paying the debts and living a life free of financial worry. At least, that's how I hope it'll be.

Summary:
No Spend Day, so far as my debt diary is concerned as business purchases do not count.

Yours Faithfully,
Alex.

Iwillsucceed_2

Mara_uk7 wrote: »

Buy your mum a book on etiquette for her birthday. Failing that, a bottle of Baileys ! Lol

Ha ha ha ha! I loved the suggestion, I am sure there is a book titled : Manners Matter :-)

You are doing great on the debt busting front! :-) where there is a will, there is a way! :-)

AlexLK

Iwillsucceed wrote: »

Ha ha ha ha! I loved the suggestion, I am sure there is a book titled : Manners Matter :-)

You are doing great on the debt busting front! :-) where there is a will, there is a way! :-)

:rotfl: I'm positive there is. Usually, my mother has impeccable manners. However, that is dependent on whom she is speaking to.

Indeed, feeling all rather positive this evening.

Mara_uk7

Good on you Alex, i feel strangely proud of you this weekend. You can do this x

AlexLK

Mara: Thank you and I do hope so. If I felt like this everyday I doubt I'd have many problems at all.

P.S. Don't forget to message me re. the toys on Monday.

On another note, clocks go back tonight; first sign winter is coming for me. I personally look forward to the bright, crisp and frosty mornings even if I'm not a big fan of dark nights and snow.

Iwillsucceed_2

AlexLK wrote: »

:rotfl: You really don't know my mother if you think she'd appreciate a herd of goats for some poor African tribe. :rotfl:

One of her favourite topics to moan about is foreign aid, well once she's got over Sainsbury's at Matlock.

She is not the kind of person who would appreciate charitable gifts, wine, chocolates or "spa days" at all. As she has her own collections, we usually buy her something for one of those, same with father but nothing they like could be called a "cheap" gift.

There seems to be a pattern on some Irish immigrants in England. In that sense the majority of people I know who are Irish, they resent the foreign aid. I some times stated whether this has a lot to do with the fact that when Ireland was affected with the famine there didn't existed such as thing as foreign aids. I do understand why some people will resent foreign aids and I tend to agree with this statement: 'charity starts at home'. there are so much poor people in Britain, and if was not for the welfare system I rather not to think how so many people would subsist.

Regards..

AlexLK

Iwillsucceed wrote: »

There seems to be a pattern on some Irish immigrants in England. In that sense the majority of people I know who are Irish, they resent the foreign aid. I some times stated whether this has a lot to do with the fact that when Ireland was affected with the famine there didn't existed such as thing as foreign aids. I do understand why some people will resent foreign aids and I tend to agree with this statement: 'charity starts at home'. there are so much poor people in Britain, and if was not for the welfare system I rather not to think how so many people would subsist.

Regards..

I should elaborate: my mother's family are English and have been for generations going way back. My father's grandparents were Irish immigrants, mind my father has similar views politically as mother.

Iwillsucceed_2

AlexLK wrote: »

:rotfl: I'm positive there is. Usually, my mother has impeccable manners. However, that is dependent on whom she is speaking to.

Indeed, feeling all rather positive this evening.

Ha ha ha! that sounds more like manners in disguise..I would have thought she would have high regards for your wife and family.... I always thought manners were consistent and permanent.

I do understand when you said 'that's the way your mother is...fine...but the way she is could be hindering or affecting your relationship....
By the way..I really hope you have more days like today because you appear happier :-) but when we have 'bad days' we just have to stand up to the challenge! :-)

IainHL

Hello Alex. Long time lurker coming out of hiding here. I think I possibly read the first few pages, missed a chunk (going on some of the matters referred to), but have kept up to date over the last month.

There are various things that have occurred that I have had thoughts and possible comments on, however what brought me out of lurker land was the following post, which I feel I can offer some practical advice on.

AlexLK wrote: »

Well, some good news and some not so good.

I've had a call from one of the credit cards demanding a higher payment than we first agreed, whilst I'm inclined to ignore this I have to admit it set me back for a few moments.
.
.

Firstly, you don't have to deal with these matters on the phone. Just refuse to go through their "security" questions and insist that all communication should be by means of written correspondence. In fact I would say so in a letter to them!

I presume a reduced payment plan had been previously agreed by them (and I hope they have frozen interest with there being such a plan in place)? Now, they are entitled to ask for it to be reviewed, possibly as often as every 6 months. However all you have to do is say to them (in writing!) that your circumstances have not changed since the last review, and that you propose to maintain payments of the same amount as you have been paying.

I have found this approach to work for me (and I genuinely had not had a pay rise in 3 years, whilst the outgoings (council tax, energy, etc) had increased). Previously I had managed to let myself get bullied on the phone to increasing payments by more than I could reasonably afford (and credit card collection departments can employ some very verbally persuasive people).

AlexLK

Iwillsucceed wrote: »

Ha ha ha! that sounds more like manners in disguise..I would have thought she would have high regards for your wife and family.... I always thought manners were consistent and permanent.

I do understand when you said 'that's the way your mother is...fine...but the way she is could be hindering or affecting your relationship....
By the way..I really hope you have more days like today because you appear happier :-) but when we have 'bad days' we just have to stand up to the challenge! :-)

:rotfl: Something like that, most likely.

Unfortunately, the type of attitude that makes her a "rude" person today, made her a successful one during her working life.

I feel much happier today, though that may have had something to do with today being generally good.

IainHL wrote: »

Hello Alex. Long time lurker coming out of hiding here. I think I possibly read the first few pages, missed a chunk (going on some of the matters referred to), but have kept up to date over the last month.

There are various things that have occurred that I have had thoughts and possible comments on, however what brought me out of lurker land was the following post, which I feel I can offer some practical advice on.

Firstly, you don't have to deal with these matters on the phone. Just refuse to go through their "security" questions and insist that all communication should be by means of written correspondence. In fact I would say so in a letter to them!

I presume a reduced payment plan had been previously agreed by them (and I hope they have frozen interest with there being such a plan in place)? Now, they are entitled to ask for it to be reviewed, possibly as often as every 6 months. However all you have to do is say to them (in writing!) that your circumstances have not changed since the last review, and that you propose to maintain payments of the same amount as you have been paying.

I have found this approach to work for me (and I genuinely had not had a pay rise in 3 years, whilst the outgoings (council tax, energy, etc) had increased). Previously I had managed to let myself get bullied on the phone to increasing payments by more than I could reasonably afford (and credit card collection departments can employ some very verbally persuasive people).

Hi Iain,

No need to lurk, please do join in the fun and I am always interested to read other's comments and advice, sometimes I even take it on board.

Thank you for your post in regards to the phone call I received. Firstly, yes I am on a reduced payment plan. However, that only lasts for 6 months - they said it would go back to the previous payment plan then. Having read your post - is that legal?

I have already said that I wish to correspond by writing and not by telephone but it appears this one is ringing anyway.