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

Granariesgirl

AlexLK wrote: »

I am only sending off letters about F&Fs... Interesting on them having to abide by letters only - what can one do if they don't?

If one was nasty (which of COURSE I'm not - very ), one would write a personal letter to the CEO or CFO explaining that one had offered the maximum one could afford in order to repay their company as soon as possible, it had been rudely refused by Employee X (this is why one should always note down names) & that if the CEO/ CFO would care to confirm the refusal in writing, one will move on to the next creditor on the list! :cool:

Now I'm off for a post "massacring garden" cuppa. Ooh yeah, I'm dangerous with secateurs & a spade, me! :rotfl:

AlexLK

GranariesGirl: Thank you.

I'm really quite struggling to keep up motivation today, even though we have managed to spend only £5.50 today and followed SkintDad's example having a "fakeaway" for dinner (Indian) this evening. However, sleep was very thin on the ground last night and I've not been well today. Managed to only get a little of the work I need to do next week for music pupils.

AlexLK

Saturday 2nd November, 2013.
Day 63.

Dear Diary,

My motivation for just about everything appears to have gone down the drain and with it my previous enthusiasm and determination to succeed not only on this debt free journey but in life. I cannot help but wonder if it is all just too little, too late. However, as the alternative is much more depressing I realise my wife and I must soldier on.

The consequences of ignoring my debt for so long appears to have finally sunk into my mind, along with the fact it is seemingly impossible to live a credit free life in this day and age. It's not as if I wish to apply for any more cards, more my wife and I were considering moving mortgage providers which I now think will not be so easy (in order to secure a better interest rate) which has only led me to feel rather guilty considering my wife has never been in so much as a penny of debt save for the mortgage. If I could go back I'm not even sure I would have bought a house with a small deposit that needed work doing of which we still cannot afford to do.

On the debt busting front, I have done nothing today which could easily be applicable to life at this current moment. At least my father is out of hospital and this should be an end to the tests he has had. Or it will should this particular one come back without bad results. Our son has today displayed that he still is firmly in the category of being a "terrible two" and Mrs. K. has once again mentioned either moving jobs or going self employed.

Moving swiftly on to something more positive in the form of a delicious Indian dinner, cooked ourselves "fakeaway" style. Mrs. K. and I had been rather inspired by the meals we had seen cooked by posters on here (specifically SkintDad's Saturday "Fakeaway" menu) that we tried our own. The only downside was the washing up and no before you ask we do not have a dishwasher.

Summary:
-£5.50 Groceries.

Yours Faithfully,
Alex.

mum2one

AlexLK wrote: »

Saturday 2nd November, 2013.
Day 63.

Dear Diary,

My motivation for just about everything appears to have gone down the drain and with it my previous enthusiasm and determination to succeed not only on this debt free journey but in life. I cannot help but wonder if it is all just too little, too late. However, as the alternative is much more depressing I realise my wife and I must soldier on.

as the old fable hare and tortoise, you have gone down the hare route and of course motivation sinks a bit. As for suceeding in life take a step back and your see that you have a look. It is never too little to late, every £1 that you can raise off your debts gets you one step closer. Yes you need to soldier on, even if you go on the tortoise route for a bit.

The consequences of ignoring my debt for so long appears to have finally sunk into my mind, along with the fact it is seemingly impossible to live a credit free life in this day and age. It's not as if I wish to apply for any more cards, more my wife and I were considering moving mortgage providers which I now think will not be so easy (in order to secure a better interest rate) which has only led me to feel rather guilty considering my wife has never been in so much as a penny of debt save for the mortgage.

From what I see you definatly have not ignored your debt, that would be time the doors a knocking, and the phone is ringing fro day to night and your only paying back £1 per month. Maybe it took a while to realise that you need to get the debt sorted, but thats what lightbulb moments are there for.
As for credit free life, a lot of people do it, just making adjustments to life.Maybe at the moment you wont get a good mortgage deal, this would be down to the reduced payments, but look at it this way your already on the mortgage ladder, a lot of people can't even get to the 1st runner

As for feeling guilty, I think you've had enough flack before. Dont think of it as guilt but a realisation that you have a debt and your getting it sorted



If I could go back I'm not even sure I would have bought a house with a small deposit that needed work doing of which we still cannot afford to do.

What you have is a forever home, a home that as a family you will grow into, as the old saying goes Rome wasn't built in a day, - ok it may need work, but as long as your not leaking in, you have a front door that locks - your get there,

On the debt busting front, I have done nothing today which could easily be applicable to life at this current moment.

Your getting things sorted, you have had your father in hospital, just because your in debt, it doesn't mean you have to spend 24/7 trying to get it sorted. A positive you only had a small grocery bill,

At least my father is out of hospital and this should be an end to the tests he has had. Or it will should this particular one come back without bad results.
That is brilliant news that your father is out of hospital, and fingers crossed that everything gets sorted.

Our son has today displayed that he still is firmly in the category of being a "terrible two"
Thats good, he's developing his own personality, maybe he is experimenting and seeing how far he can push things,

and Mrs. K. has once again mentioned either moving jobs or going self employed.
Has Mrs K got back in touch with the other company, at least she's in a position to look for another job, she's had recent interview so she is one step ahead than others. It sounds like self employment may be an option, but for now, while the debts are in place, if Mrs K could hold fire it would help, and this would give you the time to build your business up, have you gone solo yet??

Moving swiftly on to something more positive in the form of a delicious Indian dinner, cooked ourselves "fakeaway" style. Mrs. K. and I had been rather inspired by the meals we had seen cooked by posters on here (specifically SkintDad's Saturday "Fakeaway" menu) that we tried our own. The only downside was the washing up and no before you ask we do not have a dishwasher.

Summary:
-£5.50 Groceries.

Yours Faithfully,
Alex.

I think despite everything you have had a really good day, as usual put my thoughts in, you both take care and have a good weekend, x

AlexLK

mum2one: Thank you again for all the encouragement.

Certainly feels like the Hare has ran out of steam but we will not let the side down and keep carrying on, if only a couple of £££s at a time.

I'm not ignoring the debt now but before joining MSE, I did for a long time (didn't pay anything towards it for over a year ). By the credit free life I was counting the mortgage as well. I feel incredibly miserable to think the biggest debt of all won't be paid for such a long time as well as feeling a little down about the state of our house (which is not really through any fault of my own). I will try to not feel so guilty but struggle to control that.

I do hope we'll make the place nice eventually but doubt we'll be here forever as I'm fairly sure at some point we'll end up in my parents' house as they get older.

You did make me laugh upon saying "that's good" regarding our son, you'd be most welcome to take him for the day, tomorrow . Though, no doubt he'd be an angel for somebody else. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: He's tested our patience today. As for experimenting and seeing how far he can push things, you don't say and I thought that was the teenage years.

Mrs. K. did get in touch the with other company but they'd filled the position (we weren't surprised). To be honest, I think she's perhaps thinking "what if" rather than hating her current job. It's rather difficult as she's been there a long time and is annoyed with herself for not just taking "the leap". I also think I influenced the decision somewhat as I didn't want her to be away from home all the time. Yes, that was selfish of me.

Funny you should mention me going solo, that started officially as of yesterday (we didn't have too much stuff to sort as it is such a small business). Business partner had (unsurprisingly) got a few things already in place but he's still working for me.

Hoping for a better Sunday (mind wise ). We are meant to be going to see the Derby fireworks tomorrow if the weather is OK, so got that to look forward to.

Rosepetal1701

AlexLK wrote: »

Saturday 2nd November, 2013.
Day 63.

Dear Diary,

My motivation for just about everything appears to have gone down the drain and with it my previous enthusiasm and determination to succeed not only on this debt free journey but in life. I cannot help but wonder if it is all just too little, too late. However, as the alternative is much more depressing I realise my wife and I must soldier on.

The consequences of ignoring my debt for so long appears to have finally sunk into my mind, along with the fact it is seemingly impossible to live a credit free life in this day and age. It's not as if I wish to apply for any more cards, more my wife and I were considering moving mortgage providers which I now think will not be so easy (in order to secure a better interest rate) which has only led me to feel rather guilty considering my wife has never been in so much as a penny of debt save for the mortgage. If I could go back I'm not even sure I would have bought a house with a small deposit that needed work doing of which we still cannot afford to do.

On the debt busting front, I have done nothing today which could easily be applicable to life at this current moment. At least my father is out of hospital and this should be an end to the tests he has had. Or it will should this particular one come back without bad results. Our son has today displayed that he still is firmly in the category of being a "terrible two" and Mrs. K. has once again mentioned either moving jobs or going self employed.

Moving swiftly on to something more positive in the form of a delicious Indian dinner, cooked ourselves "fakeaway" style. Mrs. K. and I had been rather inspired by the meals we had seen cooked by posters on here (specifically SkintDad's Saturday "Fakeaway" menu) that we tried our own. The only downside was the washing up and no before you ask we do not have a dishwasher.

Summary:
-£5.50 Groceries.

Yours Faithfully,
Alex.

Alex, you have at least acknowledged your debt and are doing something about it. You may think its too little too late but believe me, better to start now. When my eldest was 2 yrs old I was still building a massive debt and ignoring the problems that I was creating! I have paid off a number of CCs already and then just built the debt up some more on others. Persevere with the letter writing like others have said and always remember - there will be a day when you become debt free

AlexLK

Rosepetal1701 wrote: »

Alex, you have at least acknowledged your debt and are doing something about it. You may think its too little too late but believe me, better to start now. When my eldest was 2 yrs old I was still building a massive debt and ignoring the problems that I was creating! I have paid off a number of CCs already and then just built the debt up some more on others. Persevere with the letter writing like others have said and always remember - there will be a day when you become debt free

Thank you, you are in a similar position to me and yes it is better to start doing something about it. I suppose I didn't really see any of this happening until it did and I ended up burying my head in the sand about it. At least I'm out of that stage but currently feeling down about the £170,000 mortgage we are tied into.

FlubM

Hi Alex

I remember when we were just as daunted by our mortgage (and other debts - all mine!). As our children got older and childcare costs reduced, we diverted a significant chunk of the money we no longer spent on childcare to overpaying the mortgage. It helped us pay off the mortgage quite a bit earlier than the original term without reducing our standard of living and we saved a huge amount in interest. Sod's law - just as we got it paid off and were looking forward to more fun I was made redundant, but at least we aren't worrying about the roof over our head:j.
You will be surprised when the time comes at how much difference relatively small overpayments can make, and you have already demonstrated that you can do all the things you need to do to make overpayments (they are the very things you are doing to reduce the other debts!).

Kantankrus_Mare

Hi alex

Have not posted for a while but have been following your ups and downs.

I see progress! Sometimes there will be set backs but thats life. You have changed your thinking which is the overall key so keep going!

Regarding your son....... there is a great book called "Toddler taming " by Dr Christopher Green. Humerous but great advice on dea.ing with children when they are at their most challenging.

Been there...got the tee shirt. My son was horrendous at that age but he is now 20 and so laid back.........
It does pass ...... honest!:D

gallygirl

Kantankrus_Mare wrote: »

Hi alex

Have not posted for a while but have been following your ups and downs.

I see progress! Sometimes there will be set backs but thats life. You have changed your thinking which is the overall key so keep going!

Regarding your son....... there is a great book called "Toddler taming " by Dr Christopher Green. Humerous but great advice on dea.ing with children when they are at their most challenging.

Been there...got the tee shirt. My son was horrendous at that age but he is now 20 and so laid back.........
It does pass ...... honest!:D

Break their spirit when they're young, that's my advice :rotfl:.