tightening my belt and battening down the hatches

Nelly11

Three massive debts and no money to pay them! During this year I've had some serious challenges which has led to being very ill and having to reduce my income and only being able to work 3 days a week and to be honest I'm only just holding on to doing the three days, I may have to stop work all together.
I've £6000 give or take left to pay off a credit card which is now being maintained through link at £5 per month, roughly £3000 left to pay on a loan, I'm trying to pay £20 off this each month. Behind with my Council Tax to the tune of £770, which I've just had a liability order sent out to me this morning, £118 is being paid to this each month. Christmas is looming and although I bought most of my gifts in the sales last year I still have the main gifts to get for my OH and Youngest child (age 17)
When I worked out a statement of affairs I am minus £3.74 per week, which I could try and top up through e**ay sales.
I've started doing the October Food Challenge and plan on spending no more money on food this month, try and empty the freezers, sell one freezer and try to buy food for just me and 17 year old as we are the only ones at home. I have done a meal plan until the end of the month which has opened my eyes to how much food I acutally have in the house, and then I'm going to try to stick to a £30 limit per week on shopping.
I have started a note book for meal planning and another for writing shopping lists, also a book to write down every bit of money I spend.
I could do with breaking the money and bills down into weekly chunks, it doesnt seem as daunting that way, maybe to pop money into envelopes, have a seperate purse for food shopping, any that is saved can be paid off my mortgage, i'm currently 1 payment behind, which is £775, I've been paying off at a couple of pounds when I can.
I'm going to use this diary to help me maintain the clarity on paying bills and hopefully pick your brains on what I can do to make more money.
I would strongly recommend that people take out illness cover for their mortgage, I had 5 months in hospital and all my bills and mortgage went up the swanny as I couldnt keep track of payments and I'd left my cash card with my 2 younger children so they could buy food and travel. I didnt expect to be in hospital and did not have a back up plan.
My OH lives over 80 miles away, this also puts a strain on finances, we cant move in together until my youngest finishes college, so travel expenses are a drain also, but I need to see him so Ive budgeted in 2 trips per month.

Anouchka

Wishing you the best of luck, will watch your journey with interest.

Mara_uk7

Whoa Nelly ! Sounds like you have big battle on your hands, Does your OH know about and contribute to repaying the debts ?
If I may, id love to follow your journey and offer encouragement where I can.
Good Luck Nelly

Nelly11

Mara_uk7 wrote: »

Whoa Nelly ! Sounds like you have big battle on your hands, Does your OH know about and contribute to repaying the debts ?
If I may, id love to follow your journey and offer encouragement where I can.
Good Luck Nelly

Hi and thanks,
Yes he knows, I have only been seeing him for 10 months, he has stuck with through some amazingly hard times, dressed my wounds and made me better. He has offered to help out financially but I wont let him, he does help in subtle ways though, just going out somewhere for lunch lifts your spirits no end. The debts are mine though and I aim to pay them all off by the time I'm 50 in two years. No pressure whatso ever.
Today my goals are
1. sold a kettle on FB for a fiver
2. List my tumble drier on FB
3. List the Woodburning stove on FB, I bought it intending to get it fitted, but the fitting costs 1018.00 and I shall get a convector woodburning replica from Dunhelm which costs 119.00 so the remainder shall be taken off the outstanding mortgage payment which is my priorty.

My little sis text me today that shes too broke to do Christmas this year, so only buying pressies for the 3 under 16's in the family, I wish I had the nerve to have done this, I did text everyone to say keep gifts at a fiver or under, so I have bought some which look more expensive than they are and some sale stuff from last year and I've already shaved off 40+ off my exmas bill, I can't put the savings from this into the mortgage fund as I don't have the difference in cash to spend.

I've joined swagbucks and am going to start surveys today.
Also booked a table at our local community hall where I shall hopefully sell anything not nailed down.

Phew!!! I'd better crack on xxx

timetogrowup89

Good luck on your journey. The hardest part is always seeing the total written down at first. At least you have a plan of action to get you started

jazzyjustlaw

Good luck I am subscribing to see how you get on. Big hugs x

Nelly11

I tried using a Tesco glitch today on shopping for next week, I was over charged by 8.00 and took the reciept back, they refunded the 8.00 but didnt double the difference so Ive just sent a letter with the receipts enclosed, lets see what happens

shinner

Good luck on your journey

Nelly11

shinner wrote: »

Good luck on your journey

Thanks Shinner.

Im off to my eldests for a lovely Roast soon.
I've put my woodburner and my tumble drier on FB sales and the Tumble drier has gone but people want to view the woodburner.
As soon as it sells I shall get the cheaper alternative. I've added the 5.00 to my signature already for the kettle I sold, just hope she remembers and calls her for it.
Updated my meal plan as I have been food shopping and also not needing a meal on there this evening thanks to DS.

Nelly11

Well its torrential rain here today, poochy is sat on the stairs with crossed legs waiting to go out. I'm dreading later as I have to go to the Dr's on foot as my DD is borrowing the car for Uni work.
2 Direct Debits tried to go out of my account earlier today, I transfered money from another account which will hopefully stop any charges, they were for insurance so I'm going to dig out some paperwork and see if I can get them to change the date on them, then have a shop around to see if I can get it cheaper anywhere.
I canceled the Sky sunsciption so now I just have the phone and internet from them, My DS noticed yesterday that there are no films on it now, He'll live!
I've been sent a letter saying PPI needs to come and do an assessment of my health, need to give them a call and arrange this, dreading it as I've heard so many awful things from people about ATOS, plus having someone assess you is horrid in itself

Nelly11

My youngest (17) is staying home alone this weekend on the stict proviso that he has to eat from the meal plan, he usually has his friends around and they eat me out of everything, like a plague of locusts, so he has agreed to stick to it and I'm going to have to trust him that he will. So tonight will be spent sorting out a meal plan just for him and glueing it to the fridge and freezer