Kate's Journey

Kate_fixing_it

This is my second week as a DFW.

I've already messed up...sort of in my eagerness to get stuck in I've paid nearly 600 off the debts from October pay. I was meant to pay 400! By cutting back on other things and delaying payments I've clawed back 160 of it. I'm now waiting on a refund and praying ebay sales are good this week but by Monday I'm back in the black (or at least under the overdraft limit) bit of a baptism of fire but if it's feasible this month maybe I can increase the debt repayments overall.

For the first time since my LBM and admitting it all to hubby 17th October I'm having a "good debt day".

Yesterday I had the bare-faced cheek to walk back into a shop and ask for the money back from the coupons I forgot to use! Only £6 but meant a bit more in my purse.

Today is possibly my first ever no spend day and I'm pretty damn proud of it! I've also acquired a winter coat of sorts. Last year I bought my teenage son a puffa jacket. He hates it and refuses to wear it. It's been sat in a cupboard for over a year. Since January I've lost nearly 3.5stone and the jacket is a little loose on me . It's not particularly stylish but it's warm and comfortable and has cost me nothing.

I've also had no painkillers all day. I broke my leg quite badly 6 months ago and I've had various complications which resulted in severe pain most of the time. Today is my first drug-free day in months and here's the reason this is relevant...the painkillers are prescription only and there are two types. My doctor gives me two weeks supply at a time...no drugs means no prescription which means no spending only £30 a month but that soon adds up to paying off half a little credit card in a year. I can't help thinking that the reduction in stress is helping my pain levels. If I REALLY need the drugs I'll take them but I've managed 10 hours without them so it's looking good so far.

All said and done I'm feeling pretty damn good for a person with nearly £10k of debt, nothing in the bank and no sign of my debt free day until this time next year, a dodgy leg and a very questionable sense of irony (as you're about to see!) But....and it's a big but...I'm realising how incredibly rich I am in other ways. I have four beautiful, healthy, loving, intelligent children. I have a husband who I love dearly who loves me in return. I have a few fantastic friends who are there for me day and night and I have the skills and employment to get through this journey. I'm even happy with the size of my bum! I'm 35 years old and I have more than most people get in a lifetime.

All said and done I'm one VERY lucky girl.

Kate x
.

Aamberle

Well Done Kate for having such a great day X

I will be following with interest to see how you get on.

Good Luck X

Kate_fixing_it

Thank you Aarmberle. The support here is overwhelming. I've already learned so much from the forum, I just wish I'd woken up to the problem sooner. Still, I'm here now and posting is keeping me on the straight and narrow. I don't think I've ever wanted anything quite as much as I want to see the CCs at a zero balance and the overdraft gone!

beanielou

Happy shiny diary

Buffythedebtslayer

Sounding and looking great Kate

there are always things to focus on and you definitely have all the important stuff covered XXX

sulphate

Good luck :T

Have you looked into getting a pre payment certificate for prescriptions? It's apparently worth it if you get more than 13 items a year on prescription, works out at about £9 per month so looks like it could save you a bit.

snookey

Hi Kate lovely name as its my dd name also.

I was going to mention the pre payment cert too but Sulphate beat me to it.

Good luck with your journey.

Kate_fixing_it

Wow! So much encouragement. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart x

Thank you for the advice on prepayment. Ideally I want to be off the drugs. They are addictive and I think the fact that I'm in debt proves the addictive personality theory applies to me. I'm coping well without them again today so if I can just not overdo things physically and learn my limits I think that'll be a good thing.

I'm having another "good debt day" and feeling strong. Armed with the knowledge that I've already paid some off I thought it was time to assess the cc balances. I knew they were close to the limits but it's time to face the bare facts...here goes

Bank charges 0/72.99
Wonga 0/565
Tesco 656.64/750
Capital One 760.44/800
HSBC 1401.49/1500
Asda 2894.04/3000

The end balance are what they were just over a week ago. So since my LBM I've paid 880.38 off! I'm truly shocked.

The old me would have looked at these figures to see how much I could spend. The new me is looking at it and thinking "I've already paid off 13%". Admittedly the cards will have interest added next month but I intend to post my totals each month and watch it reduce.

There are still other debts to pay but they have set payments and no interest so I'll keep plodding along with them. These are the debts that kept me awake at night. These are the ones that had me in a cold sweat at the thought of hubby finding out.

Dare I say it? It's not THAT bad! At least not as bad as I thought. If I can clear over an 8th of it (accidentally) in one month what's to stop me smashing my target of 13 paydays? I'm already thinking ahead to Christmas and the free fun we can have. Instead of cards and presents I'm giving friends an afternoon of babysitting. I have heaps of craft materials lying around. It'll tire out the kids and give stressed out mums and dads a break.

I thought looking at the balances would plunge me back into misery and self-pity at the mess I've created but it's just made me more determined. I'm now thinking can I shave from the budget and pay off a little more before the next payday?

The ebay sales are going well and I have a refund cheque on the way...I might just make it a cool thousand paid off before November payday!

And now I'm sure you can see my addictive streak coming out! It feels fantastic to see the totals drop and I want more of this feeling! I think this is one addiction I can happily never break

Kate_fixing_it

Another good debt day! God I hope this lasts!

A not so good day at work, stress definitely affects pain levels as it's been pretty awful and I was counting down the mintes in the last hour but oddly the pain reduced within 15 minutes of leaving! Another rough day ahead tomorrow but then a whole weekend and for the first time in a month I have no set plans. I'm really looking forward to getting the house clean from top to bottom and then just doing as I please.

EBay sale ended with a total I'm very happy with and the other 19 listings end on Sunday night. I'm already thinking about what I can get rid of next!

Off to slimming world tonight. I'm a target member now so essentially its a free night out. I've made some fantastic friends and can't wait for 7.30 to roll around. It always puts me in a good mood for days on end! I'm just hoping I've gained as I was 6lb under target last week! I have no idea how, I'm putting it down to stress. I came clean to hubby on 17th October and went and lost four pounds in the week after! I'm not convinced I've gained anything substantial. I think I did a bit too much exercise wandering around Oxford Street last weekend and might have lost a few pounds drooling on the cabinets at Tiffany's! Even the old me wouldn't have bought anything inthere (I ddon't have a house to remortgage!) but I so love the way the staff treat you and gazing at diamonds will make any girl happy

I'm still planning ahead with Christmas in mind. This year it's going to be a Christmas rich in memories and fun and time together. The children are already plotting their lists! Thanks to MSE it's quite possible DS1 and 2 can be sorted for under £50. CEX trade ins for store credit is looking like a great plan. DD1 is a total bookworm and has listed a collection she's after and DD2 wants a fluffy unicorn like the one in Despicable Me, in fact she's picked out the one she wants in asda already. DH is a little more problematic but I've plenty time to think and put some money aside for the amazon black Friday sales though what I'd love to hand him is four cleared CC statements . Next year he's definitely getting that or maybe even for his birthday in July!

Parents and baby brother are no problems really, a bottle of something for the men and smellies for mum - bought from Boots with advantage card points.

And that's it. There's the kids party to plan and a much scaled down food shop to do but this year I'm giving people my time and effort and if that's not good enough then I know why they've been my friends and they can be shown the door. I'm actually really looking forward to a reduced cost and reduced stress festive season...which is probably rather obvious as we've not even waved goodbye to October yet!

In fact I'm quite liking this scaled down life. Everything is simpler, there's nothing I've gone without and so much I've gained. I have a feeling that much like my Slimming World journey when I reach the finish line the starting aim is going to be a happy by-product. I'm truly can't wait to be debt free and watch my accounts increase in a positive way but I've learned so much already and I'm already so much happier after just 2 weeks I can't imagine how great it's going to feel after months and months of this journey.

Kate x

Emmala

Well done for telling your husband Kate! I had to do something similar years ago but I'm a bottle it up person and by the time I got the words out, my DH was so relieved I wasn't leaving him he didn't bat an eyelid!

Also, well done on your weight loss! It's funny, but I have an addictive personality too, but when it comes to food (chocolate and wine.....:o) I only seem to be addictive on the gain, never the loss! But, I'm going back to work next Monday after years as a SAHM, so I'm using that as the push to get back on the diet wagon.....ideally I want/need to lose one stone, then probably a second.

Keep up the good work, I'm sure you'll reach your goal soon,
Molly x

Kate_fixing_it

Good luck at work Molly! I've been in a full time job for nearly 3 and a half years now. It's so good for me and the kids. We're all pleased to see each other at the end of the day and the weekends are so special to me. It's a horrid wrench to leave them and I still feel guilty now even though they're in school all day but it's worth it.

Bit of a flat day here after a few exciting days and my debts are never far from my mind. I'm just so impatient! 24 days to payday and I can get rid of another chunk :-) I used to count down until I could spend again! How naive I was!

Bit of a let down checking the bank this morning. I went £4 over for a day during this charging period so I'll get charged next month but I looked back further and there are shockingly £200 of charges some months! :O what was I thinking! Oh yes, I wasn't thinking at all. I was living in the there and then. I feel really crappy thinking about it but it's all changed now which is what REALLY matters. Doesn't lift the feeling of being utterly stupid and disappointed in myself.

On a brighter note I joined the November NSD challenge and off to a flying start! Last night I won bag of fruit in the SW raffle and bought several bags of veg (enough for the week ahead) with yellow stickers for less than £2 (including a cheeky box of mini donuts for 35p). I also found a bottle of Martini in a cupboard that's been there for nearly two years! So instead of a tenner on two bottles of wine I paid 34p for my lemonade mixer from the change in my car ashtray so as I haven't opened my purse I'm regarding this as my first NSD.

I also acquired a goody bag from work. Turned out to be a bag of money off vouchers! Won't be using those! All for places I don't normally go! I'm living by the mantra "it's only a bargain if you were going to buy it anyway" so drinks and nightclub entry vouchers are being given to friends and I'll keep the canvas bag for grocery shopping.

Reading this back it doesn't seem at all negative. At least not as negative as I feel right now. Maybe a cuppa will help. After two weeks of something going on every day I suppose an uneventful day is bound to leave me a bit flat. Hopefully I can shake this feeling and look ahead, after all nothing bad has actually happened and no news is good news