Kate's Journey

Madchickenlady

Just spent the evening reading your diary and its so inspiring, I feel really motivated after reading about your debt free journey, I hope you get a result on the leg front soon and just want to say well done so far ,you have done brilliantly and have certainly given me food for thought, I am now sitting here thinking about what to do with any spare money at the end of this month and it won't be being wasted thats for sure

Kate_fixing_it

pickle_me wrote: »

£600 already this month!? It's only day 3! Bloody well done Kate :T

Thanks I count my debt repayments from payday (25th of each month) so I've actually had 10 days but I'm still pleased with it.

Things are still improving at home. I'm relaxing a bit now and starting to believe he really has changed. After all, I've changed massively so why can't he?

I had the day from hell yesterday with my leg. Stupidly didn't take painkillers as I needed a clear head at work and dear god I paid for it! I did however, get through all essential work in record time. I felt like I was locked in a tunnel and just threw myself into it. For the first time since the break (coincidentally exactly 9 months yesterday) I finished by 4pm despite not getting in until 9.15. I'm normally in by 7.30 and don't get away until 6 on the first working day of the month! It was lovely to get home in daylight. The kids then helped with a SW-friendly dinner, DD1 helped bath the little ones, DS1 prepared packed lunches and I got to sit down and watch a film. Nothing quite distracts you like Morgan Freeman and Dustin Hoffman saving the world

Bad night though, the weird codeine induced dreams started again so at 3am I was watching Quantum Leap! I have to say it's stood the test of time. I've managed a few hours sleep but still feeling as rough as a badgers bum Omwards and upwards though, in 3 days I'm going to be off to Devon to see my friends and be looked after. They should be easy days at work as I've done the hard slog and the children are being lovely - as long as I give them 20 minutes to wake up before talking to them

So not much to report, but in the words of Beanielou, still plodding

Kate x

Kate_fixing_it

Eeeeeeeek!!! Having a total freak out here! And just when I thought it was all going to be okay

Hubby has been told his salary from current job (last day tomorrow) at the end of Feb will be approx one weeks wages. They informed him yesterday that they've been paying him in advance for the last 7 years. The new job pays after you've worked a month (as I thought all companies did) we totally didn't anticipate this and I can't believe I never thought about it, I feel so stupid. So between February and March we're going to have £1200 less coming in.

he told me yesterday and I thought I'd just pay minimums to debts and we'd be back on our feet and over paying in a month, however, offsetting the over payments against the "missing" salary leaves us still trying to find £900!

Tax credits will increase but not until he actually starts work on Monday and not by much and he's going to need more fuel for the car as he'll be travelling further and it'll be 5 days of commuting instead of 4.

All I feel right now is sheer panic. I've sold everything I can when I messed up and accidentally paid so much in the first month, I can't get any overtime at work (and we won't get it until the end of March now anyway. The thought of increasing the debts sends me into a cold sweat and there's no one we can borrow from (again the thought gives me cold sweats)

I guess I'm posting just to let the feelings out. It's by no means as awful as I felt at my LBM and I have 3 weeks to think up a plan but I just can't think straight.

Anyone got a magic wand they fancy sharing? The only consolation right now is that it's happening over February payday so it's only 4 weeks to cope - not much consolation at all

Kate x

in_need_of_direction

On the plus side, you're communicating. Sorry, I know it's not much but it is something to be grateful for

eco_farmer

I know this is going to sound daft but if you put the £900 on your card and then pay it off next month before the interest is charged. with the over payments you have been making this should only be a one month bend in the road before you are back on the straight and narrow. don't sweat it just think how much worse this situation would be if you hadn't made all positive changes in the last 3 months.


eco

pickle_me

eco_farmer wrote: »

just think how much worse this situation would be if you hadn't made all positive changes in the last 3 months.


eco

That's exactly what I was thinking. I can understand what a horrible shock it must be, I'd be feeling sick too but you know, all this will do is put you back a month or so. Nothing is going to stop you meeting this challenge, this is just - as eco put it - a slight bend in the road.

Don't forget how much progress you've made already. This is just a blip, and it's not your fault.

Kate_fixing_it

Thank you all, some great points. Voicing my fears was a great help and you're all right! We are communicating, it's not the end of the world and because of how far I've come already I have options. I'll need to order a replacement card this week as I cut all mine up but the world isn't going to end.

I can shop smarter, one month of cutting back further to minimise card use won't kill us. And you're absolutely right, I WILL get there.

I've had a really good night's sleep which automatically makes the panic release it's grip a little. This job move is for a long term better future one month of sacrifice will be worth it. I feel like I can take this on now.

Thank you for your support, I'd have been fidgeting and stressing all night without this site, now I have a "battle plan" and I have found my positivity again.

Kate x

in_need_of_direction

Excellent. Who knows, by being even more frugal, you may identify another money saver that you can carry forward. You'll be fine

catriona79

Oh Kate, that's not a nice surprise. But I'm so glad that you've found your positivity and that you have an action plan! I always feel better when I've worked out how to deal with a situations - looks like it works for you too.
Fingers crossed you can deal with this with minimum damage! X

Kate_fixing_it

You have a point there in need of direction! I certainly learned a lot that first month

Thanks Catriona (BTW I love your name!) You're right, I'm feeling much better now I have a plan and albeit a short window to find a solution at least there's some time to plan.

As ecofarmer hss said it's a bend in the road and it's not my fault, it may lengthen the journey but it won't put me off the end goal.

Kate x