1000 days to get debt free!

Listerbelle

Delurking for a minute to say well done on focussing on your debt destruction.

You'd be welcome over on this thread:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4835268

Non_compos_mentis

Hi RO

I have spent the last couple of days contemplating whether to say this or not. Once I came to the conclusion that I just had to post a reply then it was a case of figuring out the best possible way to respond to this:

recurrent-ostrich wrote: »

Thanks. Hubby spoke to the inlaws and they have refused to help, so guess that's that idea scuppered. I'm a bit peeved, to be honest at the moment as they are off on holiday twice in the next three months, so are hardly strapped for cash, but ho hum. We shall cope, as always, I guess.

Bit deflated though.

The GP are well within their rights to say no and I am sorry but you have absolutely no reason to be peeved off, regardless of whether to take two holidays in 3 months or a holiday a month. Particularly, when you have said this:

recurrent-ostrich wrote: »

we don't get any assistance because of our income, but that doesn't take into account that we lose over of third of it in debt repayments

why should anyone take into account debt repayments, particularly when the debt is because of:

recurrent-ostrich wrote: »

Why are we in debt? Living beyond our means, in the main. I could do on about when my hubby lost his job, about how we have had an unlucky steak with cars, about how my generous nature means I over buy on gifts, but basically I was was at home, bored, with small kids and got a shopping habit that lasted a good number of years.

I am not one to criticise anyone's spending but you yourself confess that there is a bit of leeway and even if you didn't. If you truly want your child there, you will do whatever it takes to get him there.

recurrent-ostrich wrote: »

We have been through our budget and cut it as far as we are happy to do so. I'm not posting it as we aren't getting rid of Sky, or our internet, and our children are still carrying on with activities, so it's not pared to the bone but to a level that allows us to live, just about. There is no spare cash beyond bills/living costs and debts, and allows us a very small overpay every month.

I am sorry to sound really harsh but there was no other way to say it. We are all in this debt busting journey together, and with the risk of a kettle calling the pot black, but you do not sound like you have either learnt your lesson or had a full blown LBM. If you truly want to be able to give your kids the very best and not have to rely on others (including the GP) then you will take the bull by the horns and clear your debts. If this isn't a wake up call, I don't know what will be. I hope you understand where I am coming from.

NCM

PippiShortsock

You know, ostriches are not only good at hiding their head in the sand, they're also good at kicking the sh*t out of things. So I think your user name could be a really good representation of you kicking your debt to pieces (and for that matter also kicking any unhelpful opinions which come your way into smithereens).

Good luck with your 1,000 days. It's really not long - and then you can be debt free for the rest of your life!

recurrent-ostrich

Non_compos_mentis wrote: »

Hi RO

I have spent the last couple of days contemplating whether to say this or not. Once I came to the conclusion that I just had to post a reply then it was a case of figuring out the best possible way to respond to this:





The GP are well within their rights to say no and I am sorry but you have absolutely no reason to be peeved off, regardless of whether to take two holidays in 3 months or a holiday a month. Particularly, when you have said this:



why should anyone take into account debt repayments, particularly when the debt is because of:




I am not one to criticise anyone's spending but you yourself confess that there is a bit of leeway and even if you didn't. If you truly want your child there, you will do whatever it takes to get him there.



I am sorry to sound really harsh but there was no other way to say it. We are all in this debt busting journey together, and with the risk of a kettle calling the pot black, but you do not sound like you have either learnt your lesson or had a full blown LBM. If you truly want to be able to give your kids the very best and not have to rely on others (including the GP) then you will take the bull by the horns and clear your debts. If this isn't a wake up call, I don't know what will be. I hope you understand where I am coming from.

NCM

Yeah, I get where you are coming from. I don't necessarily entirely agree, but completely understand why you said it, with the information you were given. There is, of course, a whole lot more to the story, which for a number of reasons I'm not prepared to broadcast on an open and public online forum. Let's just say that relationships with that side of the family are historically a little *tricky*.

Yes, the debts are entirely our fault, which is why we are clearing them. We aren't trying to get out of them, or default and then only pay part of them. We have a decent income and with some hard work we should be clear in a shade under three years.

We *are* making sacrifices, we don't go out, don't drink alcohol at all, don't have expensive holidays, have stopped buying clothes and so on, but we aren't prepared to make the kids suffer for our mistakes, so won't stop their activities. Have snowballed and if we stopped the activites and Sky etc, we'd only shave about 4 months off the DFD, which I don't feel is worth the sacrifice.

As I said earlier, we have two large loans that end next year, one in 9 months and one in 11 months -once they are gone, we can throw larger chunks at the debt....we just have to survive until then without adding to the existing debt. Which we CAN do, as long as there are no disasters and I keep stong and stop buying unnecessary crap.

Thanks for your input, hope you'll stick around and give me a kick up the backside when I need it -you seem like the sort of person who will do it.

recurrent-ostrich

Days to go: 991

Well, busy day on here yesterday, it's great to know i'm not sitting here typing to myself. Online food shop came yesterday, and for some reason, random items had jumped into my basket that I do not recall ordering, but when I checked were in the order confirmation! I sent them back and need to ring Tesco to chase the refund, but lesson learnt to check order confirmation when it comes through for any unexpected surprises! On the upside, it means that this week's shop cost £52, which is amazing and just shows how much we fritter away on stuff we don't need. It also means that we can have a few treats next week for Christmas and STILL stay on budget with our food shop this month.

I have to now confess I had a blip last night. Hubby was at work, and the kids were all in bed and I was bored. This is my danger time, I'm realising. So what did stupid ostrich do? "Ooh, I NEED a new top for Christmas, let's have a look on Next, or Isme". :mad:
I had two tops in my basket before I realised what I was doing, mentally gave myself a slap and deleted the page.

So, some new rules.
1.NO EVENING LAPTOP. I'm going to dig out some craft stuff and do that of an evening if hubby is at work, or watch stuff I've recorded on Sky plus. I'm not going to go online in the evening other than to check FB, emails and here, which I can do on my phone (can't buy stuff on my phone -too fiddly!) and will stay off the laptop.

2. NO CLOTHES. I have a stone to lose after Xmas, at that point I *may* need two pairs of work trousers as my current ones may not fit any more, but my tops will still fit.

Quiet day today. We have Christingle service this afternoon (kids are choristers) but otherwise I'm doing housework!

Eyebright

Well done for not giving in to temptation and buying the tops. That's a massive acheivement and shows your determination and willpower! Also you have identified ways of preventing yourself from being in that situation again, that's fabulous! :T

tootallulah

Those boring evenings are fatal, I have stopped Amazoning by knitting, can't do both at the same time! I am enjoying your diary - good luck.

recurrent-ostrich

Thanks, and welcome to everyone who's reading.

So, erm, 988 days to go:

Am still on the wagon, no clothes bought and have managed to deposit most emails of temptation into the spam filter now. Haven't been able to un-sub from some, but am just deleting them.

Had to pop into town today at lunchtime to pay in a cheque -who actually in 2013 sends cheques other than my sister? Even my elderly relatives either give me cash or do direct bank transfers! -and there was a closing down sale in a show shop next to the bank. I didn't even go in -this is progress, I can tell you! I then ran the gauntlet of Next, John Lewis, River Island and Primarni and didn't even flinch. I'm a very good ostrich today.

killerpeaty

Well done on the not giving in to temptation!

I actually pay my CC by cheque Mostly because I haven't set up a DD yet. Also a little bit because it take more effort on my CC provider's side (I always pay at their branch instead of the branch where the money comes from) and I'm a tad vindictive..:rotfl:

Keep going with the debt busting woo! :T

recurrent-ostrich

Quick one today as manic here -eldest has a birthday and work is crazy!

Boden is now up to 60% and Next have sent me a VIP sale invitation, both have been deleted. I have bought NOTHING this week but fuel and groceries.

End of year budget is done and total owing is £37.7K. Am hoping, over the next 12 months to clear £10K plus.

Roll on 2014! :j