After every storm the sun will smile

b0nz0

Shiny new thread all for meeeeee

Well I am almost debt free ... it is finally, after a long slog, within grasp.

Brief overview of what has brought me to this point:

2006 - The infamous Northern Rock 125% mortgage, first bambino born, lost my job, trundled on for a bit then started racking up credit card debt.

2007 - sold flat and bought another one, again 125% mortgage. Made a good profit, paid off all bills bought reliable car, found new job hoozah :T

2008-2009 - bambino number 2 appeared, lots of travel for childcare and irk, husbands job was a bit iffy due to recession so hours cut. Debt racking up for day to day living, nothing frivolous, bad decisions on cars etc.

2009 - decided to sell flat, go into rented and try to pay off debts. Flat wouldn't sell, took a punt on it and only managed to pay off the mortgage part, the unsecured loan part was still outstanding. Moved to rented accommodation and decided to apply for a trust deed (life was awful by this point. Fights all the time, not enjoying our kids, just generally rotten).

2010 - Trust Deed declined (thank you northern rock), only option was to go bankrupt. I had to give up my job as we had to go down to one car and there was no public transport where we now lived. My wage basically covered the costs of running the second car so it made sense. Hubbys job had recovered and was doing well. BR granted march 2010, a fresh start!

after this our car(s) all went belly up and our only option was to borrow money from family (within the parameters of up to £2000 set by our trustee) which we had to do twice as the cars were old and knackered and we are awful at choosing them. Fuel costs rose (car and heating) and we found ourselves with little to no money. House was old and in disrepair and we spent a fortune trying to better it for the kids. Realistically we shouldn't have as it was rented but we negotiated a deal in which we paid reduced rent if we did the work. It was a good idea at the time. During all of this we decided to have our 3rd and final child. Some may say this was stupid but when you're told that if you want more kids you must have them now due to health reasons then you think of things differently.

2013 We decided to leave the old house and move back to the city as we were making ourselves ill with the stress it was all causing. Saved lots of money on utilities and travelling costs and I was able to go back to work :T, hubbys job going really well and is finally edging his way up the ladder.

Which brings us to today, all arrears that were incurred with moving houses, having very expensive oil heating and big car bills have been paid off in full and all that remains is a car loan at a ridiculous rate of 39% which was only taken out in august. It was taken out so we could buy a more expensive but reliable car (which is still a necessity due to the location of hubby's work) on the understanding that we would be repaying it ASAP. It's a 3 year loan but it will be paid off before its' 1 year anniversary. Well that's the plan anyway!

If you're still reading, bless you and hopefully you can egg me on along the way!

racing_blue

b0nz0 wrote: »

hubbys job going really well and is finally edging his way up the ladder.

Window cleaner?

Sounds like you have had a tough few years, hope things get better and better for you

https://www.mrmoneymustache.com has some good advice about cars and their potentially destructive roles in our financial lives, we shifted from 2 cars to 1 after reading this & realising that we could manage with 1

b0nz0

So, with Christmas coming up it is all too easy to get caught up in the hype. Kids MUST have this and that and trying to compete with the Jones's. Once upon a time I would have joined in and spent far too much due to guilt and social pressures. I have now learned that kids (well the ages mine are) really couldn't give a rats behind about how much their stuff costs. If it's something they will love and use and is wrapped up all purty for them they will be happy munchkins. that is why, this year, the kiddos main presents are all second hand *gasp*. I am sure certain members of my family think I should be reported to social services for this but I care not. My 2 eldest will love their preowned (may I add free) tablets and my youngest will love the less than half price, only been used twice, hells kitchen ensemble and that is what matters! They have other bits and bobs to open as well that we have been able to budget for and it feels great.

Not that they will really know about this but they will also be grateful that all bills will be paid, we will have food in our bellies and Mummy and Daddy are happy, truly happy again with no shouting or bad atmospheres (well, not until after the sprouts anyway!! ).

WOAH .... bit of a hardcore post to be starting with, apologies! I'll try not to let that happen too often!

b0nz0

racing_blue wrote: »

Window cleaner?

Sounds like you have had a tough few years, hope things get better and better for you

has some good advice about cars and their potentially destructive roles in our financial lives, we shifted from 2 cars to 1 after reading this & realising that we could manage with 1

:rotfl:

Thank you. Things are looking better and we have our future in sight!

turkolina

Life is stressful at times but you seem to have powered through and getting on with your next phase.. I am going through the same thing.. Keep your head up and swimming.. You will reach the edge soon..

Turks x

b0nz0

Thanks and good luck to you too turkolina!

So today was very nearly a NSD but at the 11th hour hubby sneaked into my purse and pinched my last fiver to buy some milk and a sandwich for work as we're running low on supplies. To be fair he rarely buys his lunch/tea so I'll let him off this time.

Hubby gets gift cards from work at Xmas time but this year they seem to be for a very random place where we wouldn't buy anything from. Didnt really know what to do with the, so put them on gumtree and have managed to sell them for their full value, woohoo! That will be going towards Xmas dinner budget as we have people coming for lunch and dinner. Also received an email today from sainsburys with a £15 off a £60 spend voucher which is always handy. Don't often shop there but if they're giving away vouchers it would be rude not to. :)Have to buy my works secret santa present this week so will probably incorporate that into the £60 shop.

Just over a week until payday and budgets are looking good, fingers crossed they stay that way.

b0nz0

After an evil morning of anything and everything going wrong I open my emails and find a lovely £5 amazon gift card for taking part in a survey I had forgotten about AND another much larger gift card :eek:, from amazon again, from a fabulous family member for the family to share for Christmas.
I had been umming and ahhing over getting a couple of extra bits and bobs for the kids that they have specifically asked for and now I can get them with no guilt, yay! There's still about 3/4's of the gift card left so I think we'll leave it there in the virtual pot and that can be our birthday present fund leaving us able to whack an extra £50 a month onto our loan for a few months.:T

Working later on today and to be honest I think I'm looking forward to it as my little cherubs will not leave me alone at the moment. Will be nice to have a cup of tea and wee in peace and hopefully earn some more commission
Oh, have also signed up for overtime this weekend so January will hopefully not be quite so bleak for the first time ever!

b0nz0

Nipped to MrT after work for a bottle of vino :eek: norty!

Couldn't resist nipping to the reduced section and scored:
3 x 500g lamb mince at 40p each (great for next months food plan)
2 x 4 packs of cheese strings at 74p each (evil things but the kids like them and they're easy for lunch boxes)
4 x packs kingsmill crumpets at 30p each (1 breakfast per week sorted for next month)
2 x packs sandwich thins at 70p each (a fair few pack lunches sorted)

All in all pretty chuffed with my findings

b0nz0

Just realised its only 11 sleeps until Xmas :eek: I dont feel Christmassy at all so to try and get into the Xmas spirit I bought some more Xmas decs with a gift card I had lurking in my purse I got from work so essentially free :T let's hope it helps with the festivities.

Also checked my commission and I have £140 due to come in this months pay:dance::dance: and so far a whopping £12 for next month ... I'll try not to spend it all at once!

Mrs_Cheshire

Sounds like your doing well. I've just started on my journey but already feel in control! Feels so much better having budgets set in stone without having to worry that you won't have money to feed the kids later in the month!

b0nz0

Been a bit AWOL lately, Xmas doos, feeling poorly and general family life taking over.

Hubby was paid yesterday so we paid £400 off the family loan. That will be paid off in full on 31st when I get paid YAY! Then the serious overpayments on the evil car loan can begin. Cannot wait

Did the Xmas food shop yesterday and the next 11 days worth of normal shopping and managed to get it for £185 which is steep but not too bad. I was expecting worse to be honest. Over the course of the day we're feeding 12 at lunch time and 7 for tea. I'm pretty sure there will be some leftovers so with any luck the main bulk will last for 2 weeks.

Car insurance renewal came through today, just about choked. Did a few quotes online and have found it for £200 cheaper elsewhere so I'll be swapping come January and reducing the monthly payments by £15 which can go straight to over paying the car loan. Not a huge amount I know but every little helps as they say

Hope everyones looking forward to the festive period!