Debt free by 40 -- 19 Months and counting

Verbatim

Well done Steph. Just think Virgin might have charged interest again if you hadn't answered them , on the grounds of nor keeping to an agreement.
Will you have to find a swarm (of bees)? How are the lambs coming along?

debtfreewannabe321

I remember my first call after agreeing to answer the phone like it was yesterday (Jan 2011!) It was awful as well- was my main creditor and I ended up crying due to frustration more than anything :rotfl: wasn't a great start but it got easier and I got my spiel down to an art in the end!

Bee keeping- my SIL moved last year. Since moving she's acquired 2 mini pigs, 6 hens, 2 ducks, 2 dogs, 1 cat and now wants bees too :eek: However she's heard you're better off taking courses in looking after them first before diving in. You'll have to let me know how you get on so I can pass some tips on to her xx

StressedSteph

tootallulah wrote: »

Well done Steph, pleased it wasn't a difficult call - onwards and upwards.

Thanks toot xxx

fern44 wrote: »

why is hubby only wearing one sock ?

Haha fern. I type so quickly and often forget to spell check. I am not the typist I used to be xxx

abba1772 wrote: »

Well done on answering the phone........you've taken the first step well done xx

Thanks abba. Sounds so pathetic but it is a big hurdle for me sometimes xx

StressedSteph

Verbatim wrote: »

Well done Steph. Just think Virgin might have charged interest again if you hadn't answered them , on the grounds of nor keeping to an agreement.
Will you have to find a swarm (of bees)? How are the lambs coming along?

Hi Verbatim


You might be right, I am technically in arrear for two months apparently. I have been making payments but not a high enough amount. Apparently I am allowed up to five consecutive months then a default goes onto my credit file. Frankly my credit file is shot already but I am sure I will pull it back before I get to five months. Hopefully


I think you can buy a nucleus of bees for around £25. But actually the more I look into this hobby the more expensive it appears to be, so I am not definite but I may need to wait until I am debt free next year to afford to do it

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

I remember my first call after agreeing to answer the phone like it was yesterday (Jan 2011!) It was awful as well- was my main creditor and I ended up crying due to frustration more than anything :rotfl: wasn't a great start but it got easier and I got my spiel down to an art in the end!

Bee keeping- my SIL moved last year. Since moving she's acquired 2 mini pigs, 6 hens, 2 ducks, 2 dogs, 1 cat and now wants bees too :eek: However she's heard you're better off taking courses in looking after them first before diving in. You'll have to let me know how you get on so I can pass some tips on to her xx

Hi DFW


Yeah I should be a dab hand at dealing with these calls now, after 14 months of debt busting but they still scare me half to death.


Haha your SIL sounds as mad as me. xxx

StressedSteph

Morning all


Just a quick post before my cleaning job as going to be a busy busy day.


I have decided to up my gnus Castus to 2000mg just this next week or so. I realise I had started to obsess about my worries and was getting myself into a pickle again, which is a pure sign of PMT for me.


Thankfully I ended up watching some homeless programme last night and it did manage to put things into perspective for me as even though we have lots of financial worries we still have a lovely warm roof over our heads.


So I will report back if the 2 tablets per day make much difference, I am praying for a miracle xxxx

debtfreewannabe321

StressedSteph wrote: »

I have decided to up my gnus Castus to 2000mg just this next week or so. I realise I had started to obsess about my worries and was getting myself into a pickle again, which is a pure sign of PMT for me.

I'm the same and I have finally managed to spot the signs as PMT and also take 2 tablets a day in the run up to that time of the month! I hope it helps you like it does me xx

StressedSteph

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

I'm the same and I have finally managed to spot the signs as PMT and also take 2 tablets a day in the run up to that time of the month! I hope it helps you like it does me xx

I think its working

StressedSteph

Afternoon all,


I have tackled two financial problems today

Hubby was sat at the kitchen table having his lunch and I decided today was the day to get the two cards that are in his name finally sorted out.

So I rang his empty Barclaycard number who are offering him 0% until March 2016. Hubby went through the security check and then passed the phone back to me and I did a balance transfer of £1200 from my Co-op Card.

I worked out that the 2.9% fee (£34.80) was only three months interest from the old Co-op card and as we are slowing down the debt payments to try to save an emergency fund, I thought it was a sensible move.

Then I seized the day and got hubby to call the dreaded Tesco Credit card.:eek:

I went through the I&E form with them and it boiled down to two choices:-

£100 payment for 6 months and then on the 7th month I had to pay £320.74 + a normal payment. That amount is the deficit from the reduced payments I have been making. During the 6 months they will freeze interest & charges.

Or

DEFAULT and set up a payment plan.

I didn't really like the sound of either of the offers, and was very tempted to just default. Only trouble is I would REALLY like to get a better deal on our mortgage when I finally manage to get it onto direct debit so I decided to go for the 6 months first to take the heat off us and then I can always default afterwards if we haven't got ourselves into a better situation.

Its not quite the amazing set up that I managed to get with Virgin who just froze all interest & Charges indefinitely. But its most certainly better than the situation we have been in where everytime I pay £150 off they add £80 of interest back on :eek:

So for the time being every one of our four debts is interest free :T.

I am half hoping I can renegotiate another deal with Tesco after 6 months but we will see.

That's not a bad days work xxx

kelpie35

Well done Steph on your negotitions and also hubby for getting on board.

Bet you will be surprised what you can achieve in 6 months time, remember all the little pennies you made during the spring and summer months last year.

Have a good weekend x

maddiemay

Great news Steph, well done. I am sure that as soon as you have your emergency fund in place you will be flying through those debts again. Keep a tight reign on your spending and it will all happen (says someone who has spent a fortune this week and definitely needs a holiday fund for May's holiday:()

All week I have been intending to look through fridge, cupboards and the freezer book and do a food plan, but have still managed to put it off so far. We met up with friends today for a walk and a yummy pub lunch, we do this 3 or 4 times a year only and split the bill, but next time it will be my turn to pay (birthday treats for them) so I really need a proper entertainment budget:eek:

MM
xx