Debt free by 40 -- 19 Months and counting

Chrysalis1976

Wow loads of ideas with pallets, they look fantastic.

C x

StressedSteph

mfmaybe wrote: »

Hi Steph, just wanted to post for a bit of cheerleading for you. You've been doing so well and made huge inroads in to the debt already, so don't forget that. I'd be astonished if you could find a single diary on here that went in a linear fashion. It's how you deal with it that makes the difference, and you've got that part right - make a plan!

I really love your stuff and I've said it before, I think it's underpriced. You are unlikely to be making profit if you take your time into account; but that maybe doesn't matter *if* that time couldn't be spent more lucratively elsewhere; and if you love doing it enough to be a "hobby" as well. But if there is an opportunity to earn cold hard cash then that's probably a quicker way to the debt repayment, even if it's perhaps not as much fun

But it's all a balance and life's too short as it is, so it's a question of what makes you happier in the long run. Could you try to get some cleaning hours etc until a certain point, such as the point your mortgage is back on the DD? Has the eb*y sales reached it's natural end, that was going well for you. Do you sell your products on eb*y as well?

Anyway that's my garbled brain dump on a Sunday morning! Keep at it, you are certainly my inspiration at least :A

Thanks sooo much for your post mfmaybe.
It was really lovely to read as May is proving to be a tough month and the next couple of months are not forecast to be much better. Just got to keep plodding on.


I really do appreciate your kind words though, its what keeps me going.
Yes the sewing will ALWAYS just be a nice little extra, never guaranteed income. I will keep an eye open for little cleaning jobs to bring in some regular funds.


xx

clearmydebts wrote: »

Hi Steph,

I just wanted to stop by to say I think you are doing so well. The way you are managing your money and accounts is inspirational. Your OH must be thrilled with you!

Thank you clearmydebts,


Hubby doesn't say much, although I do get a "good oh" everytime I tell him I have paid off a debt in full. He is a man of few words hehe.

Ams40 wrote: »

Keep going you will get there. As one debt falls off the snowball gets bigger. Good plan to get the mortgage upto date.

One thing that went through my mind, you say the kids school is 2 miles away and you would have to walk (far distance when you have to do the return, so 8 miles a day!) have a look at your local council as I am sure that primary school age kids can get a bus if it's 2 miles or over to their catchment school. Just a thought.

Hi Ams,


Thanks for posting.
Once I get rid of my NEXT debt then my debt payments to the next debt will be pretty big and I am hoping to be down to only 3 debts by the end of the year. I started with 8.

There is a school bus, but we are apparently 1.9 miles away from school (as the crow flies!) so we do not get free transport. It is £450 per year, per child!!! Hideous)


xxx

StressedSteph

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Do you all have bikes? Perhaps they could bike in the morning rather than walk. 2 miles wouldn't take you very long to do and you won't be wasting your morning biking back on your own?

I've recently said no to a cleaning job but purely because of where it was, who works there and all the b1tchiness that comes with it. I am however now thinking perhaps I might look around for some private cleaning jobs instead just to get us back on track with savings (if you haven't read my diary, I have just cleared 2 and a half pots out to buy a new car )

Do you have chickens where you are? I know of lots of people locally who sell their eggs at a premium and they always sell well as they taste so much better than shop bought! As for projects to make and sell, there is a lady who makes beautiful art / picture type things (??? not sure how to describe it lol) out of pallets, she sands them down, [STRIKE]cuts the pallets up and makes them[/STRIKE] <

---

Scrap that explanation I will just try and post a link! :rotfl:
http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/305330049709452099/
http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/305330049709452099/

The lady who i've seen sell these does so through her FB selling page (as you already have) and she is always inundated with orders. I will see if I can find her for you, she also makes similar things to yourself (but I honestly think yours are nicer!) Just an idea if you can find some pallets as these look very quick and easy to make but something that most people would rather pay for than do themselves! xx

Hi DFW,


Yes we do have bikes, but there is no bike racks in school. But I am sure if I asked them they would let the kiddies park their bikes somewhere though. It is a very friendly 60+ small country school so usually pretty amicable.

I am determined to do this, the only bit I hate is parents comments. Like "Oooh why are you biking etc". I really don't want to have to say that we are so poor we cant afford to fix the car .


The Jones round here are pretty loaded, so its always abit embarrassing to play the "poor" card. I always try to find an alternative. (yes, I am still battling with our outward image to people. This is half what got us in this problem)


Have looked at those wall hangings made out of pallets. Really interesting. Think I might need some stencils to do the wording as I am not the best at tidy handwriting.


Definitely worth a go though, we have lots of disused pallets here.


Will have a chat to hubby when he comes home xx


Thank you sooo much x

Chrysalis1976 wrote: »

Wow loads of ideas with pallets, they look fantastic.

C x

Hi Chrysalis,


Yes its a great idea, I probably would only need some paint and a pack of stencils xx

FinanciallyUnsavvy

StressedSteph wrote: »

Yes we do have bikes, but there is no bike racks in school. But I am sure if I asked them they would let the kiddies park their bikes somewhere though. It is a very friendly 60+ small country school so usually pretty amicable.

I am determined to do this, the only bit I hate is parents comments. Like "Oooh why are you biking etc". I really don't want to have to say that we are so poor we cant afford to fix the car .


The Jones round here are pretty loaded, so its always abit embarrassing to play the "poor" card. I always try to find an alternative. (yes, I am still battling with our outward image to people. This is half what got us in this problem)

Hey Steph

Just popped in to say hi!

You really shouldn't worry about what people think. And you don't have to tell anyone you're biking because you're trying to save money. Plenty of other good reasons - to make the most of the fair weather (provided there is fair weather of course :rotfl:), for a bit of fitness and fresh air, to spend some time as a family, just because you all enjoy doing it?! Whatever your reason, if people ask, just answer them with a smile on your face!!

I just saw on your FB page that you're shipping a cushion off to America - that's AMAZING! Look at you, going all international Well done hun. Your cushions are amazing, so they deserve recognition!

Keep at it. You're doing wonderfully, even if it is a slow month. I've had a tough time myself lately but as long as we keep reminding ourselves we ARE making progress, even if it doesn't feel like it, we'll get there! xxx

debtfreewannabe321

I'd just tell them that I were being more "green" I've used that a few times and no one ever says anything! Either that or "mind your own business" would suffice

I saw you'd sold a cushion abroad! Well done :T xx

Ciaerda

Its a healthy way to get to school - teaches the children road safety and it is something that most schools are trying to encourage. Hopefully the better weather is here now I think its an excellent idea my boys love biking to school you'll probably start a trend

mfmaybe

Another who was excited to see your export business take off :j

I agree, there is no need to defend something like cycling to school. I think if anyone had the brass neck to actually ask me "why" I was doing it, I'd give them a confused look and say "why not?". But to be honest it's actually something to be proud of - exercise, no carbon, less traffic. (I wish I could cycle to work, but it's 15 miles each way and I don't think I could fit in the time. That said, my OH cycles that and more on a regular basis, but then it's also his hobby and he spends a lot of money on the equipment. and doesn't have to blow dry his hair afterwards :rotfl:)

maddiemay

Hi Steph, great news about that lovely cushion being sent to the US. It is a hard slog for you ATM, but keep taking a look back at how far you have come since you started your diaries on here and how much of your 2014 target you have paid off. You have a few hard weeks to get through with sorting the vehicles and then hopefully you will be steaming along again. If you are looking for explanations for cost saving you always have "saving for the house improvements" fall back on.

The iron cover will be fine whenever, no pressure:D

Well, I attended Jury Service for 3 days, got 1.1/2 hours in court, spent a lot of time being bored and doing nothing, and then,because people pleaded guilty at last minute and cases were adjourned a load of us were told we were not needed any more. The rubbish part was that we spent the 3 hot and sunny days indoors and then as soon as we were finished it rained for 4 days straight:( The Lupins just about survived, but the weeds are now growing like triffids, oh the joys of gardening:D

Keep plodding, we will keep cheering you along:A
MM
xx

Chrysalis1976

Morning Steph, you definitely have no obligation to explain why you're cycling to school in fact I bet it wouldn't even be an issue xx

Congrats on your overseas order, it's amazing how word can spread and obviously down to the quality of your product.

Hope you have a good day, C x

StressedSteph

Wow thank you so much guys. I can't tell you how much my heart swells reading your wonderful posts. I really cant put it into words how much you help me. Got a tear in my eye .


I have decided that I have messed up slightly over these few five week months. It is also going to affect June where I desperately need the last wage which will be paid on the 28th but that will make me super late paying some debts. Oh well I will just keep going, can't do much more really.


Going to collect this weeks local paper Thursday night and see if I can find any little cleaning jobs advertised that are local.


Also going to get my butt in gear and try and find some more Ebay items. Things are thin on the ground now and only small profits but they all add up so really should get on with it.


Still got a few orders to complete. I have managed to make £42.50 this week. I know it isn't much but it helps.


Really doubtful that I will make the 1k Mini Goal this month. I will be close probably around the £950 mark, but there just doesn't seem to be any surplus at all this month.


Someone does owe us £80 so I might hopefully get that soon and can pay that off against NEXT as an extra payment.


I turned down another invitation yesterday.
This one was to go to London on the train to watch War Horse in the theatre. Would love to go, but thankfully it was with a very close friend who I have bored to death about my debt battle so it was easy to turn it down and I didn't have to think up some crazy excuse about being busy etc hehe.


But.....
On my little slip of paper in my purse that lists all the reasons why I HAVE to be debt free, I have started noting on the back all the things that I have had to say no to because of our debt.


I thought it would serve as a good reminder as I go along and even when we are finally free, to see all the things we missed out on or just didn't have the choice to go because of all our debt.


I have four things so far, but I am sure there have been others since January that I have just forgotten:-


Bath Christmas Market
Sherborne Castle Country Fair
Bath & West Show
London trip to see War Horse.


I know they all seem like silly things, and some of them I might not have gone even if I had the money, but the point is, I didn't have a CHOICE.


I want my choice back


Hubby van goes in tomorrow, Eeeeek I just can't wait to get it done and get past it, These MOT's have been like a cloud over my head for months now. I have been trying to balance debt payments and saving to cover the MOT costs but its been hard, and I am sure I haven't got nearly enough to get them both through the MOT's.


Once the car fails its MOT, I will get the kids bikes going, and pump them up for biking to school. My son does seem quite unfit sometimes so it will be good for us. Not over sure what I will do on rainy days, but hubby does drive past the school at about 830, so if he went to work just 15 minutes later then he could drop them off.


It is amazing how, once you decide you are not EVER using credit again, you find ways round things.


I think I have gabbled for long enough, Thanks all xx