Life and times of a debt busting mumma

Rollercoaster_Rach

Well I've taken the plunge!!!

I have become totally addicted to the inspirational and compassionate stories I've read so far in so many diaries...thought I'd join in!
Had my serious LBM in Feb 2013 when I broke out in a sweat facing REALITY! I was covering minimum payments and thought this was OK until I was unable to switch to 0% interest cards and was suddenly faced with paying MASSIVE amounts of interest each month. It was only going to get worse....eek

More of all this later.....

A bit about me: Am a single mum (for about 5 years...) Am 43yrs have DS and DD (son a teenager and daughter a 6yr old minx :A)

I have worked full time for about 18yrs teaching and have wasted tonnes of money!

The excellent advice I've taken on board from here has given me the positive attitude to get stuck in to tackling my debts seriously. Think I've made a decent start (debts started at £32,00:eek: and now at around £27,00)

I check in most days to get my motivation fix....am trying really hard but life keeps getting in the way!

Good luck to all those aiming for a better 2014! Please feel free to join me/comment on this bumpy ride out of debt land! x

PS the good thing about my procrastination (re:work tomorrow and tackling all I should have done over the holidays) is signing up here

WelshKitty85

Best of luck.

Have you done an soa? Even if you don't post it on here, it is really good to get all you finances down in writing so you can see where all that money goes each month and where you might be able to cut back.

Igamogam

Rollercoaster_Rach wrote: »

I check in most days to get my motivation fix....am trying really hard but life keeps getting in the way!

Good luck to all those aiming for a better 2014! Please feel free to join me/comment on this bumpy ride out of debt land! x

PS the good thing about my procrastination (re:work tomorrow and tackling all I should have done over the holidays) is signing up here

Welcome aboard RR Join some challenges - the fun ones:rotfl: It all helps to keep focussed. They are a friendly bunch on here. Good Luck. *subscribes*

Rollercoaster_Rach

Thank you both so much....

So weird to come out of the shadows:rotfl:

I took a harsh look at my money coming in and going out last year. I have about £300 I can overpay if the road is smooth and life doesn't jump up and bite my ar&@!:D

I have an interest only mortgage (£800 per month) I have a car on it's last legs and ccs as follows:

Bar 1 6,700
Bar 2 7, 600
NW 3,800
Tes 3,600
MB 4,600

:eek: Brings me out in shivers writing it out! Also have overdraft at £3,000 and paying family member 1,800 :eek:

I don't feel so panic stricken as I did in Feb 2013 thankfully. I do follow the brilliant advice on here and try my hardest not to spend unnecessarily. I don't buy new clothes etc...Love all the decluttering motivation....makes me feel like I never want to have useless 'stuff' ever again :mad:

Bought a ' Santa's saving tin' from a charity shop which was begging me to take it home:D Started sticking those two pounds in! That actually makes me really excited

Loads of my debt came from paying for childcare (which was nearly the same as my mortgage :eek:) on my own. I always thought I'd pay it all back easily (once she was in school) but didn't bank on the interest....used to stick all my AS@A shopping bill on CCs and NEVER paid it back
Also ashamed to admit spent years in a very expensive, unhealthy relationship where I paid for ridiculous and unhappy 'holidays' etc..

Well onwards and upwards.....

My DS has just made me some bread and butter pudding:A I must be doing something right!

Sorry this is so loooooooog! Thanks for reading

Enjoying_life_more

Good luck on your journey - I know how hard it is bringing up a family on one wage - i'm new here too and I love this site - it is so motivating !!

millionaire_in_training

Hi RR. Found you. Very similar reasons for being here. I was doing really well but lost the plot a bit after my Mum died so am back at square 1 !! Never mind

I have joined the frugal living challenge and am going to try that and see how I get on. Seem like a great bunch on there if you fancy it. Good luck xx

Rollercoaster_Rach

Thanks ELM and MIT
Am being very naughty on here still with work looming. Time suddenly speeding up! Am getting more frugal everyday. Have lurked on that board a bit....may join n ow. Better get some Zzzzz xxx

Eager_Elephant

Have followed you over from MiT's diary.

Good luck with your DF journey:T:j

Rollercoaster_Rach

Hello EE:hello:
Lovely to have you over.....all these names are familiar as I have been lurking for a bit!

MSE things today:

Checked bank account (aim to get through this long month without touching CC :eek: )
Free lunch at work (brought back left over cake for kids!)
Oven chips at home (mum's partner's son works for a chip company!!:rotfl:) I am getting cheeky and making use of EVERYTHING I'm offered...no shame!

Had a mini breakthrough the other day..Barc CC1 offered me a 0% 7 month balance transfer at an alright transfer rate....got it and stuck all NAT CC on it so that frees me up a bit.....these little shifts can really make a difference. Good start to the year

On the downside....smashed son's headphones by accident :eek: he was devastated as he uses them all the time. had to orderhim some new ones :mad:

Hope everyone's had a good Monday???? Not nice cycling into work in the dark and pouring rain

please-let-me-be-lucky

Sounds like you've made a good start. Love all the freebies, I'm a freebie girl too Xx

Rollercoaster_Rach

Yes! Getting quite a buzz out of it (well you got to have something to keep you motivated during the long haul slog! :rotfl: )

Just eating a home made curry delivered to the kids by the Ex ( a long and complicated story... and a VERY rare occurrence...if not NEVER done before?:rotfl:

Another freebie for the bag for me! Kids have had theirs...don't worry

Hope you are doing Ok and taking it easy

RR x

Actually, not 'strictly' freebie.....maintenance sporadic and feeble so must get what I can....