Reeling from the Reality Check

Seasidegal58

Hi Historybuff


I have read your thread with great interest as I too am in the process of tackling my horrendous debt mountain after years of burrowing my head in the sand.


Like you, my family and friends have not idea of my debt and I am attempting to pay this off without alerting them to the fact. Unlike you, I think I have it a lot easier in that I am single and can tackle it without having to worry about hiding the problem from husband or partner.


I am in my late 50s and feel time is running out so I empathised with your comments on your final salary pension. I am so glad that I have mine - I do actually remember my interview all those years ago when applying for the job - I was in my early 20s and the Personnel Manager (as HR was called in those days!) mentioned the pension scheme and a yearly bonus. Of course, all I focused on was the yearly bonus!


Your comment on the Access card hit a nerve too! When I applied for mine around the same time as you my limit was £200 and it was ages before they would raise it. Oh that they had left it at £200 or better still never let me have the pesky card in the first place!


Anyway I think you are doing brilliantly :T and I will continue to follow your thread and hope you don't mind if I pop in from time to time.


x

Historybuff

Thanks grannx2, I thought exactly the same about a self managed DMP. I've been dealing with them over the phone up to now, but backing it up with letters. They have all been really reasonable up to now. Fingers crossed it carries on going as smoothly. Two have given a year before reviewing payments and the rest six months. The best thing is having the new bank account that is in positive numbers. Managing without overdraft and credit cards is not as hard as I thought. In fact it's great. If there's no money, no spend...end of.

Historybuff

Hi seasidegal, glad to have you along. The time running out exactly as you say is what finally galvanised me into action. It's not too bad keeping debt mountain secret now because I'm much more aware of finances...very late in life I know! Things are going much smoother now the payment plans are in place and my OH and family are becoming used to me saying no to spending demands etc now they know I have cut up the credit cards. I have told them I'm tackling debt mountain so I can retire when the time comes. I just haven't told them how big it is. OH knows about the overdrafts and doesn't question when I say there's no money for this or that. I'm so annoyed with myself though, becaus if only I had done this years ago we would be well off now. The wonders of hindsight!
Hope your debt free journey is going ok too. Thanks for taking an interest.

Seasidegal58

So glad to hear the family is on board with you (you don't have to be exact about how much debt! ) - it will make the whole process so much easier.


I see you're a fan of YNAB - there has been quite a few posts on this in the last few weeks - I'm joining in on their webinair tonight at 10pm to see if I like it!


x

Historybuff

YNAB has helped me no end with the budgeting. I've gone from not even looking at the figures to being quite obsessed with updating it every time I spend something. It took a bit of getting my head around, but once I got it I could really see the benefit. Hope you get on ok.

Historybuff

Struggling a bit now its getting to the end of my pay month. I really need to do a carboot on Sun. Feeling better now I've had the hair done, though. Even better, the sun is shining!

Seasidegal58

Hang on in there! Getting your hair done will make you feel perkier and here's to the boot sale proving lucrative. Yes - weather was lovely today wasn't it - there were people still on the beach when I got home from work this evening!

Historybuff

Great weather held up, so carboot was a goer. £101 for me and £35 for son who came with me as I was skint and he needed money, so was the only way to get some. Now he's seen the cash that can be made from old stuff he's well up for it. Hallelujah! Spent £30 on food in Aldi...what a fab shop...and the rest is for me to see me through till Friday payday.
Teetering on the edge with the bank this month because of the clothes shop last week and hairdo, but saved by the carboot cash!
And the sun is still shining. Can't ask for more!

Puzzcat

Well done on the carboot hb, and good on your son for doing it with you. My dd stays in bed whilst my mother and I do the early rise and 6 hours selling then dd gets a share of the profits as its mainly her treasure we are selling...(I do tell little white lies as to how much I made, mind....)
My next job is clearing the loft so an August boot fair planned here...it's like free money, enjoy spending.
Puzz.x

Historybuff

Thanks Puzz, the pile of stuff is getting smaller, but still enough there to do another one next week. Good luck with yours!