2014 is going to be the year for SUMMER

summer33

Hi all

I have been on here looking and reading for a while, and decided to post my journey, as determined to make this work me me and my family.

I am late 30's and married to lovely husband for 4 years, but been together 14 years. We have 3 wonderful children 10 ( boy ) 9 ( boy ) 2 ( girl ) Cat and a Dog.

Jointly we have around 15k debt, not including our mortgage. We live in a 2 bed property and would love to be in a position to build on so we could have another room for our lovely daughter, as she is still sharing in our room ( but know this will not happen for a loooong looooonng time ) We are not in a position to even move as would not get another mortgage.

My main worry at the moment is getting to grips with my priority debts and then once sorted can deal with the debts we have with the DCA. All debts are in arrangements with the the DCA...so that is good.

Currently owe £458 on last years council tax, and they have made arrangment with me. £1300 arrears with mortgage, again they agreed to £60 payback a month, and £188 water rates from last year.

I have started cutting back as much as I possibly can, and the main cut back was the heart wrenching decision to move our boys school to one closer to home. In a day it was all done and dusted and they move this monday.

I am having a bit of a bad day today cannot stop crying as feel so bad as their mum in moving them. The middle 1 is not as keen as the eldest. Their new school is a much better school too, so that helps, but just feel so mean moving them away from their friends, so we can save some money.

What switched on my LBM was the fact that, we are getting older, kids are, and the debts are getting old too. I want to be in position when the kids are 17 or older to be able to get them driving lessons, help with uni fees etc, I just dont want to have debts, so when my kids need my help financially I can help them as much as I possibly can.

Anyway that is me, and the start of my diary. Hope to meet some nice people along the way to boost me on in my future conquest to clear the priority debt and keep it clear and then start on the DCA debts.

Thanks for reading and listening :T

Poppcorn87

Hi summer33,
I would say welcome but in brand new here
You shouldn't be upset especially since your boys are now going to a better school. Plus as you stated in the beginning of the post your doing this for you and your family. So I guess sacrifices have to be made everywhere. Have you put and savings ideas together or decided on where you will be making cut backs? I'm starting a diary myself as I really want to be in a position to buy a house in the next 3/4 years.

Good luck and stay positive

MoneyMission

Found you! :wave:

Going to subscribe to your diary so I can see all your good news as you battle down the debt. :D

MM

summer33

Hi Poppcorn 87, nice to meet you Hi MoneyMission :j glad you found me.

Just a update, boys had a lovely last day yesterday in school. I was more upset than them They got some lovely cards and gifts, which was nice.

School jumpers bought and PE top, came to £42.50:eek: couldnt beleive the price of the jumpers. 1 each will have to do them for now.

£20 fuel put in car ...so going to see if that lasts the week with me walking them to school now :T

Went slightly over on the shopping ( need to update signature ) but had to get thank you cards, sweets and choccys for the teachers and kids at the old school.

Plenty of food in, and have planned the meals to next thursday. Pinched youngest blackboard and wrote each nights tea on, and put up in the kitchen :rotfl:

Took kids to baths today and spent a lovely day together, forgot about the school business for a few hours, as cannot wait for 1st day to be over for them on Monday.

Oh yes have started a savings tub. All copper and 5p coins go in. Have sealed so no one can dip into it.

xxx

Skinnylatte

Hi Summer, I've subscribed, looking forward to your journey x

peaceandfreedom

summer33 wrote: »

£20 fuel put in car ...so going to see if that lasts the week with me walking them to school now :T

What else is the car used for? I drive to work 4 days a week - it's not very far, about 8 miles each way - and I only use just over a tank and a half of fuel a month - about £90 in total. I potter about a fair bit in the car but I suppose I never have long journeys.

summer33 wrote: »

Plenty of food in, and have planned the meals to next thursday. Pinched youngest blackboard and wrote each nights tea on, and put up in the kitchen :rotfl:

I really love that idea, might nick it.

summer33 wrote: »

Took kids to baths today and spent a lovely day together, forgot about the school business for a few hours, as cannot wait for 1st day to be over for them on Monday.

Glad you had a nice day today. I'm sure Monday will be fine, kids are pretty good at accepting each other and making friends.

Glad you decided to start a diary, looking forward to following your journey.

summer33

Hi peaceandfreedom,

glad you have commented, I have just been reading your diary I like your idea of sowing your seeds etc. I would like to start growing some of my own things this year. Do not have a greenhouse or anything, but thinking of getting one of them plastic containers (cannot think of the name now) and growing chillies, peppers!!! Any ideas on other things I could grow in one of them.

The car is used for me going to work ( off at the moment with low mood ) as everything has finally caught up with me. Just as well really with the boys starting new school on Monday

I know kids will be fine. There are kids were we live who they play out with that go the school, so its not like they dont even know anyone at the school. I think deepdown it is me and the way I feel at the moment. Both me an hubbie know it is the right decision, like everything with change, just takes a while to get use to it ?

MoneyMission

Hey Summer.
So sorry about the angry face 'smilie' in my previous post. No idea how it got there and I can't seem to take it out. Only just seen it. It isn't meant to be there.

Glad you had a nice day yesterday. Hopefully the sun will shine on you today too.

If you want to grow something there is a green-fingered board somewhere on here. Loads of advice. We grow a little bit.

Hope tomorrow goes really well for the boys. You'll feel loads better at the end of the day.

MM
x

Puzzcat

Hi summer,
Nice to see you have started a diary, I shall subscribe! I'm also planning on growing some veggies and salad in pots this year. Going to try hanging basket tomatoes, salad leaves, potatoes, carrots and strawberries. Plus runner beans in grow bags...

asparagus1968

hi summer, have come over from your thread, and have subscribed!
mmm, could do with looking at the greenfingered money saving threads to see what I could grow too.
the boys will be fine, my DS went to three primary schools in all, they adapt really well.wishing them a lovely first day tomorrow.
A68:)

matttye

Firstly I think I was a bit unreasonable and unhelpful in your other thread so I apologise for that.

Moving on...

Don't worry too much about moving the boys. It's the best thing to do, especially when they're going to a better school. If their friends are true friends then they'll probably find a way to keep in touch anyway. It's so easy these days with smartphones, Skype, Xbox Live etc.. Plus I'm sure they'll make new friends fairly quickly at their new school even if they don't seem keen on the idea at first!

Have a look at the MSE cheaper fuel guide to see if any of the tips there could benefit you. It's not just about finding cheap petrol but about making your car more fuel efficient and driving more efficiently.

You'll feel a bit of a boost on the money front once you've paid off your water rates as this will free up some money. I would maybe try to throw as much at that as possible as you should be able to clear it fairly quickly.

That's probably about the most selfless reason to get debt-free I've ever read so don't feel bad about making tough decisions to make it a reality.