The only way is down (for the balances)!

catandy

debt has gone up by another 2.5k with final balances on things being confirmed. that is it no more to add now so I now know how enormous this challenge is. OMG - at the moment all I can see is that I will never be free of this.


ok not going to panic it achieves nothing so operation repayment well and truly time to kick off now.


plan of action is

• keep to budget as per dmp allowances. anything left over I syphon off into a savings/ holding account.
• look for ways to increase income that doesn't include working any more hours from an office, I do a 50+ hour week already including the commute plus im on ongoing hospital visits that take up another 6 or so hours pw and another 10 hours a week on family commitments. surveys and swagbucks are going to come back into play me thinks ive let them slip.
• when I get commission from work Im going to use some to pay my rent arrears down, some on spends to make our lives a bit more comfortable and some to build an emergency fund.

then its rinse, lather repeat ad infinitum... or so it feels at the moment

in_need_of_direction

When I started debt clearing, I considered that things had worked well when I didn't add to the debt. The reductions were just the icing on the cake. It's a long haul but you'll have plenty cheering on from the sidelines.

catandy

Ok long weekend off (back at work wed PM) and got stuff to do

• car in for a mot so fingers crossed that's not going to cost an arm and a leg
• hike to hospital and back tomorrow again for visiting family member who is in there long term. I had 'words' with my younger brother who said that I am letting the family down by visiting so little so I explained that each visit takes me 3 hours minimum plus around 10£ petrol each time plus parking fees (£2). for him & his wife its a walk and zero cost but I agree I don't go often enough so if he wants to pay for the petrol money feel free to contribute.
• pay day is a week on Wednesday and should be a good-ish one commission wise - about 500 extra on top of take home pay. I have a fine to pay off and clear in its entirety 265 so that brings it down to 235 left as a balance. (doesn't last long does it..) think the remainder is going to be used as a float and if theres anything left by the end of oct I put it into the emergency fund pot.

abba1772

You're doing really well and I totally sympathise with the position your in as I was there 5 years ago but had to quit my job and move back up to Scotland after splitting with my ex and I stupidly put credit in my name rather than his so when I walked I had to take £17000 in debt whilst he was left with £12000 but he worked full time and I couldn't get a job for a year but I knuckled down and after 3 years I had cleared over £13000 xx

I'm subscribing to your diary if you don't mind xx

catandy

car totally beyond repair so absolutely no idea how im getting to work and back now ... time to get creative


total debt stands at 36972 so the aim is to pay off 1% per month on top of minimum payments which should be doable given that I'm starting to get commission regularly each month. haven't even worked out the running order - this month its the fine and a chunk of rent arrears so I think that is doable.


next months commission (based on what I do this month so already in hand) stands at around 600£ on top of wages so that's doable again. I can do this its just head down and get on with it.

catandy

ok cant afford to get a car on the road till the new year so battening down the hatches and making the most of a 1.5 hour bus ride with 3 changes each way each day oh well time to chillax if nothing else... I could get another banger on the road them im in the same position im in now in another 6 months or so - pay some priority debts down, get xmas over and done with then get a half way decent run around on the road couple of K max in cost.


couple of days off now till wed pm so going to get some housework and stuff done - exciting times!

TheBairn

Urgh, to the bus journey.
Is it possible to do a car share, even for part of the journey? We frequently get departmental e-mails about this at work or even ask on Facebook?

HTH

Seasidegal58

Hi catandy

Have just read through your diary and thought I would post my good wishes. You certainly sound very strong and determined. Sorry to hear that your car has blown up and the nightmare bus journeys! Hopefully you can arrange a share like TheBairn suggests?

Getting the rent arrears finished first is very sensible and I like it that you aren't putting up with any old nonsense from the dcas!

catandy

I can get a car share for the last part of the journey but would mean timing buses to make sure im there on time to be picked up so bus is the way to go. work has been good about it and agreed for me to work from home 2 or 3 days a week all the way up to xmas which takes a bit of the pressure off.


got my commission statement thru yesterday for this month and its 900 not 600 so aim is to make a 100 minimum hole in the rent arrears on top of normal payments. that should give me about 140 left over that I hadn't banked on which will be go into emergency slush fund (zero in there at the moment).


roll on payday - wed next week

catandy

I've also just cancelled a DD for £20 each month. I've got the car insurance to cancel as well at £22 pm which will be done this month and with the petrol saving of £80+ the cost for the bus pass £45 for the month still means im spending less than I was before.