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From debt to freedom...
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Sounds to me as though life is turning out beautifully for you HSL. I'm so pleased to read this - you really deserve it.Not giving up
Working hard to pay off my debt
Time to take back control
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6290156/crazy-cat-lady-chapter-5-trying-to-recover-from-the-pandemic/p1?new=14 -
Just having a catch up. I think I remember the post years ago when you couldn't afford the toffee apples for what I believe was then 7 or 8 children still living at home and all still in education, so made your own. How far you've come since those days. Yes you're still paying off debt but you're on the home run.
I too would ask DDs 1 & 3 for a contribution towards Christmas food. I'm sure they'll be understanding of the situation. They've always seemed sensible from what you've said.
How long will DD4 commute to college be? My DD did a 3.5 round trip to her college (1.5 hours in a morning, 2 hours home due to train times), that required 3 different transports each way bus/train/lift , train, then bus. She did the longest commute of anyone in her class as we were out of catchment so no dedicated college bus to catch. She went there due to both the calibre of the course on offer and to avoid the sixth form options here due to standards and the bullying she'd endured that had made her ill and attending 3 different schools in yr11! However this commute gave her an 'edge' when it came to applying for courses afterwards because they thought it showed real dedication to her ambitions and goals and she has twice got into well regarded drama schools plus this year had her first (seasonal) professional acting job because she proved she would travel (acting job was in same city her college had been, so when asked at interview about the commute could honestly answer that it wouldn't be an issue)
In contrast DS I would have liked him to attend a further away college, that did have a dedicated college bus but he refused and instead attended the nearest. He didn't do great in his exams - as sending a disorganised child to a disorganised college wasn't a great combination and the reason I wanted him to attend the other in the first place! He ended up having to do a foundation year at Uni because of his grades, though he's now graduated and in his first degree connected f-time job. So going further afield at this stage in life in order to get the best course can be beneficial later on.4 -
Thank you Lucielle, SH, CCL & Spendless.
Spendless - Thank you for the reminder of how far I’ve come on the journey to be debt free. As the children have got older and gradually become more independent, it’s good to remember the days when all were at home, even if it was chaotically busy!
Its been a busy couple of weeks since I last posted. Ended up doing 4 shifts this week for Job 2, which does impact the energy levels more. Doing 3 shifts is ok, I’m used to that but the 4th , especially as they are one night after another, seems to take it out of me more. Yesterday I visited my parents and ended up falling asleep in the chair 😳🤭
I’ve tried to get to grips with the online conveyancing again this week. I located the mortgage deed and printed that off, got it counter signed and posted it off. It might take a little time with the strikes but it felt like a step forward rather than feeling mystified by it all.
Have a good Sunday everyone.paydbx2025 #26 £890/£5000 . Mortgage start £148k June 23 - now £138k.
2025 savings challenge £0/£2000 EF £140. Savings 2 £30.00. 174 -
Best of luck with the final mortgage hurdles. Glad you're almost there. I found that part / the finance part the scariest of the lot but I think you've already overcome the worst parts.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
2) £3K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £22.5K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.1K) = 28.2/£127.5K target 22;12% updated 6/7
4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
5) SIPP £4.6K updated 6/7/252 -
Thank you SH. Hoping that the remortgage shouldn’t be too much longer. They have asked me for a document I have no idea about ( an RX4) so I’ve had to email this weekend to ask them what it is. Unfortunately there has been a mix up as I’d asked my local solicitors to do the conveyancing but for some reason the bank’s conveyancers appear to be doing it and they are certainly not as accessible as the local solicitors.
Another very busy week has gone by. It’s been a 4 shift week again at Job 2 so energy levels today are low 😒. On a plus I’ve been able to make a £60 debt repayment.
The car goes in for its MOT on Wednesday. I know it needs things doing to it in order for it to pass so am expecting savings to be wiped out this week.
Payday for Job 1 was last Wednesday. I had £300 more than usual as the new pay spine point kicked in and this was applied retrospectively from September . I’ve put that money aside to meet the MOT costs.
Have a good Sunday everyone.
paydbx2025 #26 £890/£5000 . Mortgage start £148k June 23 - now £138k.
2025 savings challenge £0/£2000 EF £140. Savings 2 £30.00. 175 -
Hope the mortgage gets sorted soon for you. Please try not to overdo it and get some rest where you can. Hopefully the MOT won't be as bad as you think. I was expecting mine to fail but it passed with some advisories*Dad loan - £5300 - £7300
*Virgin Credit Card - £3552.50 - £0
*Natwest - £1828.35 -£400
Barclaycard - £2315.25 - £0.00
Creation Finance - £960.32 £860
*Total debt - £8560/£11641.17*
Savings
*Savings Buffer - £1000/£1500
*Emergency Fund - £1000/£1500
New diary- https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6474943/the-three-cs-coffee-clothes-credit-cards/3 -
Good news on the backpay.
I don't know what that form is either.
I had the same issue with the solicitors as their wording was really unclear. The banks conveyancers also did it wrong - as they should refer to the finance consent order in the transfer deed and it was only MSErs who pointed that out to me that helped me get it amended. Otherwise I could have been liable for stamp duty.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
2) £3K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £22.5K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.1K) = 28.2/£127.5K target 22;12% updated 6/7
4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
5) SIPP £4.6K updated 6/7/253 -
That’s a nice chunk of back pay, hope you didn’t need to use it all for the MOTSealed pot challenge 822
Jan - £176.66 :j3 -
Fingers crossed the car made it through without much needing doing to it. How many wiil you have for Christmas Day?
LTotal Debt Dec 07 £59875.83 Overdrafts £2900,New Debt Figure ZERO !!!!!!:j 08/06/2013
Lucielle's Daring Debt Free Journey
DFD Before we Die!!!! Long Haul Supporter #1242 -
Um. You shouldn't be doing an RX4. That's the job of the lawyer. If you want help lease feel free to pm me, I won't be offended if you want to keep anonymity.😁
A lot of people out there don't seem to know what to do with a TR1 and a consent order. But restrictions aren't rocket science
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