From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge, Spendless, SH and Buffy.

Spendless, you describe last week perfectly, hoping against hope that it would all come together. Thank you for reminding me how far I have come since the beginning of this diary…it’s good to look back and consider that. Never thought I’d ever have an SO so that’s been a surprise. He has been amazingly supportive through it all but incredulous at my ex’s behaviour. 

Yesterday was a productive day. DD1 stayed overnight and I took her so work. It was lovely to have her back home for an evening! I emailed the mortgage adviser and the solicitor so am awaiting news of any possible next steps on either front. It makes sense to target the remaining debt and clear it as quickly as I can so that any future mortgage application can be debt free.  Part of me wants to throw every penny I have at it, another part is more cautious , thinking what if I need a new tyre or something else invariably crops up ? Pondering that this morning.

I also got up to the allotment yesterday which was lovely. I planted  2 rhubarb plants that I’d grown from seed and got the soil turned over and bamboo canes put in ready to plant out the sweet peas later in the week. Got some cosmos seeds sown as well as some beetroot and  mangtout peas. It was blissful to sink into a hot bath after all the digging!

Today is more of a work day as I’m on split shifts with Job 2. The extra day shift will go off the credit card on payday.

savingholmes

Good you are down to one debt plus the mortgage. I hope things sort for you soon. 

Hope the weather is kind where you are too. Allotment sounds really productive. 

lucielle

Hope all the seeds take and you get some down time. 

L

Spendless

Glad you got to spend some time with DD1 and I hope the solicitor and mortgage advisor have some positive news for you.

 Thinking aloud here but as and when you get a new mortgage offer does the ex need to know when your deadline date is for him signing for any mortgage offer? Are you legally allowed to tell him it's a few weeks ahead of when it actually is to allow for him messing you around or not?. I'm not familiar with this scenario  so I don't know, I'm just comparing it to me not telling how long it takes to drive into town to DD when she has a train to catch as I know she will not be ready at the actual point I want to leave, so to stop my anxiety I build in a little extra time over and above what the actual deadline is.

I can understand your dilemma about paying off the remaining debt. You've had so many curveballs thrown at you during this journey I can understand your reluctance to not keep some back. Have you worked out your DFD yet? Can you have a juggle about with some figures thinking if you get £x amount in the emergency fund then anything over and above that can repay debt. If you have to dip into EF then that takes priority in topping up first.

Sounds like you're going to have plenty from your allotment later this year.  
  

Cherryfudge

You are just the most amazingly productive person! Working at the allotment sounds hard work but good for the soul, if you see what I mean. There's something about physical work in the open air that seems to outweigh many stresses. (And you get rhubarb! I'd never thought of growing it from seed).

How lovely to get DD1 back overnight. She's been such a support.

I can't give any definitive advice on repayment vs. savings: when you are within sight of getting everything paid off it must be tempting to go for it, but having an emergency fund takes some of the gamble out of that. Perhaps put a percentage to the EF? Also, looking forward, at some point that debt will be paid off and you will have new choices to make. I know this will depend on where you are with the mortgage situation, so you aren't yet in a position to make permanent plans. You could reduce your hours or throw everything at building an EF/mortgage overpayment. How you plan long term might give you some guidance on how you plan for the immediate future.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH, Lucielle, Spendless & Cherryfudge.

I hadn’t thought about working out a DFD but with just the one debt now, I can see this is a possibility now. 

Today ( or rather yesterday now) was lovely. My parents came up for a meal that makes up part of our Easter celebrations so had 9 of us altogether. I do treasure the times I get to have a full table at home!  I also appreciate having more time to cook over the holidays. Made lemon meringue pie for dessert and forget how tasty a homemade version is! We also go through quite a few simnel muffins at this time of year.

DD1 has a day off today so we are hoping to get to the allotment and make more progress. Also need to clear more brambles  and weeds so that the Easter egg hunt can take place on Sunday.

Did spend some money yesterday on Easter eggs. 

The mortgage adviser has explained that we can appeal to the bank so this looks like the next step.

lucielle

Really hope the banks listen to your appeal and reinstate your offer. You deserve a break!  

L

Humdinger1

Your mortgage advisor sounds good! Am furious but not surprised about ex's behaviour.  You will overcome @Honeysucklelou2 love Humdinger xx 

Spendless

That's good news that your mortgage advisor says you can appeal to the bank.  Glad you had a nice family day and meal. 

savingholmes

Best of luck with both...