The Long & bumpy road - Natlou's 'I will be debt free diary'

Natlou_2

Hi Everyone, I have not been a member for long, but I really enjoy reading everyones debt free diaries and have decided to start an online one myself. Since I started on this path to 'debtfreeness' (is that a word?!) little over a month ago, I have been keeping a pocket diary, but since I am the only one who reads it, I though maybe if I posted online, I could hopefully get the advice & support of you guys to help me on my way and keep my spirits up!
The Debt that is showing in my signature excludes a £4000 debt I owe to my parents and a loan which stands at about £20k. - It seemed too scary to put the whole lot in my sig, but I will do it tomorrow - along with posting a SOA.
In the past month since my LBM (or should I say since discovering this site) I have been doing much to reduce my debts, Ebay, amazon, quidco etc. So I will shortly be updating my sig to show the new figures.
I look forward to making new friends and sharing our debt free journeys (how sad does that sound, she says sticking fingers down throat and making gagging noises!)

ciarasdreams

I have not been here very long myself but I have found this site absolutely wonderful and have found that lots of very helpful and supportive and most importantly non judgemental people are here regularly and are always willing to provide everybody with so much help and support.

Snaggles

Hi Natlou :wave:

Welcome to DFW! Can't wait to read about your progress so far - this site gives so much support, advice and a good few laughs along the way. Well done for taking the first huge step! That sounds a bit cheesy....lol.....I think I'll join you in a few gagging noises... :rotfl:

MissKJ

Welcome from me too.

In_Search_Of_Me

welome! Dont panic there are quite a few of us with debts over the 30 mark and mine are about a thousand lower than yours! Its a great site with lots of good advice & encouragement! Have you posted your SOA so people can have a pick at it & see if you ca save? Could you tell us a bit about you so we know who we're hatting to - if you feel comfortable to! Just wanted to send big hug & say welcome to the boards!

LookingAhead

Just to say welcome & do post your progress! As others have said, this site is ace for morale boosting & support.

Well done on getting into Quidco, Amazon etc - every penny really does count when reducing debt!

Natlou_2

Hi there, thanks everyone for the replies. To tell you a bit about me - Im married and have 3 kids DS (9) DS (7) and DD (16 months). I have a shop in North Yorkshire which has been open since May and its where I spend most of my time - unfortunately I don't have a laptop/broadband there, but Im thinking of getting one of those deals where you get a free laptop if you sign up - anyone done that? Well anyway, since the internet has been quite productive for me, Im thinking it will be money well spent since it will only be the monthly broadband fee which the shop can pay for.

So how did I/we get into debt? - Well its a combination of the usual (buying things we can't afford) coupled with some bad choices. Two years ago my OH went into partnership with my Dad, to buy a property and do it up (before you start thinking that we'd been watching too much property ladder - may I add that OH had a lot of experience in that field and was well qualified to take the task on) Anyway, my Dad put his half of the money in from savings - we put our half in from a large loan - that however wasn't what killed us - it soon became apparant that working at weekends & in the evening wasn't going to get the project finished so OH put his own buidling business on hold to get on with the development. (During this time, my dad stayed in his job and was so was still earning, so on a month to month basis, things didn't change at all for him) Finishing the house took a lot longer than planned and it doesn't take long for debts to mount up when you're bringing in Zero and your mortgage alone is £950 a month. - This went on for a year, by which time we had begged, borrowed and robbed Peter so many times to pay Paul and got ourselves into a whole lotta debt. As it stands at the moment, the house is still on the market, has been for a year, the equity left in it is all my dads initial investment back, and we don't have any money to come from it, not even to cover the large loan.
Needless to say, relationships broke down somewhat with my family, and felling like we had nothing to lose and we moved up here, with no jobs etc to go to. Because of OH neglecting his building firm to concentrate on the development, all his work had dried up. So when we arrived in North Yorkshire it took us 5 months to get our plans in action and decide that we were going to open a shop, which is what we did, and fingers crossed, although its early days, things are looking good.
So sorry if Ive bored you with my little story of how we got here, but I think sometimes it helps - If you're wondering what the 'things we bought but couldn't afford are' they include a leather suite, a trip to NYC for our wedding anniversary, and going to see George Michael twice including overnight stay! - None of which I regret doing actually, so thats one thing.

Anyway, to start off my Debt Free Journey, todays post bought a letter from the Halifax offering me £95!!!! ( For a mortgage exit fee we paid in 2005 - we paid £195 and they have offered to refund £95 straight away) so Im dead chuffed.

Anyway better change my signature now to reveal the true state of my affairs!

beanielou

Keep posting!

millionaire_in_training

Welcome Nat. I update my diary more or less every day and I find it invaluable on my road to being debt free. Keep posting and go girl !!

Natlou_2

Well, another day and Im at home this morning, its raining outside so I will use my time wisely, I will do my piggy clicks, check my online banking and try and load some stuff on e bay. Later I will post the form back to the Halifax to accept the £95 they have offered me, and also pay a cheque in. OH has just finished fitting a bathroom for a customer and while he's doing it, he has to buy all the materials etc on his cc, so now hes been paid, I can repay all those costs back, and then the CC balance will be accurate and I can update my sig.
I have just made a hair appointment to have my hair coloured next week, not very MSE I know, but I have wasted more money buying the home dyes and it still isn't the colour I want, so best to get it done properly I think, until Next Tuesday I will have to wear a hat! - So what are all you other DF Wannabees up to today?

duchy

A laptop could be a useful addition for when you're at the shop if you treat it as an earning tool for surveys, quidco clicks, ebay loading etc in the quiet moments-presumably a business expense too especially if you use it to build a website advertising your business (if you don't know how check out local college courses just starting-there's bound to be one and it's surprisingly easy.