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

Natlou_2

Well, its been a while since I posted, I've been lurking all the time, but I think with Christmas approaching, I know not much is going to come off the debts, and its slowed my motivation down a bit.

Ive been really busy getting organised for Xmas and have made loads of lovely hampers, thanks to the ideas etc on the 'christmas' thread, so I think the best thing to focus on, is to try not to increase the debt (much) over christmas.

The house has still not sold, and its a really worrying situation, as we only have one months mortgage payment left, we have looked at the situation every way possible, but can come up with no solutions, so if it doesn't sell, it looks like it will be repossessed, the thought of that terrifies me, and Im not really sure what the repercussions for me will be, since its in my name only.
(For those of you who don't want to read this thread from the beginning, the house Im trying to sell, isn't the one I live in - it was a development project). Renting it out isn't an option, since the rent will only cover half the mortgage. Its gutting really, we put our blood, sweat and tears into it for 18 months, its created all this debt for us, and at the end of it we will have nothing but debt to show for all our hard work.

On a more positive note, I did my first mystery shopping assignment yesterday, and sold a book on amazon, so that can go in the debt pot!

Anyway, gotta fly, have to take little one to the Doctors. I'll try and post later as my sig is really out of date!

Have a nice day everyone and chins up !

Natlou_2

Hi, A good day today! - I have just got round to updating my sig, and I have paid nearly £2000K off my debts in the last 3 months - I don't know how I feel about that really, I had thought it would be more, but I guess I hadn't taken into account all the interest that goes on.
There is now only a small balance on the Barclaycard, and Ive just got a new Mint card with 0% on balance transfers, they have only given me a £3500 limit, but it will be well worth transferring the Barclaycard balance, as the minimum payment is £43 per month, and they add on £38 interest each month meaning that Im only paying off a fiver every month!
Ive listed a load of stuff on ebay this evening, which hopefully if it all goes will help out towards christmas, this time of year is always expensive as it is mine, OH, and DS birthday all within christmas week, plus our wedding anniversary on the 23rd Dec. OH is very extravagant so it will be a challenge to keep our debts from going up over the festive period.
We had a lady call round from Warm Front tonight and it seems that we may get a grant to pay for our new boiler, which, if it comes off will be fantastic - our current boiler was last seen installed on the Ark and costs us a fortune in Gas bills. If you read further up the thread, we have had some quotes, but the only way we could afford it is to put it on the cards - so fingers crossed!

pandapaws

Hiya!
Just given up on bedding my son as all our upstaris lights have tripped, so waiting for hubby to come home (I'm in no fit state to go out to the garage with a ladder and torch!), so thought I'd have a nosey at your diary!

That's lousy luck about your development project. I obviously don't know the whole story, but is it fair that your dad gets all his investment back and you don't get a penny out of it? If you sell, will it pay any of the loans off at all or will it just cover the mortgage and your dad's share? I really hope it sells soon for you - I know exactly how frustrating it is, and how it's barely possible to focus on anything else.

Brilliant news, potentially, about the boiler grant. My sis-in-law lives in an old house and applies for grants for all sorts of things. It's something I've never thought about, but I suppose we wouldn't be eligible for much anyway as we're in a new-build! The house we're trying to buy though is an 80's special - wonder if there are any grants available to remove swirly artex from ceilings?!

I got a survey this morning for people who own their own shops - paying £15 apparently, so I'll forward you the link and you can see if it's any good. Not sure exactly what it was about but worth a try!

Do keep posting with your progress! And where's that SOA you promised in your first post, madam?!!!

lauradora

so how are things going in the shop?? What is it that you sell??

Natlou_2

Hi Panda, Lauradora. Re The house situation - it was on the market for £289,950 but in a desperate attempt to sell it, we've just dropped it to £249,950 - The outstanding mortgage is £242,000 so after estate agents fees, etc - basically there won't be anything left. We end up still in debt and my dad loses his investment its a sad situation.
The shop I have is a curtain and interiors shop. I sell all kinds of curtains, blinds, cushions, wallpaper and bits for the home. Traditionally this time of year is a busy one in this trade as everyone wants to decorate for christmas, having said that, this week has been quiet, but I think thats mainly to do with the weather, Don't know what its like where you are but here its teaming it down with rain and the wind is howling.
Had some good news today, I ordered a few bits for christmas from Argos and today when I checked my balance, I had only been charged £15.99 for a PSP memory stick instead of £29.99. The lady on the phone said she did not know why I had not been charged full price but said that they would honour it.
Panda - Have you got the lights back on yet? - If you could send me the link for that survey that would be great - thats not a bad payment for a survey is it?
Natloux
P.s - Panda - Do you still do the matched betting? - I keep telling OH he should look into it as he's really good with that sort of thing but he's quite cynical about it.

Natlou_2

P.S - Panda - If you do find a grant for removing artex, can you send me the link for that as well:rotfl: I have three floors covered with the stuff. I would think long and hard about moving to an older property, we went from a brand new house to this one and the colour schemes etc are driving me mad, Im not sure Ive got the patience to save to do it all up!

Natloux

P.P.S - SOA to follow shortly........promise:rolleyes:

pandapaws

Natlou wrote: »

P.P.S - SOA to follow shortly........promise:rolleyes:

Yeah, sure it is....!

I've sent the link, but since I now know that you do nice things in your shop rather than bread and milk it isn't relevant. That company are well worth signing up for though - I got £45 off them recently for talking about car tyres for an hour, although there's very rarely much outside of London. (anyone welcome to PM me for the grocery shop link if you want it - they're looking for people who run convenience stores/forecourt shops).

Your house is EXACTLY the same as ours with respect to price, value and drops! By the time we pay mortgage, 5% deposit on new house, solicitors, agents, stamp etc we'll be lucky if there's £500 left. I feel really sorry for your DH, having done all that work and having nothing to show for it at all. Don't suppose you can sell yours and move into the new one? Assuming it was stripped of artex in the development, so that would be a huge advantage if nothing else!:D Can your handy-hubby not do artex removal in your house? We're trying to work out the best way to do it! The house we want is actually fairly modern, probably late 80's/early 90's but a really generous size and not needing much work except that flippin' artex, some paint & new carpets, and a couple of bathroom replacements. 2 identical models in better nick are for sale in the same area for £299k and £310k so should be a reasonable investment at 250!

Still no lights - I think the box-thingy in the garage has just tripped as all other power and downstairs lights are fine. Poor DS is waiting up for daddy to come home (any minute) and playing with his trains in the dark!

pandapaws

P.S. Matched betting is definitely worth getting into. It takes a LOT of getting your head around, but it's worth it. I gave it to DH as his project since I do absolutely everything else money related (including spending most of it:o ) but after an initial promising start it has fallen by the wayside a bit as he can't be bothered finding bookies! The main thread about it in the Gambling loopholes board has all the info you need though, and makes good bedtime reading - give us a shout if you can't find the right page and I'll hunt it out.

Natlou_2

We have thought about moving into the other house, but its back in sheffield, about 90 miles away and now we have the shop running its way too far to travel. Yes, DH could sort the artex himself but he's a perfectionist and rather than just chipping the worst bits off and skimming over, he wants to take all the old plaster off right down to the wood slats and replace it all with new plasterboards etc. I just can't even begin to think about what mess that will create. Just to give you an idea of the nightmare colour schemes we inherited, one of the downstairs rooms had lime green and cream striped wallpaper which wasn't on straight and so you felt like the floor was sloping, and this was teamed with a purple cieling! - To add insult to injury, there was a delf shelf thingy running round the room. Our stair spindles are painted mustard and the stair carpet is dusky pink!
We have decorated a couple of rooms, but its a bit like stepping into another world, like the house has a split personality.
Panda - thanks for the link, yes, it wasn't relevant but I'll def sign up. I could have done the survey for Tyres, we had to replace 2 on Tuesday at a cost of £310 :eek: straight onto my new 0% mint card Im afraid to say

pandapaws

NO! Don't use the 0% card for purchases, unless they're 0% for the same period as for transfers! Put any expenses onto an interest paying card and then transfer it to the 0% a week later (check for any min transfer fees though).

Your house sounds gorgeous! A bit like the colour scheme in my bedroom last week then?! But it will be fab when it's done I'm sure!