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

pandapaws

Sounds like a good plan, except for the last bit - that's where my wheels would fall off!

If you're looking for free cash, have you also tried topcashback.co.uk? They're like Quidco, i.e you get 100% of the cashback and there are quite a few different offers on it. Go for the bingo sites - they're good money generators, and a bit of an eye-opener into how some people get into debt at the same time! I recommend either finding the 'autoplay' button or opening a bottle of strong wine though!

Am I thick? What's a terramundi?

Natlou_2

I had no idea what a terramundi was either till last week! - Check out https://www.terramundi.co.uk
Its like a big savings jar that you can't open without breaking.
We will have to see about the chocolate and cake thing, I've got into the habit of having a cooplands mince pie every day with my lunch, to get me in the christmas spirit, but its no good for the hips or the purse!

Enjoy your trip to Dublin, and your parents visit and try and get on here when you can to let us know what your trip was like!
Take care

Natlou

welshgirl78

Hey, good luck with your diary - all sounds very positive at the mo so keep it up! Shall be reading with interest...

If you don't mind me asking, where did you get you're terramundi through Quidco?? I want one!!!!

Good luck with all xxx

Natlou_2

Hi welshgirl - the terramundi was through prezzybox - with 8% cashback!

pandapaws

Wow, that's a pretty impressive thing, might get one of those! Although I never have any change at all as I so rarely use cash so probably pointless. I've got one of those things that looks like a can of beans with a slot in the top, that you can only open with a tin opener that my mum bought me about 10 years ago. I think there are about half a dozen coins in it, and I'm guessing those are old 5ps or pesetas or something equally obsolete and useless!

Natlou_2

Well Im not doing bad so far this week - managed not to have any chocolate, cake or wine so far (unless an aero mousse counts?)! - Today I sold something on Ebay for £30 and I have something else listed that is already up to £16 with 3 days to go.
Been on Quidco, but not managed to get anywhere near my £20 target yet, and the Ironing basket is still half full (but the laundry bins are empty and there's always tomorrow!)
I am treating myself on Thursday by having my hair cut and coloured, ready for a party we are going to on Saturday night and I am really looking forward to it, its a while since I did anything for myself and I feel like a new hairstyle to go with my new positive outlook. I feel like something has changed inside me lately, and despite the debt, and the prospect of paying for christmas I feel a lot lighter inside. I always like the prospect of a new year (and not only because its my birthday on 1 Jan), there's something about nice clean diaries to fill... Anyway, Im rambling here - just wanted to share that I hope my debtbusting will accelerate in 2008

Natlou_2

Well, the first thing of my list seems to be ticked off - Find £50 to throw at credit cards - logged onto Topcashback, and the £50 that SS got for me was marked as payable, so I've transferred it to my account and as soon as it shows up, I will pay it off one of the cards. I had my hair done today, looks really healthy and shiny now, so I feel a lot better about myself. I have £10.90 in Pigsback, but think I might wait until this is £20 before requesting any vouchers.
I've still avoided having any choccy or cake this week (or wine) infact I only had a cup a soup for lunch since my hair appointment was at 12.15pm and I didn't get back till about half 2 by which time I was past it, so saved a couple of quid there too.

I have loads of half finished christmas hampers in my spare room (see christmas thread if you're interested) - Ive really enjoyed doing them, and Ive found it an easy and cheap way to cover christmas, most things have been picked up while doing my weekly shops, with boots points, or BOGOFs. Just need to get them all finished off and delivered to free up some space!

pandapaws

So apart from buying Christmas trees, what's been doing with you?! Any house-realted news? How are you getting on with your mini-challenges? My ironing lady (yeah, I know!) is sick, and I've got about a 4 foot high pile waiting to be done, so if you're bored feel free to pop down this way if you've run out of your own!

Hope all's well, look forward to catching up soon.
xxx

Natlou_2

Hi Panda, thanks for posting!
All's well here (kind of!) I feel like the tight reign I had on bringing down my debts is slipping, but Im trying not to get too stressed out about it, I will just have to work harder in the New Year - we have loads of family to buy for and loads of birthdays too, plus 3 kids of our own to buy for - We didn't buy for any family last year because of our situation and I felt terrible about it, but we haven't gone overboard this year, I've mostly made up hampers from the christmas thread, and Im really pleased how they've turned out. We are off to Toys R Us this afternoon while the kids are out of the way and I know the credit card will have to come out, but the shop has been really busy the past month so I think we will be able to take extra wages to cover it.

So I know you said you had had an expensive time in London - are you going to fess up?! did you have to use your cards too?

I know the tree was ridiculously expensive but we usually spend about £20-£25 on a real one, and I thought if DD is going to be pulling the branches etc, I don't want to spend the next 3 weeks cleaning up needles - Im looking at it as an investment!

Regarding the other house, the mortgage was due on the 27th Nov, and I couldn't pay it - amazingly I haven't had a letter yet - All I can pray is that we sell it during the repo process early in the new year. I did ring one of those companies who buy your house for cash - they offered me £20K less than the outstanding mortgage, imagine paying that off with nothing to show for it - do you think that is still preferable to having a repo against your name?

About the mini challenges ......hmmmm - Havent done any ironing for over a week - I will definitely do some later when DH is watching Top gear - the problem is that its so unsociable, I can't do it when DD is about for fear of her pulling the iron over so I usually stand in our spare room doing it, where there isn't even a telly to keep me company!

I made the £50 to pay off a card, as £50 became payable in my topcashback account, and I made an impressive £200+ from Quidco, as OH and I both opened an ISA - I know its daft saving when we owe money, but neither of us is getting any younger and we really feel we need to have a cushion, being self employed and all that.

Anyway, glad you're back on line - and it sounds like you had a lovely week off work - I am working up till the 20th, and then we're off till 7 Jan and I can't wait! - We are going away 21/22 Dec for our anniversary but its a surprise so I don't know where!

Sorry for the long post!

Natlou x

pandapaws

You've been pretty busy too then!

Re the house thingy - difficult to say what would be best. I know these companies try and rip you off something chronic, but would it be worth trying any others? If you could get just a little nearer to the outstanding mortgage amount then it might be worth taking the loss rather than the Repo - at least you wouldn't be a complete credit leper forever more. I don't know much about it, but is a repo not almost as bad for you as bankruptcy? If so, would you be better to go the whole hog and start afresh? That's probably totally crap advice, esp as you're self-employed, but just wondering if it was something you'd considered.

London etc - not normal credit cards, but a sort-of charge card that I put stuff on from month to month that's only paid in full. Think I've put a bit too much on it this month though as I'll have to pay a fortune to it in Jan! Will have to calculate properly and will post all on my diary!

I'm off to vomit up half a box of Thornton's fudge (no, really!) and then get some proper wholesome breakfast when I've made enough space. Supermarket shopping this afternoon and a big house tidy-up. Hope you have a good day in ToysRUs - wish I'd known, I've got a £5 voucher off £30 that I don't need you could have had (anyone else who wants it give me a shout!)