Second time lucky... debt free diary.

charlies_tribe

Thank you WF.
Today wasn't as productive. I sat glued to my phone knowing my sister was in labour. My niece was born this afternoon.
Refund from Amazon return has gone in bank. Hoping the other one will come off the account soon.

The exhaust still not fitted despite DH efforts. Our drive was too wet and his ramps were sliding down the gravel!

We have emptied the bank though. We have paid DD1 insurance and she will pay us back asap. I know we didn't have too but it will make things so much easier for us (once she stops stalling it! She learnt in a diesel). I could have cried as I paid it but a year ago it would have gone on a credit card, not straight out in full from my account.

Cherryfudge

Such a roller coaster, Charlie's tribe! I hope this week is feeling better than last. You should be proud that you've done so much - and congrats on becoming an auntie!

New drivers' insurance is so expensive! Do you get it any cheaper for paying it all in one go? It's been an expensive few days but as you say, not on the CC, which is brilliant.

Re the clothing, by the way - if it were me paying off the catalogue instead of buying new clothes, I'd struggle keeping going for months (though I had a year once where all I bought was one top and shoes which I think cost £5). Are there any tricks you can play on yourself like packing a few items away till Easter so they feel like a refreshing change when you get them out again?

charlies_tribe

Month 24 update (I think)

lloyds: - £10489
barclay: - £6750
sofa: - £2233

Total - £19427 (+£87 left on the next account, will be paid off 1st May)

£14127/£33554 (42.1%) paid

Just a quick update. I'm still not doing great, now off work unpaid. Minimums currently being paid.

It's been a very spendy month, new exhaust, new shower and new puppy!! It's DD1 puppy but he's already taking over the house.

I've just ignored everything for the last few months, need to pull myself back up and get back to saving pennies.

Cherryfudge

Good to see you back here charlies tribe, perhaps this is the beginning of an upturn for you?

I'm sorry your sick pay has finished, especially with the recent expenses, however you must do what works to help you cope. Well done on keeping up the minimum payments.

Cherryfudge

Missing you... how are things going? x

WannabeFree

Missing you too
x

charlies_tribe

Good morning. Just returning from being AWOL! I have been popping by to read both of hour diaries but didn't see your replies on here, sorry I missed them.

After 6 months of being off sick I took a 3 month lifestyle break from work. It was unpaid but we were hoping it would stop my fear of seeing anyone while off sick. It didn't. I'm due back at work on Tuesday and up to yet in the last 9 months I've left the house a handful of times and still can't bare to walk in to all the staff that watched me break down.

I'm really struggling with my health again and spending a lot of time in tears but I realised after some silly thoughts again this week, that DH has no idea about the accounts/bills/money and if anything happened to me he would be clueless. His wages get paid into joint account and he leaves me to it, if theres anything on his card he knows he can spend it. So I really want to get them all more involved, get a list of what account pays what, what is in who's name, when yearly payments are due etc.

We have just had a week away, in a little cottage by the beach. It meant I could stay indoors but the children could enjoy the beach. Getting close to the beach and lots of takeaways/pasties and ice creams meant we spent way more than expected (£3.75 for 2 scoops of ice cream!! Gets expensive when I'm buying 5 at a time)

I have completely lost track of spending and debts. We haven't added to it at all and only minimum payment been made while I have had no wages. They wont have gone down much but I really should check where we are at. The bank is almost broke and I've probably got a few charges to come, not that we didn't have the money, it was just in the wrong account when things came out.

Ok, I'm going to make another cul of tea and turn the laptop on to see what figures I'm looking at now.

charlies_tribe

lloyds: - £10177
Mbna: - £6783
sofa: - £1965

Total - £18925

£14629/£33554 (43.5%) paid

A very slight movement in the last 3 months but at least it's in the right direction.

Cherryfudge

Good to hear from you again, charlies tribe, it can be a big thing to come back after being away a while but I know a lot of people will be glad to 'see' you here and will be wishing you well with your other return that's scheduled this week.

I'm so sorry you've been in such a dark place. Did the holiday make any difference to that? It was brave of you to get out to a new place.

I just wondered if you have a colleague who would come to meet you to ease you through those first moments back at work? You might have to go and speak to a manager for a while, I suppose, which will mean time away from the crowd, but having someone by your side could make things easier.

Will be thinking of you - I'm likely to be away from the computer for a few days this week but I'll catch up as soon as I can.

charlies_tribe

Well I'm not doing very well at this lately sm I?
I'm back at work. I'm only doing 12 hours a week. Some days I'm fine and others I have sat on a till with tears streaming down my face.
For some reason my first wages didn't go into the bank (it wasn't much as only did a few hours), they're still trying to sort it but we get paid again next week.
Tax credits have updated for the older 2 leaving education. DS has been on a course since August and then started college doing his A levels on Friday so hoping everything updates soon I left it way too late updating it all.
DD1 has a job! She gets her first wage next week, only for 2 weeks but were all excited lol. She says she won't pay board as she didn't ask to be born and none of her friends have to! Even just taking over her phone, car and her dog will help us though. She has started spending a lot of time at her BF's so she isn't eating/using as much electric etc. here.

Due to all that and me having 3 months off unpaid, my account went overdrawn for the first time in a long time this month (only £12 but still overdrawn) and then to top it off the car broke down 3 weeks ago. We had it towd and thought it may be the fuel filter or battery. No, they said it was head gasket and something else. It would be about £1250 to fix. So I had to use the credit card. Did a 0% interest money transfer. And then they rang again on Friday, I got all excited thinking it was ready. Once they had took it apart theres more wrong than they thought and a new engine would be cheaper. I think we've decided we might just have to have a cheap car until money is all sorted.

So here I am, back again to try and pay this off and rebuild our emergency fund.