The long haul supporters thread...

fedupandskint

Hi Ramblingtree,

Welcome from another longhauler, I am in for the long haul that's for sure! I too can't wait until I get a larger part of my income for myself instead of companies having it!

No massive payments until the AA are paid off in 2 months time, then can start making bigger payments towards the CC and store card.

clarab_3

Just wanted to say - over £20k paid off! Right now it still feels a million miles away, but when i see what I have achieved and my snowball date it becomes slightly real...

When I started this journey a few years back - my anticipated debt free date was September 2012. And right now its April 2011. Still long way off - but I KNOW I can brig this in sooner with a bit of effort. (and if the bank case finishes any time soon - got £1500 of charges to claim back!)

In_Search_Of_Me

rambling tree (157)
ruby slipper (158)

Welcome both! Dont be shy - we're all very friendly and just supporting each other in the ups and downs of becoming debt free! Why not tell us a bit about you so we get to know where youre coming from...if you read back I think people have mostly done that over the years/months gone by...

Well done clarab that fab and the best thing is paying more of means less interest to the b****** banks!

I've had a rough week having been harassed by barclaycard because in error I paid one account twice and one not at all...for the vast sum of 38 they have been phoning, texting, writing, silent calling daily for over a week...can really understand how people on the edge are pushed over and will now kick butt...

clarab_3

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

rambling tree (157)
ruby slipper (158)

Welcome both! Dont be shy - we're all very friendly and just supporting each other in the ups and downs of becoming debt free! Why not tell us a bit about you so we get to know where youre coming from...if you read back I think people have mostly done that over the years/months gone by...

Well done clarab that fab and the best thing is paying more of means less interest to the b****** banks!

I've had a rough week having been harassed by barclaycard because in error I paid one account twice and one not at all...for the vast sum of 38 they have been phoning, texting, writing, silent calling daily for over a week...can really understand how people on the edge are pushed over and will now kick butt...

GOd the phone calls... I hate them got myself in a bit of a pickly by being too enthusiastic with my payments a couple of months ago and left myself short. trying to explain why i was ignoring my phone in work just made me feel soooo guilty.

rubyslipper

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

rambling tree (157)
ruby slipper (158)

Welcome both! Dont be shy - we're all very friendly and just supporting each other in the ups and downs of becoming debt free! Why not tell us a bit about you so we get to know where youre coming from...if you read back I think people have mostly done that over the years/months gone by...

Thanks for my LHS number, I'll wear it with pride!

Hmmm...a bit about me eh? Weeeeell I'm 30 years old, single and live in South London with a flatmate. I've always had a love/hate relationship with money (I love it...etc etc) but all the time I was frittering it away and extending loans to pay off credit cards then racking them up again I guess I sort of believed that eventually someone would come along and sort it all out for me or it would just go away. I'm not even going to comment on the naivety of this - it's self bl**dy evident!
My LBM happened 2 weeks ago when my beloved mum forced £250 into my hands to stop me from going overdrawn, a mere week after pay day. I have never felt so ashamed. The light bulb exploded over my head, the noise of it woke me up and...here I am! I've realised it's up to me. For the first time in forever I sat down and went through all my debts, all my outgoings and the true state of things and decided to make a change.

That's where you find me! Long Haul Supporter number 158.

Ruby xxxx

ramblingtree

OK, so now Ruby Slipper has introduced herself, maybe I should do the same!
I'm 29, I live in Devon with my OH, our money problems have been going on for about 5 years I guess, we were just a bit rubbish at first, then there wasn't enough money to pay all the bills and it spiralled pretty fast. Because its such a long haul, there have been times where we've said 'sod it' and spent money we didn't have, a temporary mood enhancer that quickly fades to guilt and more depression. But now that we have the capabilities to do something about it, we're determined not to fall off the wagon. Like Ruby Slipper I was in the position before Christmas where my folks gave me £300, and its the most humiliating thing to have to do. So not any more!

I'm lucky that in a lot of what I like to do is free stuff, walking on the moor, bike rides along the coast, I've given up the gym and pound the pavements instead, all our bills are trimmed as far as they will go, I'm currently working at getting our food bills down, and I shall keep working at it until our outgoings are at their bare bones!

Our current DFD is currently 6 and a half years away, but I'm really hoping we can cut that down to 4 years, a bit ambitious maybe but I want it gone as I am so tired of it having such a negative impact on our lives.

OK, I've rambled on a lot! ha, so I shall stop now and get back to work...
Thanks for the kind welcome, you really are all lovely.:D

In_Search_Of_Me

hello lovely long haulers...have had a bit of a slap as wages went in, out and o/d swallowed the rest. Good for me as I tend to slip when I'm doing well so better for me when I have the incentive of no cash iykwim! Alo fd are brining in the visa debit so can stop using my cc for online etc as I get the protection although trying not to get anything at the mo. Felt a bit low today...as time goes on I struggle with mothers day (not being one) but try to count my blessings which are many - hormones much to blame and being tired so now just chilling with wine, doing nails and early night! Recon if I go on a % a month (as it seems to be at the moment!) I will be eligible for parole in about 5 years which is what I has anticipated...the last 3 have gone quite quickly and so much has changed in that time!!

ramblingtree

In Search of Me, I'm the same, its hard to stay on the straight and narrow when things are going well! You start to think, one little slip won't notice...
5 years? Thats not too bad, almost half way there! Just think what you'll be able to do when all the debt is gone... bring on the good times!
I had a bit of luck this week, managed to seel some scrap metal for £26 and had a job interview this morning for a temporary job I could do at home. Every little bit helps! Kettle broke, but have decided not to replace it and am instead using the camping kettle on the hob. Probably cheaper to run as well, so not all bad.
Hope everyone is having a good week!

dubgirl

Hello to rambling tree and ruby slipper from another long hauler. Its always nice to hear from others in similar situations. ISOM hope you are feeling better than on sunday. Well everything in the dub household is chugging along as normal. Beloved is managing to hold onto his job, although there are more quiet or should I say dead days than busy ones. Still trying to pay off the debt, but the usual one step forward, two back, but hey ho trying not to let it get me down. Remember everyone PMA. x

ramblingtree

Hi Dubgirl,
PMA? Difficult to maintain all the time isn't it?! Glad your OH is still working, it's my constant fear that my OH lose his job (he earns a lot more than me), can't even think about the consequences should that happen!
But, must try and stay positive, and its payday, so next week all the dds will go out and the total owed will be a teensy bit smaller.
Onwards and upwards!