Debt Be Gone

doingitanyway

Love the username. Good luck with your debt journey.

booksandbacon

Dear Diary,

No going back now - the letters went out to all the creditors last weekend and now we play the waiting game

I've already heard back from two of the creditors who have both agreed to freeze interest for a period of 30 days while we get the budget and offers sorted. I was amazed that the first creditor to get back to me was a payday lender but then I did contact them online. All this post and stamp business feels very old school and I have some anxiety that the letters won't reach the right place. I'm already thinking of sending some follow-up letters to some of them to make sure they get to the right department quickly.

OH is fully on board with the plan, but I can sense his hesitation/anxiety sometimes, particularly around initially making token payments and setting up an emergency fund, I am too - I've never done anything like this before, but we can't carry on as we are, we can't cope. He does like the idea of multiple savings funds/pots though and keeps trying to add more in.

I've been reading diaries on here all week - they're like miniseries on TV :rotfl: but seriously though they are really keeping me going, knowing other people are going through the same thing and are both willing and able to help makes this feel possible.

Happy weekend everyone!

booksandbacon

GlendaSugarbean wrote: »

Good luck!

I like your priorities as set out in your username, may I suggest adding cheese to the list?

:rotfl:

Dammit, if only I could change my MSE username, how could I forget cheese?!

booksandbacon

Thank you to all the well-wishers, I can't believe how supportive this community has been in such a short amount of time!

Scott_Chegg

Just discovered your diary and am subscribing. I wish you good luck on your journey to reduce your debt :T:T

Lydia42

Welcome on board - good luck xx

booksandbacon

Trying not to freak out.

OH and I have just done our first ever budget with help from SC and NEDCAB. I know we’ve deliberately overestimated parts of it but it still leaves barely anything for the debt.

According to our plan, our DFD is May 2037 :eek:

I know that this is just a start, and that once we get stuck in we’ll be able to properly evaluate what we spend so we can overpay or put aside for F&F’s.

I feel positive that we’re doing something about it, but I also feel that it’s come to this, that this is how irresponsible we’ve been.

SavingAFuture

Good luck on your journey!

booksandbacon

Dear Diary,

I!!!8217;ve been feeling sick and anxious all day long.

I!!!8217;ve been logging into NEDCAB and looking at the budget, the plan, and I feel awful. Really evaluating all those numbers has hit me hard.

I know it!!!8217;s just a start, I know it is. But I just want this debt GONE. I want to be responsible with money. I never, EVER want to be in debt again. I don!!!8217;t want to owe anything, EVER AGAIN.

In my original post I talked about travelling, having something to show for all those years of spending. But all I want is to be able to look after myself.

I hate this debt. I hate it.

DMP_Tiger

Good morning, I hope you're feeling a little better today.

You have made a massive step towards being debt free but your debt will not disappear overnight. The numbers do look scary, your figure is pretty much the same as mine. My DMP hasn't started properly yet as I'm saving up an emergency fund but already my debt figure is becoming less significant because there are so many positives.

As I said on the other thread, my DFD is sometime in 2048 because I can only afford a small monthly repayment. But by having a generous budget, this means that we have enough money to live on each month for the first time in about 25 years, which feels a whole lot better than running out of money 2 weeks into the month and having to live on credit cards!

Having said all that, I have also felt sick and anxious and I also hate my debt! Feeling anxious is natural until all of your creditors are on board with your DMP and it's been running for a while. Everyone feels anxious about their DMP from time to time, you wouldn't be human if you didn't.