It's complicated, but I'm optimistic.

Singlespeeder

Still no news on the Court Date ... I've read quite a bit into this and why Consent Orders get rejected. Ours is pretty simple and straight forward, so hopefully it's because we chose not to have legal representation (though have taken legal advice) and they just want to ensure neither of us are being bullied into signing it. Fingers crossed.

I have managed to get better breakdown cover than before for half the money.

The Yellow ones wanted a £150 renewal without homestart...  the Orange ones were doing a 50% off deal so I got it for £75 including homestart  

I also got my first i-Say reward from surveys ... £5 Tesco voucher... hopefully can turn that into £15 on the Tunnel  if I manage to go to Belgium in November.

Pay day is a week Friday ... should be able to clear the final £350 of debt to a Family member

Will probably put any surplus into Premium Bonds, as my EF is at £1000 (£500 of it is in PB's already) ... not sure yet, will see what's left.

I've also managed to build a removable bed in the back of my VW T5  ... for £54 of plywood and maybe another £5 of sundries. I've snaffled two Ikea mattresses off my daughters old daybed and they're super comfortable, so it's been far cheaper than I anticipated. There are a couple of Apps available that show you possible free overnight stops if you have a campervan... so we should be able to stay a way for nothing in the furure. We tried one at Hay Bluff near Hay-on-Wye a couple of weeks ago and it was superb!

Singlespeeder

A good day. I've paid the final instalment to my step dad. He loaned me £2k in my darkest hour, bouncing off the O/D limit with the wolves at the door.  It gave me some breathing space and let me start getting myself straight. I've been paying £50 a month for over 18 months but this didn't feel like it was making a dent. With working from home I've saved myself my Annual train fare and my obligation to pay my daughters phone ended, so I diverted the money to this debt and made 3x £350 payments to clear it.

It's now gone

Now my ONLY debt is the old mortgage and the mortgage O/D debt, a hefty total of £53,728.44 (down from £85k+)... but the Consent Order from the ex says she'll take on £43k of this, remortgaging the familial home.

So in theory I'm only £10,728.44 in debt, which is much more manageable, especially if I'm not paying a mortgage.

 

Singlespeeder

On the subject of the camper van, we went away for the BH weekend and thought we'd try Lincolnshire. I'd found a few potential free locations to pitch up, and headed up to the Wash on Friday night to the first stop over. It was a tempestuous night with 40mph winds and the spot was very exposed. The bed proved very comfortable and other than a couple of local yoofs turning up very late at night (01:15 and 02:20), though they didn't hang around, we had a peaceful, warm and comfortable nights sleep.

Saturday we drove up the coast through Skegness, Ingoldmells, Mablethorpe & Cleetthorpes.  I have to admit , they're not my sort of places. In Cleethorpes we had our first "food not cooked by us" since March .. a bag of chips each They were fantastic !!! A wet and windy walk along Cleethorpes beach and back down the coast to Saltfleet for night 2's stopover. This was a great location, sheltered from the windy by a sand dune, pretty much on the beach.

I've made a removable kitchenette that sits at the back of the van. This made it so much easier cooking each night, sheltered by the tailgate. Curries are a doddle with one pan!

Day three and we headed inland and visited the Lincolnshire Wolds, much more my thing And eventually headed up to Market Rasen and our 3rd pitch, a superb one in a wood.

The whole weekend cost us £30 in diesel and £7 for chips, plus the food we took with us, maybe £10 worth.

Singlespeeder

A small milestone today, the mortgage has dropped below £30k .... still waiting for the courts and the Consent Order so I can be free of it, but who knows when that will occur

I'm paying nearly £800 a month, hopefully off my debt, not sure if the courts will agree with that though. If not, essentially I'm being penalised for their tardiness, all of this should have been sorted in June/July

t2rry

hi there!  I've just read your whole diary, and i didn't want to read and run so just wanted to say how refreshing it is to read your approach to divorce, gives me some hope in humanity!! and also you sound so positive about your debt free journey, which is also lovely to read, reminding me that it can be a positive journey as well as a sensible one!

Singlespeeder

Thank you for your lovely comments.

I don't think relationships have to go sour when they've run their natural course. We split up, my choice, but we have two FANTASTIC adult kids both of which I have a superb relationship with, and whilst they're not necessarily high flyers, they're truly good people. We, me and the ex, will always have a strong connection because of the kids.

It doesn't help anyone for us to be at each others throats. She deserves to stay in the home she made, with the kids, for as long as she chooses. I'll be ok. I didn't expect to find my self at 53 with no house & no deposit. But I also don't have that much debt, and should be clear in a year ot so. I have time to rebuild if me and my partner choose to go that route. Or we may just buy a campervan and go travelling.

I'm just trying to do the right thing by everyone.

Singlespeeder

We had another weekend away in the van last weekend. Drove up to the Peak District to just outside Castleton, on Mam Tor Old Road. A fabulous free overnight spot.! Fabulous views in the morning. After breakfast we took a stroll up to the top of a very windy Mam Tor, along to Hollins Cross, down to Castleton, and back up the old Broken Road.  We decided to stay put for a second night, and enjoyed the sunset and G&T.

#vanlife is a hoot and works well, again I doubt the weekend cost anything more than the diesel to get there and back. We'd have eaten at home anyway.

As an aside, I've been back on the Low Carb way of eating and have dropped half a stone in 2 weeks. I lost 3 stone on it 3 years ago, and have done ok with maybe a stone sneaking back on over 18 months, because I also went vegetarian, and started eating carbs again. Now doing Veggie LCHF ... not as easy but I'm enjoying what I can eat and the weight is coming off too.

Singlespeeder

A little update.
We eventually go the Consent Order ratified by the Court on the 5th January, which was a great start to the year. I should shortly (next month or two, depending on how fast the ex's re-mortgage comes through, I've already signed and returned the Land Registry TR1 form taking my name off the Deeds of the familial home) be off the old mortgage, just need to clear about £11,000 off that debt, then that's me done. I have the finances already in place to do this but am holding off until I need to do it.
It's taken over 2.5 years but the Decree Absolute has been applied for and will hopefully be through in the next week or two.
Will update on any progress

Singlespeeder

A momentous day ! The mortgage and mortgage overdraft debt have been cleared today.
I am officially debt free.
Halle-flippin-lujah.
Still awaiting the Decree Absolute but that should be any day now. 
I've gone from -£90,000 to being + £2,000 in about 2 years.
It's been a ride !