Finding a future after debt

moneyonmymindsam

"More stuff is getting chucked than kept. The plan is to do a little bit every week" 
This is amazing, do keep going. I know what you mean about hoarding traits we've all been there I think - keeping just in case things. 
Hopefully won't see you on "that" programme now
Nice to see you on track and posting. 
Sam x
P. S sorry to any readers who have been on that hoarding programme lol

ceremony

Thanks everyone! Still plugging away with the clearing out. It's slow going but I can feel the difference and it's motivating to continue!

Monthly update:

Debt Jun 2020   Current

CT    5144    4120 (that includes this year)
Rent    240    0 (arrears)
CCJ  445    365 (has arrangement)
CCJ    543    420 (being paid back but no arrangement)
Three    40    0
Three    261    246 (has arrangement)
PDL   340    100 (has arrangement)
PDL    114    114 (need to contact)
PDL    200    180 (being paid back but they haven't agreed to arrangement yet))
Washer    509    509 (need to contact)
Business    2200    1914  (not defaulted)

Start debt: £10,036, Current: £7,968

Emergency fund up to £115

Not as much done this month as I would like. Still £50 behind on the council tax arrangement for example, but it is going down and I have got some interesting new work which will translate to more money soon!

Strangely I got a text message from Capquest with my name on it about a debt but it didn't say what debt. The above list is everything on my credit reports from the three main agencies. I can't think of any other debts that I might have owed... I was never a big borrower until things fell apart really, I did move house a decade ago so maybe they're chancing a bill that I don't know about from then? I set up mail forwarding though so you'd think everything got covered? I have't replied yet, I'm not sure whether to ignore it and just let them write to me... I'd like to settle stuff just for the principle of not wanting to owe money, but it seems weird to get a random debt collector contacting me and not knowing what it's about.

The area I live in has entered local lockdown. I've never been a big person for "going out" anyway but now it's definitely off the cards. Kind of frustrating because since March the only person I've seen out of my household is my closest friend. My husband's in the same boat. We have a small group of mutual friends and we've only seen them once this year! We're all people who generally follow the rules and aren't personally too badly impacted by lockdown, but even if we weren't, we wouldn't break the rules because two of them have serious health conditions and need to shield. It's going to be a long year.

ceremony

The ongoing clearout efforts are continuing. I've arranged to have some junk picked up by the council and bagged up a load more rubbish. We'll probably need to do a few collections. The council charges by item so the price mounts up fast. It would probably be cheaper to hire a skip in the long run, but I know if we wait to 'save up' we'll never get it done so little and often makes sense.

I've made a few extra payments here and there, current debt stands at £7,843. I'm hoping to make some more overpayments this week too.

moneyonmymindsam

Doing really well with the clearing and overpayments. 😁👍🎉

ceremony

Thanks @moneyonmymindsam!

We've had a combination setback/milestone today. When we were putting out some of the junk for collection yesterday, we had to move the sofa to get some bits through the living room. This morning, my husband used the arm of the sofa to help himself stand up, and it snapped. It's ruined the whole side/frame, and it appears to be beyond repair (it wasn't that well-made in the first place to be fair and it's already survived two house moves).

The good news is the current emergency fund plus a bit from next week's pay will be enough to buy a replacement futon-style sofa. Nothing posh, but we can at least afford to replace it with something functional without needing to get it on expensive credit. I guess that's what emergency funds are for!

moneyonmymindsam

Have you looked on ebay or gumtree with so many people in the throws of house moves you can pick up some real bargains at the moment. Anyvan (on Google) can be used fairly cheaply if local if you don't mind it being second hand.
Sam x

ceremony

moneyonmymindsam said:

Have you looked on ebay or gumtree with so many people in the throws of house moves you can pick up some real bargains at the moment. Anyvan (on Google) can be used fairly cheaply if local if you don't mind it being second hand.
Sam x

I don't mind used, but hadn't thought to look because I don't drive and had kinda assumed 'hiring a man with a van' was expensive. I'll take a look. Thanks for the suggestion!

moneyonmymindsam

I've even searched  'sofa can deliver' on gumtree but I guess it all depends on the area you live. Ebay should allow you to search nearest first from your postcode. Anyvan I've had quotes as low as £34 to move a sofa so I guess the sale price all factors in. Most people don't mind helping a van driver load in there end and you have to help load out yours as it seems to really cut the price down. It's just an option like you say sometimes a new one is more cost effective.
Good luck on your search, have a great weekend.
Sam x

mark55man

well done - just caught up with your diary - it really is about chip chip chipping away at the debts whilst trying to live as much life as you can.  

your new client sounds exciting - is that going to be a one off, or could there be regular work?

ceremony

Thanks @mark55man! You're right there, slow and steady progress is still progress.

The new client is in an industry that is heavily impacted by COVID. They brought me in to help them move some of their real world stuff online. If it works out there'll be more work from them (and some ongoing stuff that they'll need even when the world goes back to normal eventually), but nothing's certain yet.