Fresh Start At Fox Towers.

foxgloves

Agree with what previous people have said. It's not the time for a dog. You need to get everyone paid back before you think about spending on non-essentials....& expensive ones at that. While you still owe money to friends (& apologies if you have already paid them back & I am out of date on this), it isn't a fair decision to spend money on a dog. I'd be mad if you owed money to me & I noticed another dog joining the household (but maybe your friends are a lot nicer than me). You've said that you have issues with impulse control & that's what this is. It's trying to justify an impulse which is coming very much from the heart, when in order to get out of debt once & for all, a last chance which this extra house move is supposed to be facilitating, it is very much a case of your head needing to over-ride your heart..... & to practise doing it until it, not impulse buys, become second nature.
Be strong!
F

kayannie

I totally agree that now is not the time for a new puppy. Besides the initial cost of buying the puppy, there is the cost of a dog bed, toys, insurance, food & treats, not to mention vet fees. This is money that should be put towards repaying the loans from friends & your other debts.

I totally understand your longing for a puppy, but this is not the time. Give it a year or so until you are settled into your new home & have made inroads into paying off your debts.

KA

in_need_of_direction

Please read your post and soa of January 2023. Your debts were lower, your house was worth more and you had a car.  You’ve downgraded your home and are about to do it again. Something needs to change or you’ll run out of options re selling a house to clear debt.  Have you ever considered the impact of having to pay rent to maintain a house?
you need to start climbing up not spiralling further downwards.  

Good to see mr fox is considering some voluntary work. Could he help out at a dog shelter with the aim of you getting access to dogs without ownership? Alternatively there are charities that assist those who are ill, to maintain dog ownership by getting volunteers to help out with dog walks.  

foxandflowers

I agree with you all, don't worry. No puppy yet. I am just feeling really low and the temptation of a furry friend loomed on the horizon briefly. I know its the wrong time. There's lots of things I want to do and I want to enjoy life without a dog before tying myself down just yet. Thank you all for nudging me back to the straight and narrow x

foxgloves

@foxandflowers - Glad to hear that. I think it is because so many people on here have now paid off their debt & come out the other side knowing what debt-free feels like (& it is amazingly good as well as a huge relief after so many spendy years), that we all want to see you succeed. It must sometimes feel like 'tough love' but I think a lot of us recognise impulsive spending & know from experience that it has to be firmly coshed on the head in order to achieve debt-free & living within our means. Believe me, it is SO worth it!
F

littlegreen

I posted on your old thread as we are also a one adult income by choice, and I felt the need to post again as we also want a dog. We also feel we could just about manage the expense of a dog in our budget, however we have decided to save up by the stay at home parent taking a short term working contract with all those wages going into a separate account for said dog. I'm even inclined to get the kids keeping track of how much is being saved in some form of colouring reward chart so the whole family can see how close we are getting. That way the dog will have everything it needs when it arrives without fear of our budget.

But I am with you on also enjoying one more dog free summer, I know a dog will enhance our lives a lot, but with puppy training, vet check ups, grooming etc, I'm going to enjoy the free time for now too.

Also I echo previous posters re paying forward your Mums friends repayment straight onto your friends - after all you have a plan once you move house (which I hope is soon for you because it is a miserable wait!) And I'm just one of those people who sometimes feels the universe aligns and the obvious way forward is the one to go down. Your mum's friend is repaying a debt as soon as they could, and it turn allows you to do the same.

foxandflowers

Looks like we FINALLY have a moving date - and provided everyone agrees - we will be exchanging this week and completing on the 17th. 

That is the same week as my third wedding anniversary, and the same week I am working the local election. I have a day of flexi saved up, and will need to book two days annual leave on top of that, and then that's a full week off. Which I will need, as I want to empty as much of the storage unit as possible, get my furniture and shed ordered, and set everything up. I'm hoping we can get an 8x4 lean to type shed in the garden and that will store all our seasonal decor, camping stuff, etc. Once shed is done, I can bring over the remainder of the storage unit things, and give notice on that. I'd love a proper garden room, but frankly the budget is not going to stretch to that. Maybe in ten years!

Very interestingly, we have lived with "minimal" possessions for a month and a half so far. I don't really miss any of my "stuff" and am quite looking forward to a major declutter. The only things I have missed are my sewing, my make up, my books and my packing bags. Oh, and having a sofa to sit on instead of camping chairs and a dining table to eat on!

Mini Fox has broken her school shoes this morning. She's also just about grown out of all her school clothes. I am really looking forward to taking her for a full check-up treat day when we move - some clothes shopping for school, a haircut, eye test and ear piercing followed by a hot chocolate. She deserves it. 

foxandflowers

Van needs two new injectors. £600. Not covered by warranty. Excuse me while I scream into the void. 

in_need_of_direction

Why do you continue to believe you can afford a van? 

kayannie

'get my furniture ordered"?  Do you not have furniture in your current home that you will be taking with you? 
KA