debt free in 1200 months!?

beanielou

Hope all goes well on Wed hun.
We had our GM in Edinburgh yesterday & it was a great day.
Feel much calmer than normal~Hope that feeling lasts!

bountiful

Thanks Beanielou - glad to hear that the GM was inspiring - I am feeling exhausted at the moment - I have two weeks' annual leave booked for end November and beginning December (my annual treat to myself) - not going anywhere (unless something amazing happens) but just to wake up without the alarm clock in the morning.....with the delicious feeling of not having to get up and go to work ...... will be lovely - and I really need it!

I feel quite 'scattered' if you know what I mean? I think that taking the step of accepting help from someone else with my debts is a turning point - and a big one for me (Mrs Independent). I shouldn't be surprised really - when I left my last boyfriend (finally) I slept and slept and slept - hadn't realised how stressed I had been. I think this is the same - finally letting go of the stress makes it possible to actually relax and feel how I feel - when we have to keep going, we kind of tend to supress it, don't we. I feel tremendously relieved, but at the same time, exhausted!

So, tomorrow is the big day - 10am!

Seaxwyn

I'll think of you at 10am tomorrow and send good vibes. I really hope the CAP person is helpful and the stress is indeed lifted from your shoulders.

I had to chuckle about your son's indecision. How old is he? I have 14-year-old twins and it's strange watching try to make their own way in the world, while at the same time being too young to cope with it all properly.

beanielou

Hope it all goes well tomorrow.
Will be chanting for you.

beanielou

Hope it all went well today.
Update us when you can.

bountiful

Hiya! Son is 22! Say no more!!!

CAP meeting went very well - very nice woman - very empathetic. Took all the info down and paperwork away with her. She will come back next week with a provisional budget (I am wondering whether they will advise me to go for insolvency - because on paper I don't have enough to meet my basic needs I don't think - well, I'll see next week). You have to commit to the process, which is quite radical in that they take responsiblity for paying your rent and household bills (services) not just the debts - so it leaves you with the cash you need for food and leisure only. I had to stop my payments to secondary creditors (credit cards, unsecured loan, bank overdraft) and open a basic bank account. The latter was not possible (yet) because my driving licence was in the wrong address (whoops!) and my passport has expired and I have no utility bills (electricity meter and pay landlady for water) and CAP had my most recent bank statements and Council Tax bills. So - got my driving licence off in the post today - have shopped about a bit for the best bank to open a basic account with (HSBC seem to offer a good deal and have lots of nice auto-facilities in the branch, but their staff seem less than wonderfully competent...... Whereas, Nat West have nice blurb and very obliging staff, but there are high charges if a direct debit was to bounce (£38!).....Lloyds not good because they offer a debit card (=online shopping possibilities etc). I have yet to get info from Barclays - but they have an EasyCash account which seems pretty good (£15 charge for failed d/d or s/o). Tricky - meantime, I have to wait to get my ID sorted before I can open any account at all!

They left me with cards that I can give to any door-step callers, and a phone number I can give to creditors who phone me (if I answer the phone). They say that if I stick to the process, it will work - and has worked for over 20,000 people already. Watch this space. I do feel a hell of a lot better for knowing that they are sharing the load with me. I still feel pretty bombed out though - I had a day off today and didn't really do anything nice for myself (yet) - went into college and had a tutorial - reset the deadlines again! Shopped around banks. Brought some food. Got rained on.

Going to cook a vegetarian shepherd's pie then maybe listen to a story tape and do some knitting (I am still knitting plastic bags into ........ plastic bags :rotfl:very therapeutic).

beanielou

Glad it went well today.
So you have to wait & see what they say.
Did you tell them about the share of your dads house?
Wow, your son is 22~scary!
Take care

Seaxwyn

Hiya! Hope that CAP come up with the goods. It must be a big relief to let someone else deal with it all now.

My OH has a basic bank account with Nationwide and he's been very pleased with it.

Knitting plastic bags into plastic bags? I'm intrigued. Can you post a photo?

tirlittan

Hi Bountiful.I've just read the whole thread. I wish all the best for you. And hope that bungalow sells soon and you get rid of your debts forever.Good luck.

bountiful

Hiya all!
Tirlittan - welcome to MFE - I am impressed that you read the whole thread! It might be good for me to go back and do that myself! I hope that my journey will inspire and encourage you. x
Beanielou - yeah! 22! and no, I didn't mention my possible inheritance as it doesn't change anything in the current moment. Obviously if it sells (?) then I will tell them! x
Seaxwyn - I will have a look at Nationwide - thanks for the recommendation. The plastic bag knitting was an idea from a web link that I got from MoneySavingOldstyle - probably best if I just get you the link to the original site. Will come back to you with that.
BREAKING NEWS! This morning my son tells me that his fiancee has suddenly decided to get a plane from USA to come and see him - she'll be here tomorrow. My son and I are both working all week - it's the end of the month and we are broke - good timing young lady!:o