debt free in 1200 months!?

Seaxwyn

Thanks Bountiful! Now you've resolved your money issues, could you do the world peace one?

Only joking, off to look at your PM now.

bountiful

Seaxwyn wrote: »

Thanks Bountiful! Now you've resolved your money issues, could you do the world peace one?

Only joking, off to look at your PM now.

I am working on it - seriously! I know people joke about it, but it IS actually the basis on which everything else rests. Peace in our own lives, and within ourselves, is the starting point. And how easy it is to be at war within ourselves! All the 'should' and 'must' and 'ought' and ' have to' things we say to ourselves - these are all 'violent' words which condemn us .......... now you've got me going! I am reading a book at the moment called Non-Violent Communcation by Marshall B Rosenberg. And do you know about the Ministry of Peace? I am also reading a Quick Read book by John Simpson "Twenty Tales from War Zones" - cheery stuff!
And our relationship with money comes into this too - I have such a disrespectful attitude towards money - having no money brings conflicts, and having money brings conflicts - I think I am basically afraid of money - so not having any is safer than having some :rotfl:so there's a lot of self-adjustment to be made in my life towars money - gosh - my sister says I go into 'boring lecture' mode - sorry, sorry

bountiful

I have just had my 3rd meeting with the CAP manager in my area. The revised budget they worked out for me points out that my current situation is unsustainable - so having some money to pay off my debts is great - and having some money in the bank as savings is great - but actually, it is soon going to just go if I don't change something fundamental - mainly around housing and income (which I recognise that several of you pointed out earlier in my thread - Chevalier for one) sigh - am I doomed to living in a bedsit?

Seaxwyn

Hi bountiful. I do so sympathise. I think you and I are in the same place at the moment, in our different ways.

It's unbearable to think of a life spent living on the bear minimum. But also difficult to imagine changing things to making earning a big priority. I think we both need to face up to the fact that we need to earn a bit more, and that means getting out of the comfortable (or uncomfortable) jobs we're in now.

I really hope that paying off those debts makes you feel a lot better though.

Have you talked to your son about the situation? Even with the debts paid off, he still needs to recognise his responsibility and pay a fair contribution to the rent and bills.

bountiful

Seaxwyn wrote: »

Hi bountiful. I do so sympathise. I think you and I are in the same place at the moment, in our different ways.

It's unbearable to think of a life spent living on the bear minimum. But also difficult to imagine changing things to making earning a big priority. I think we both need to face up to the fact that we need to earn a bit more, and that means getting out of the comfortable (or uncomfortable) jobs we're in now.

How much is enough? How much work can one do?! I started work in the 1970s when rule "save a third, spend a third (ie pocket money), and a third on bills" actually worked! And if you worked full-time you could borrow 2 and a half times your wages and afford a mortgage on a decent little house........... I think I still suffer from feeling that it just ain't fair that I work full-time in a respectful job and that my wage doesn't cover my basic needs. What do we do next?

bountiful

I have paid off the Post Office because they were threatening court action - and CAP were not able to act quickly enough to prevent it happening - so I went ahead and paid if off myself - phew! Same happened this week with the Halifax loan - because CAP advised me to stop paying my secondary creditors, I am now a defaulter, and they issued a default notice for arrears of payments - or court - so I went and paid them the cash over the counter to prevent getting a notice on my credit record. I understand that the debt agencies are so inundated with people facing repossession etc that I am not a 'priority' but I didn't want to get a ccj or a marked record because I wasn't an emergency.

I have found somewhere else to live - moving again in February - to a rented terrace cottage in a place where I can look out at the sea every day - and a garden to grow vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers in - I am SO excited about it.:j

I have withdrawn from the course I was doing and am going to accept a Cert HE. I am considering continuing with OU courses and building up a personalised programme of study which holds my interest; I had just got cheesed off with health and social care studies......... rightly or wrongly ........ I'm like that :rolleyes:

I finished the little black dress and wore it to the work xmas dinner (which was mediocre I have to say!) - the dress was great - comfortable, didn't fall apart and fitted me. I found a pair of suitable high-heel shoes in the charity shop for £3.99 which were perfect. Lucky, lucky, lucky!:cool:

Xmas is going to be just fine because I have a Post Office Xmas Savings Card with £90 on it which I am probably going to spend in Sainsbury's next week. I think I am going to be given a xmas hamper from CAP too - which will be lovely!

My target for 2009 will be to achieve an income that meets my needs. I am doing this by chanting to change my career: I want to feel really fulfilled and be well paid. Watch this space!

Seaxwyn

Wow, lots of wonderful news in that post. I hope you are really happy in the new house. This has been a year of change, I hope 2009 is just as eventful but in a better way.

beanielou

^^^^ from me too!

Seaxwyn

Did you make the holly corsage? I'd love to see a picture.

bountiful

I did make the holly corsage - but didn't wear it because it was 'floppy' and I didn't have time to improve it..... the felt I used was too flimsy perhaps?

The dress doesn't look very interesting on the hanger, but worked well on... I'll play with the web-cam thing and see if I can do some pics