IA's road to becoming a CAB Debt adviser.

barnaby-bear

JET34 wrote: »

I have put off posting as what IA does with her money is none of my business. But I can see what everyone has been saying however my personally my journey to debt freeness wasn't easy I had 2 or 3 light blub moments before I really did anything about it! I would get the debts down to almost paid off or even paid off then I would slip back in to debt spending like it was going out of fashion. But what I can see of IA and Ste is that although at the moment they are taking a break from the stress of paying every spare bit of cash on there debt they haven't let there lightblub go out and it is in there mind to get back on to it once they have had there break. I am sure that everyone will agree that babies/children are only that for a short while and it is now that you form all your best memory's having holidays, day trips and having happy parents not stressed out mums and dads bogged down with life! The time you get to soend with your kids is the best time your ever going to have so they should be enjoying it now. anyway sorry for that but I felt I had to say that.
just remember your Lightblub is still shining bright so go get that tattoo I think it's a lovely idea! Not that you needed me to say that it's completley up to you.
P.S Can I also say ( you can shut me up oce I have started) Thanks for sharing your life with us all!

I was pleased about the holiday - I'd always though £80 on a Haven or similar break should be in the budget... time is as precious as money, we can buy more toys with our income at the moment but I'd willingly scrimp a bit more for the option of time/holidays....:rolleyes:

JonathanA

For what it is worth, I'd definitely have the tattoo as well (I mean you, not me obviously!!). It is something very personal to you and I think you've trained very hard and raised a significant amount of money for a very good cause.

The key difference, I think, between where you are now and where you were when you started this epic journey not that very long ago, is that now you have a clear plan of where you want to get to, you have coping strategies in place to deal with the ups and downs that life throws at everyone from time to time and more than anything, you recognise the benefit of (ultimately) being debt free. But there is no point in being debt free if you have to sacrifice too much in your life now, as you won't enjoy it and the time you have with your family is very precious. You both work hard, you have a young family, so there has to be some enjoyment in there too, and that will mean, on occasion, spending money.

I'm sure you will have a plan to get that debt repaid and what matters most of all is that the two of you are comfortable with the position you are now in - and that position is a lot better place than when you started this journey.

I do think that within your budget you ought to factor in some 'treats' so that you don't always feel like you're scrimping and saving to pay off debt. There are not many people who would take on as much as you do - and make a go of it - so keep thinking about the huge amount you have already achieved and I suspect that you'll have everything back on track within weeks.

Keep going - you're doing a brilliant job.

barnaby-bear

JonathanA wrote: »

For what it is worth, I'd definitely have the tattoo as well (I mean you, not me obviously!!). It is something very personal to you and I think you've trained very hard and raised a significant amount of money for a very good cause.

The key difference, I think, between where you are now and where you were when you started this epic journey not that very long ago, is that now you have a clear plan of where you want to get to, you have coping strategies in place to deal with the ups and downs that life throws at everyone from time to time and more than anything, you recognise the benefit of (ultimately) being debt free. But there is no point in being debt free if you have to sacrifice too much in your life now, as you won't enjoy it and the time you have with your family is very precious. You both work hard, you have a young family, so there has to be some enjoyment in there too, and that will mean, on occasion, spending money.

I'm sure you will have a plan to get that debt repaid and what matters most of all is that the two of you are comfortable with the position you are now in - and that position is a lot better place than when you started this journey.

I do think that within your budget you ought to factor in some 'treats' so that you don't always feel like you're scrimping and saving to pay off debt. There are not many people who would take on as much as you do - and make a go of it - so keep thinking about the huge amount you have already achieved and I suspect that you'll have everything back on track within weeks.

Keep going - you're doing a brilliant job.

I think the fact they are working towards stuff and have aspirations/things htey want to achieve is the positive thing... the cr&ppy min. wage jobs / second jobs / mad childcare hassles etc aren't just to get by or to buy stuff but mainly toward doing something, getting qualifications, career etc... (Ste's driving + better job), the CAB/OU etc...

Buffythedebtslayer

I love your diary and I think you are so brave to post your life here and set yourself these challenges and complete them in front of us all.

I don't post cos to be honest I know if I had your willpower and utter determination I would not be the finacial and frankly just to over share! the personal mess I am now. I often don't think I can offer advice.

but you should get the tattoo. it is for your Mum, simple as that.

take care

xxx

debtfreefuture

Well done Sar. I think you should get the tattoo and then ..................head down and !!!!! up to get on with the debt slaying.
Look at my sig......its so true. You will only look back and think why didn't I have that tattoo. Life's too short ..................
DFF
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ZTD

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

but to be fair recently we've been enjoying just not worrying about the debt. It's under control and not pushing us over the edge as it was before. Ste has a credit card and I have a credit card, then there's the tv finance and the car hp. That's all we have now compared to the 11+ debts we had a couple of years ago. Now we're under control and can afford to service the debt we're relaxing a little and trying to enjoy our lives again, and give ourselves little treats, now that we're in a better position to be able to afford it.

To be devils advocate (do you want to see my horn?) - how resilient are you? How much would it take so that your debts weren't under control?

Would you both need to lose your jobs? Just one job to go? Or just a cut in hours?

This question is nothing to do with getting a tattoo or not - it's more to do with "Are you getting complacent?"

immoral_angeluk

I don't see it as complacency at all. We're simple taking a break before going back in and grabbing it by the horns again.

In other news, as unpopular as it'll probably make me the first sitting of my tattoo is today at 1pm. The girls are going into nursery 1/2 hr early (and the nursery aren't charging us! How kind is that?!) and I'm going into CAB straight after and staying later. I've chosen the orchids I'm having. Having 3. One for mum, and one for each of the girls. I also dyed my hair last night (But the dye was paid for out of the shopping budget before I get strung up for that too :rotfl:). I was expecting a nice shade of plum on top of black.. but I got PILLAR BOX RED :eek: lmao...

Hope everyone's well.

Bunnyinthelights

Sar,
One of the problems of public forums is leaving yourself open to critisism. you have faced it head on-you know yourself better than any of us-do not feel the need to justify your choices ok?

immoral_angeluk

Bunnyinthelights wrote: »

Sar,
One of the problems of public forums is leaving yourself open to critisism. you have faced it head on-you know yourself better than any of us-do not feel the need to justify your choices ok?

I just want people to understand that I'm only human....

Bunnyinthelights

Of course you are.
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