Onwards and downwards...

jwil · 27 March 2017 at 2:47PM

Hey everyone :beer:

I’ve decided it’s time for a new diary. I’ve been plodding away for years, robbing Peter to pay Paul, desperately trying to keep on top of everything. I’m fed up with doing this, so at the end of last year I started a DMP with Stepchange. Having someone else do all the hard work takes so much pressure off, and I don’t need to worry about it so much now. I wish I’d done it sooner!

There is also the ongoing saga of clearing the house which has been going on for years. We have cleared most of the stuff we inherited, but still have loads of our own stuff to clear, DH more so than me. Whilst this drives me crazy, it has been invaluable in providing us extra cash while I sell everything that isn’t nailed down.

For anyone new popping in (Hello! :wave: ) Do stick around. There is me, DH, little jwil (4) and little miss (1). We also have a dog and a cat. DH is doing temporary work at the moment whilst looking for a FT job. My job is very uncertain at the moment, so just clinging on with great hope! I thought it was ok for the next couple of years, but it’s all change again now so who knows!

I hope old friends and new will pop in now and again to say hello and give me a boot up the bum

jwil · 27 March 2017 at 2:48PM

The debt.

I’ve always been a bit vague about what I owe, but the grand total when I started my DMP was £34,229.

It’s been built up over decades, with my degree courses (no student loans available for me then), cars (just second hand runarounds, nothing fancy), general overspending and a stupid consolidation that obviously worked well :doh:

The debts are all mine, not DHs so they are mine to pay back. It was mostly built up before we were together and hasn’t really reduced over the years.

I’m in a decent job (at the moment), but DH is looking for a permanent job so we have to be careful. Our childcare bill is a killer, but should reduce somewhat when little jwil starts school in September which will help. DH is doing temporary jobs at the moment, so we can’t reduce the childcare until he gets some permanent hours as he needs to be available. As a result our household finances are very tight at the moment, and there’s not any wiggle room so paying token payments at the moment to my debts.

I don’t have any savings, so the money from selling my stuff is meant to be going towards building up an emergency fund, however, it keeps getting sucked up by bills at the moment. I’m hoping to change that soon!

The House

Our house needs loads of work doing to it, as it has barely been touched since the 1970s. We don’t have the spare cash to do anything at the moment, but also there’s no room to do anything because of all our stuff!

It has improved, but there is still a massive way to go. Every time we make a gap, we keep filling it again! I think our stuff multiplies. I therefore spend half my life listing, packing and posting eBay sales.

We do like a good mooch around a car boot sale so go most weekends. (Hence a lot of our stuff!) I’m much better about not buying things now for me, although do tend to buy the kids things. We also sell regularly at car boot sales of things I don’t put on eBay.

I am trying to follow the Marie Kondo method of decluttering my house, though it is very slow progress and I’m not doing it strictly as I can’t always access everything to gather it together. But the basic principles work for me. It’s just trying to find the time really around everything else.

jwil · 27 March 2017 at 2:51PM

Here are my decluttering/survey totals so far for this year. I shall continue with these:

Decluttering:
Books: 197
Magazines/papers: 33
Ebay parcels: 452
Other: 134

Total: 759

Ebay listings: 543

Survey/other earnings:
Amazon: £25
Paypal/cash: £47.14
Other vouchers:

jwil · 27 March 2017 at 3:03PM

I'm not going to bother with the money targets I had before. My new totals are:

Total debt: [STRIKE]£34,229[/STRIKE]/£34,229 = 0% paid
Savings target: [STRIKE]£19,320[/STRIKE]/£0 = 0% reached

The savings target is naturally a bit of a dream, but it would be nice, and why not aim high!

I know you shouldn't have savings whilst you have debts, but I haven't got anything so firstly need something in the bank for emergencies, and then once I reach that, to pay off some of the debts in lump sums/pay for work to be done to the house.

Once I have some emergency savings I shall consider self managing my DMP so I can overpay whenever I am able to.

retiredandskint · 27 March 2017 at 4:34PM

Hi jwil I'm here in your lovely new diary. Here's to a good year for you in debt busting, saving and decluttering.

parsniphead · 27 March 2017 at 5:26PM

Good luck with the journey Jwil......and if you find the answer to the decluttering mystery dont keep it to yourself...;)

brizzledfw · 27 March 2017 at 7:09PM

I have followed you over too...great to see the fresh start and fingers crossed for everything x

ChicaBonita · 27 March 2017 at 7:25PM

Hi, I've never commented before but I followed your old diary and you inspired me to start ebaying, you do so well. And your declutter lists are an inspiration! Good luck with your new diary

Kitten868 · 27 March 2017 at 9:16PM

Hello jwil, I totally understand your need for a new diary. Fresh start for you now you've got your new plan.
My husband will only get rid of his rubbish if motivated. If you get rid of your three guitars you and your amp you can buy a new guitar... the new guitar never materialised but the old guitars and the amp is gone

Keep your pecker up jwil. you are making holes in the clutter. I remember when you had rooms you couldn't go in. It just won't feel good enough until it's all gone. you need to step back and appreciate all you have achieved. you're doing great.
Great news one company refunded interest and charges! Get those complaints fired off xxxx

abba1772 · 28 March 2017 at 8:45AM

Hi jwil followed you over :hello:

jwil · 28 March 2017 at 9:14AM

retiredandskint wrote: »

Hi jwil I'm here in your lovely new diary. Here's to a good year for you in debt busting, saving and decluttering.

Thanks retired

How are you all getting on?

parsniphead wrote: »

Good luck with the journey Jwil......and if you find the answer to the decluttering mystery dont keep it to yourself...;)

Thanks parsniphead - it definitely breeds!

brizzledfw wrote: »

I have followed you over too...great to see the fresh start and fingers crossed for everything x

Thanks Brizzle

Great to see you

Onwards and downwards...

Comments

Categories

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free