Lucielle's daring debt free journey

A question about : Lucielle's daring debt free journey

Ok, after reading loads of diaries and spending most of my waking moments on here I have decided to start my own diary. Hope I don't bore too many people to death. All comments are welcome.

Just a bit of background and I will try to be brief. I am married with 4 children, 1 dog, 1 cat, 17 hens, 2 ducks and 2 horses (and I wonder why we are in the situation we are in). Our debt is from living beyond our means and a few to many costly house moves. Lightbulb moment was 11/12/07 sat in the local CAB centre being told we face bankruptcy. (remember the day vividly as it was my birthday). Since then we have both been debt busting. My oh works long hours and on shifts. He hates his job and is desperate to leave however it is well paid. In his spare time he has his own business which is what he really wants to do.

I had a job until Feb this year, it was great and unfortuntely it closed down. I had an interview last month and got down to the last 2, no prize for second place. I am struggling to find work to a) fit in with the children and b) I cannot work on a Wednesday. 2 of our children are dyslexic and they have specialist tuition. Unfortunately where I live it is not recognised as a problem. However on the plus side I have managed to apply for a bursary and been awarded it. I am going to gather some facts and figures and I will post my SOA. That will be scary.
L

Best answers:

• Hi Lucielle! Oh good, another diary! I look forward to following your progress, and cheering you on along the way.
• Hi Lucielle, i love reading peoples diaries its what got me to have my LBM and realise i could get out of the mess i was in. My diary has really helped me to keep on track. Look forward to seeing how you get on with the debt busting. Ill watch out for your SOA.
  Remember if you find it horrendous to work out everything you owe like i did thats the worst bit over. it gets easier from there.
• Thanks for that seaxwyn.
  Ok scary post coming up........my SOA
  Income
  Oh wages Ј2554.83
  Oh business Ј160.00
  Tax credits Ј38.09
  CHB Ј217.60
  Avon Ј40.00
  Total Ј3010.52
  Outgoings
  rent Ј350
  water Ј7.11 (approx)
  Council Tax Ј106 (10 months)
  electricity Ј46.50
  phone Ј36 (this will be going up as we aren't paying enough)
  TV Ј11.61
  School dinners swimming Ј166.80
  school fees Ј80 (approx depending on how long term is)
  life ins Ј24.35
  oil Ј40
  contents ins Ј7.69
  mobile Ј10
  pet/diesel Ј350 (live in a rural area and drive loads unfortunately)
  car ins Ј58 (2 cars)
  food Ј336
  clothing Ј20
  car tax Ј32
  MOT Ј37.5
  Horse ins Ј46.07 (2 horses)
  Livery Ј170
  farrier Ј73
  Total Ј2008.63
  Debts
  Tesco loan Ј14931.6 monthly repyt Ј324.60 6.5%
  Car payt Ј2179.63 Ј188.21 18.2% ends June 09
  student support Ј1983.47 Ј86.24 0% ends May 09
  American Express Ј2781.66 Ј72.00 5.9% lob
  Abbey Ј3220.00 Ј10 0% Til 08/08
  Citi Ј7005.16 (not sure of rept as just done a bal transfer) 5.9% lob
  Bank of scotland Ј7391.73 Ј150.84 5.9% lob
  Barclays Ј4650.84 Ј104 5.9% lob
  post office Ј1355 Ј34 0% fixed til Oct
  Barclays Ј809.27 Ј18 14.9%
  CSMA Ј674.58 Ј14 (they have lost payments of Ј525)
  Total repyts Ј1001.89
  Total debt Ј46982.94
  Overdrafts of Ј2900
  I have a small ebay business which if needs be I use income from when desperate. My ohs wages are very erratic and it is difficult to budget for when you never have the same wage twice! Our aim is to tread water until next year when the car and student support is paid then hit those debts with that. I know it is tight and the horses are expensive. 1 is 28 years old and not worth anything, the other is mine and it has been a childhood dream to own one, one I never thought would come true. If push comes to shove I will (maybe) sell him but we are still managing.
  Any thoughts welcome.
  L
• Just as an after thought, looking at my signature at least it is coming down!!!
  L
• Today I have managed to pick up a few hours work. Should hopefully get paid as well. Means that I can't go and ride as planned. Hopefully I may get chance this afternoon. Got a man coming to look at the dishwasher as it hasn't been working since Easter. The children have been taking it in turns but their washing up does leave a lot to be desired!!!
  Hopefully I will get chance to go in the garden. I have had a bit of a rabbit problem and they have munched all my broccoli and sprouts. The children caught 7 baby ones and insisted they were released, which we did a few miles away however I think there cousins have decided to take there place. Hope you all have a great weekend.
  L
• Hello
  Well done on clearing 13k already
  Could you save on school dinners while your not working? Also how about joining the monthly grocery challenge on the old style board, The Old style board is great for money saving tips.
  Fingers crossed your plans go well. I look forward to reading about your progress.
• Your signature doesnt show how much you have paid off??
  only shows current debt?
  Well done though if you are paying it off..
  be good to show start date and amount you challenged
• Ok current debt stands at Ј47035.17 (just had citi statement through and was a bit out) Overdrafts are still up to their max but I am not stressing about those at the moment, so they are Ј2900. I will up date signature shortly.
  I have tried pack lunches but it is not for me. I like them to have a cooked meal at lunch time then if they have a busy evening I can give them sandwiches then if time is short.
  On another note just done 4 hours at work and back in again at 3.
  L
• Off to work shortly. Oh has already left he needed to be in for 6am. Have to take children with me but hopefully going to a sports event this afternoon so that should keep them happy. Take care
  L
• you are right, the debt IS coming down, and now that you are more focused on it, you will see those numbers reduce even more quickly!
  Have you joined in the "make Ј10 a day challenge" yet? If not, head over - lots of ideas for raising extra money, and the extra Ј300 a month that would bring in would certainly help with the debt busting!
  Have a good day at work!
• Back from work, feet are killing me. Going to have a quick read of the papers and then off to wallow in the bath. Working tomorrow at 6, so hopefully I will get to go and see my horses tomorrow, hope it is nice weather as I am a fair weather rider!!!
  Hypno, will look into the challenges not sure I am up to it against such a magnificent opponent as you, well done on the car boot.
  L
• Back from riding my boy(s), I don't ride the old fella he is for the children. It was nice to see them both. Had no electricity today from 8.30-2.00 luckily I remembered to fill a flask with boiling water so I could have a brew. Off to work at 6, not sure what is happening tomorrow should find out tonight.
  L
• Hi Lucielle - just wanted to say well done so far, you have already paid off a massive amount.
  I too have horses (although just the 1 at the moment) so can sympathise with you re costs. Glad you got out today on them.
  x x x
• Thanks penguin. The trouble is patience wasn't one of my virtues and I want it all paid NOW! However as the euro millions didn't come up this week it looks like it will be the hard slog way.
  Been out on my boy, had a lovely ride and went on a ride I've been on before but by myself. Which for me and him is quite daring as he likes to go out in company as do I so they can open the gates!! Don't think I will get up again until next week.
  On a DFW note I worked 4 hours last night. Possibly working thurs, fri , sat and sun. Not to sure what I will be doing with the children as oh is on call.
• No work today. Have to take 2 youngest for there tuition so that will be most of the day taken up. Also got to call in at Tescos as a jumper I bought for ds2 has still got the alarm tag attached to it!!! That will be interesting. Have a good one.
  L
• Alarm tag safely removed and no scary ride in a Police car! Also no work today. Nobody phoned which is a pain. They really do mess me around. So that is the budget up the swanee.
  L
• Sounds like you are making progress Lucielle.
  Have you put your figures into a snowball calculator? When is your estimated DFD?
• I know this is going to sound stupid but I can't seem to get it to 'snowball'. I estimate 2012 but if anybody can enlighten me I would be grateful. I have just had a cooking session and made rhubarb crumble, apple and raspberry crumble, rhubarb crunch, 2 quiches and I have got flap jack in the oven. It can be a bit hit and miss but it still gets eaten. Still no phone call for work
  L
• Cant help on the snowball side but can I come round for pudding please.