Hi TomThumb.

That's excellent news, thank you for letting us know. Congratulations on working your way through to the end and your new financial future.

I just checked back and your first post here was on 19th June 2009. In X Factor terms that's quite a "journey"!

Your kind words are appreciated, I'm really pleased that we have been able to support and help you. It sounds as though your wife has been a great support as well.

Any pearls of wisdom for readers of this thread that are at the start of the process?

Hi Tom.
Congratulations mate on reaching this stage.
Isn't it a wonderful feeling.
Hope all the other members, who are struggling at the moment, read our posts and realize just how much help is out there with the experts on this forum and accept their help.
Between them they will get you through.

Congratulations Tom Thumb. I feel like we've known you since you were knee height of a grasshopper.

You can now live happily ever after.

Well done.

Thanks all, I'll keep on posting here.

TDA my top 5 tips - Things to note when looking into a TD.

1) Always research your TD Company and do not go via a third party (as I did). Single Biggest mistake I made A) following the advices of my financial advisory and B) going with a middle man!

2) Ask questions (lots of question) ÔÇô if they are a reputable TD company they will have the answers (I had 2 school children that knew nothing of my situation and wanted to judge me on my life, and thought they were doing me a favour)

3) Budget within an inch of your life

4) Talk to your family (I did not want to do this, my wife made me and I felt such a sigh of relief, did not change anything, but did stop me going into free fall dismay) ÔÇô Hard to admit that you have made mistakes, but does humble you (I went from having everything, to very little, lessons in family values in there somewhere)

5) Life sucks at times, but there is help out there - this forum helped me enormously (I would have gone with one of the people listed in this site if I had know earlier)

In the end, we all make mistakes (just happens to be financial), dust yourself off... think 36 months and move on. It will be hard at first, but you get used to it... actually know what a pint of milk costs now.

Hello TomThumb.

Thank you for taking the time to share that; all good advice for anyone thinking about starting a trust deed.

I'm really glad that you'll be sticking around to help others with your experience.

Point 3 can make or break a trust deed so make sure you are happy with the set budget before you sign up!!!

Well done.

Paul