Hi upstream.

Thanks for adding this thoughtful and useful post. I'm sure that many people reading it will draw comfort from it.

I guess that Christmas might be a tricky time for any family restricted to a tight budget, whether there's a trust deed involved or not.

Good to hear from you upstream. Something tells me that you and your family will have a great Christmas this year, and so you should.

Hi upstream,

What a really encouraging and fantastic post and especially at this time of year when many people who are in a Trust Deed will be finding it difficult to budget never mind buying Christmas presents for friends and family and especially children. I'm sure people reading this will take a little comfort from it.

I think that as well as providing debt relief to someone a Trust Deed is also an extremely useful tool in training someone to manage their finances a little better and make the money that they do have stretch a little further. I speak with a lot of clients on and off of the forum and they all say the same as you that it has helped them budget better.

Thank you for taking the time to post this post and I hope you enjoy a debt free Christmas!

Thanks for taking the time to share your post Upstream. Very positive and encouraging. It is difficult for people to change the habits of many years. I guess the Trust Deed is like going Cold Turkey!

So much temptation and emotional conflict when children are involved too.

It is good to read how well you have done. Wishing you and your family a very lovely Christmas together.

Yup xmas paid for in cash rather than on a credit card is a much better experience!!

100% agree upstream, there is something to look forward to after starting/completing a TD..

We both entered a TD when the dreaded credit crunch hit, overtime stopped over night no bonuses OH contract reduced. Bam income halved panic set in struggled on for a few months contacted Citizens Advice who referred us to our local Council run debt advice where TD was recommended.
For us it was a light bulb moment. Now planned presents started buying with cash in October no impulse (rubbish) buys no thinking what card to use is my overdraft limit reached.
Result for us was well thought out gifts chased best buys always used cash back site. That dreaded Christmas I made our daughter a dolls house with furniture OH was the painter she adores to this day. Made our son a fort with cannons, carts always used with his friends.
It's a back to basics for us our children want our time and playing together. Went into our woods today for a walk, yes it was cold but what fun we had collecting holly twigs berries and we all made a lovely door decoration today.

No more credit cards overdrafts, more financial planning OH jokes we are CS'ers
careful spenders. -:)

Good luck to all struggling at the moment there is a solution just ask the hardest question. I need help!

Twizzle.

Hi twizzle,

Growing up I spent a lot of time outdoors and in the woods with my Dad and brother and I guess not realising it at the time and now looking back money was tight in our household with only my Dad working whilst my mum raised my brother and I. We never felt like we went without.

We could spend hours finding berries, making dens or dams in the burns and also toppling over old dead trees. We also spent a lot of time camping and fishing and thinking about it, this was relatively cheap to do. My mum was never keen but the majority of times she came along. Her only issue was the midges when we were away camping.

I now do the same stuff with my step son, my Dad, brother and the dog. When my son is old enough he will be the same. We get lost for hours in the trees and are up to our ankles in mud. My step son absolutely loves it!

It's nice to hear that you can also find some light hearted jokes with the other half about your situation and being careful spenders!