Squeaky spreadsheet diary

I've spent a couple of days getting uber-serious about paying off my debt, and my spreadsheet is a work of art! I've paid off a fair amount already (£10,700), but from now on it's my mission to become debtfree (apart from the mortgage) by early 2015, and then tackle that. £28k of personal debt, this coming year I'm restarting the process to kick you into oblivion and paying back every penny.

- Filled in the stoozing SOA for my personal finances and used the snowball calculator.
- Have put a stop on all cards and cut them up.
- Have set up online access to all credit cards/storecards, and have set fixed above-minimum payments on all except the two I'm going to snowball first (two storecards with high APRs which will be closed ASAP). I didn't realise only paying the minimum each month puts a marker on your account so that has now changed for all of them.
- The next priority is paying off the overdraft which is nearly twice my monthly net salary. It goes into the black once a year when I get a bonus, but I've not been disciplined enough to keep it there.
- If I get a bonus next year (I have every year since 1999), I will not fritter it away on treats and luxuries and technology. I will pretend it doesn't exist and it will dramatically reduce my overdraft, maybe even pay it off completely.
- Once the OD is paid off, every penny left outside the set budget will be swept towards the card I'm focusing on at the end of the month. I'll get more satisfaction from seeing a balance and accruing interest go down than I will from a gingerbread latte from Starbucks.
- All household suppliers have been checked and shifted to make sure I'm on the best deals.
- Have set a food budget over the past couple of months and am finding it relatively easy to stick to. Using up freezer and store cupboard supplies for now, and shopping in Lidl/Farmfoods/local market.
- Have dramatically slashed my personal spend; instead of thinking 'I have X left each month after all bills which is mine,' it's 'I have X for me period each week' and anything left over will be ploughed into the debts.
- My spreadsheet has my current account set out like a bank statement - in/out/balance. I've projected all ins and outs until early 2015 including weekly grocery/personal withdrawals, although no doubt real life will provide the odd hiccup. May be in for a sizeable payrise next July if I get promotion.
- I don't need any new clothes; I will sort through and mend the ones I have.
- Got another spreadsheet tab to log every penny I spend - essentials, cats, household & luxuries (this month I slashed the luxury spend from 32% to 12% of the total, and it will go down further next month).
- Moving to paying cash; have set a grocery & personal amount each week which will be transferred to 2 physical purses. If I don't have the cash in the relevant purse, it's not getting bought.
- Joined the 'POAMAYC 2013' challenge. Have set a conservative target of £6k but am hoping to come close to doubling that.
- All spare change from the purses will go in the terramundi at the end of the week and will be tallied and paid back into the bank at the end of the year.
- No more buying crappy expensive food at work; taking in lunch daily.
- No more Kindle books - eReaderIQ is giving me fabulous stuff for free.
- Set a strict budget for Christmas and not joining in the office dramas like Secret Santa and the endless drinks at Corney & Barrow.
- No need for a travelcard; I have a point-to-point ticket and Oyster for the rare times I'll take the tube or bus. That's an immediate saving of £50+/month towards one of the cards.
- Last payment on gym membership made.
- Have worked out a list of standard food & household items that we buy every month, and where they are cheapest. Going for basic/smartprice/value where possible.
- Being frugal with energy use.
- The only projected social event is The Damned in a couple of weeks and the ticket is already paid for; other than that, I'm a homebird really.
- Going to tackle the veg plots which have been neglected for 3 years due to ill-health and grow as much as possible next year.
- The cats remain a huge expense (£250 month on food, litter and insurance) but I won't take any more on, and the population will gradually reduce as they age. The eldest is coming up to 15, bless him, so I hope he carries on for a few more years yet.
-My personal DFD is early 2015 but I'm going to move heaven and earth to make it happen by the end of 2014 if at all possible.

I've scared DH witless the past couple of days, but he's not ready to tackle his personal debt so I'm not pushing it - that's for him to decide. Very determined now! It's been 14 years since I incurred debt - I will get back to the stage where I don't owe a penny and my lovely salary is mine (ours).

Once that's done, I'm going to tackle overpaying the mortgage; want to pay it off much earlier than the projected 2028. My reward for getting debtfree is going to be to save up for a dream holiday to see the northern lights somewhere - haven't had a holiday in 7 years, not even a weekend away. The only time I've spent away from home has been in hospital or looking after Mum!

Starting balances from now:
Simply Be - £644 - now £0. Closed.
Next - £180 - now £0. Closed.
Overdraft - £6000 - now £0.
Natwest card - £1300 - now £0.
Amex - £4780 - now £0. Closed.
Barclaycard - £5770 - now £0. Closed.
Mint - £9270 - now £0. Closed.

Wish me luck