Time to strap on some big boy pants

As the title says, it's time for me to strap on some big boy pants and deal with my debt once and for all.

So dear gentle reader, a bit about myself and how I got where I am.

I live with partner and stepson 8, and have 2 daughters 9 & 10 from previous marraige who stay every alternate weekend (and on occasion during week) and part of school holidays. Familiar story, of working hard and playing hard when younger and not savingn. Roll forward a few years got married, bought a flat, then moved into a bigger house etc. We then moved to a different part of the country (sold house and rented) and found ourselves in financial woes due to various loans etc. Went through sequestration and all that was involved in that. Then payday loans were discovered, which became a bit more of a habit. Rolling forward, split with ex (nothing to do with money), and I moved out to a rented place. As i didnt take anything from house (didnt want to leave them short of anything), I had to get stuff for place I moved into, and guess where I got "help" to buy things from? Yes you're right.

So kind of ambled along just managing, switching account to FD to take advantage of free OD and get money for switching to them, got a CC with intent to use it for fuel and pay off in full every month to try and help rebuild my credit rating (now have 2, another rambling story), didnt quite work out like that.

So fast forward, I met my OH, they eventually moved in, and life is good, apart from the debt (my debt).

So after the flickering, light bulb eventually switched on, i'm on a mission. According to snowball calcualator, i'll be debt free by March 2018, **** that for a game of soldiers, I want it done a lot sooner. I now have a plan of sorts after reading peoples diaries for almost a week solid lol.

tl;dr Was an idiot with money when young, didn't save, got caught up in loans etc later on in life, realise i'm fair bit of debt and want it gone.

So from now until payday my list is:

Create spreadheet for finances
Start DFW Diary - I need to get my spending habits written down and be held to account by the collective
Declutter house - It's really getting on my nerves now
Make list of stuff that I can sell
Start doing flylady stuff
Meal plan for next month with OH

After payday I will:
Record every spend - this I think is viatl for me, as I never truly know what my money is spent on, and I "SHOULD" have plenty of money left each month after paying bills etc
Check accounts daily
Update spreadsheet daily

There is probably more I will add.

At 23/05/2017
Current outstanding Debt: £3,641.50
CC Halifax: £1,061.19 Aim to clear by Mar-18
CC Capital One: £1,120.39 Aim to clear by Feb-18
Loan: £1,459.92 Aim to clear by Dec-17

Comments

  • Jack_Harper
    Jack_Harper Posts: 14
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    Forgot to add to original post, I made some overpayments last month to Cap One CC, and felt so proud of myself, I have never made an overpayment before, and I couldnt stop checking the account online lol. Anyone else get like this? Or am I just a dafty
  • Jack_Harper
    Jack_Harper Posts: 14
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    Create spreadheet for finances - DONE
    Start DFW Diary - I need to get my spending habits written down and be held to account by the collective - DONE
    Declutter house - It's really getting on my nerves now
    Make list of stuff that I can sell
    Start doing flylady stuff
    Meal plan for next month with OH
  • UncannyScot
    UncannyScot Posts: 2,070
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    Hello and welcome... :D
    You have a plan and the will to see it through, you'll be fine
    Will follow your progress :D
    BUGGRITMILLENIUMHANDANDSHRIMP I TOLD EM! - Foul Ole Ron
    It is important that we know where we come from, because if you do not know where you come from, then you do not know where you are, and if you don't know where you are, then you don't know where you are going. If you don't know where you're going, you're probably going wrong.
    R.I.P. T.P.
  • Hiddenidenity
    Hiddenidenity Posts: 5,423 Forumite
    Hello and welcome look forward to following :D
  • Jack_Harper
    Jack_Harper Posts: 14
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    Thanks for the support, much appreciated. Off to watch school sports day this morning, as son taking part. Wonder if I could set up a book amongst the parents and make some money :-D
  • jwil
    jwil Posts: 18,828
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    Good luck! Overpaying is definitely addictive, and also for me rounding to the £ so there are no odd pence on the account :D
    "If you can dream it, you can do it". Walt Disney
  • Jack_Harper
    Jack_Harper Posts: 14
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    jwil wrote: »
    Good luck! Overpaying is definitely addictive, and also for me rounding to the £ so there are no odd pence on the account :D
    Ha, I get you with that. It doesn't help your OCD much does it lol
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