My diary... becoming debt free whilst still having a life!!!

rubydoiwannabee

Hello everyone!! Again apologies for not writing more often, no excuse really other than life!!

I have spent the afternoon looking at our finances and boy it is depressing, we are coming up to the 1 year anniversary since I joined MSE and started this rigid regime of living within our means!! We are in for the longhaul I always knew that and I think we have done fairly well considering when we started our monthly outgoings were higher than our income but I have just added up over the year that when we have paid June's standing orders etc towards our debts our debt will only have reduced by £4335.50!!!!!!*** At the same rate it means we still have 3years + but under four years before we are debt free, and I won't even mention the mortgage..........

Things are so tight, we never, ever go out, all the kids activities have stopped, our food bill is never more than £70 a week for the four of us....blah, blah. The only answer is to earn more money and in this climate.

Oh I am sorry to be doom and gloom my friends but it is tough.... are you all feeling it too?

SH - any news on the job front? I will skip over to your thread in a minute.

SC, YB, IC, how are you all doing?

On a positive note we have shoots coming through in our veg patch and all the pots I planted with summer flowers are starting to slowly bloom.

Love and best wishes to you all.

xxxxxx

Happytogetdebtfree

ruby ruby rubyyyyy chin up girl how nice to see you on here i lost the thread i joined with you in,.. yes im feeling the gloom but one must keep going and hoping it will somehow improve lol xxx im getting married in 14 weekes woooo woooo soon il be chucking what im chucking at wedding on debt i cant wait xxxx

rubydoiwannabee

Hi HTGDF, thanks for replying. You are right hope and keep going is the best I can do. Congratulations on the wedding I bet you are busy organising?

Happytogetdebtfree

nearly organised just to send invites finalise order of service pick menu etc etc its very ooo stressy i just want it done with all ready lol im just having a steady sunday back on a night tomorrow and working all bank holiday weekend how rude !! x

savingholmes

Hi Ruby - I think you have a lot on your plate right now... £4K plus is a great start! Just think you were adding to your debt before and now you are clearing it! If I don't get a job soon it will take me about 7 years to pay my remaining debt!

I do have a final informal interview tomorrow but it is for a temp job much less than I want to earn. I will probably take it if offered but carry on looking for a better perm job!

Hope things start to improve for you soon!

sistercas

Ruby dont kick yourself , you have done incredibly well so far. this was never going to be an easy journey, but it is a journey which will come to an end.
I know how hard it is reining in every penny, maybe you could just have a little treat once a month , you need to have something that the family can look forward to.
keep positive , you are an inspiration, i think £4000 plus is a fantastic amount to have pulled back.

we are in a similar position, kids activities reduced to minimum, food down to a minimum. however we do have the occasional treat, I have just seen john barrowman in concert ( I adore him ) and that will keep me going for a while, I managed to get some free tickets through sky to go and see last chance harvey at the cinema at the end of the month, I shall just take some homemade snacks with us

that said DH still hasnt quite come to terms with moneysaving and he can knock the debt repayment back in one fell swoop:rolleyes: but i keep going and you must too. I honestly dont know what i would have done without the support from you . SH and the others and the whole MSE website.

try and come on your diary if you can, we are always here on one thread or another.
(((hugs))) to you keep your chin up xx

savingholmes

Ruby - SC is right - we will all get there one way or another - one day! I am subscribed to your thread so I will always see if you reply - it may take a few hours, or an occasional day to see your response - but we are still here from you. Hope your brother and his partner are doing well too...

God bless

rubydoiwannabee

Thanks my dear friends, I feel better already. I must count my blessings more!! You are all so supportive, coming back more often will do me good.

A BIG THANK YOU

We threw all caution to the wind and had a takeaway and bottle of wine tonight and the world feels like a better place....
xxxxxxx

Happytogetdebtfree

Ruby good morning keep positive we are only human after all and we arent built to live like cave people just living on basics when we have tasted the high life so be very proud of what you have done so far your journey with debt will come to an end one day as will everybody elses.... i may not be getting rid of masses of debt but i havent used a credit card since last year so that in its self is a huge achievement.... i had teh debate last night when you feel like crap its very hard to visualise in a few years time been debt free because its the hear and now thats getting you down and it doesnt help me thinking of the future i said unless i can see a set instone scenario i am going to have my sad mood and get over it and i did today and earlier eve i felt fabulous i mean by the end of the year il have 56 k or less debt just by doing minimum payments so imagine what i could do it i just added an extra 100 in..... i get frustrated because im paying the wedding and let me tell you id get more satisfaction wiping a credit card that clearing my wedding it should not be feeling like that but cest la vie i will be reassessing figures end of may what fun :Dxxx

sistercas

Ruby how are you feeling today? I'm glad you had the takeaway and wine,it will have done you good (psychologically anyway )

happytobedebtfree congrats on the wedding, when is it?

i have had a day off today, I have cleaned the house top to bottom , caught up with the washing ,made a cottage pie for tea tonight and a chilli for tomorrow :A :rotfl:
my veggies look they are doing well, i hope it continues although its been so wet i havent been in the garden for ages

off to do the kids uniforms for tomorrow - take care xx