On a mission to free myself of debt...

Exerbusi

Thanks for the advice!

I was going to look at A&L but not sure about them. Will need to check out their credit card deals.

Exerbusi

Well I applied for a credit card with Barclays and they are postponing a decision.

Oh dear - hope that doesn't mean impending doom! I am hoping they just need a bit more info before making a decision.

miggy

Exerbusi wrote: »

It is now in a stock pot forming the basis for the next few meals!
quote]

Hi, you seem to be making great strides, well done!
I noticed your 'rubber chicken' (stretchy!) in there amongst all the bank things so you are obviously clued up about making food go further. Just in case you haven't yet discovered it, may I recommend you to the 'old style' board, where there are more money-saving recipes than you could possibly ever use I would particularly recommend Weezl's threads - if you look at the beginning of the one I linked to you will see links to her earlier threads. The old-stylers have lots of practical ideas for other areas of life in addition to food.
Keep up the good work: if you continue at the present rate, that house will be yours before you know it!

Exerbusi

Hey Miggy - thanks for the reply!

I am really enjoying this money-saving thing. I intend to post on here every day to keep myself focussed on it. This forum is particularly interesting as there is something to aspire to - a tangible goal - being DEBT FREE!

As for the recipes, I can cook, but I am certainly no chef! I could always use a bit of advice and will definitely look at the links you posted.

My money-saving journey should be fairly straightforward (I hope!). I am a 25 year old single guy and have just moved to a new area, so my social circle is quite small, meaning expensive nights out are rare! I am working hard at my job and there is talk of a promotion within the next few months,which would come with a pay rise - that would be nice!

The next thing is an outgoing to the tune of £220 per month which should stop in the next few weeks! That would be a MASSIVE boost to my savings! I would be able to really pay off lots of debt with that taken care of!

I am tempted to post my actual debts on my signature as added motivation.

miggy

Hi again,

You wouldn't be the first person to get addicted to money-saving !

Re: the recipes, I am in the same boat as you: can cook but Jamie Oliver's job is safe from me... however what you will find are lots of good ideas for using really cheap ingredients in a way that still feeds you well. Weezle is particularly good at spending only pence but still cooming up with really good stuff, some of which sounds fairly gourmet.

I noticed lots of people put their debts or whatever else they are working on, in the sig line, and it seems to help as long as you don't get bogged down and discouraged (in which case the best thing might be to put the lapse down to experience and just start again where you are?) But in your case you could already balance a signature about actual debts with a 'total saved' line which would be brilliant!

£220 to fall off your outgoings in a few weeks - wow! In excess of two and a half grand a year! No wonder you are looking forward to it.

I noticed you said you are new to your area so you don't know that many people yet... maybe you could plan to get involved in something that you know won't cost you much? Maybe volunteer for something if that appeals? Or there are bound to be other things that don't involve spending out. When I read your age and situation I was reminded of this thread; Ciara who wrote it was in a not-dissimilar situation to yours except that her debt was larger and her job wasn't going well. How she turned things around completely inside a year and went on to a very rosy future is a really inspirational read. She doesn't post any more - I don't know why that is but I'm hoping it's because she's got caught up in all the good stuff that was about to happen when she last posted! She certainly cleared all her debts and part of the diary is how she moved to a new area and new job. You will also see lots of good ideas people gave her to cut her outgoings, though you wouldn't necessarily need to go to the lengths she went to.

Okay, this answer got longer than I meant it to so I'll disappear for now.
Sending you a Martin to keep you on track
:money:

Exerbusi

Once again, Miggy, thanks!

I have just moved to a new area, but my industry is VERY social so I am not short of invites out, I am just politey declining them as I don't want to spend too much money!

Part of the appeal of this site is the fact that so many people are in the same boat, and then there are the people who have been there and come out the other side, richer for the experience!

I appreciate how lucky I am compared to some here - my debt is less than £8000 and I am in stable employment. I have no kids and a plan! I just need to keep myself on track! Will read Ciara's thread for more inspiration!

Today I achieved loads at work, didn't spend any money and managed to make a few decisions about my financial future!

All good!

Exerbusi

I have just finished reading Ciara's thread, and have to say what a lovely, inspirational and deservedly debt-free woman she comes across as. Although she had lots of help from her sister, she appreciates this in her thread.

I am inspired to do the same now!

Although I have very little time to work another job (I already do around 60 hours per week), I will work as hard as I possibly can in my current one to make sure any potential promotions are moved forward!

I am super-inspired now!

Exerbusi

I was in work this morning at 6.45, stayed for 45 mins and have earned myself £15 for my troubles. Add to that the £312 off my loan I am going to sign for today and I have made a nice little dent in my debt!

I found out a couple of days ago that I have £300 in a savings account that will mature at the end of the month, so I will put that somewhere - not sure whether or not to pay it off my credit card or put it in the bank and reduce my overdraft by a large slice - probably put it on the card as it may be eaten up in charges if I use it in the bank!

I will hopefully hear from Barclaycard sooner rather than later if they can sort out some kind of deal for me with the credit card - hoping for 0% but they may say no! Fingers crossed though!

Pay day in 6 days, so I am looking forward to that. Hoping it should be a good month as I have overtime plus bonuses coming my way. Aiming not to spend any money until a friend comes to stay later in the month, and that may result in an expensive few days as I have numerous birthdays to buy for too!

Exerbusi

I am now on my 4th no spend day, and am really getting into it. If I had lived this way before I would be rich by now!

My mind is wandering to the day when I will actually have to spend something though! I am loving the fact that my days are largely 'free' at the moment, and it will be a bit of a wrench when I have to part with some money!

Exerbusi

My debt-busting dat today looks as follows....

1. Push work-appointments together so I don't need to make as mnay car trips, saving me petrol.

2. Take my laptop into work so I can use their electricity to get on with stuff I need to do!

3. Print a couple of copies of a document I have written in work, saving my papaer and ink.

4. Eat the rest of the large batch of risotto I made last night, and use one of my store cupboard soup tins for lunch.

5. Aiming for a 4th consecutive NSD!