Clearmydebts - Diary to keep me away from the path of temptation

clearmydebts

Hi all,

I did start a diary a few months ago but seem to have lost it somewhere in the wilderness of DFW so thought I would start another one.

My story: I am 31 and have been married for 2 years. My OH went back to uni last year (intially for 1 year) but has decided to do the 2nd year. We moved last year from Scotland to southern England so he could do the course and also because it was time for a change. Life is really good where we are and his course is going really well.

We got into debt by going on lots of holidays, eating out and generally putting everything on the credit card. We were very very good to ourselves and now we are paying for it by being in debt. My lightbulb moment came in May 2008. I realised that we had been in debt for about 6 years and I don't want to still be in debt in my mid-30's, as 6 years is way too long. I hate the guilty feeling if I go out for something to eat or if I want to buy a top.

The ironic thing is that we have managed to pay off more of our debt when we are on 1 wage than when we were both working. I feel so angry when I think of the wages we earned in Scotland and how much of a good life we could be having if we weren't so stupid.

However, I think my OH being in uni has been a sharp learning curve for us and when he does go back to work next July/Aug we will be in a great position to really make good headway on our debts. In the meantime, I am going to try and pay off as much as I can. I did an SOA in the last post so will put it up if I can find it. I work part-time for AQA and am signed up to dooyoo, quidco, lightspeed etc. I am now a convert to the 'every bit helps' and love seeing my debt going down.

I do have a weakness for all things lovely though, especially cheap flights, so I am hoping that this diary will help re-focus me and prevent me from straying. My debt is around £30,000 at the moment and would love to have it reduced to £18,000 by the time my OH finishes uni in July 2009.

Thats all for now. Hope I haven't bored everyone!!!

clearmydebts

Well have 5875 miles on Dooyoo. Wrote one review this morning and need to motivate myself to write another one this evening. Have already managed to buy 2 Xmas presents for OH and 1 for MIL with dooyoo and all the other survey sites I am on. Need to get 20,000 miles to get a present for the parents. Dooyoo has been brilliant for Xmas presents. I have decided to give myself a bit of a break in December and use my AQA money towards the rest of my Xmas presents and for socialising at Xmas and just pay off the minimum on my cards.

clearmydebts

Well, all my college fees are paid off now (£490). It is only a part-time course but it feels great to have that paid for the year.

Am only up to 6615 points on dooyoo. I can't seem to motivate myself to write another review at the moment. I will try and do a couple over the weekend. I have made a few suggestions of reviews so can write them when they are approved.


Have done up my work expenses too and am owed £65 so I will pay that off my credit card. There is only £296 left on 1 credit card and would love to clear it within the next month. I also need to write and close my other credit cards that have no balance as I'm sure that won't be good for my credit rating, having a few floating around. Does anyone know if you can write and cancel them or do you have to ring? I don't even know where some of the credit cards are.

Miss_314

clearmydebts wrote: »

Does anyone know if you can write and cancel them or do you have to ring? I don't even know where some of the credit cards are.

Hi there clearmydebts. Just read your diary and wanted to post so you don't just think ou're talking to yourself and to say good luck with clearing your debts.

I'm not totally sure about this question as I think you can do both depending on the terms and conditions but generally the standad is that companies prefer to have written notification. Check your original terms & conditions in your paperwork and if that fails (i.e. if you've lost/thrown away the original paperwork) then maybe check online to see if the companies have card T&Cs posted on their websites that includes how to cancel?

Best of luck x

clearmydebts

Hi Miss_314

Thanks for replying, it did feel like I was talking to myself for a while there! I think I still have the paperwork so I will have a look tonight. Thanks for that, my brain was asleep I think! At least if I do that this weekend I will feel like I have gotten rid of some of the temptation to spend!

beanielou

Hope it all goes well for you.
You seem very motivated.

clearmydebts

Thanks Beanielou,

Am feeling very motivated this week and have signed up to a new challenge as well so that will keep me going. The first goal is to get below 20k as we have been in debt of around the 24k mark for about 3 years so it will be nice to reach that. It might take a while though!

yukkibear

Just wanted to say Hi and good luck with your debt busting. With Dooyoo I find writing the reviews before I suggest the category really takes the pressure off when they let you know you can write it.

Also when you're in a writing mood or have the time etc, write them and just save them in word for backup for when you have less time

Lula-Hula

Hi, just popping in to wish you good luck with the debt busting & the paper hat challenge

lula x

clearmydebts

Yukkibear,

That's a great idea. Thanks for that. I will do the reviews when I am in the mood and then save them on word. That will defo take off the pressure!

clearmydebts

Thanks Lula-hula