Another Debt Free Diary :)

Tete_en_l'Air

Morning Elizabeth, good news about the work on Monday ... but are you in work on Tuesday as normal? Eek! Will keep my fingers crossed for you on the lodger front too, would free up a load of cash for you. I second what Ped says about your work ethic, the resourceful ways you've found odd jobs is really an inspiration.

Ped, congratulations on paying off £15k!! Good plan once you've paid off debt to focus on savings rather than getting back into spending habits, although I think everyone shousl have one good splurge as a reward!

ElizabethJH

Hi, well it's pay day finally!! All that means though is that at some point debt will be paid off - nothing to do at the moment, but at least means I have been able to work out what money I've got for the month... well this month... I have double direct debit for train pass to get me back on track, and Orange Bill I'm basically paying two months worth due to their error. If I pay off all this and the pay day loans I'll be at -£250 including no spending money... well I guess that's really quite impossible to do as ok I can somehow earn an extra £200 this month but that'll still leave me at -£50 with no food or entertainment!! so I'm going to renew 2 of the cheques I think and challenge myself to earn an extra £250 in October... what with Mondays work (Yes Tete l'air straight to work on Tuesday for 9am!) I should have made Septembers challenge fairly easily, touch wood my luck with jobs continues!!

The ebay and NSD will go to 12 and 3 in October because I'd like to at least try and make target on them - today's a NSD by the way

Ped - thanks for you message, it's really nice to hear people are reading - sometimes I think I should re read my diary and see what I've done, ok so I could of got the debt down faster, but still there's been a lot of hard work... I do hope that I'll keep the attitude once I've paid it off - I think I'm like you and will save... I think I will ask my Mom to save for me though, as it's easier to lie to yourself then it is to your Mom about why you need the money!

Ok well I'm looking forward to the weekend, I've got a friends 30th on Saturday, but will just have a couple of drinks, and then have walks planned for Saturday and Sunday so they should be cheap days!! Hope everyone has a good weekend and will catch up on Monday

Tete_en_l'Air

Do you really need to renew the cheques? How far are you from your OD limit and could you get that extended? I don't know much about payday loans but I know they're expensive!

ElizabethJH

They're £15 each. My bank won't extend overdraft last time I asked they laughed and said "How have you even got a £1500 overdraft when you've never been a student?" and credit cards etc are all cancelled. I would try and earn enough to cover them - but really I don't think that's going to happen, unless I manage to get some money back off House of Fraser Card? This should be the last month that I have to pay though and i'll be paying off £300 worth this month plus all the extras I'd mentioned... I have until the 7th October to decide what I am going to do with them though, so I'll keep thinking of ways to make the money!!

ped54

Liz, if you can't avoid taking out the loans then don't and don't feel bad about it - just do what you have to do to get through this stage - this is what this is all about! Obviously it would be better not to take them out but if it is unavoidable then do it and just think of it as the next thing you need to get rid of! Like I said - you have made huge headway into your debts - this is just one of them things!

You are good for considering saving when all this stuff is out of the way - if your like me though you might get a bit dispondant about money when you pay it all off. I feel like Ive got back on track recently (mainly through reading diarys like yours believe it or not) but at one point it felt that I might go backwards on myself! I think I speak for everyone in saying that we admire how headstrong you have been in taking on the extra work - most people wouldnt bother. And I love hearing how you work out the week according to meals and what you need where etc! Im starting to think like that again now.

Im off to Italy for a night today. Im a flight attendant so I get to do a bit of travelling for free - even though it does throw up a different set of issues / challenges. Dont think im going to do much tonight though - its not worth spending the money if im honest! Going to relax in my hotel room and read etc! Very cost saving - if not a bit boring!

Hope you are having a good weekend! x

ElizabethJH

Well - weekend wasn't too bad though I spent Saturday Night!! rest was generally shopping and walks that didn't cost anything so that was cool! Also managed to pick up some clothes that my friend was giving to charity so have a new top and shoes for free as well!!

Ped - hope you enjoyed Italy - I know what you mean about going back on yourself... to be honest I've paid off this debt before, living at home with my parents, but the minute I moved out I started spending again! I think I have different priorities in life now and also earn a lot more money then I used to! Wish I'd had this site back 4 years ago though when I could of been doing SOA's and seeing where my money was going instead of ending up where I am now! I don't think I'll be going anywhere once I've paid off the debt either - this diary has definitely helped me be more honest with myself about what I'm spending so I'd be keeping it up!! Kind of wishing could fast forward a couple of months at the moment though, get all the hard work out of the way!

ElizabethJH

PS Letter from House of Fraser they are looking into my query and will reply within 14 days - hope it's quicker then that!!!

ElizabethJH

D*mn it shift has been cancelled - but will be on next Tuesday instead!! Lacking motivation today, but have brought enough food for lunches for the week so planning on not spending the next 4 days!! I was looking forward to working tonight, for the money and the distraction. Need to think of something positive I can do to fill my time instead now!!

Lemon_Tree

sorry to hear about the shift being cancelled. I'm going to challenge myself on NSD's this month, i've just been paid today and have done the budget and it's so squeeky tight it's as if there's a plague of squeeky mice living in my bank accounts. we're just back from a week away, and celebrated our first wedding anniversary yesterday so that's the last of the spending for another month, and at least we didn't put anything on the card from the holiday that we'll need to pay off this month.

Tete_en_l'Air

Hehe love the mice imagery LT!