American Dreamers' Debt Free Diary

chevalier

there is a thread on here called a payment a day, where people commit to making a payment, no matter how small, off their debts each day. Perhaps it would help you keep your motivation, if you set up one of your debts such that you paid £4.77 off it each day of non smoking. Then not only would you not be smoking, but you would be seeing a positive financial impact from not smoking too, if you see what i mean.

good luck keep strong
chev

PercyPig

I am just back from the shops and I am glad to say there are only two 2L bottles of coke and no cigarettes. I entered the shop still uncertain of what I would leave with.

Hi there - just wanted to say you are doing brilliantly. I admire you very much for giving up drinking and smoking at the same time. I am currently struggling with food addiction so I know how hard these things can be. I totally identify with your statement above - that sums up every shopping trip for me! I really need to start meal planning and making shopping lists to get me out of this horrible cycle of eating junk food and rubbish.

Anyway didn't mean to hijack your thread - you sound very motivated. I am sure you will do well :j

Percy

tirlittan

Hi American Dreamer.You are doing brilliantly. Congrats for that. I would just say, don't try to do to much at once. Maybe have priorities, like number one being not smoking and drinking, but don't push yourself too much on the fitness and learning spanish regime. Start them slow and don't expect too much at the start. You need to pace yourself. Then if you don't get the exact results you want on fitness regime, you know you are still doing brilliantly as you haven't been smoking. Be kind to yourself. And all the best with your journey.

Piquant_2

Hi American Dreamer

Just to echo what Chevalier has said the payment a day challenge is a great way of whittling down the debt, just to put some of your cigarette savings against it would be very motivating. I have shaved quite a chunk of my debt doing this, figure's in my signature.

Good luck

Piq

American_Dreamer_2

I know some of you will say the the money I have saved by not smoking (£21.47) should be going towards reducing my debts, but surely one wee 'initial reward' ain't a bad thing... is it.

Basically, I saw a 'Senseo Coffee Machine' reduced to £26.00 from £48.99 and I have always wanted to buy one. Also I find a coffee helps take my mind of not smoking so if I use it as a tool to strengthen my resolve then its definitely worth it. I got myself some clubcard points also.

Day 4 of my quit now and I feel 10x better than last night. It was so difficult I am really surprised and proud for making it through. Its my birthday on Sunday (24 btw) and I have calculated that by my 25th birthday I will have saved £2158.52 ( thats around 16% of my current debt!!!)

Feeling good right now, think I will go and do a DooYoo review on my new machine lol :T

American_Dreamer_2

Well I am around 4 hours and 37 minutes away from entering my 2nd week as a non smoker and other than day 3, its not been too bad.
Most people trying to quit the evil weed struggle with the cravings. What I try to do is make them moments of 'rememberance' (of what I used to do to myself and the stupid amounts of money wasted).
There is an internal gratitude that I have eventually found the will to break this horrific habit and change my life for the better.

The drink hasn't been a problem. The issue that I have with alcohol is the fact that my father died an alcoholic at the age of 44. A few family members from my dad's side have also gone that way. So when I found myself drinking 4 packs every week night and overdoing it at the weekend (memory blanks and daft behaviour), I knew I had to do something. The problem was that I came to this realisation a long, long time ago. Its only since October 17th that I have done something about it. Also, like a lot of people, when I drank I smoked like a chimney. Absolutely awful!!!

Still not been to the gym yet although I will be sorting that tomorrow. I decided, as a farewell to my old sedentry habits, to watch a couple of movies and scoff some popcorn. I will be throwing myself right into the fitness routine from tomorrow onwards.

Hmmmmm..... need to start getting my £3 a day tally up before the months out :eek:

dND

Just to say well done on your challenge so far. I was also going to suggest the payment a day thread - what about half to debt repayment and half to treat box to keep the motivation high.

Here's to a successful second week.

Deborah

American_Dreamer_2

I went into my local bank to deposit £11.26 in order to make sure I didn't receive a fine. One of my credit card direct debits comes out tomorrow at the same time as my wages go in but I didn't want to risk the d/d coming out first because we know how sneaky the banks can be.

Anyway whilst doing this the teller noted that my loan with them was a year old and would I like to apply for an new loan to consolidate my existing loan, overdraft and credit card. Now I know consolidating isn't the best option but I was curious so went through the process.

The interest on my current loan is 8.9%.... guess what the new loans interest rate was going to be over 3 years..... 25.9%!!!!:eek:

I actually started laughing as I couldn't believe the absolute cheek of them. The worrying thing is though maybe 7 or 8 months ago, without my time trawling through this forum, I would have probally gone for it.

In anycase I am in the process of switching to A & L to take advantage of the 0% overdraft. Thing is though, they have set my OD at £450 but I really need it to match my current OD of £1300. Tbh honest I am really just looking forward to starting a fresh with a new bank going into 2009. Its a big year for me DFW-wise !!! I am hoping to clear around 9K of my overall debt:D

Still not smoking or drinking :T although I haven't been to the gym yet or contributed to my DooYoo.... yikes:eek:

American_Dreamer_2

Well tomorrow takes me into my third week of not smoking which feels great. I was so close to caving on day three and I am really pleased that I just went to sleep instead. I have now saved £90.63 in the 14 days that I have not smoked......whooooaaaa!!!

I managed to go to the pub on Friday for about an hour and a half. I had two cans of coke and found standing outside with the smokers a breeze, so to speak. Also being able to drive home was awesome.

Still waiting for my A & L account to be set up and I really don't have a lot of patience with these things but alas I have no choice. Hopefully this time next week my Bank of Scotland current account will be settled and closed with the overdraft being with A & L at 0% for 12 months.

We shall see

American_Dreamer_2

Well didn't quite get the £1300 O.D. I was looking for from A+L but went ahead with the setup anyway and I am nearly up and running. I can now say with confidence that my debts will be paid off as follows:

HBoS Overdraft £1300 - Jan 09 :j

Halifax C/C £1330 - Apr 09

Barclaycard £2813.76 - Jul 09

Dell £921.06 - Sep 09

HBoS Loan £6942.54 - Mar 10

I have a new credit card which I will be using for 99% of my purchases and I shall clear that in full every month.... in my mind I reckon I will spend less and its also makes it easy to keep track of my spending.

Still not smoking :j :j :T or drinking... :eek: :mad: