NEW - pay off £20,000 (ish) by Christmas 2009

mel19632

I had a very exciting Monday evening which I had forgotten about until Batfinks comment about leaving lights on...I got one of those electricity meter things from British Gas which tells you how much you have spent (in total) and how much per hour you are spending! I love it (my boyf thinks I am mad). I get a small thrill every time I turn a light off and see the price per hour drop! (I'm a loser I know...)

Anyway, well done to everyone and keep up the good work!

hypno06

I've got an energy monitor too - I love being able to see the numbers go down when the lights get turned off!

pania

Not a looser at all hon. I remember when hypno first got one and i went for a coffee.. it was facinating and i cant wait to get my own place again just so i can have one!!

Anyway. I have just spent a scaaaary amount of money, my unemployment cheque cleared today but has come in and gone back out again as soon as it arrived!! but i am now up to date with my all my bills..

And an extra £250 off my debt! yay!

Gordita

I'm a newby but have been looking for ideas to get the credit card debts reduced. What a great challenge...I have £12k with Virgin and £3.6k with HSBC (pluss a bank loan ) and have been feeling really sorry for myself about it...this is great motivation to see so many people taking the bull by the horns and taking control of their money rather than letting the companies dictate.

It is this credit card/loan debt that is stopping me from living the life I want- the plan is to move to Argentina but until I can clear my debts, I am in limbo, so really must be strict! Does anyone else have any huge life change plans that are being stopped by debt? Would be interested to hear ..
Good luck everyone :T

Batfink

Thanks guys - I like the idea of an energy meter. But you see - the spend-a-holic in me wants a Wattson that lights up in pretty colours.....

x

P.S. Thanks Gordita - it's not too late to join us if you feel the urge? We'd make you very welcome.

misselvis

just wanted to say hello and congrats to everyone. recieved my statements for some of my credit cards and its feels so good to see the balance going down and me not being able to spend my freshly acquired amounts as mum is holding onto my cards. contacted additions to reduce my limit so roll on the challenge

additions £100 balance £1100 reduced from 1500 apr 39%
vanquis £100 Balance £500 reduced from 750 apr 36%
halifax £70
Hsbc £60
student loan £90
mum £90

haven't included the mortgage. the aim is throw money at these ones and then snowball the payments onto the other three. my mum is just happy i am paying off £1000 I owe her. have a good one folks

misselvis proud to be dealing with her debts

Gordita

It's great to see so many people doing so well...
Sadly my interest free deals are at an end, and I can't get another 0% balance transfer...so it feels like am banging my head against a wall. Seriously miscalculated how the interest is worked out, and even though am not spending on the nasty cards anymore, the amount owed still goes up each month. Yikes!
Hypno- Please add me to gthe list...I'm going to take up the challenge to pay off £5k... credit card company keep throwing banana skins at me to trip up on and I cannot wait for the day I can tell them to cancel my account. If I see myself in black and white on the list, then I HAVE to do it
You're all an inspiration and I'm so glad to have found this forum :beer:

Gordita

richestorags wrote: »

Awww, thanks. It's good to hear you are coping with two youngsters - it gives me heart (as I can't look after myself!)

As for the car, I will shed a tear when it goes, but needs must and through this site I have learnt that the material things in life aren't so important. I'd rather a nil balance of debt than a plush motor right now. (That can come later....;).....paid for in cash not credit)

I couldn't agree more...all of the things that I thought were important a few years ago, are now broken/out of fashion/thrown away long ago, but am still paying for them. From now on for me, it's the experiences, and simple things in life rather than the material things that I will value. Nice handbags and expensive cosmetics did not make my life any better, but are now hindering my life more than I could have ever realised when I was naively spending on credit cards...
It's good to have that reality check now and again...
Congrats on baby :cheesy:

taxi73

Just paid £100 off my CC to bring my outstanding balance below £30k...it's nice to be in the 20s now.
I love these challenges..they are great to keep us motivated..well done everyone x

hypno06

I've paid two normal loan payments today, so my debt has reduced by £581