It's not rocket science, so why don't I get it?

miss_corerupted

oooo eastenders love life spill the details!!

MrsAudus2b

Hi Piq!

Just dropping in to say hi, pleased you posted your diary today, I did look out for it yesterday.

Lots of luck, will be following xxxx :grouphug:

debtdesperado

Hi Piquant... I was in the same boat and then it was pointed out to me that I was going to frazzle myself silly trying to worry and do everything at once!

My tip is slow down and take babysteps... work out what you can afford to pay off the debt each month (and if you're worried about redundancy, you have to consider what cash you have stashed away for a rainy day and whether this needs to be added to, depending on your circumstances), do the snowball thing and take a careful note of the debt free day...see how far away it is.

Now adjust it so it's realistic so that you can live (eg, you might want to cut yourself some slack and promise yourself that you can get a new horse in 3 years time (or whenever) once your debt is down to £5k rather than zero?).

The debt free date get a bit further away, but no matter! Then try living on your budget for a couple of months. Keep going over? Adjust your debt payment again, do the snowball and come up with a fresh debt free day. Don't worry if it seems a long time away - because it's realistic, you will hit it rather than crash and burn in a few months because you're sick of living by candlelight, eating value pasta and not going out etc!

It's taken me 4 months to really work out an accurate budget, and to get the balance of debt repayment v having a life, which has really surprised me.

Slow and steady, I have discovered, will win the race :-)

Piquant_2

hypno06 wrote: »

GAH to the credit card online thingy!! How frustrating when these things get thrown at us - do they not realise we have challenges to complete

Up until August, I was hit with bank charges every single month, because I was not realistic in what I needed to keep BEFORE I started making overpayments...........since I became more honest with myself about things, I have managed not to incur any bank charges or late fees etc at all, which is very good if you knew my past track record.

So, my saving grace has been to buy a separate diary - one page a day, but handbag size, where every day i write in my current balances, what still has to go out, what is still due in (eg quidco cash, mystery shopping money) etc, so I can see at any point what my shortfall is, or whether I can afford to make an overpayment that day.

It really has helped - I am pants at keeping a spending diary or a spreadsheet, but this diary thing works really well for me.

It is all about finding what works for you - give something a try and if it doesn't work, ditch it and don't get stressed about it. If it does work, then stick with it!

Many thanks for the advice Hypno, very gratefully received. This is the first charge I've had for a very long time and I'm cross with myself for being careless. I just got carried away with the whole overpayment lark! I will be more realistic and throw the extra at the debt at the end of month, rather than the beginning! My spreadsheet helps a lot, I've listed everything, be it weekly, monthly or annual spend. All I need to do is factor in the unexpected....

I've found having no cash on me, whatsoever, really helps too....

Piquant_2

miss_corerupted wrote: »

oooo eastenders love life spill the details!!

I will, as I get into the swing of things! The problem is, the story is long enough to merit its own thread....

rog2

Piquant wrote: »

I've found having no cash on me, whatsoever, really helps too....

Certainly helps me, piq.

Piquant_2

MrsAudus2b wrote: »

Hi Piq!

Just dropping in to say hi, pleased you posted your diary today, I did look out for it yesterday.

Lots of luck, will be following xxxx :grouphug:

Will do my best to make it a worthy read for you MrsAudus2b! :hello:Will, of course, still see you on our thread in the mornings...

SiannieLaz

Just wanted to say good luck Piq!
I'm in the same situation job wise, my current contract finishes in March so will be job hunting straight after xmas. Meanwhile i'm selling everything not nailed down in my flat and whacking it all in a savings account.
Will be reading with interest as you'll no doubt help me be good!!!

Piquant_2

rog2 wrote: »

Certainly helps me, piq.

Actually, it's one of the best tips I've got, all the £3 or £4 a day soon add up, but I'm too embarrassed to put them on my card! Before I started this debt free journey I would have been too embarrassed to put £3 on a card, so would have bought a couple of other items to round the total up to a decent amount!!:o:o


Hmmmm and I wonder where all the debt came from....

MrsAudus2b

It certainly will be a worthy read!
Oh and by the way,have I ever said that I am the biggest fan of Eastenders ever?! (So much so that I have bought 'Inside Soap' this afternoon to read all about the xmas storylines!) So I am very much looking forward to some you expanding on some real-life plot lines!

xxxx