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My Olympic Challenge
Lewby
Posts: 449 Forumite
Some of you may remember me, judging by the number of DFW Nerds now listed many of you won't, but I'm inspired by you all to get back into my MSE ways and clear our debt once and for all!
I have spent the day today updating my spreadsheets and now know exactly how in debt we are ... not a pretty picture I'm afraid but no more burying our heads - we have to get it cleared and will be committed (with your help) to getting 'back into training'! It feels like going back to 'basic training' to be honest. I did really well in 2007 and managed to get into some really good habits ... meal planning, using cash, using savings pots and shopping wisely - but well and truly fell off the wagon.
I have spent the last two days re-accquainting myself with the boards and have truly been humbled by how many of us there are, all striving to be debt free and in control of our lives again. I have used the snowball to work out our DFD and it's June 2012 - hence my 'Olympic Challenge'. I have been in debt all of my adult life and now my daughter wants to go to Uni next year and I want to be in a position to help her!
I don't intend this to be a diary as such but will occassionally remind myself of today (and what I hope will be my final LBM) by refreshing it. I hope to, no will go back to it in 2012 and celebrate being debt free - how lovely does that sound.
Happy New Year all and good luck to us!
Lewby xx
I have spent the day today updating my spreadsheets and now know exactly how in debt we are ... not a pretty picture I'm afraid but no more burying our heads - we have to get it cleared and will be committed (with your help) to getting 'back into training'! It feels like going back to 'basic training' to be honest. I did really well in 2007 and managed to get into some really good habits ... meal planning, using cash, using savings pots and shopping wisely - but well and truly fell off the wagon.
I have spent the last two days re-accquainting myself with the boards and have truly been humbled by how many of us there are, all striving to be debt free and in control of our lives again. I have used the snowball to work out our DFD and it's June 2012 - hence my 'Olympic Challenge'. I have been in debt all of my adult life and now my daughter wants to go to Uni next year and I want to be in a position to help her!
I don't intend this to be a diary as such but will occassionally remind myself of today (and what I hope will be my final LBM) by refreshing it. I hope to, no will go back to it in 2012 and celebrate being debt free - how lovely does that sound.
Happy New Year all and good luck to us!
Lewby xx
** Official DFW Nerd Club Member 009**
Total Debt 01/02/11 [STRIKE] £64,912 [/STRIKE] 01/04/16 [STRIKE]£32,700[/STRIKE] 01/01/19 £0 :j
Total Debt 01/02/11 [STRIKE] £64,912 [/STRIKE] 01/04/16 [STRIKE]£32,700[/STRIKE] 01/01/19 £0 :j
NSD's for Feb 01/15 GC £0 / £300
0
Comments
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That does sound lovely! I look forward to reading about your successes frequently. Good luck! Here's to 2012 for the both of us!Debt @ LBM 29/12/08 - £49044! Now £44684.Fat loss 29/85lbs // £100 into £10k £243.07/£10kHSBC Loan 9658 // HSBC CC 3484 // HSBC CC 1464 // DP's 779 // Car 0% 4851 // Halifax OD 1348 // HSBC OD 1.5k // HSBC OD 1k // Barclays OD 400 // IOMOM 4400 // S Loan 15k // Cap1 £8000
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What an amazing feeling it is to phone up the bank and say that you want to cancel your £3,000 overdraft! They asked me all sorts of questions about why and how have I managed to get back into credit - and didn't seem to believe me when I said we'd saved the money and got back into the black for the first time in 3 years!
We have been slowly whittling it down and haven't actually used the full £3k for a while but they still were charging us £38 a month for the priviledge of having it sat there .... so now in true DFW style - it's gone and no more bank charges. Now I've just got to tackle the debts but at least we are now living within our means and if we can't afford it we're not having it!! It's a really psychological thing to not be overdrawn as when we are I just think 'oh well a bit further into the OD doesn't matter'. Now we will be working within a credit balance - which could be a shock to everyone as we have never said 'no we can't afford it' hence the debt!
Just had to share this amazing feeling with you all and thanks again for the inspiration to get back in control!
Lewby xx :T** Official DFW Nerd Club Member 009**
Total Debt 01/02/11 [STRIKE] £64,912 [/STRIKE] 01/04/16 [STRIKE]£32,700[/STRIKE] 01/01/19 £0 :jNSD's for Feb 01/15 GC £0 / £3000 -
WOW! Congratulations! I dream of the day...
Debt @ LBM 29/12/08 - £49044! Now £44684.Fat loss 29/85lbs // £100 into £10k £243.07/£10kHSBC Loan 9658 // HSBC CC 3484 // HSBC CC 1464 // DP's 779 // Car 0% 4851 // Halifax OD 1348 // HSBC OD 1.5k // HSBC OD 1k // Barclays OD 400 // IOMOM 4400 // S Loan 15k // Cap1 £8000 -
Good work
society fools us to beleive that we the consumer have to have the best which often is the most expensive. I firmly beleive that I am happier now than I have ever been dispite having second hand furniture, second hand T.V and the amazing feeling I am dealing with my debt.
I wish you all the best in 20090 -
congratulation on getting rid of the overdraft, i'm aiming to see the back of mine this year and it will be 10 years since i was last overdraft free.0
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Congratulations on waving "bye bye" to the overdraft! Must feel brilliant!!!
I have rather a large overdraft and hope to clear it during 2009. My DFD is scheduled for July 2012 so I'm looking forward to celebrating then with you!!
Have fun!0 -
I managed to pass another 'test' today when my OH and I went into our local town, M & S was beckoning ... I was drawn into the shop, actually picked up some lovely underwear in the sales .... looked at it for a while and put it back!!! I have read so often on these boards that the 'do I want it / do I need it' pause test is the one to take and I realised I didn't need it!
I will put the £8 I would have spent towards my M & S credit card debt!! How ironic! Lol.
Wondering if anyone else has succumbed or has held their resolve. It's a bit bizarre really as I found myself almost arguing in my head that it wasn't Jan 1st til tomorrow and that's when I pledged I'd start so it would be my last chance to splash out .... it's just like 'the diet starts tmorrow so eat all you can today'!
Feeling pleased that I managed to come home without buying it!
Lewby xx** Official DFW Nerd Club Member 009**
Total Debt 01/02/11 [STRIKE] £64,912 [/STRIKE] 01/04/16 [STRIKE]£32,700[/STRIKE] 01/01/19 £0 :jNSD's for Feb 01/15 GC £0 / £3000 -
Welcome back!Successful women can still have their feet on the ground. They just wear better shoes. (Maud Van de Venne)Life begins at the end of your comfort zone (Neale Donald Walsch)0
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Thanks Hypno. It's been a long time coming and I so wish I'd stuck around the first time.
Glad to be back! :T** Official DFW Nerd Club Member 009**
Total Debt 01/02/11 [STRIKE] £64,912 [/STRIKE] 01/04/16 [STRIKE]£32,700[/STRIKE] 01/01/19 £0 :jNSD's for Feb 01/15 GC £0 / £3000 -
That's why I dare not go away!! I think I will need to be attached to this site for ever to keep me focused and on the straight and narrow!!Successful women can still have their feet on the ground. They just wear better shoes. (Maud Van de Venne)Life begins at the end of your comfort zone (Neale Donald Walsch)0
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