My First Debt Free Diary- Pay the debt and lose 70lbs!!!!!!!

tasha-debt

Hi All,

I have been lurking on this website for quite a while (since March last year). I love reading everyone else's diary, they really motivate me to start clearing my own debt. I also think I am very lucky (after reading some peoples post's) that I have the support of my Boyfriend.

I have been with my OH for three years, we really would like to move in together but my debts mean I couldnt afford my half of the bills. My OH is very good with money, he earns less than I do but not only has no debt but has saving's.

I am 26 and he is 22. I would really like to have cleared my debts before I am 28 which is in April 2010 so not long. I would then LOVE to own our own home before I am 30. My OH is saving hard for a deposit for us but I really want us to buy a home as equals with some savings in the bank.

I have no one to blame except my self for this debt, it started when I was 18 and moved out to live with a Boyfriend who conned me into decorating his council flat on a credit card promising he would pay it off. That never happend. It has just snowballed from their.

I have just added my debt up and owe a total of: £21,130, slightly less than I thought.

I have recently started a new job that came with a pay rise so I am in the best postion possiable to clear my debts. I am also studying so this will lead to further pay rises next year.

I have made the following aims for 2009:

1 - To clear all credit card debt by Dec 2009 (currently CC debt is £6030)

2 - To stop wasting money on food, drinks magazines etc

3 - To earn more money by mystery shopping, surveys and ebay.

4 - Lose 70lbs by September 2009

I am really hoping by writing in a diary every day it will encourgae me to be better.

Tasha :j

tasha-debt

Today is the first day of the rest of my debt paying/money saving life!!!!!!!!!!!!

Didnt sleep well last night, kept dreaming of what I could of spent 21k on instead of all the rubbish I have, would have been a good deposit for a flat, several new cars .......

I think the best way for me not to spend money is to plan. So today I have made my lunch and will not be leaving my office all day (cant spend any money then).

Hope everyone's Monday is off to a good start.

x

doodledo_2

Morning Tasha :j

Good luck with your debt diary, I love mine although I have let it slip over Xmas but if you keep posting regularly it definately keeps you in the right frame of mind for debt busting.

Don't think too much about what you could have done, just think about what you will be doing in the future once this debt gone.:D

tasha-debt

Thanks doodledo, your completley right, I am going to be positive now and stop wasting time thinking about what I could have done.

Had to spend £4.50 at lunch for some migraleve tablets as I have a migrane that is getting worst. Was trying for a no spend day today as well.

tasha-debt

Mmm just been told I am flying out to New Jersey on Sunday for business for a week. Means I need to use my credit card for expenses and they take ages to come back. I have tried to apply for a CC just to use on business trips but my application got turned down. Think I should get a copy of my credit rating as I thought it was pretty good????

...........but also means I wont be spending any of my own money for a week so can pay an extra £50 from Barclay card.

Just checked the weather forcast for New Jersey its FREEZING.

Today will be a no spend day, I have lunch and breakfast with me.
I am going to try and list all my unwanted Xmas gifts on Ebay tonight (I received 4 smellie sets and im allergic to bubble bath).

Have a good day everyone.

Head-Out-Of-Sand

Hey Tash,

Well done for starting your diary!

I agree with previous comments - no point in beating yourself up about what you could have done - just look forward to how great it will be when you've got yourself out of debt through your own hard work!

I'm having to fight off the "why was I such a dumba$$" thoughts but we can't change the past and positive thoughts lead to positive actions!!

I will check in on your diary to see how you're getting on, best of luck!

tasha-debt

Thanks Head-out-of-sand, I am trying to not think about it and I am determind to be positive. You are doing so well with your debts, you will be free of them soon.

I did well today, managed not to spend a penny. I get a little buzz when I go the day without spending money.

Need to start packing soon for my trip, it always takes me ages to pack as I always end up packing to much stuff and having to empty half my case. I have never quite got the whole idea of packing light.

xx

polkadotty_2

tasha-debt wrote: »

Hi All,

I have been lurking on this website for quite a while (since March last year). I love reading everyone else's diary, they really motivate me to start clearing my own debt. I also think I am very lucky (after reading some peoples post's) that I have the support of my Boyfriend.

I have been with my OH for three years, we really would like to move in together but my debts mean I couldnt afford my half of the bills. My OH is very good with money, he earns less than I do but not only has no debt but has saving's.

I am 26 and he is 22. I would really like to have cleared my debts before I am 28 which is in April 2010 so not long. I would then LOVE to own our own home before I am 30. My OH is saving hard for a deposit for us but I really want us to buy a home as equals with some savings in the bank.

I have no one to blame except my self for this debt, it started when I was 18 and moved out to live with a Boyfriend who conned me into decorating his council flat on a credit card promising he would pay it off. That never happend. It has just snowballed from their.

I have just added my debt up and owe a total of: £21,130, slightly less than I thought.

I have recently started a new job that came with a pay rise so I am in the best postion possiable to clear my debts. I am also studying so this will lead to further pay rises next year.

I have made the following aims for 2009:

1 - To clear all credit card debt by Oct 2009 (currently CC debt is £6030)

2 - To stop wasting money on food, drinks magazines etc

3 - To earn more money by mystery shopping, surveys and ebay.

I am really hoping by writing in a diary every day it will encourgae me to be better.

Tasha :j

Hi Tasha

Your situation sounds very similar to mine!! I have debit which I'm desperately trying to clear (loan, credit card, store card, 2 overdrafts) which comes to about £10,000 and I'm really determined to clear a good chunk of it this year. I own a flat with my boyfriend but in about 3 years we'd like to try and move to a house. But there's no way that's going to happen until my debt has gone. My boyfriend too is excellent with money - earns £3k less than me yet has no debt and has savings.
I too started a new job at the start of December which came with a payrise, and also took on a second job. So I've done a new budget plan and there really is no reason now why any new debt should occur, it's just a case of sorting out the existing stuff. I've calculated how much I can put towards debt each month though and I'm going to get it done! I too am also currently studying (for a completely new career) which I'm hoping once done, will give me another payrise.
I'm determined to really make good progress this year, this website is very useful and very supportive which is really appreciated when I start feeling really down about debt.
keep up the good work, I look forward to reading your diary!
x

tasha-debt

Hi Pokadotty,

I think my boyfriend is so good with money as he is not an emotional spender. if he doesnt need it he wont get it, if he has had a bad day he wont buy himself something to cheer him self up and he doesnt waste money on magazines etc.

Things are going okay, not great on my debt clearing. My 0% deal has ended on both my Barclay Card and Lloyds TSB card. I have applied for a few new cards and have been rejected. Looks like I am stuck with these one's. Guess it will motivate me to clear them quicker. Barclays is the smaller card balance is £2100 so I think I should throw all money at this one first then move on to teh LLoyds TSB card, Lloyds TSB is at £3860 (ouch) and the interest is at £25 a month (double ouch). But as I cant move them again (I always move after the 0% is over) I dont know what else to do except make them my priorty to clear........

I am off to NYC tomorrow for a business trip, I have a free day to go sightseeing so Im really looking forward to that. I am determined to be really good and I have set myself a budget of £60 for the whole day including food!!!!!

When I get back I am going to get very serious about my mystery Shopping, Surverys and ebay. Those cards WILL be gone by October 2009.

Tasha
xx

Head-Out-Of-Sand

tasha-debt wrote: »

Hi Pokadotty,

I think my boyfriend is so good with money as he is not an emotional spender. if he doesnt need it he wont get it, if he has had a bad day he wont buy himself something to cheer him self up and he doesnt waste money on magazines etc.

Hi Tasha,

This sounds soooo familiar to me!!! I've been avoiding exactly this now...I'm bored, I'll buy a magazine...I'm p****d off...I'll buy some chocolate...I'm tired...I'll buy a ready meal...ooh and some new fluffy socks....etc etc etc!

Hope your trip to New York was good and you managed to stick to your budget!!!

I would definitely agree with your plan, throw as much money as you can at one of the cards and get it paid off asap - I think psychologically it will give you a big boost, as well as avoiding paying more interest than necessary.

Good luck!

tasha-debt

Hey,

I have just got back from NYC.... I tried really hard but I went over my budget by £80... not very good. I also didnt realise how expensive it was to call home and this months mobile bill has just come in a £112!!!!!! Its never above £30 usally.

I was all ready to get down to some serious debt busting when my parents recived their tax bill for my Dad's driving instuctor business for £3400. They had not expected it to be so high as my Dad has been ill a lot last year so did not make that much money. They were about a £1500 short of paying the bill. I wrote my car off last year and received £2500 for it. I decided that I was going to try to live without a car and save myself some money so put this money in my ISA account (I didnt pay it off my debt's in case I needed to buy a car again).

So I am lending my parents the £1500 for the bill. My Mum has decided now is the time that she need's to go back to work other wise I dont know how they would pay me back.......... I have spent all year telling my parents that they need to cut back and put more money in the TAX account.......

It feels a bit strange to be bailing my parents out. I am going to direct them to this board so that they can become money savers to.

Since I have been back from NYC (Sat 16th Jan) I have spent £9.85 so I am really happy, I should be able to over pay my credit cards at least £100 even after over spending in NYC.

Hope your all having a good day.