Trials and tribulations of a Debt Free Wannabee!

Swinstie73

savingholmes wrote: »

Hi Swinstie - Thanks for replying :A I see you are new... We have previously been terrible with regards to debt and have got up to £33K in debt 2 or 3 times - but I have been a reformed character since I joined the site last year so I am hoping that we have finally learned our lesson... I used to be rather a shopaholic.... The make £10 a day challenge has also helped by giving me some additional funds to spend on luxuries, food, pressies or whatever - so if you are not already part of that I recommend that you give it a go!

Hypno - nice of you to drop in!:T

Hi savingholmes, yes I am a newbie and at my worst I was about £25K in debt so have managed to get the down and determined not to go back. I have been wondering what the Make £10 a day was about, is that one this site - also keep seeing the 'Paper Hat' challenge, what is that?

savingholmes

Swinstie73 wrote: »

Hi savingholmes, yes I am a newbie and at my worst I was about £25K in debt so have managed to get the down and determined not to go back. I have been wondering what the Make £10 a day was about, is that one this site - also keep seeing the 'Paper Hat' challenge, what is that?

Hi Swinstie - the paper hat challenge is where you are in a friendly race to be the first one to pay off £15K (since the start of the challenge which was about Oct) - if you win you get a paper hat! :rotfl: Hence the name.... It's just a supportive place to record your progress.... and be challenged on any lack of it!

Its on the DFW board - join us go for it... We get new joiners every month so don't be put off because we have been going for a while. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1227263

On the DFW board there is also the make £10 a day challenge - that is where you use cashback sites, gambling loopholes, selling stuff etc to make extra cash and keep a record of it. We share ideas on what you can do to get started. Free daily scratchcards for example give me £30 every month, I also get an average of £15 from bingoport, since last July I have had hundreds of pounds from various cash back sites, I've also made the odd tenner from writing reviews... http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1521467

savingholmes

Job search update

* Well I have met with an outplacement consultant today

* He has given me 2 more agencies to register with

* I have set up a googlemail account to make me CV searchable - and made my CV searchable on 2 sites

* I have applied for one job

* I have obtained an application form to upgrade my professional status

* Ideally need to ring round agencies to see whether there has been any progress... TARGET for this pm - (oh and need to do some of my day job too!!)

Swinstie73

savingholmes wrote: »

Hi Swinstie - the paper hat challenge is where you are in a friendly race to be the first one to pay off £15K (since the start of the challenge which was about Oct) - if you win you get a paper hat! :rotfl: Hence the name.... It's just a supportive place to record your progress.... and be challenged on any lack of it!

Can I count how much I've paid since my LBM? Or do I need to start from now? This sounds like fun, since coming on here I feel like I don't have the need to spend on stupid meaningless stuff - have just spent £31 at Tesco at lunch-time but that was a top up for phone and some food!

Piquant_2

Hi savingholmes

I've popped in to say well done on getting as far as you have. You're also doing well on looking for a job, looking at your list, you're hardly standing still are you? You're still achieving plenty!

I'd like to pop back and offer support and a wry way of looking at the world, if you'll have me

piq

Snow_White_5

Hello savingholmes,

I've just popped in from the paper hat challenge too. The amount you've paid off in 1 year is really impressive. Fingers crossed that your applications are successful and you can carry on debtbusting at great speed. How did the presentation go by the way - did you get your £50? What kind of event was it?

SW x

savingholmes

Swinstie73 wrote: »

Can I count how much I've paid since my LBM? Or do I need to start from now? This sounds like fun, since coming on here I feel like I don't have the need to spend on stupid meaningless stuff - have just spent £31 at Tesco at lunch-time but that was a top up for phone and some food!

HI Swinstie - on the paperhat challenge - our esteemed leader CAFCgirl can help you decide when to start it from but if I was you I would start from where I am now....

Piquant - really pleased that you've joined me - the more the merrier. Just the support since I posted yesterday has really cheered me up - and that is what I need if I am going to succeed in my job hunt and breaking any shopaholic addiction!!! Traditionally it is at times like these I spend the most!:o

Snow white - nice to see you here too - thanks for your good wishes! The presentation is tonight - all being well we walk away with £50 in Marks and Spencers vouchers which would be fab! They claim the presentation is 30-40 minutes long - so not bad for that amount of time ....

Thanks CMD, PAID and Hypno too for your visits!:T

* Didn't ring the agencies in the end but I have started filling out my upgrade application form for my professional status... That could add a significant chunk to my future earnings if it got approved.

* I got rung by a network marketing company from making my cv searchable which wasted about 30 minutes :mad: but there we go... we live and learn. I am still keeping my cv searchable but will check if it is a network marketing call a bit quicker in future!!!:rolleyes:

* Withdrawn another £10 from a free daily scratchcard!:j

* Total spend today £4 for son to go on treat with friend and 55p for a drink for me!:p

* Will now try and redeem another £5 from bp - got enough points so should go through!:j

Bye for now - I will let you know how we got on at the presentation later!:wave:

~Yorkshire_Belle~

Hi SH, what a lovely new sparkly diary!
You have such energy and determination that I know you'll find something soon. You just won't give up till you do and we'll be here cheering you on, and for virtual hugs when things get tough - you go girl!
Belle
x

savingholmes

Thanks Belle - the support means a lot! :T

sistercas

Hi SH ooh new diary
looking forward to popping in to see how you are.
dont forget how far you have come, we joined MSE at the same time and you, your determination and focus is second to none when it comes to reducing debt. you will succeed no matter what is thrown at you and i shall be here to watch you reach your debt free day. (hopefully I will be close behind)
I shall subscribe to this thread in a mo
hope Ruby joins us but I know how busy she is.
Hi YB how are you doing?

SH good luck with the job front

I must start the £10 a day challenge again I have slowed up recently
good luck with the diary x