Keeping myself on track and focused....

Karen_30

Hi,

I hope you don't mind me joining in, bit of a newbie here and have decided I might have a go at a diary of my own to keep me on track and a bit more focused than I have been of late.

A little history of me, name is Karen and live with OH of 3 and a bit years renting flat. I am on a dmp with Payplan and have been for nearly two years, OH had next to no debt and super good with money - or at least he thinks he is :rolleyes:

Have a little way to go yet but want to start looking at making more money, be more careful with the cash that I do have and start thinking about the future. As you can see from my user name I am 30 and do not own home or kids as yet and these things will hopefully be happening (all being well) in the next few years, so even more of a reason to get on and start working hard at bringing forward my debt free date.

I'm looking forward to joining in, getting some great advice and starting my mission to getting on and clearing this debt. I'm off to read others diaries now, hopefully to get some ideas and start a little adventure (I like to see it as this) of my own

K x

epsilondraconis

Sounds like you've got a lot to look forward to in the future. Being debt free will definitely help things go that little bit smoother.

Good luck and keep posting.

Karen_30

Ok, back and ready to post a little more about me.....

Generally I am a happy go lucky kinda girl, take things as they come and deal with the ups and downs of life as and when they happen. However, turning 30 and seeing others moving on in their lives has made me think about things a bit more and where I want to be in life or should I say get to!

I am very lucky in that I have a supportive boyfriend, family and friends. OH has been great through all my money trials and tribulations - and more importantly very patient as we have had to put off a great deal due to my financial situation. He's great in paying for things, treating me and also taking us on holidays etc - this helps a great deal when budgeting month by month. He also takes me out for meals etc. Please don't think I am sponging off of his as I more than pay my way 50/50 on all bills, I also treat him but not as much as I would like too, and pay for smaller trips away - although have to save for these.

A lot of my friends have got married and had their first little ones, some onto their second in the past couple of years and I (we) are starting to get to the point where I am thinking about this more and more. I am not stupid and there is no way I would have a child just yet with the amount of debt I am in but I want to work my hardest at clearing the way to make this more achievable. I am also not ready in the sense that I still enjoy my own space and time, freedom etc - people have their children later in life, don't they

Oh and I are lucky that we are in secure jobs (hopefully!) and work in public sector, me helping those that need it in current climante and OH fighting crime. We both bring home a decent salary which allows us plan well but we do keep our finances separate, for obvious reasons as in that I am on dmp and one of us needs to keep a good clear credit history My salary allows me to pay a nice sum of £800 odd per month direct to creditors through my dmp which I think is just great :T All creditors are currently not charging any interest and if I continue I think I will be about debt free in 4 1/2 years....I want this sooner :mad:

Anyhow, think I have waffled on a bit here - very sorry. Will try and keep it short from now on

Plan is to join a few challenges, work hard, spend less and achieve great things :rotfl:

K x

Karen_30

Oh and one last thing, I am great at saying I am going to do something and never doing it (I think there is a name for this ) so this diary is going to be a test of my will power and determination.

jenchin66

Good luck Karen, have you looked at the "up your income" board. There are some good suggestions on there

Karen_30

Thanks for your replies epsilondraconis & jenchin66 - much appreciated.

Jenchin66 - I will be popping over their, thanks. Just finding my way about properly and gathering ideas from others

Karen_30

Gosh this place is soooooo.... interesting and not to mention helpful :T

I have so many ideas swimming about in my head I don't know where to start. I think to start with I am going to keep a spending diary for a month and see where my money goes to and go from there. I have a good idea, the usual - magazines, chocolate, adhock trips to supermarket unfortunatly if its in my purse I spend it

Another area I need to get on top of is being organised, I am useless and always have been but not from now on. There is also the weight thing too, constantly starting a new diet every monday - no more! This is going to be my get back on track, super organised, super sensible and super money savy diary :j

I really want to look forward to the future and not have the debt hanging over me for the next 4+ years. I'm hoping that if I log my intentions, ups and downs, progress, aims etc on here as a diary it may just keep me on track and motivated.

Wish me luck

mrscmr

i think the word you were looking for is 'procrastinate' ie putting things off and off and off... i am the queen of procrastination!
mrs cmr

Karen_30

Yes, that is me! I must be a close second so i'll settle for the Princess of procrastination!!!

mrscmr

no prob - we can share being queen if you like!
mrs cmrx

Karen_30

Sharing the title of 'Queen of procrastination' it is then

I have been this way for as long as I can remember. I'm hoping that regularly posting here, using the helpful tips and a lot of hard work can bring down my debt free date by a couple of years and stop the cycle of 'I am going to do....' and so on but never doing it :mad:

Sucessful morning so far, popped to supermarket and stocked up. The best bit was went with a list and stuck to it :T - something I have never been able to do. Must keep it up!

Have a good day all,

K x