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Life without credit. Week one
john_kent
Posts: 425 Forumite
Hi all
Well , one week into my plan to be debt free ASAP. Last Wednesday , I annialted all my cards apart from the bank card.
Its been a hard week , as on Sunday , I was asked out for a beer. Normally , having no cash , id put the drinks on credit card tab at the local Weatherspoons. This time , I couldnt go.
Second issue is petrol. This week I have been working 15 miles away and need fuel. Normally , I would fill up with £45 of fuel on a Sunday.As I didnt have the credit cards , I used £15 cash and only put a third of a tank in. Knowing that the wages from my part time job went in today. Now normally , having filled up on credit on Sunday , I would have used my part time job wages to go to the football club for a beer and watch the england game. As i have to use £30 of those wages for fuel until next wednesday , I couldnt.
Third issue has been postage. Had loads of stuff to send after selling stuff on Ebay (12 quid of postage so far). Again , I would normally use the credit card to pay if I didnt have the cash. But this week, I have been going to the post office every day with three or four parcels and a pocket of small change from my tips bottle ( I get tips in my part time job). This money will get replaced by the buyers paying for postage , but that goes to paypal and then into my current account.
Fourth issue or benefit. I have been forced to audit the food cupboards as I have so little cash until Friday week when I get paid for my full time work , that I cant really do a food shop. again due to no credit cards. Amazingly , I have found 6 tins of tuna at bottom of spare fridge (used for beer). Two packs of frozen ham and two loafs of bread at bottom of deep freeze. So thats sandwiches sorted for a couple of weeks. Also have load sof mince and a few jars of curry and chilli sauce , so plan a cooking day Sunday.
So there you have it. MY first week of no credit
Well , one week into my plan to be debt free ASAP. Last Wednesday , I annialted all my cards apart from the bank card.
Its been a hard week , as on Sunday , I was asked out for a beer. Normally , having no cash , id put the drinks on credit card tab at the local Weatherspoons. This time , I couldnt go.
Second issue is petrol. This week I have been working 15 miles away and need fuel. Normally , I would fill up with £45 of fuel on a Sunday.As I didnt have the credit cards , I used £15 cash and only put a third of a tank in. Knowing that the wages from my part time job went in today. Now normally , having filled up on credit on Sunday , I would have used my part time job wages to go to the football club for a beer and watch the england game. As i have to use £30 of those wages for fuel until next wednesday , I couldnt.
Third issue has been postage. Had loads of stuff to send after selling stuff on Ebay (12 quid of postage so far). Again , I would normally use the credit card to pay if I didnt have the cash. But this week, I have been going to the post office every day with three or four parcels and a pocket of small change from my tips bottle ( I get tips in my part time job). This money will get replaced by the buyers paying for postage , but that goes to paypal and then into my current account.
Fourth issue or benefit. I have been forced to audit the food cupboards as I have so little cash until Friday week when I get paid for my full time work , that I cant really do a food shop. again due to no credit cards. Amazingly , I have found 6 tins of tuna at bottom of spare fridge (used for beer). Two packs of frozen ham and two loafs of bread at bottom of deep freeze. So thats sandwiches sorted for a couple of weeks. Also have load sof mince and a few jars of curry and chilli sauce , so plan a cooking day Sunday.
So there you have it. MY first week of no credit
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Comments
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Well Done!0
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Well done. I know it is tough when you change a big part of your thinking but the end results will be worth it. Keep it up!
:heartpuls CG :heartpulsEver wonder about those people who spend £2 apiece on those little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backward.0 -
Well done!! I know how you feel, after doing it for a few months you get used to it!!
The other day the petrol light came on in my car, it was a couple of days before payday, I scraped together £7.00 in assorted coins for a drop of petrol and the chap behind the counter said 'oh good, we need some change', right in front of all the customers!!! I scuttled out with a bright red face as quickly as I could!!
:rotfl: A minute at the till, a lifetime on the bill.
Nothing tastes as good as being slim feels.
one life, live it!0 -
Mmm, that happened to me except the man behind the counter was counting loudly "5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35" etc. so embarrasing.... I think I had about £1.05p in 5 pences!!0
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Doesnt bother me using change. Its all good coinage. Used to carry a quid here and there to buy a coke or whatever , but cant afford that so drink free water or take my bottle with me.
Now carry a couple of quid to pay for postage and parking.0 -
Well done you.
great startI am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** in ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger.
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan. 19months left.0 -
thats great!!! you are off to an amazing start!!!! well done you!November NSD's - 70
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what an absolute star you are
and soon you will have all that money in the bank to spend as you wish..0 -
Well done John, that's fantastic! :T :T
It's a big change in lifestyle, not to mention thinking, so the first few weeks will always be tough (and don't be surprised if you hit a real low a few weeks in - I know I did, and some of the people I know who're in the same situation too) but it does get easier!
As daft as it sounds, I hate spending money now - on anything! Every time I hand any over, I imagine having to enter that minus figure into my spreadsheet, and what a difference it could have made to my debt!
It took me a while to fully adjust to not just spending whatever I wanted, but once you begin to see the debt figures getting smaller, and you realise that you can have just as good a life on less money, you realise that its all worth it!
Plus, by the time you're debt free, this new way of living will be second nature, and you'll never slip back into old ways!Highest Debt (Sept 04) -> £41,300
Debt Free - August 2006!!
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