The Debt Free Birthday Club Challenge!

mooomin

Vicster5 wrote: »

Well done to everyone so far - glad it's not just me that wanted to be debt free by 30, I started my own personal challenge (before i discovered mse forums!) back in Feb I don't have long to go but any help/motivation in my last month has got to be a good thing! Then once I am done I will pass on my knowledge and good advice that I've been given in a good karma style!!

So what I am saying is can I join please?? £2,000 in a month is nigh on impossible at this stage but if I don't try then I won't know...

Hi and welcome!

I've added you to the list on the 1st page of the challenge. Good luck!

I would add more but I really need to get ready for work!!

Vicster5

Thanks for the welcomes! I was paid £80 to do a month of personal training yesterday so that is a nice little chunk. Will try and read back through a bit of thread to see what everyone else is doing and how you are all getting on!

*Jellie*

shrimpy_80 wrote: »

And on my Google desktop I have a countdown to my 30th birthday so I know how many days I have left and how much I will need to pay a day! Not too obsessed with this challenge then...

This sounds great! Can anyone tell me how to do this as I desperately need to get back on track. After a great start I'm really struggling now. Feeling a bit rubbish emotionally and have gone out on a couple of shopping splurges so I'm not exactly busting debt and I've only got £80 to last to the end of the month including a weeks holiday!!
Any tips on how to get remotivated would be appreciated as I don't want to slip back!

mooomin

*Jellie* wrote: »

This sounds great! Can anyone tell me how to do this as I desperately need to get back on track. After a great start I'm really struggling now. Feeling a bit rubbish emotionally and have gone out on a couple of shopping splurges so I'm not exactly busting debt and I've only got £80 to last to the end of the month including a weeks holiday!!
Any tips on how to get remotivated would be appreciated as I don't want to slip back!

Hi Jellie!

I can't help with motivation - I have bought loads of concert tickets and clothes this month, so I am a BAD FRESIAN. I am paying it off my credit card in one go (So I have improved) but this will impact my debt-busting this month.

Best advice? Think of it as a blip and refocus. That's what I am going to have to do after payday. Look for vouchers for meals/days out on holiday and try and think happy MSE thoughts.

Wipe the slate clean at the end of the month and post on here all you need to.

f_f

shrimpy_80

*Jellie* wrote: »

This sounds great! Can anyone tell me how to do this as I desperately need to get back on track. After a great start I'm really struggling now. Feeling a bit rubbish emotionally and have gone out on a couple of shopping splurges so I'm not exactly busting debt and I've only got £80 to last to the end of the month including a weeks holiday!!
Any tips on how to get remotivated would be appreciated as I don't want to slip back!

Hi *Jellie*, you have to sign up to igoogle - if you go to the normal google page, in the top right hand corner there should be a link to igoogle, click that and you will be taken to another google page where you can sign up. You will then have an igoogle homepage and you can customize it - there is a link top right-ish which says 'add stuff'.There are a few countdown formats to choose from, you just click to add the one you want.

I did mine a while ago so hope this helps and makes sense!

The best way to stay motivated is this forum I think! Now you have been going a while maybe it's time for some different challenges? I love £10 a day but pick and choose what suits you. I think most people start well then have a little splurge, don't be too hard on yourself, I'm sure you're still in a better position than you were before you started the DFW journey. ETA - just looked at your sig there and answered my own question! You have made fantastic progress, well done!

Good luck and keep posting!

*Jellie*

Thanks Flying Fresian and Shrimpy- just what I needed to hear!
Was definitely more focused when I was posting more so that seems like a good place to start. As soon as I get paid I'll be straight over to PAD again!

Getting fed up about it is making it more likely that I'll go out and splurge again. I guess part of this DFW path is learning to deal when you set yourself back. Seems like I need to fight complacency and be aware that a bad day at the shops can easily send me back to where I started!!

I like the ticker type of thing so I'll try your countdown thing tomorrow. Will help to reinforce the spreadsheets.

I think some challenge changes would be a good idea. I think that in this situation the only way to make a difference is to try and make some extra money. I keep thinking about ebay or selling books on Amazon but don't really know where to start and wonder if it will be worth the time and effort?

What challenges do you guys recommend?

Thanks for the support. It is people like you who have inspired me from the start. I really hope I make this challenge and then I might even become a MFW!!

mooomin

I did the Summer Sizzler one to make extra cash. It's now finished but I think there's a Christmas themed one.

I only really do PAD at the moment. I like this, as according to my SOA I have a good surplus (Over £400 thanks to overtime last month) and by doing PAD I rein in my silly spending.

I have done Ebay and Amazon before. Amazon is hit and miss. You can have items listed on there for 1000 years* and not sell them. Sometimes I have sold five things within 24 hours of listing them. It really depends on what you have for sale. Ebay is good but do your research - I use the Advanced Search option to see what completed listings for similar items have sold for.

Another option is MusicMagpie - you can bulk sell old CDs, DVDs and games on there. I have used it before to save listing fees on Ebay. You might only make £1 per item, but it's money for you and less clutter for your house. Every penny counts!

Have you got any old mobile handsets sitting in drawers? Use Mazuma to recycle and Quidco for an additional £1.50 per sale.

That's all from the top of my head, but it's past my bedtime so I'm off to sleep now. Have a good night all, happy debt-busting!







*May be over dramatised

*Jellie*

The posters on this thread rock!

Thanks F_F for the advice. I've started a big clear out today to see what could possibly be sold or just removed to declutter!

I think I'll check out a couple of the threads you guys have mentioned for ideas and advice before venturing onto ebay etc. Then I can hopefully make sensible decisions as to what to sell, the best times of year to list and what should just head straight to charity.

I feel a bit more focused again now- just got to keep going! Might break open my sealed pot for a boost to get me through the month. I'm also trying to live out of freezer/ storecupboards for groceries etc where possible.

Need to get my thinking cap on for the best things to tackle in the next 100 day challenge. Part of me thinks keep targeting the biggies but I also wonder if I'll do better if I swap to something new.

sashanut

I've been a subscriber to this thread but not actually joined it before as I couldn't see a realistic birthday for clearing the debt:eek: Now things are looking up a bit financially so I would like to join please & have as the DFD my DH's 50th birthday on 290910. I haven't added up the debts:eek: but will try to do so, wish me luck!!

*Jellie*

Good to see you joining us Sashanut! Good luck with the challenge!

I'm in a bit of a quandry at the moment as I'm probably going to sell my house. I think to make it more saleable I'll have to spend some money on repairs and tarting it up a bit. Unfortunately this could mean not reducing and even adding to my debt for a bit. I'm loathe to stop throwing money at my debt even for a couple of months as I really want to make this challenge!