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Little Steps for Little Legs
fluffymuffin
Posts: 130 Forumite
well I've been making lots of effort in the past few months to sort my life out. I've got through the worst of it (hopefully) so thought I'd start a diary - more for myself than anything else to try and keep track of all the good stuff I've done and make sure I don't slip back into it.
Background is far too much to go into - all complicated, split up with my ex to get out of an abusive relationship, managed to buy the house out on my own but meant I had lots of debt both on the mortgage and other debts from the fees of buying out and stuff.
Also I was in a bit of a mess and ignored it all - ran up even more money on credit cards through basically not living within my means. Eventually I had a wake up call. There wasn't enough money coming in to cover the bills, I was missing paying things and getting in a state. So I drew a line in the sand, faced up to it and started to sort things out.
Snce then its been tough but now I am up to date on all bills and have the money set up to pay them every month no problem. I am even managing to save a little cash so I can go on a holiday in summer - in a MSE manner of course - camping queen me! So I'll start from where I am now.
This week - I got accepted for a charity subsidised moutaineering course in the alps - which is what my holiday is for- bargain price of £62 instead of about £300 - yay!
Approved for a Barclaycard Simplicity at 6.8% LOB transfer so I can move high rate debt off MBNA!
Today went out for lunch with my new lovely boyfriend - special offer bought a drink for 95p got a free pizza - bargain lunch and a treat not to have home made dinner.
Payday on Friday - lots to think about - need to buy a few bits and bobs for my course in the alps, start planning my holiday to do it as cheaply as possible, bills to pay, present to buy for my neices birthday (more internet scouring for bargains), food shopping for the month etc.
Its all going on here - I've been amazed at how little I've lived on in the past few months. I don't want to have to live on nothing, I want to start enjoying my life but in a MSE way. Its hopefully all going to go in the right direction from here
Background is far too much to go into - all complicated, split up with my ex to get out of an abusive relationship, managed to buy the house out on my own but meant I had lots of debt both on the mortgage and other debts from the fees of buying out and stuff.
Also I was in a bit of a mess and ignored it all - ran up even more money on credit cards through basically not living within my means. Eventually I had a wake up call. There wasn't enough money coming in to cover the bills, I was missing paying things and getting in a state. So I drew a line in the sand, faced up to it and started to sort things out.
Snce then its been tough but now I am up to date on all bills and have the money set up to pay them every month no problem. I am even managing to save a little cash so I can go on a holiday in summer - in a MSE manner of course - camping queen me! So I'll start from where I am now.
This week - I got accepted for a charity subsidised moutaineering course in the alps - which is what my holiday is for- bargain price of £62 instead of about £300 - yay!
Approved for a Barclaycard Simplicity at 6.8% LOB transfer so I can move high rate debt off MBNA!
Today went out for lunch with my new lovely boyfriend - special offer bought a drink for 95p got a free pizza - bargain lunch and a treat not to have home made dinner.
Payday on Friday - lots to think about - need to buy a few bits and bobs for my course in the alps, start planning my holiday to do it as cheaply as possible, bills to pay, present to buy for my neices birthday (more internet scouring for bargains), food shopping for the month etc.
Its all going on here - I've been amazed at how little I've lived on in the past few months. I don't want to have to live on nothing, I want to start enjoying my life but in a MSE way. Its hopefully all going to go in the right direction from here
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Comments
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You sound marvellously in control, I am slightly envious!
Looking forward to reading your new diary.Total debt at October 2008: £67,213.30
Total debt today: £0 - debt and mortgage free 29th November 2013 :T
Sealed Pot Challenge member 14
Save £12K in 2014 - £6,521.90/£6K member 138
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ha ha I think I'm a bit control overboard now. The worst thing was I was scared to answer my phone, open my post, log onto my bank account cos I new it would be missed payments, loads of bank charges and bad news. It was awful. Now I know where I am and I might have to eat 19p noodles for lunch but at least I'm not so worried0
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oh and its little steps for little legs becasue I'm a climber and I am always being told do lots of little steps and you'll get there safely, try to take a huge dnagerous step and you're more likely to topple off....so this is kinda the same. Little things everyday will hopefully get me through it0
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Great start
Baby steps & all that......I 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*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.0 -
really good news on the subsidy for your course - when are you off?Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £171.8K Equity 36.37%
2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 10/10/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £27.9K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.25K) = 34/£127.5K target 26.6% 10/10/25
(If took bigger lump sum = 60.35K or 47.6%)
4) FI Age 60 income target £17.1/30K 57% (if mortgage and debts repaid - need more otherwise) (If bigger lump sum £15.8/30K 52.67%)
5) SIPP £5K updated 10/10/250 -
Slowly slowly catchy monkey indeed.** Proud to be dealing with my debts **LBM - Jan 2009 _pale_ : £24,802.21 :eek:February 2010 :silenced: : £18,078.47 (not including OD)July 2010
= £16,819.34 (not including OD)
January 2012 :mad: = £14,338.75 (not including OD)0 -
:T well done on facing up to it all nd getting as far as you have!! Sounds like you have everything settled just right, make sure you keep posting so we all know how you are getting on :beer:
Very happily married on 10th April 2013
Spero Meliora
Trying to find a cure for Maldivesitis :rotfl:
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Ooh people said things I am meant to reply aren't I lol. I am still quite entertained by the fact that people I don't know talk to me in the internet - you should see how excited I was the first time my boyfriend put a picture of me on his blog!
Anyway...my course is the end of June - just got the invoice through - there is something very gratifying about
Couse Cost £340
Amount Due £62
Cheque is in the post today :-) So excited!
Little money saving things I have done in the past 24 hours
- rode my bike instead of using my car (get fit and save petrol!),
- stood in the shop for 5 minutes figuring out which were the best value cat biscuits based...this is not as easy as it sounds as we must consider
a. the cost of said biscuits and
b. which ones my blessed little fluffy friends will turn their noses up at and ignore me for two days if I try to give to them
Now I'm no soft touch with them, I am of the opinion they'll eat it if they get hungry - unfortunately if I push them too hard they will choose to "go self catering" eat the bird population of my garden instead...and may leave me nice presents in the house...blurgh.
Get paid tonight so will be spending the next few days scouring special offers for some bargain flights, some new kit I need and birthday presents!
In fact I might just pop over the the shopping/offers boards to see if anyone has any nice voucher codes I can use.0 -
good news today is easyjet are having a summer flights sale so the flights I had seen are now even cheaper - £53 return to Geneva inc taxes - and baggage - which is apparently £8 extra each way and not included in the price! Although in a way thats fair cos if you didn't have any baggage you're not contributing as much weight to the plane so it makes sense to be cheaper.
My selfish boyfriend (!) has bought himself a t-shirt he wanted - his birthday is only in a month! How rude! Will have to come up with some more ideas.0 -
moon sand ponies are not easy to find! Argos have the last set I can find without paying for P&P - £14.69. Neices birthdya present...check.0
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