Champagne Lifestyle Lemonade Budget (My attempts to get debt free by April 2010)

Claw_back_money

Sun Addict it has been a privilege to share your journey (and your recipes ). All best wishes for the future, I hope our paths cross in other places.

Cbm

Swinstie73

Hey SA, hope you are still lurking! I'm taking a break too, and see I have caught your addiction (just booked a cruise for next year)!

Sun_Addict

Well I have been debt-free for a whole year today!!! :j

However, it's not been a great year as OH has been off work more than in work and we have more or less been living off my paltry wages. What he used to earn in a week he is now lucky to get in a month now. I never thought I would end up being the breadwinner.

It's not all doom and gloom as we are managing to scrape by and we still have a bit of money left over at the end of the month. The weird thing is is that when OH was on good money we never used to save a penny, now we are saving something - not much but a little something. I'm doing the Virtual Sealed Pot and the £365 in 365 days challenges and sticking to them. Oh how I really really wish we'd saved more when times were good. We don't have a lot in savings and I am loathe to let go of them unless it's a real emergency - they could easily get wiped out altogether in one fell swoop. The biggest achievement is not slipping back into debt which could happen so easily if I let it. I'm determined this won't happen.

We're still managing to go on holiday but have to shop around very carefully. This is one thing we won't give up unless things get really bad. We don't go out anymore and don't buy anything unless we really need it - the holidays are the only thing that keep us sane really. If I'm honest, unless OH gets some work soon, I doubt there'll be a summer holiday this year. It's so hard when you work with people who haven't been affected by the recession and they're just carrying on as normal all around you - doing stuff to their houses and going on several holidays a year. GRR!!!

I just keep telling myself things have got to pick up soon. I'm still on MSE every day looking at the forums, finding them a massive help and picking up lots of brilliant tips to keep me on the straight and narrow. If I can do it anyone can!

Verbatim

Sorry things have been tough. I was thinking about you yesterday and wondering how you were. You must have picked up the vibe!

BADPENNY_2

Hey Sun addict,

Its good to hear from you! Sorry to hear things have been a little tough over the last 12 months but well done on staying debt free tho. Maybe now is the time to start a new diary!

BP.

beanielou

Sorry that things are difficult but a massive well done on staying debt free :j

misselvis

sorry to hear about your rough patch but looking on the positive you guys now have the tools and learnt lessons from the past so you are in a much better position. its hard as the power of hindsight can be painful but you are doing so well