1/2 way through 2009 - what have you achieved?

debt_free_me

Hi everyone

As it's just over 1/2 way through 2009, I thought it might be a nice idea to see how far we have all come with our debts/savings and other personal achievements, how we have achieved it and what we plan to do for the rest of 2009 to get to where we want to be. Many of us are on targets and many of us arn't but it would be good to see how everyone is getting on. It might also help motivate (those who feel they need it) and inspire eachother to get those debts down and savings up and might help provide useful tips to getting to where we want to be. Hopefully it will inspire those lurkers to join MSE too and to show what can be done.

So far for me:
As you will see in my sig I am no where near even half way. I have been doing various things which I have listed below and I have also listed what I plan to do for the rest of the year to help get me to my target. I have been trying hard to get to my target but there are probably more things I could be doing and I need to have a better belief in myself. Looking through other threads at other peoples achievements it must be possible!

So far I have:
Sold books on Amazon
Tried out Green Metropolis but hasn't worked out yet
Mystery Shops
Daily Clicks
Collecting points on various clubcards
Collecting points to exchange for days out/items
Worked a second job as a waitress which worked out for a short while
Driving more economically and putting petrol in slower which I have heard helps
Putting my washing on a lower temperature
Cutting costs on bills - food, electricity, gas where possible
Free daily scratches - so far withdrawn £10 or £20 (Can't remember) have almost another £20 to withdraw)
Looking for a new full time job
Sometimes playing the lottery and scratchcards
Entering competitions
Doing surveys
Taking lunch into work
Look into matched betting
Saving coppers, 5ps and £2 coins
Joining challenges and threads on here - Pay £20k by the end of 2009, £2 savers club, daily DFW things thread
Making my 101 things to do in 1001 days list - for money and other acheievments I want to make
May be some things I have forgotton

For the rest of 2009 I plan to:
Do all of the above plus,
Look into matched betting again
Find another 2nd job
Look into Slice the Pie
Ebaying
Look into making and selling stuff
Anything else I can find I can do or have forgotten

I hope lots of you join in this thread but if a simillar thing has already been started please tell me where.

Thanks

DFM

Shoe_Gal

Hi

My signature shows what I have achieved (?) so far this year - not nearly as much as I had hoped!

My targets for the rest of the year

• continue not to miss any regular payments
• reduce my debts by an additional £100 per month
• lose a total of 20lbs

Good luck everybody

angelflower_2

what a great idea for a thread....

Well life for me certainly got tougher in the first half of 09 with me narrowly escaping reposession (suspended order in process of being given) and debts got higher due to a couple of penalites and 1 CCJ. HOWEVER, I can honestly say I have never felt more positive about the long term steps I have made to pay off my debt

- payment plans fully up and running and I can start to see the figures coming down
- on these boards much more regularly for advice and motivation
- joined the Payment a day thread. The single best challenge for me in seeing the debt coming down. Such a liberating feeling
- joined CAP (www.capuk.org) as a volunteer money coach and support worker to help others going through debt
- helped my teenage dd get employment (2 paperrounds) and learn to budget

By the end of 2009, I would like to have
- saved enough money to get my bathroom done in the early part of 2010
- budgeted well to allow a short break in a caravan down south
- got rid of my credit card debt (only £43 left to go but as is a secondary debt only being paid off by PAD's, its taking a while)
- get rid of one of my priority debts and see the % paid off being at least 60%
- secondary debt paid off - 5%
- get a better paid job to help pay things back quicker

Thanks

debt_free_me

Thanks for first reply Shoe Gal and thanks Angelflower. I thought it was a good idea for a thread too and hoped others would too :beer:

carlislelass

cleared 3 debts so feeling good.

Buffythedebtslayer

Hmmm good thread idea.

1. managed to survive my job and keep my second job!
2. only paid off about 4,000 but have already saved for Christmas.
3. saved about 50 in pound coind plus coppers, spare change tin,
4. not missed any payments (and over paid each month)
5. Met my friends in Feb and June
6. Walked my first 10 km in June
7. mostly overcome my dentist fear
8. got shot of an ex.
9. used quidco lots (219)
10. done my surveys and clicks most days.

Aims for the rest of the year.

1. pay off Credit card
2. continue surveys/clicks/quidco
3. lose 44 pounds(!)
4. start MA

xxx

slig

So far I have:
Paid off most of my debts, including overdraft and loan, and moved remaining balance to 0% card
Started a new job, made it through my probation period, and apparently performed well and impressed my colleagues


By the end of 2009 I will:
Be debt free
Have saved a good amount towards my Australia fund
Have completed several of my 30 things to do before I'm 30

natsing

Well I only had my LBM in May this year, but already we've paid £1000 off our debts, we've change our spending habits, kept a strict spending diary, lost 48 pounds at WW(ok this is since Jan) and generally got a plan of action.

Next half of 2009:
complete £1000 in 100 days challenge
keep up with weekly spending challenge and grocery challenges
scratch cards and daily clicks are going to be central
cash back
ebay and car boots
pay off two overdrafts by December
lose another 30- 40 pounds

debt_obsessed

Great thread!

1. This year I had my 2nd LBM and took my DMP away from the fee charging company and am now in control of it myself
2. Joined this forum - best thing I've done so far
3. De-cluttered and listed most things on ebay

For the remainder of the year I will:

1. Continue to ebay
2. Take part in most challenges
3. Hope to pay off another 10k

debt_free_me

Great posts so far, it's good to see we are all still ploughing away our debts/getting some savings/working on personal goals! :j

Jazzie99

Well so far:-

1. Had my LBM in May and started sorting out my finances
2. Paid off one credit card
3. Started overpaying my loan (overpaid by £750 so far)
3. Ebaying like mad - made £300 so far!
4. Doing cashback and scratchcards
4. Got hooked on MSE

by the end of 2009

1. Hope to have paid off all my loan (£10,000ish)
2. Sell all my junk on email
3. Lose 14lbs!!