I've made it through the first month

dizzytina

Morning All,

Well it has been a month since i had my LBM and really faced up to how much debt we were in. This time last month i was so annoyed and felt embarrassed and stupid about all the money we have wasted and how we should be able to have a nice worry free live now (on our £78k joint salaries)but can't because of the debt.

It has took me a while but i realised that we can only get through it by looking to the future. What has been spent has gone and we need to focus on how quickly we can pay things off and get on with our lives. i have resolved not to spend any more of my time reflecting back just looking forward:D

To motivate myself i set a steep target of paying of £4000 by the end of 09:eek: A month in and we have paid off £836.63 so i am soooo proud of myself. For the first time ever i have £100 left in my account the day before payday:j this will be used to pay even more of one of my credit cards.

To keep me focused i thought it would be useful to write down some of the things i have done and what i plan to do.........

Here goes

• I joined the make £1000 in 100 days challenge and so far have made a whooping £608.02:jThere is still loads of time left too as it doesn't end till 27 Oct.
• i have joined the NSD challenge for august pledging to have 15 NSD. today will hopefully take me to 7NSD so far.
• I have kept within my budget that i set and logged everything i have spent
• I have sold lots of items on ebay
• i have sold books on greenmetropolis
• i have sold a book on amazon
• i have done 7 mystery shops
• i have sold some items at my local dress agency
• I have used quidco and wepromise to to get cashback
• i have registered to do 2 craft fairs
• i have registered to sell at my local NCT sale
• I have taken lunch to work every day
• I have listed some items on etsy and folksy.com
• i have used my clubcard deals to get vouchers for a restaurant for us to go to for our wedding anniversary
• i have done clicks on pigsback
• i have grown my own herbs

Wow looking at the list i feel really proud of myself for all the hardwork i have put in.

I am going to continue doing the things listed above this month and also try and find new money making/saving ideas too. Thoughts so far

• make hampers and homemade gifts using my craft skills for xmas pressies
• use my bike to cycle more instead of taking the car to places
• buy clothes from my local dress agnency instead of high street shops to save lots
• alter any clothes i have and don't wear to make them wearable
• Set myself so monthly challenges to keep me motivated.

Anyway i think thats it for now except to say a big thankyou to everyone on this site for all their great advice and help. this really is such an amazing forum and the kindness of people is overwhelming.

BrightFuture_3

Well done dizzytina, thats brilliant, hope I can do as well !!

Just posted my debt diary and about to do my SOA, like the sound of the £1000 in 100 days challenge, can you tell me where the link is ??

savingholmes

Good luck Tina! Look forward to seeing your progress!

MrsPorridge

Hey Tina, you've done really well your first month, keep going. Best of luck.

Little_Maya

Hi Tina,

That's a lot you've achieved in the first month! Well done

dizzytina

BrightFuture wrote: »

Well done dizzytina, thats brilliant, hope I can do as well !!

Just posted my debt diary and about to do my SOA, like the sound of the £1000 in 100 days challenge, can you tell me where the link is ??

I'm really useless at techie stuff:rotfl: but see if this link works?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1825985

If not it is a popular thread that usually appears on the first few pages in the DFW mainboard most of the time. good luck with your diary i feel keeping one does help.

Thanks everyone for your good wishes its the support of all you lot that makes it all a little bit easier:T.

Lemon_Tree

well done for achieving so much in the first month. It makes you feel great doesnt' it after feeling so angry at yourself for getting into the position in the first place.

LeeSouthEast

You're very motivated for one month in! Keep it up you've done brilliantly so far!

Raquela

well done you! What kind of crafty stuff do you do? I knit, but not fast enough to sell anything at a profit unfortunately!

dizzytina

Raquela wrote: »

well done you! What kind of crafty stuff do you do? I knit, but not fast enough to sell anything at a profit unfortunately!

I make memory/scrapbooks and cards mainly. My craft fairs are in November but i have been doing as much as i can as memory books can take a long time but i have also done some smaller ones to take aswell (like nans/mums boasting book to hold a small selection of photo's in).

I'd love to be able to knit. i keep thinking i'll learn one day but its having the time. i also sew and make my own curtains etc