A Fool and Her Money- CAFCGIRL's Debt Diary

CAFCGirl

Been a few days and a couple of bits have happened........

1. Got my first electric bill since moving, £59.20 and thats estimated so dont quite well on that one, and within the budget

2. Have had convo with friend about possible house share next feb. I know its a long way off but if I do that, I should give myself an extra £100 minimum to throw at my debts then!

Even though Feb is a long way away, its still something And if I can manage on my above budget till then, I should be really comfortable then

3. A new trade customer for my shop and I had a chat about her shop pictures, wall hangings etc, and after some test shots, she's said she'd really like to commission me to do the photos/graphics/wall features for her shop!

So could make myself a bit of money there!

Possible thinking about setting myself up as a business on that one, as she's going to advertise it as my work and we could also sell it from her shop and split the money (as she's paid for them). So it's almost like a working gallery!

Not sure how business ideas like that work, but its a thought!:T

4.Got three days left until payday now and I've got £12 left in one account and about £20 in another, plus have to return a faulty watch which should give me another £10.... so not doing too badly!

CAFCGirl

OK

Spent today working out total debt which now stands at

£4774.20

Makes for some unhappy reading!
However should knock another £280 off that with payday's contributions so will be under 4.5k and then in another 2 months, under 4k...

I think after that I'll start feeling much better

Also making an effort once again with the grocery spend. I've got it to £20 for the next week, and thats with a few treats added in Just so I dont feel too down trodden!

ZTD

What was it originally?

CAFCGirl

8+ K

I'm afraid to say...

ZTD

CAFCGirl wrote: »

8+ K

I'm afraid to say...

No - that's good. If it had been 3K, that would have been bad... :eek:

Are you paying any interest on the stuff you have left? And how long ago were you at £8K?

CAFCGirl

March 2005?
Lightbulb moment

Yes I'm paying interest because I can't get any 0% deals....

ZTD

What that means is that you're more than half-way there now.

Most of your payments in the early days would have just paid the interest. Now since you owe less, your interest is less, so you're paying off your debt quicker.

I hope you're happy with that thought...

CAFCGirl

No............. I've still got ruddy debt!!!

In all honesty I am starting to feel better about it as the end is starting to feel slightly more nigh.... esp when I get to sub 4k then I will definitely feel so much better!!

dizzy_lizzie

Hiya CAFCGirl
I'm like you, I've started to focus a lot more on the end goal now and it helps me get through the days when I wonder what it's all for. I just can't wait for the day when my wage goes in and it's all mine.:D
Hope you're new prospective ventures come good for you. x

CAFCGirl

Hi Lizzie...

It seems so relatively small doesnt it when your debt gets to these numbers and in a way I almost feel like its harder now...

It's so close I can almost touch it kind of feeling.

Well I'm sure I'll get there.

Did the "scary and emotional" thing of telling my mum the total debt figure. I dont think she was impressed. Although she knew I was in debt and what I've been doing to get out of it but I guess as a parent you never want to accept that your kids have made an error of judgement and got themselves i a pickle!

But she was pretty good about it, and I did (cheeky I know) enquire as to whather she would be able to fund me an interest free loan, and then I would pay her back £250 a month for 18 months. Knocking 2 months off my dfd and saving me £678 in interest.
Plus if I do move again (poss end of august) I could then increase my payment to her by another £100 a month, thus bringing me debt free even sooner.

But that was just an idea and I can totally cope if she says no, and in a way it is a cop out but I'm determined to treat that loan as any other loan, so no "payment breaks" because I want new shoes etc lol....

We'll wait and see on that one