Debt free and buy a house by 35

Clurbur85

Hi Andy,

I've just been reading through your diary... well done on dealing with your debts... you're doing so well!

I laughed to myself when I read the list of things you've wasted money on in the past... I've been there and done all of those things!

Anyhow, it's the here and now that counts and I just wanted to say you're doing great... keep it up!!! ...Paying big debts is hard but we will all get there in the end!! ...As you will see from my signature I'm in the woods myself...

I’ve subscribed to your thread and I’m looking forward to your next update!

Claire xx

Clurbur85

P.S- I've also just signed up for one of those O2 money cards... I think that will really help me to keep track of my 'spends'. Thanks for the tip.

xCx

andymc29

Hi Claire, thansk for subscribing! I can't find a diary for you, you should start one if you haven't already, there's nothing quite like laying your life out for judgement ;-)

thanks for the complimenets, the only worry I've really got though is that by the time I get to being debt free I'll be an old penny pinching scrooge living in the cheapest place I can find and only living off my garden tomato plants!!! Still, that's the whole reason fro keeping up things like going running and taekwondo. That and keeping in touch with friends and family.

I've had my O2 card about a month now, and Id' say it's been really useful. I'm totally into thinking of it as the only money I have for going out, buying books, snacks, etc... so when I check my phone and see the message saying I've got £15 left it makes me think twice about things. My big tip though is to top it up every week, cause then there's never more than 6 days till your next top-up so you'll find it easier to wait to buy something instead of hitting your main bank account. the text message feature's brilliant, it freaks you out teh first few times cause you forget it does it, so you'll be using the cash machine and get a text before you've even grabbed the money! It goes off when you buy things in shops too. Just remember to be generous with your pocket money, not massively, but allow a little extra than what you think you'll need, cause there's always that extra little thing you can't avoid having to pay for.

Kepp

Hi Andy,

Just finished updating my diary and stumbled across yours.

Your the same as me, battling to clear those debts as quickly as possible

Have subscribed so I can keep up!

Good luck in your DF journey

andymc29

Hi beccie!

wow! two and half grand cleared in only three months! Well done, good job!

I've found your diary, subscribed! ;-)

andymc29

I did a car boot sale this Sunday. My parents had some stuff to sell so we took my car and theirs.
Made about £40 which covered the cost of setting up my pitch (£6) and the petrol cost (approx £5).
Went well, had a lot of people trying to offer stupid prices for things, but overall people are fair. It's hard not to buy things fof other sellers, but you have to remind yourself your here to get rid of stuff, not get more, and to try to make some money for yourself, not spend it.
We took a flask of tea and some homemade cake so no need to buy anything at all there.
Weather was great and will be doing another one soon to try to clear some of the stuff we didn't sell.

Saw Toy story 3 last night, one MSE tip though, don't buy anything else except the ticket! It cost £9.60 just for that!!! They really know how to use 3D films to rip you off. the film was great and the 3D did add to it, gave it a much more realistic feel.

Kepp

Hey Andy,

Well done on the carboot - good to get rid of stuff and make some extra at the same time. Every little helps when paying debts back!

Glad you enjoyed the film - can't believe the price of the ticket though!

andymc29

I think teh car boot sael has shown that I'd managed to change one big thing with my spending habits. Impulse buying. I took a look around at the other stals and saw a couple of things I really liked the look of, they were under a tenner but I managed to talk myself out of it. Makes me feel much morecinfident that I'm changing myself as well as just my amount of debt. Because one of my biggest fears is that I'll get to being debt free then go out spending again, at a rate that puts me back into debt. But that's changing now. My GF says she only buys things when she really needs them, and then she looks after them really well because she know's how much work it took to earn the money to buy the thing.

andymc29

No more commuting!!!

the project I'm working on has changed, so I don't have to commute to London every day now. Which means I'll be working in my office in cambridge. The short of it is instead of spending 3 hours per day commuting to London, I'll spend 1 hour driving to Cambridge and back. So I get an extra 2 hours a day of free time! Means it'll be easier to fit runs in and do some money making stuff in my spare time, also means more time for the girlfriend.

On an MSE note though, it does mean no mroe free lunches, so it's time to start making packed lunches, this won't add to my costs though as I'm living with the parents so all my foods already covered. And extra free time means I can help them around the house a bit more so they won't mind. Does mean higher petrol costs though. with commuting all my train fares to London were covered by my company, but now I'll have to drive 40 miles every day at my own cost, which is 200 miles per week, so about £130 per month in petrol costs! Ouch!!! wish I had a more economic car, but never mind it's all part of the long grind of getting debt free.

oh, I just thought, I'll be able to run in my lunch hours now, as we have a shower in Cambridge. So daily runs are now a possibility. also means I don't have to use the underground in rush hour, hoorah!!!

Clurbur85

Hi Andy,

Glad you resisted temptation at the car boot sale and didn’t come back with more stuff than you left the house with!

If you play it right I’m sure being located in Cambridge will save you money… just don’t slack on making your packed lunches!!

Oh and I took your advice… I’ve created my very own diary… It’s scary but I think it will help!

xCx