How do i join you all? I need to feel like i'm moving forwards!

KellyGT

Hey all

Guess i'm having my very own lightbulb moment. I just feel so closed in by our debt which is floating around that i need to start tackling it head on and feel/see that i'm making progress.

I envy so many of you (from your signatures) how you have managed to knock down those debt figures. I just want to do the same and have people to help me and share it with

Where do i begin? What do i do?

Its just starting to creep up on me now with xmas round the corner and knowing we have to spend.

We have two lil gorgeous boys 6yr old and 3 month old. We are very lucky they are both healthy beautiful boys. We just need to get on a good path of clearing our debt so we can have a bright future.

So where do i write my life story? Who do i share my !!!!!! financial stats with?

Await your replys

milliemonster

Hey, share them with us hun, that's what this great forum is all about, we have all had to start where you are right now and you have come to the right place.

You need to start by filling in an SOA here http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

take your time to fillit in completely and be brutally honest, it will be scary and an eye opener for you but its a necessary first step on the road to debt freedom xx

Numpty_Monkey

You've started:T so you've joined simples:D

A very good thing to do is post your SOA (Statement O Affairs) use this
http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html
we'll go through it it see whats what:A

Tixy

Hi Kelly

You just have joined us!

As Millie says a statement of affairs is a good starting point (and guarantees lots of replies - all meant well though some may feel harsh at first). Also this thread is a good start - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=107280

Then you'll be a DFW. Once we've seen your stats we'll suggest or you can find some challenges on here that suit your goals (or your weaknesses) and feel free to post on any thread you like.

Welcome!

KellyGT

Thankyou all for your quick and lovely replies I will sleep abit better tonight after feeling like im making a move.

Would it be a pain if i wrote my SOA out myself? As i would just find it more satisfying typing it out myself after going through our bank statements and what comes out each month.

Numpty_Monkey

You can do it that way if you want,
the linky thing seems to make it easier for other nosey people to go through:A:rotfl:
and it works out some of the sums for us thicker ones:o
Do what you feel is right:T

Tixy

Write it out by all means - but have a look at some other people's threads so you remember to include everything. Typical items people forget are presents, haircuts, takeaways etc. Also any costs that are not paid each month can get forgotten.
Eg road tax is only paid 6m or annually, but you should include 1/12 of the total annual cost each month - providing you have a car that is! (once you are further down the DFW road - you can then put the money aside each month so that its ready and waiting when you need to pay it out).

A good idea to work through your bank statements - don't forget to add up how much you take out in cash (although working out what you spent it on can be the tough part!)

Jacks_xxx

Welcome to the gang Kelly! :wave:

Just post up whatever manner of SOA you like - we're all going to make suggestions that will lead to changes anyway. I still rewrite ours every month to reflect what's actually going on.

For instance: Hubby just had to spend £500 in one hit on work clothes last month for his new job so I had to adjust the monthly average written down under Clothing since he usually only spends £300 a year.

So what I'm saying is - it's an ongoing process, and you may well find yourself filling in the SOA calculator at some point anyway.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for your SOA,

Love Jacks xxx

ZarZar1990

Well done on your LBM and welcommeee to being a DFW!

I was just thinking today, this website has so many current and past DFW, I wonder how many people out of the thousands in debt in the govt. statistics that this website is responsible for helping?

Sometimes it feels as though this site is single handedly responsible for making people realise they need to get a grip of their debt, one things for sure, without this website I would have kept sinking
xxx

BeautyandtheBeast_3

hello!
welcome!!

LeeSouthEast

You're already a club member just for posting Get your SOA up, and we can give the ball you've already started a hearty push in the right direction!