£9k in 130 days - The big 'ask'!

shomk

Forgot to ask: What is PAD and BB?

Got the coloured squares - great idea!

keza

Hiya Shomk, I have to confess its extremely hard to stay positive and focused. I'm having real issues with it at the moment as I'm also dealing with a bout of Post Traumatic Stress after an accident I had last year.

But I find little things really help. I don’t keep any money in my purse, the idea being that if its not there I wont spend it. Any notes go back into the bank and any change goes into my sealed pot saving for something special. I set myself a weekly budget spend of £10. once its gone, its gone. This is difficult but I try and plan ahead. When things crop up, it does put everything back but these things happen and u just have to stay positive about it.

I also take part on the Payment A Day Thread (PAD), this seems like it wont make a difference but jeez it really does! A little £1 a day payment of a cc can make a difference of £30 over a month! Which again don’t sound like a lot but over 5 months that’s £150 you wouldn’t have to face at the end had you not have done a payment a day. come and join the thread, we are a great bunch and they are like my online buddies! Lots of friendly advice and support!

My OH has been fantastic at helping me keep positive and motivated and he said when I'm feeling a bit negative try and think of why your doing this and why you battling it now and not letting it drag on. I can see a light at the end of my tunnel and it doesn’t seem to far away now. I'm almost half way thru my challenge with about £4k to go (after payday next week) so I have made such a big dent in my debt!

I also find that writing down my progress and the next steps really motivates me, coz I can see it written down and see how close it is.

I would suggest you don’t do what I have done and do it in such a tiny time frame. It really doesn’t help ur mood and I have more bad days that good because of the challenge I have set myself. I could have done it over a longer period of time but I just want it done! Short term pain-long term gain! HTH! Keep at it and post on my diary anytime u want some inspiration or advice!

keza

Well tomoro I will be half way thru my challenge. Feels like its taking forever just want it to be April now! Don’t mean to wish my life away but roll on April!

My solicitors have received my medical reports for my claim so fingers crossed that will get moving now! Just want all these things to be over with! Debt, accident claim, all the things holding me bk! Then I can be free to concentrate on my wedding yay!

Went to new look for a bag yesterday and ended up buying clothes and spent £51 but some don’t fit/see thru lol so I get to take them back today so my bill was technically only £31 which I can live with

PAD today
Big fat zero today

Diet today is:
Brekkie: 1 slice ww toast, 1 egg, 3 tbs beans, 1 slice bacon
Lunch: Ham and coleslaw bagel, muller light
Dinner; lasagne

keza

Ok, so I'm over half way! Whoohooo. It shud be all easy from here right? Wrong! It doesn’t look good on the bonus front so I think I'm actually still going to have £500 on the virgin card to pay off after April but hey, this is ok, £500 in the scheme of £12k is fantastic and I can have it paid off just 2 months after my debt free planned date. So I'm not stressing too much. I'm sure it will all work out and I think I will be more than happy if I am still left with £500. that would be easily cleared by a bit of chipping away at it and ive always got my sealed pot to fall back on. I was going to use this for a surprise break for OH bday but this also doesn’t look likely now. Cant have my cake and eat it thou ay so I'm ok with that. Hes always wanted a mont blanc pen so maybe that will be the way forward. At least he can keep that

PAD today
£1 into VSP

Diet today is:
Brekkie: 1 slice ww toast, 1 egg, 3 tbs beans, 1 slice bacon
Lunch: hot dog and pasta, muller light
Dinner; not sure yet! Going to OH parents!

kavics17

Hi Keza,

You're doing well, don't be disappointed, you're nearly there. When will you have answer about bonus?

keza

hiya! sorry been AWOL this week, havent been at work, had a week off for stress. but seems to have done the world of good! i do feel so much more positive and less tearful thatn i was last week. Even managed to get on a bus this week for the first time since my accident in september so baby steps with debt aswell as PTSD.

Pay day came and went and im skint already but this is anticipated i spose. OH loan will be down to £1,200 once grandad has cashed the usual cheque and also paying a further £70 off the virgin card which was unexpected this month so its all good progress. shud find out about my bonus in the next 3 weeks. thats when i will know where i stand for sure xxx

keza

Well while I'm sitting here bored at work I thought id grab the opportunity to do an update!

I actually now wont be debt free by April – it’s too much of a push and I think it’s a more sensible idea if I leave £700 to clear when I get my pay out from my accident claim. This will then mean I wont be struggling to save for the most important day of my life (wedding day) and id rather be comfortable than worrying for the next 8 months u know?

So, that’s my decision, a very good one at that and I'm happy with it! I do feel the weight gradually being lifted off my shoulders. I'm so so proud of the progress ive made since December and am still keeping my fingers crossed for a bonus in the next 3 weeks. This may even clear the aforementioned £700 or it may leave more than £700. But I'm ready to take it all head on and I'm prepared for the bit that may be left at the end of April.

Bootsale Saturday so an opportunity to make some more extra pennies. Every little is still certainly helping just gota raid some bits out to flog!

keza

New developments from the debt world of KEZA!

After a chat with my OH we have decided it wise to pay off OH granddad but leave £1,000 outstanding, whilst clearing the virgin card completely (last £500 in April). Then pay the remaining £1k to granddad when my claim settlement pays out. That way its interest free and I don’t have to worry about it. And the wedding savings won’t be a problem and can get into action.

kavics17

Hi Keza,
I think it's a good idea to tackle the credit card first as your loan from OH's grandad is interest free! 2 or 3 months to go and you'll be completely debt free, well done! Than the saving journey will start . I'm doing very well at the moment, now that my loan is paid back, all my money goes towards the saving account-now just need to decide when and where we are going to buy a flat!

tez_c

I wish I was in the position to do that - good luck!