A journey of a 1000 miles must begin with single footstep....

Woowoo

Thanks RMC, hope your doing ok x

Woowoo

I have been a naughty girl today and brought an iphone, I wanted a treat!

It wasn't on credit so I'm allowed occasionally!

Herewego

Oooppps Hey we all need a treat now and again it's fine its not on credit. Thats always a step in the right direction

Cloudy456

Hi Woowoo, I'm just subscribing to your diary as I stumbled upon it and just read all 12 pages - really inspirational! I too bought an iPhone recently, but have downloaded a fantastic (free!) money management app which I'm now addicted to, so I think its kind of helping me get DF....!! I know what you mean about the big CCs seeming like a huge mountain to climb, I try and think of it 1000 at a time otherwise I would give up totally!

Woowoo

Hi Cloudy

Thanks for your post, I have just started looking at my debt per £1000 at a time as well, it does make is seem more manageable. I highlight a column on my spreadsheet for every £1000 I clear.

Good luck x

Woowoo

I've just had a fantastic weekend at Alton Towers (all saved for) for my best friends 30th birthday. We stayed in the hotel and visited the theme park and the splash pool.

The meal on the evening was such awful service that when we complained they cleared the whole bill, £180 worth!

I have been using my debit card to pay for things and consequently am £3.22 over budget, not a lot but a slippery slope. Back to cash for me!

Have just sold my old mobile to Mazuma for £29.00.

Woowoo

No extra money to pay off Lloyds at the moment. I am resigned to the fact that over the next couple of months I don't have much spare in my budget to make a real dent in the debt as I have to pay for my holiday and save the spending money. Its very frustrating though.

I am only £316 away from being in the £13's, but the reality is I won't get there until the end of June.

Think this might test my resolve as my debt doesn't freak me out anymore and whilst I will never spend on credit again I have lost some of my determination to clear it asap, I keep thinking as long as I get there one day who cares.

I need to care and get back in my MSE frame of mind!

Herewego

Woowoo, consider yourself told off we can beat this debt.
I am so looking forward to having all the extra money now paying debt off to spend on nice things and not debt every month. I have worked out we can have a weeks sunny holiday every other month if we wanted once the debt has gone.
That my motivation how much will you have spare ?
What will you do with that extra cash ?
Just think your dreams can become reality now have you got anything to ebay/amazon.

Cloudy456

Don't let the motivation disappear now! I know what you mean tho, I was looking at my spreadsheet the other day and hoping to be down to 6k by the end of the year, then freaked myself out a bit by thinking thats practically debt free, I won't be worrying about that sort of amount, then I got really scared that I had thought like that - its still an awful lot of debt!! I think it will be harder to stay motivated once it stops being the kind of worry that keeps me awake at night. But I am determined to clear every last penny and you should be too! You've done so well, reading your thread is inspiring, so don't slip off the bandwagon now! And as Herewego said, imagine that much money free every month....its the dream!!

Woowoo

Thanks guys you are so right, of course!

I think it's because Ive had a few treats lately and whilst all budgeted for and paid in cash it has got me back in the spending habit. Also the amount of debt is still large but not scary like £18.5k was, so it's easy to start thinking it's fine everyones in debt.

I'm walking to work today so will have plenty of time to think about the error of my ways lol!

Once debt free I will have around £800 per month just to spend on me! I am aiming for £11k by the end of Jan and I will get there.