No more debt.....or choc!!

anonymoose_3

Have a good day choc Don't work too hard
Glad you had a nice day yesterday

OrangeFairy

Have a great day at work!!! Resist OH's easter eggs!!!!!

I am having a non-productive morning at the moment!!

Choc-addict

Ok, healthy eating going very well so far. I have polished off at least 2 pints of water too and the afternoon is still to come. I've arranged for a friend to come round tonight and we're going for a long walk (exercise done!) which will be hilly too. We did arrange to go to the pub for dinner after but far too much temptation and money being spent so I have just looked in kitchen and am going to make a very healthy tuna pasta bake, with wheat free pasta (less bloating!) so just have to pick up a couple of peppers, onion, courgette and chopped tomatoe....i'm quite proud of myself and i'm sure it'll taste far better than a greasy pub meal!!

Off to Mr T's now in my lunch break

Choc-addict

Back from MrT's, looking forward to a girly evening which combines exercise, eating MSE styleee

£2 coin in change from Mr T visit therefore very MSE all round

anonymoose_3

Have a great evening choc

Choc-addict

I've started to realise that I really am the queen of procrastion! I've had a dull afternoon and sat there thinking about my money and how much it gets me down and then realised that i've been doing/thinking along these lines for as long as I can remember and always saying 'i'm going to clear my debt this year' for the last 5/6 New Years day. I don't want to be saying the same thing come January 2011, no way.

I guess I can honestly say that today I have had what I would call my 'proper lightbulb moment' and the biggest reality check I could give myself. The difference being this time I don't feel sorry for myself or think woe is me. This time i've given myself the talking to that I deserve and have resolved to really make big changes for the rest of 2010 so that come Jan 2011 I am saying the words 'I am going to continue doing as well as I did in 2010'.

Having said all of the above, I know my mindset has changed a lot since the beginning of this year and continues to do so. Perhaps i've taken baby steps towards this new LBM?? I now plan to continue to make in roads and really get this debt of mine firstly down to a managable level and secondly completely gone and therefore debt free. Although I do try, I think perhaps not hard enough and still spend when I want to on things that I probably really do not need such as numerous mags, random trips to tescos, meals out and so on....it has to stop now if I am going to make a difference.

So today I have written a letter and cancelled my gym membership which was costing me £40 and will use the great outdoors and dvds/weights at home to get fit. I will be meal planning each week and ensure that I use up what I have in my kitchen, even if I do end up eating beans on toast or pasta for the rest of the week!

It is payday on Thursday for me so I will work out my outgoings, what is left and then give myself a weekly allowance and see if I can't get myself out of this mess. I will also tell my friend so that they realise that it's a big thing for me.

I've already today emailed a couple of friends to see if they want to go 50/50 on presents for respective bdays coming up next week - they're cool with that. Usually I would spend a load myself but just can't afford it anymore.

Overtime (at the moment) is available both this Sat and Sun so I have put my name down for that. This together with some I have already done should bring in a decent payday come May, having said that I do have to pay for my holiday to Scotland in June. Only one hols for me this year!

I also have to consider moving house too - OH has been fab with this and we do have enough saved to cover all costs already. He has said I can leave the saving on this now and concentrate on my debts. However, I will always try to put something away in joint savings, even if small as this to me is our future.

Somehow I need to find the balance of planning ahead for the future, clearing the debts, living in the here and now. All will take time, I know, but i'm little miss impatient

Right enough yapping from me, feel as though i've just written a mission statement or something - OH is nearly home from work so best clear up the mess i've made in the kitchen today

Have a good evening all x

OrangeFairy

Your last post was an interesting read.

I have had lots of moments where i have started to want to clear debt etc but hasn't really ever come to anything. I realised recently i spend far too much on other people and that is a huge chunk of my money. I really have to start planning for christmas as this is my worst time for spending as i go a bit crazy. However this xmas i did cut down a fair bit on what i spent on others. This year i feel really focused on it. I think i have come to a point where i am really fed up of renting and need to take these steps if we are ever going to own a house....plus getting engaged has made me want to save even more!

Yay for our LBM's!! :T

penelopedee_2

Hi Choc-addict, chin up hun, at least you have had a LBM and are making plans. I think you are right in trying to get your debt down first before prioritising savings. It will happen eventually, so keep chipping away at it

I know how easy it is to just pop into Tesco and come out £30 lighter when you have food etc at home. It takes all my will power not to go in each lunchtime, but the difference it makes is worth it.

I managed to pay for our little holiday by just stopping it for a month so it shows how much money I was blowing.

Its good to have OH on side too, makes a load a difference.

Good luck with the debt busting and well done on sharing with friends. Support is good for keeping you on the straight and narrow. Pen x

Choc-addict

littlekel wrote: »

Your last post was an interesting read.

Yay for our LBM's!! :T

Agree YAY to our 'proper' light bulb moment! :T Funny how you have so many times 'thinking' you will do this and that and it comes to nothing and then all of a suddden something clicks - weird.

Think buying our house and the intention for little ones etc down the line is in my mind now and realise I have a big job to do in the process - clear the debt!

Choc-addict

penelopedee wrote: »

Hi Choc-addict, chin up hun, at least you have had a LBM and are making plans. I think you are right in trying to get your debt down first before prioritising savings. It will happen eventually, so keep chipping away at it

I know how easy it is to just pop into Tesco and come out £30 lighter when you have food etc at home. It takes all my will power not to go in each lunchtime, but the difference it makes is worth it.

I managed to pay for our little holiday by just stopping it for a month so it shows how much money I was blowing.

Its good to have OH on side too, makes a load a difference.

Good luck with the debt busting and well done on sharing with friends. Support is good for keeping you on the straight and narrow. Pen x

Thank you Pen. Know all to well the tesco trips - something i'm trying to stop and cut back on. Think this is possibly my worst area of spending as it it my OH's too.