Stop being a Wimp!... DMP Journey

Eager_Elephant

Congratulations Ellie _party__party__party_:T:T

Here's to a bigger, better future - can't wait to hear all your plans.

Ellieseleven

Chrisblue1962 wrote: »

Hi Ellie

I am quietly elated that you are finally debt free. You ae shining example of what can be achieved with knowledge, hard work and a vast amount of self belief.

Myself and my OH are still "navigating the stormy seas to a harbour in Debt Free Land" but your fanastic achievement only serves to double my resolve.

So Ellie, in the near future I hope you find a quiet moment and sit down with a glass / mug of your favourite beverage and quietly enjoy it whilst saying to yourself " Success!".

Heartfelt best wishes for the future

Hello Chris and thank you for your good wishes.

It's been a long road but one that I am glad I have travelled.

I wish you well with your own journey and hope to be cheering you over the finish line in the not too distant future.

Thanks again
Ellie x

Ellieseleven

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

Congratulations Ellie _party__party__party_:T:T

Here's to a bigger, better future - can't wait to hear all your plans.

Thank you EE

Ellie x

Ellieseleven

This is a looooong month!


After the euphoria of becoming debt-free, I find myself back down to earth with a bump. I am still working on a tight budget due to the last payment to SC so won't feel the benefit until April.


Life goes on as usual and my urge to announce my new found status to everyone I meet has abated and nothing has changed:o


I have a Savings account set up and have deposited £10 so far...my goal for the next few months is to reach that elusive £1000 emergency fund:cool:


Take care
Ellie x

[Deleted User]

I think that's often what happens, Ellie, feeling a bit deflated once the initial euphoria has worn off. Just remember how far you've come and what you've achieved, that's enough to have you doing cartwheels round the garden:j:j:j


Just try to enjoy the lovely spring-like weather if you're lucky enough to have any and take a bit of much-deserved 'you' time to make some plans for a wonderful debt-free future:beer:

River.Bee

Hi Ellie,
I've just read through your whole diary (took me a good week or so haha) It's so weird to think that I've just witnessed 6 and a half years of your life all in just one weeks time. It was like reading a book. But I can't believe the inspiration you are to everyone on these boards! It's an immense achievement what you've done! So so so happy for you.

So now that the start of April is here, what's it like to have total control over what you want to do with all of your pay day wages?

Keep us updated with your new lifestyle!

Ellieseleven

River.Bee wrote: »

Hi Ellie,
I've just read through your whole diary (took me a good week or so haha) It's so weird to think that I've just witnessed 6 and a half years of your life all in just one weeks time. It was like reading a book. But I can't believe the inspiration you are to everyone on these boards! It's an immense achievement what you've done! So so so happy for you.

So now that the start of April is here, what's it like to have total control over what you want to do with all of your pay day wages?

Keep us updated with your new lifestyle!

Thank you for your comments River.Bee, I'm just about to update my diary with details of my bank balance lol:rotfl:


Great to see you on the Saving for Christmas thread:)


Ellie x

Ellieseleven

I think March 2017 was three times longer than any other month in the last 6+ years... it seemed to go on forever and it was tight moneywise but now it's gone and that's another hurdle passed.


Now for April - I always pay my direct debits for all my bills on the 1st of the month (I get paid on the last day) so by the 2nd I don't normally have a lot left but this month I've got over £1200 after everything is paid:eek: and I keep looking at my balance:p:D


It's a really strange feeling to have all this money at the moment and I can't quite believe it's mine. I had credit cards and loans for approx. 25-30 years and this is the first time I don't owe any money.


I haven't rushed out and bought anything and I'm still working within my budget (which I will continue to do). I have started putting some money away into a savings account so I might just get to my emergency fund target quite quickly (something I never quite managed whilst on a DMP).


I'm missing my spreadsheets as they were a huge part of my life during the DMP so I've created new ones which show growing balances rather than diminishing ones.


Take care
Ellie x

River.Bee

Ellieseleven wrote: »

I think March 2017 was three times longer than any other month in the last 6+ years... it seemed to go on forever and it was tight moneywise but now it's gone and that's another hurdle passed.


Now for April - I always pay my direct debits for all my bills on the 1st of the month (I get paid on the last day) so by the 2nd I don't normally have a lot left but this month I've got over £1200 after everything is paid:eek: and I keep looking at my balance:p:D


It's a really strange feeling to have all this money at the moment and I can't quite believe it's mine. I had credit cards and loans for approx. 25-30 years and this is the first time I don't owe any money.


I haven't rushed out and bought anything and I'm still working within my budget (which I will continue to do). I have started putting some money away into a savings account so I might just get to my emergency fund target quite quickly (something I never quite managed whilst on a DMP).


I'm missing my spreadsheets as they were a huge part of my life during the DMP so I've created new ones which show growing balances rather than diminishing ones.


Take care
Ellie x

Yay! :j:j I suspect it'll be very alien at first, but I love the fact that you're still commited to budgeting as to never to fall in the debt pit again:T

I can't wait to be at the same stage as you, watching my money grow each month rather than watching debts fall. I kinda know how you feel about missing the spreadsheets, I can't contemplate my life without debt and planning how much for payments and when they'll go out and how much I'll have left and checking my bank balance everyday etc. etc. I'll have to adjust that organisation habit to savings I guess lol

Well done again Ellie, hope you do have your happy ending and a relaxing retirement eventually :beer:

p.s what has your OH have to say about all your hardwork?

Ellieseleven

Hello River.Bee,

Budgeting has been my friend throughout my DMP and it is something I do now without thinking. It's been a harsh lesson but one I'm grateful for and it has taught me so much.

You just need to be determined to beat your debt and you will get there;)

My OH says it's a remarkable achievement and I should be very proud of myself. He still talks about the debt as though it was all mine and he was just a bystander.

Good luck with your debt busting

Ellie x