Sub 20K I can't believe it!!!!!!

themaccas

When we started on this DF journey I never envisaged it would be such a ride! This morning we have finally made it to the sub 20K mark and I'm over the moon and feeling very emotional. We have been able to do this so quickly because we had our refund of bank charges earlier this month and managed to pay off our overdrafts and a bank loan with the proceeds as well as save a little bit over towards DS1 school expedition next year.

The amazing thing with this debt clearing is that not only have we been able to totally reeducate ourselves about our spending but look at upcoming plans and think about how we are going to pay for them. We have proper savings for the first time because of this - £3100 in our savings account.This has come from - £1000 from refund of bank charges, £1100 from standard life shares and £1000 that we have saved over the last few months. This is earmarked for things that we need to pay for in the coming months so we are unable to pay this off our debts. Instead we have opened a high interest savings account and it is sitting in there.

So here is the 'bad'/'naughty' news - we have booked a holiday to New York for next year Not because I think we deserve it but because we have been given an opportunity to go with VERY cheap flights with BA. The flights have been booked and paid for with our money and we have reserved our accomodation which needs to paid for by end of January. All our spending money will be raised from ebay, amazon and car boot sales and extra shifts and overtime at work. Car parking will be paid for with tesco clubcard vouchers. So though we are all very excited, we will be doing this DF style although I do feel very embarressed to declaring this trip on here. Maybe we could have put this onto our debt but I feel we are doing ok with our debtbusting and although we are not taking our foot off the gas with it we are happy with our DF date and comfortable with what we are paying off each month. Starting out in January this year I never thought we would be at this stage now and I don't know how it like I've said before I have no magic formula but we have stopped all the fritering of money that was happening. We don't eat out, make packed lunches every day, menu plan with CHEAP ingredients, have a weekly small amount of pocket money each that also needs to cover any top up shop. We are not perfect and have fallen off the wagon a few times but there is nothing like seeing your debt go down to give you a boost and reaffirm your commitment.

Thanks everyone I read almost all the posts on here, keep going we can all do this.:T :T :T :T :T

lynzpower

thats brill news themaccas :T

loulouloulou_2

Well done!!!

It is such a boost whn you can see your debt going down!!

Keep on with it, your doing great! - not long now till your debt free date - woohoo!!:rotfl:

:T :T :T :T

poorbutrich

Hey good for you - what a nice feeling to have reached the sub £20,000 benchmark! And have a brilliant time in NY - it's actually VERY moneysaving as the pound is quite strong against the dollar!

I've just come back from a trip there, not that I would admit that on this forum!

Serialdieter

You've done fantastic. Lovely to see those debts coming down.

Jx

COOLTRIKERCHICK

well done.... i'm having a bad morning... thought we were doing good.. but a lack of concentration... has ment we have gone over our overdraft.. so a letter saying being charged £30. for the privilage...

but reading posts like yours... gives us.. the insperation.. and the incouragement that some of us need...

dont feel bad with your trip to n.y.....as by the sounds of it.. its well deserved.....you have booked and planned for it the right way...no c.c just injoy every minute of it....
as you have not borrowed any money for the trip.....and booked everything.. with the best discounts....and loyalty schemes....so even though you are spending.... you have saved loads....

and thanks for the post...

themaccas

Hi CTC, sorry to hear about your morning, I think your spending diary seems a great idea, although I don't do one on a regualr basis, if I think we are over spending, | start one again to see where it is going, it is always a bit of an uncomfortable shock! Why don't you see about claiming back your bank charges? Phone your bank now and ask for a refund for the charge they have just made then see about getting hold of your statements for the last 6 years there is plenty of info on this site and on another one - consumeractiongroup.com (I think that's right).
You can do this!

owessomuch

Wonderful news!! :T Congratulations

Can't wait to hit the sub £40k :eek:

Lara44

Hey themaccas well done and don't feel bad about your holiday especially if you're doing it DFW style! :money:

Brassic

Congratulations - that's fantastic news! I can't wait to see that day myself! :cool:

moozie_2

Well done the maccas! It's lovely to see one more of us getting there :T