The Final Furlong......well almost!!!

May2013

I’ve never kept a diary before and quite literally hate the written word!!
Not a great starting point…and yet strangely I can’t stop the urge to do this…as I read the diaries on here I draw such inspiration from the journeys that are being travelled by each of you and can’t help feeling that if nothing else I can keep myself on track by documenting my own highs and lows on my way to a debt free existence.

And so to me…I’ve been living with a suffocating level of debt for pretty much all my adult life and feel that at last the end might just be in sight…and I say this with £20k of debt still to clear.

In the early days as our family started to grow it became increasingly difficult to make ends meet. I did what I could to help generate additional income (at one point juggling 4 jobs around the needs of the family) but our outgoings simply swamped our income….and like so many others I fell prey to the never ending stream of credit that at that time was being offered to me on a plate!! I won’t bore you with the details but in summary I found myself with over £50k of (secret) debt and no idea of how I would be able to manage payments.

Anyway to cut a long story short in 2007 when all my credit options ran out I got a grip, set myself budgets, started to build myself a career and began my seemingly never ending journey to a debt free life.
In the four short months since finding and devouring all the incredible advice on MSE I have reviewed my budgets, stripped some fat off my out goings and pulled my DFD forward from May 2013 to Feb of the same year…but my goal is to have a DF status in 2012 (even if it is achieved on 31st Dec)

So there you go, that’s me….if you don’t mind I will use this thread to ramble on, vent my spleen and document the final leg of my journey – thanks for ‘listening’ and Happy Easter DFW’s :EasterBun

bumblingbea

Good luck on your journey. I'm drawing inspiration from you & others!!

May2013

Thanks bumblingbea...MSE is just great for helping to keep the focus and motivation going isn't it!

You look to be new to the forum....beware it's dangerously addictive!! :rotfl:

P.S love the footnote on your signature!!

bumblingbea

The site is very very addictive. Been lurking for a few months, gathering tips, throwing money at debt & trying not to spend. Only when I tried the snowball calculator on a thread, did it really sink home...agghh....my eco friendly lightbulb is now glowing brightly.

May2013

Well done on having your 'eco friendly' LBM (LOL.. energy efficient so you're aleady making a saving!!)...it can be quite scary at the onset but hugely enpowering when you start feeling you've taken control of the demon debt. I look forward to following your progress....good luck to you too

May2013

Ok a little bit more about me…

I’m 46 years young, married and have four children. Our two youngest sons (21 & 22yrs) still live at home with no plans whatsoever to move out in the near future. The older two (son and daughter) have both started families of their own and I am now the proud Nana of two beautiful granddaughters.

My OH is a million years older than me (well ok maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration.. he’s 20yrs my senior) and has decided to retire earlier than was our plan making me the breadwinner….I can’t say that I’m wildly happy about that but hey-ho that’s how it is so I have to get on with it!!

With the exception of time taken for maternity leave I’ve been lucky to have always been in employment and now have a great job with a decent salary of which I see nothing as it all goes on debts and bills.

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to be debt free more than I do right now….I have spreadsheets about spreadsheets to track, forecast and analyse every penny that goes in and out of my account….obsession is a good thing isn’t it??

Hmmm….this whole diary thing is very therapeutic

May2013

Today is OH birthday. Got the family coming over for BBQ, catering for 17, done it all for £27 excluding the alcohol (asked everyone to bring their own)

The first four months of year are so expensive, had 8 family B’days already, with another two in the next couple of weeks, add to that Mothers Day, Easter and some unseasonably wonderful BBQ weather and my budget is starting to look very fragile. Already overspent on April’s budget and with another B’day and bank holiday weekend before the month is over it’s not looking pretty, hoping I can make up for the overspend by being super frugal in May.

May2013

Had a great day yesterday….lots of food left over so that’s dinner for tomorrow sorted (as long as DS2 & 3 don’t raid the fridge!!)

Over to the parents today for their annual Easter ‘bash’, the whole family will be there (sister, brother, nieces, nephews etc,etc). There will be the obligatory exchange of confectionary, I’ve managed to keep costs right down this year but it’s still a ridiculous expense!!

To date I've overspent on my April budget by £75 and there’s still a week to go :mad: …need as many NSD’s as possible next week….it’s all about damage limitation now!

May2013

Rubbish day today…started off feeling really positive (often do) and then ended up feeling…well, empty (often do)!!

I've had a NSD today so that's good isn't it?? But then to be honest most days are NSD's and when I do go shopping it's to buy milk, eggs, bread and loo rolls etc....nothing exciting.

Sometimes the DFW route feels hugely empowering, sometimes it's like a game of chess, sometimes it feels stimulating and full of learnings....and sometimes, like today it's just plain and simply exhausting....I long for the day when I don't get all precious over a 20p piece

Oh well onwards and upwards.

May2013

Arrgghhh…. I need to change this lacklustre state of mind. I’m finding it so difficult to get motivated to do anything …don’t know what’s the matter with me, it’s been going on for weeks….I could happily just stare into space for hours (and often do)….not good, I need to get a grip!

Need a ‘to do’ list to try and break this cycle:

• Clear at least 50% of my work related to do list – every day
• Sort through clothes / set aside bits to sell at car boot
• Clear desk and file paperwork
• Have at least 2 AFD’s before end April.
• Start an eating diary – goal is to loose 14lb in 10 weeks
• Buy DGD birthday present
• Buy DD birthday present
• Write shopping list for May
• Get off my backside and do some kind of exercise every day (even if it is just climbing the stairs two at a time!)
• Do as many surveys as possible every day!!

bumblingbea

I think you are doing brilliantly!!!! 4years since LBM & under 2years to go.

As for staring into space for hours....I've always been a dreamer. Gotten so good at it, I can now dream while working. I travel around the world everyday. Today, I was relaxing on the balcony of my Cypriot apartment. It was heavenly. Made the chore of ironing so much less boring. Might head to Rome tomorrow...

Chin up...something good is around the corner.