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

May2013

Haven’t updated this diary for ages….I told you I hated the written word!!

Well I’m glad to say that the horrid black cloud that sat permanently above my head throughout April has well and truly moved on.

Lot’s has happened since my last update so here’s a brief summary. Firstly, and most significantly, I joined the ‘cutting down/giving up alcohol’ thread, I’ve reduced my alcohol consumption drastically - no fuzzy heads for me anymore…clearer thinking, more energy and a much more positive attitude. I’m shocked (horrified actually :eek:) at just how much I was drinking and how depressed I was feeling from the effects of it. With a clearer head I’ve been able to tackle my diet and have lost 1½ st in 3 months, I feel physically and mentally better than I have in years….just need to make sure I maintain it now.


My debt free journey has been going well too:

• I’ve reviewed my budgets again (always a good thing to do from time to time) and have been able to commit an extra £75 a month towards my Capital One CC which will help massively as a huge chunk of the monthly payment goes towards the interest.
• The savings made by not buying booze have been put to one side and I now have enough, along with the regular payment, to clear my Egg card at the end of this week (a month ahead of schedule)
• The next plan is to snowball the regular Egg card payment across to the M&S card (which has the highest interest rate) and start making in roads into this debt

Progress is being made!! Yesterday I dared to have a little think about what my DF life might look like…and from here it looks bloomin fantastic…still a long way to go, but I’m back in the driving seat and feeling good!!

MissShoes

May2013 wrote: »

Haven’t updated this diary for ages….I told you I hated the written word!!

Well I’m glad to say that the horrid black cloud that sat permanently above my head throughout April has well and truly moved on.

Lot’s has happened since my last update so here’s a brief summary. Firstly, and most significantly, I joined the ‘cutting down/giving up alcohol’ thread, I’ve reduced my alcohol consumption drastically - no fuzzy heads for me anymore…clearer thinking, more energy and a much more positive attitude. I’m shocked (horrified actually :eek:) at just how much I was drinking and how depressed I was feeling from the effects of it. With a clearer head I’ve been able to tackle my diet and have lost 1½ st in 3 months, I feel physically and mentally better than I have in years….just need to make sure I maintain it now.


My debt free journey has been going well too:

• I’ve reviewed my budgets again (always a good thing to do from time to time) and have been able to commit an extra £75 a month towards my Capital One CC which will help massively as a huge chunk of the monthly payment goes towards the interest.
• The savings made by not buying booze have been put to one side and I now have enough, along with the regular payment, to clear my Egg card at the end of this week (a month ahead of schedule)
• The next plan is to snowball the regular Egg card payment across to the M&S card (which has the highest interest rate) and start making in roads into this debt

Progress is being made!! Yesterday I dared to have a little think about what my DF life might look like…and from here it looks bloomin fantastic…still a long way to go, but I’m back in the driving seat and feeling good!!

Well done- sounds like you have turned a corner. xx

May2013

Today’s a good day….another £150 paid towards the HSBC CC but more importantly my debt is now less than £17k (just )

Spent rather too much in Tesco this evening, normally keep to my shopping list but got a little distracted today….note to self: never ever go shopping when I’m hungry!!!

Away with work for a couple of days from tomorrow so should notch up a few NSD's this week.

millionaire_in_training

Just read through your diary. You're doing well. I am on a similar journey and am also 46 . I want to be debt free well before I am 50 so that I can be outrageous from then on :rotfl:. Good luck

May2013

Thanks for *dropping* by MIT.

You look to be well on track to achieving your goals too....who ever said life begins at 40...'debt free and fabulous at fifty' is the only way forward ....good luck on your journey too...I'll look out for you to see how your getting on x

millionaire_in_training

lol well that's my mantra too. I want to definitely be fab and fifty and have the money to do this

May2013

Happy, happy days!!!

This morning the final payment on my Egg card was debited from my bank account….can’t tell you how good that makes me feel. :j Egg was my first credit card and the one that started me off on this slippery slope. It’s also the only debt that I've ever defaulted on - so pleased to see the back of it!!

I now have just 3 credit cards and my bank loan to focus on.
Next steps - snowball the £160 monthly Egg payment to the M&S card.

Experience tells me that I need to be mindful that after the high of making a significant inroad I tend to go on a bit of a downer….don’t you just love the ups and downs of being a DFW

millionaire_in_training

Love them with a passion............NOT :rotfl:.

Well done on the Egg payment. I know exactly how you feel as I paid the final payment on my car and I was thrilled to do so. Don't allow yourself to get down. Join a challenge or something to tackle the next debt. I do the 100 day challenge and reading everyone's posts really inspires you to carry on. Good luck

May2013

Great suggestion MIT, thank you - I've just joined the next 100 day challenge...pledged to pay an additional £400 over and above my regular payments...lets see how I get on!!! Can't wait to get started!

millionaire_in_training

I'm on £500 over and above so I'll keep you company. Folks on there pay off thousands but I reckon it is mostly their normal payments but I only count additional money paid. Good luck with that.