I did it, a no debt xmas

domesticgoddess

I'm feeling rather anxious about the future as my salary is due to drop in Feb as I loose a back to work maternity bonus, my pay will drop by £300 pcm. So it's a fair drop. I've got a call with the CCCS to discuss this and how it will impact my repayments as I still have high childcare costs.

But the one good thing apart from keeping in the black keping on track since June this year was that by planning ahead for Xmas I have for the firt time managed to have a great fab xmas by not overspending. It's been very hard, old habits etc, but I believe now that we have a new habit for xmas, and that is by planning and discussing what we REALLY REALLY need we can do it.

We talked about all purchases, shopped around, brought ahead, cut back and did it on our budget.

We will not be paying for Christmas in 2007!! I'm so pleased.

I can see my debt going down, I'm learning to say no to consumerism and debt, I've a long way to go but little by little we are getting there.

Hope you all have had a good christmas and have managed to stay on track too.


Thanks DFW and Martin !!! Your inspired words about Christmas kept me going, esp the comment that the day is always the 25th so plan ahead.

themaccas

Well done, I know how hard it is to break bad habits both bdfore xmas and in the jam sales. We have managed to reign in our spending but budgeting requires me to focus all the time, I find it very easy to go off track. However it is little changes that soon add up, well done though, keep going it sounds like you are doing a fab job!!

Serialdieter

Well done on the debt free xmas, it's a great feeling. For the first time in years I'm not dreading the cc bills in January.

Hope cccs can clarify payments, £300 is a lot to loose each month. Can you claim extra tax credits if you've still got high childcare?

Jx

domesticgoddess

sadly due to my other halfs salary we can't claim any benefits. I do start to get some free childcare in Jan for middle child which will help a wee bit. Unfortunately 2 months ago my OH finally confessed to his debt problem which I was completely shocked and it shock my world as I was talking about us moving getting a bigger home and now we can't we are in debt for the next 10 years or so. His debt was so very very large, but we are changing our lifestyle so much and we feel quite positive, xmas for us was a big hurdle.

Jumps

Well Done. This is also my first Christmas when I have not used a credit card and it feels great.

Mrs_Sparkle

Well done! I also managed my first Christmas without using a credit card and it feels much, much better.

biglad

i loved using my own earnt money for xmas and moving out of parents house and managed to not put ANYTHING on credit and im so happy ive done it

great feeling isnt it

taxi73

well done everyone for that ...I too didn't use my credit card...so am really pleased:beer:

JAMIEDODGER

i didnt increase my debt for xmas either....great feeling isnt it:) well done you!!!!:T