The boring but right thing to do!

maggie_12

Hi all

Just wanted to post a note to wish everyone massive amounts of luck on the journey to becoming debt-free :beer:

Thanks to my flat selling (unexpectedly after a year and 3 months on the market), I can finally pay off my credit card debt. I got my first credit card when I was 21 (now 32) and I've had one ever since with the debt growing and growing. About 4 years ago now I decided enough was enough, cut the card up and been paying it off since, slowly!!

When totting up what money will be left once the mortgage balance is paid off and fees etc are paid, I started going to the 'dark place' again and pricing holidays and planning a spending spree. At that point I had it in my mind that I was going to pay a lump sum to my credit card but not pay it off and keep some money for spending..........needless to say, I have come to my senses!!! So my priority with the money that's left is to pay off my credit card. It's the only debt I have left excluding my mortgage and the HP on my car. I will also have some money left to put into my savings (putting into a 60 day notice a/c so I can't just take it back out again!!).

My OH still has debt which was at £20k when his LBM struck and he now has just 2.5 years left to pay it off and that's him debt-free.

I know it's a long haul, it's a slog and it's boring but it's completely worth it when you finally see that last payment being made to your debt. Although I've been lucky with the flat selling to help me pay it off, if I hadn't stopped spending on it I would not be able to pay it off now.

So keep going everyone, stay strong and although it's the boring option, you all know paying your debt is the right thing to do! (So needless to say, I am NOT going on holiday NOR am I going shopping!! Ah well......)

Be good!!! Keep up the good work and let's keep spreading the word to stay away from credit cards!!! xxx :T:T:T

MattSS

Congratulations on being so strong in the face of a hefty pay day.

Boring is best!! :rotfl:

:beer:
:money:
:T

Hovel_lady

Well done for being sensible :j

Chrisblue1962

Well Done Maggie_12

I think everyone who is trying to clear their debts occasionally gets tempted by "The Dark Side" aka Spending, etc

I try to gain strength from gaining "little victories", such as a pound saved here and there and also knowing that each month my debts are being paid.

Paying off debt requires changing one's whole mentality towards money, material posessions, spending and savings. I remember when I was at school (many years ago! :rotfl:) I had a Trustee Savings Bank account with a few shillings in it and later on, an old-fashioned Post Office Savings account.

I now am back into the habit of only spending what I have and will soon start saving up for those little luxuries in life. It's hard to do but it's the right thing to do!

Well done Again

money_honey

Congratulations! I'm going through the route of slowly paying off credit cards and it is hard having to give things up - but it'll definitely be worth it and not spend! Being debt free will be a great feeling!