Hoping to be DF by 29 and a real grown up.

Luvliss

Snap! I hope to be debt free by the time I reach 29 too, though I've got a little longer 'til that debt free sweetspot!

I am starting a weight loss challenge also and love houmous - What are we, twins?! lol

I am definitely going to follow you, will give help and support where I can! Good luck!

Fudgefund

Welcome along Luvliss, I've always wanted a twin so good news for me. The weightloss challenge has not got off to the flyer I was hoping for, but nevermind.

Just got back from holiday, spending wise it went pretty well, managed to keep to budget so pleased with that. Annoyed my boyfriend no end by picking up 4p in coppers from the ground over the course of the week. He's offered me a pound just to stop picking change up. He's also finding my closed pot endlessly entertaining but I don't mind, I've had it for three weeks and I've already got the nice sum of £14.54, so by Christmas I'm optimistic I'll have enough for nieces and nephews presents. We don't buy for the adults in my family after the population boom so I'm hoping to stay on track.

I really love Christmas, so it's a bit of a debt-free hazard for me. I was checking back through my credit card bills the other week and noticed I was doing quite well until November, and then in December spent £600 on my credit card! No idea what in heavens name that went on, I am such a fool. I wish I had the guts to cut the blooming thing up.

Good news - OH's sister is getting married this month and I've found a dress in the Monsoon sale for £38 which is considerably less than I thought I'd spend. I've already got accessories for it too. I bought two dresses to get other people's opinion (I have frequently bought things that make me look like a sack of potatoes) so now I've got to screw up the courage to get a refund. In the past I would've just kept the other one to avoid the shop assistant so this is a big challenge for me.

needingaccountability

Welcome back and well done for sticking to the budget on holiday. If you don't have the courage to cut up the cards what about taking them out your purse and leaving them at home?

My sister tells me you get almost as much of a buzz getting a refund as you do buying in the first place, try it, you might like it.

I never learned my pins for cards so only ever got into internet shop trouble, dead easy to send back.:rotfl:

Fudgefund

Ha, thanks NA, I think I may need your sister in my life! I've been stalling the inevitable by thinking they are not going to want to do a refund at the weekend in the middle of a sale, so I've put it off until tomorrow.

I should take my Barclaycard out of my purse, I seem to almost have red mist moments when I use it to pay for something even when I've got my debit card to hand, it's curious.

Anyway, off into town now to buy birthday presents for three members of my family with only £40 to spend. Hmm. :think:

Fudgefund

I screwed up my courage and got my refund on Tuesday, so very pleased with myself. The money then instantly went on a gas bill, but better that than £34 of useless dress. The present shopping was a bit more of a disaster, turns out you can't get as much as I thought for three people with £40 these days. In the end I spent a £25 gift voucher I got for my birthday (I feel quite bad about this, but I'm sure the giver would be happy to be giving me more debt freedom) and another £31.50. Still, at least it's done and found a creative way round the problem.

I really want my finances to hurry up and settle down into a routine at the moment. Moving flat has left everything in disarray and it's hard to throw everything at my debts. My ex-landlord is driving me mad because he won't give me back my deposit until I've paid all my final bills, but hasn't given the water company my final meter reading and refuses to give it to me either. I think I'm going to have to get tough with him, but I'm not very good at such things. :think: I really can't afford to leave him with £450 of my money.

In better news my credit card is down to £3300 and I should be able to take a bit more off when I get paid. :j

hostie1985

hi fudgefund,

just came across your diary, just wishing you luck on your debt free journey!!! i paid off my car loan last year and that was the only debt i had, it is such a nice feeling when you dont owe anyone anything.

Hope you get your deposit back soon!

Skint_Not_Mint

Hi Fudgefund

I can relate to so much of what you have said in your posts. I am a similar age and similarly few ties - altho I do have a car and the costs associated. I previously wouldn't return anything to a shop either, just don't like to cause a fuss!! My spending goes mad on birthdays and Christmas too, doesn't help that my OH, and both my parents have birthdays in November.

Really want to get it all under control this year, altho it will be a few years yet before I get rid of my debt altogether

Hey Ho, I got myself into it...

Anyway, looking forward to reading more from you:)

Laura

Fudgefund

Thanks Hostie, that's so nice of you! I hope I get it back too. Well done on all your saving, you're a hero.

Thanks for popping in Skint, nice to know I'm not the only one who can't keep a hold of myself over Christmas! I think I've got things under control, I'm sure you will too. Please stick around, I really admire the people who can do all this with children and mortgages (not sure I could!) but it's nice to have the odd person who is in the same boat as me responsibility wise.

hostie1985

i'm sure you will get your deposit back. The last place i rented (when i was at uni), the landlord was making up damage just to keep the deposit, ie stains on carpets etc, good thing we had pics and disputed it.

i go abit over the top at xmas and bdays too - i no what to get people, but about a week before i usually find something else they would like too so they end up getting both things....oops.

i've been saving just under 3 years now, have had a few hols inbetween but living back with my parents have helped alot and hoping too buy soonish....

Fudgefund

A bit of an up and down week money saving wise. I still do not have my deposit, which is exceedingly annoying, but my ex-landlord has now gone on holiday until the 27th so there's not much that can be done at the moment. I shall plan my next line of attack while he suns himself.

I started the week with £21 and I only have £2.71 left for my pot. At this rate it is going to be a thin Christmas. I went into Marks and Spencers today to buy some budgeted for tights and ended up spending £14.50 on my debit card on two bras as well. I was eyeing up the knickers so it's a miracle I got out when I did. I'm annoyed with myself because whipping out the debit/credit card was supposed to be an absolute no no. I'll have to try harder tomorrow.

I can't wait until September when I've been paid and I have no plans. I can really get going on my £50 a week plan and see how I get on. My finances are still very higgledy piggledy at the moment through no fault of my own. I'm off on a family holiday this week, the food and drink is already paid for so hopefully I won't get into too much trouble there.

In better news, I've been promised a Council Tax rebate of £133. Things like this never happen to me so I don't quite believe the cheque will turn up. :rotfl: