The Ultimate Hard and Fast debt clearing mission

Dinah93

November 1st Monthly Update.





Confusingly anything with a minus next to it is actually where a debt has increased - this has happened in two places - were we got a new 0% card and moved some money onto it, and where we extended an OD which was at a lower rate than other debts (this also enabled us to pay the court money as the money from my dad didn't come through until a day later).

We were aiming for £104 a day, we've obviously beaten that, so I'm happy. This means we're allowed a meal out as a date night, but that will need to wait a week or two until I feel better as this 'want to sleep or be sick' phase isn't very pleasant and I'm really hoping I get used to the tablets otherwise it will be on to drug 3.

What we’ve done this month.

Paid off the daft little overdraft that charged us £5 a month.
Increased an OD at a lower APR to pay more off a card.
Paid off the B & S loan.
Paid off our joint overdraft.
Complained if things aren’t right. £25 love2shop vouchers, £8 Tesco voucher, £8 Sainsbury’s voucher as a result.
Entered a lot of numbers off packs of gum. £20 in checks as a result (one of which I currently can’t find and 2 of which haven’t arrived yet)
Mystery shops. Dinah NIM.
NIM has applied for some Christmas jobs and evening work. No luck yet though.
Batch cooked 98 portions of soup to take for lunches.
Used 5 dozen mystery shopping eggs in preparing a quiche, a cake, 48 yorkshire puddings, 112 boxty pancakes, and 12 chicken lasagnes which can be eaten at a later date. Still have 5 dozen eggs to use up.
Listed 44 things on eBay
Listed 36 things on Amazon.
Stopped putting paper out to recycle. Instead we bought a paper brick maker for £11, and have started making our own fuel. By the time our stove is finally installed (to cut down on heating bills we figure this will pay for itself in around 2-3 years) we should have a good stack of free fuel.
Checked onepoll a few times a day on a weekday. Only about £8 up from this but it all helps.
Got NIM approved for a 0% card with a £1500 limit to move a bit of the debt onto.
Finally cleared things which have loitered on my to do list for months.
Made our debt chart and graph for a bit of motivation.

What we want to do in November

Knock the broadband bill down by activating an o2 sim
Replace a car tyre
Pay the MOT in cash not credit
Pay for the car insurance in cash not on a CC or monthly instalments
Arrange for the stove to be installed
Pay off the stove installation bill once installed
Pay off Dinah’s Next account
Pay off NIMs Next account
Pay off CC3
Make £500 from eBay and Amazon sales
Make £300 from mystery shopping/auditing
Get the packaging and first products finalised and in hand
Query both tax codes
Write to complain to Virgin, Tesco and the council.
Declutter 90 things through selling, binning or recycling.

Tete_en_l'Air

Woo brilliant post! The debt reduction is on track according to the graph lines ad it's so great to see thre things paid OFF in the first month! Go team! xxx

Birdie85

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

I'm glad Dinah said that about putting equal into the joint account - I would not be happy at all about the way it is but thought I might be being unreasonable as no-one else had mentioned it

Aww, was hoping I might be able to get Mad Men on free internet catch-up, no?

I thought that was odd about the unequal amounts too but forgot to say something! TBH, Greenie wouldn't have known she's been overpaying if she's only just found out his take-home pay!

Not sure about free internet catch-up but I've got it downloaded ('cos I'm naughty! )... if you want to send me a memory stick I can fill it up for you?

You've done really well this month Dinah, must be satisfying to see it all written down like that! What's the money from the packs of gum?!

GreenSaints

Impressive stuff! Well done guys

Dinah93

I'll admit I didn't always pay off the highest APR, needed to get some of the small ammounts paid off as I feel like there are a lot of bits all over the place to focus on.

(And not to get too big for our boots, but we've already paid off over £300 for November, if we can find a way to keep the pace up I'll be thrilled).

Birdie85

I think you're right to pay off the little niggly bits, it'll be better in the long run as you've got fewer debts floating about the keep track of. And £300 in November so far is excellent! Well done! And this is whilst you're all sick and sleepy!

Poolie

N.I.M wrote: »

I dunno where it is, I gave her the charts last night.

Bloody inefficient women * ducks behind nearest cover *

Retreat back to mancave quickly *bring more beer while your at it the fridge is looking a little low* **oh and some food since we haven't eaten in the last 4 days**

Dinah93

Some hunter gatherers you are.

Poolie

Dinah93 wrote: »

Some hunter gatherers you are.

Why bother if there is kitchen full of food not far away?

Dinah93

That's not the man cave spirit.