A Thread for After Debt?

rising_from_the_ashes

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

Careful about taking money out... although it's not really a huge issue... but you have a £5k limit... if you put in £3k and then take out £2k... you are only allowed to save a further £2k that year! I have no idea why but it's not the balance that counts but the amount going in!

Thanks ..... having a chuckle as I doubt there's any risk of me getting close to that.......:rotfl:(maybe in future years once I've got all my policies switched to annual ones .... the new boiler ..... etc etc).

JulieGeorgiana

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Thanks ..... having a chuckle as I doubt there's any risk of me getting close to that.......:rotfl:(maybe in future years once I've got all my policies switched to annual ones .... the new boiler ..... etc etc).

I realise that at £50 a month it's not a problem... but I learnt this the hard way on my husbands ISA and I was taking money in and out constantly... I only even had £500 - £750 in there at any one time! Whoops!

AlyBaly

JG Are you still here( I used to hate people saying that to me when I was pregnant), thinking you are making it too comfortable for Baby Roo

Rising opening an ISA !! Excellent ! Bet it seems a bit surreal, I used to think people with ISA’s were mega rich and now it hopefully wont be long until I can say I have an ISA :j

BIB Totally agree with rising, this thread is a great idea, people might think that getting DF is the end but actually its only the beginning and its great having people to "hold my hand" on my new journey! It is so true that it is difficult to discuss being DF in the real world, I have only told 2 work colleagues and they both said "oh it's ok for you, you have it easy" Easy ??? OMG they do not realise the tears , snot and sleepless nights I have had to get here, it is certainly not easy and like you all say we will still have to keep working at it.

Findingmyownway Congratulations on becoming DF :T and welcome to the forum

JulieGeorgiana

AlyBaly wrote: »

JG Are you still here( I used to hate people saying that to me when I was pregnant), thinking you are making it too comfortable for Baby Roo

That's what the midwife said yesterday! Unfortunatly due to being VERY ill and on bed rest for the last 8 months I am weak and still a little poorly... laying or sitting back is putting roo in the wrong position to do much (like labour) and making things to comfortable for Roo! I need to walk, but while before I could walk 5 miles a day, now I can only manage 5 minutes alone, 10-15 minutes with DH.

I have only told 2 work colleagues and they both said "oh it's ok for you, you have it easy" Easy ??? OMG they do not realise the tears , snot and sleepless nights I have had to get here, it is certainly not easy and like you all say we will still have to keep working at it.

My two closest friends are so deep in debt that they react like this when you talk to them about being debt free! I have it easy! Hahaha! No I worked my a$$ off!! then I try and give advice and it goes down like a lead balloon! Because apparently it's easy to judge when your Debt Free! How can you judge when you've been there????

My mum actually get's upset when I say 'I can't afford it' she thinks that because I am debt free and I should be able to! I have it easy compared to them because we are not in debt! They have more then 3x our incomings... no children at home, they may be in debt but...!!!!

I don't talk about it anymore...

girlatplay

Hi everyone, thank you for all the welcomes.

I still haven't managed to catch up with the whole thread yet but I will!!

I became debt free on 1st December. It was a total relief. I still budget carefully, I have a cc that I pay off in full every month. I pay all my insurances etc yearly. I am now putting all my extra money to savings. I find that I put more away to savings than I did to pay off the debt. My spreadsheet has 5 pages and I check it every single day, even when there is no change to it. I sometimes just like to sit and stare at it. I have joined the £12k in 2012 challenge and I am aiming for £5k. I used the small emergency fund that I had to finish off the loan and I want to build up a cushion again. I am saving for two holidays this year, one with Little Miss Gap, just the two of us and one with Mr Gap, also just the two of us. (Mr G is not LMG's dad). I am also saving for LMG's birthday (October and she wants an iPad) and Christmas 2012. I have different savings accounts for the different savings. I am LOVING seeing my savings grow.

I sometimes overspend a bit and feel guilty about it. I still find it difficult to spend money on myself. I haven't put myself on the roll of honour yet, I just can't bring myself to do it. I am absolutely determined to never be in the situation I was in before but I can't help feeling that I might slip. I won't, my budgets are good and I am very, very careful but I just don't want to tempt fate. Even when I overspend I can still actually afford it I just think of what that extra money could have gone on. I wish I could shake this feeling of dread. I expect by the end of 2012 once I have built up my emergency cushion again and paid for all the bits and bobs I will feel better.

Anyway, here's to debt freedom :beer:

Gap

QueenB.

I also used to think that ISAs where only for people who could afford to put £3 grand or more away at a single time, also worried about the idea of putting my money somewhere that i couldn't get to it in a real emergency but from what you have all said it may not be quite that scary. Im thinking i could split the amount i save pm in half and put one half in my usual savings account and the other half in an ISA.........ok now Im frightening myself:D

Some of the people who know that Im DF acted in the same way some of you are talking about. Saying i have it easy now, its almost like they are trying to make me feel guilty though I don't think its on purpose afterall I may have felt the same way a few years ago. I got the same kind of reaction when I gave up my job a few months ago, people talking about how lucky I was, how easy the decision was for me. All of which was rubbish, There was a hard won DF journey full of tears, sleepless nights, anxiety and pain. The difference was that i knew what I wanted and this journey helped me discover what is really important. Giving up my job wasn't easy and it has meant that being Df is not as easy as it could have been but my health and family are more important than lots of extra money........crazy I know:D I think most people just want to carry on and not risk things and that makes them jealous of those who decide to make changes.

Ok rant over:D

rising_from_the_ashes

QueenB. wrote: »

Giving up my job wasn't easy and it has meant that being Df is not as easy as it could have been but my health and family are more important than lots of extra money........crazy I know:D

Not at all crazy ...... rather lovely

I too think I may have to attempt some sort of spreadsheet tomorrow :eek:

I do have a fantastic one for recording all my spends - Cheryl's one (CW18) from the Frugal Living Challenge which is absolutely fantastic & I would highly recommend to anyone looking for one for that purpose - it has an annual budget, lets you see how much you should've spent up to that particular month in the year, several separate sheets to record groceries & direct debits etc and then shows the monthly spend .... oh I love it:D but I do need something to track my savings pots on.

JulieGeorgiana

QueenB Since I gave up work for a family... I don't think you're crazy! You have your priorities straight and if people are Jealous it's because you are happy with what you have chosen to do

QueenB.

((((((((hugs)))))))) Rising & JG

I am happy, I can't remember the last time I actually felt this at peace, thats not to say there isn't issues everyone has those but I feel I can handle everything better and Just being able to pick my boys up from school is better than I can explain. Plus I think the extra time will help me stay DF as I can spend more time planning what is happening with each penny:D

JulieGeorgiana

I agree, staying home does give you time to budget better, get the best deals by shopping around, look at charity shops, mending, baking and cooking. All of which helps keep the budget under control and keeps your spending lower.

When I worked fulltime i struggled to keep costs down because I didn't have time to plan and look around! My DH says I more then earn my wages

It definatly gives great satisfaction!

PS. My DS is also doing better at school since i gave up work!