The "Pay ALL your debt off by Xmas 2012" challenge

rosiest

HI Jakes mum - im running 2 sealed pots just now. 50p's ( even put a wee fiver in it the other day ) and over £1's and would like to join the challenge but cant find the newest one on the list of challenges. Its maybe me being a bit dense but could you point me in the right direction.

rubywhatashmoo

mf0u1098 wrote: »

You'd better stick around once you've paid it all off!!! I'm counting on you to keep reminding us all how great it will feel to be debt free during 2012 and maybe you could stay but build up your savings on here instead...? Glad you're part of the team whatever you decide hun xxx

I'm saying this now anyway, knowing me I'll mess it up somehow but fingers crossed it'll be gone! Will definitely stick around though and bother you all until next xmas!!

DorsetGirl wrote: »

It is a great challenge- you can get a tin from the pound shop. I got over £400 in mine this year.

Got mine already - it's a Mr. Men one!! :rotfl: Think there's about £4 in it so far, think I need to make more of an effort to actually put change in there!

mf0u1098 wrote: »

:xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree:
:snow_laug Only 374 days until we are DEBT FREE!!!! :snow_laug

:xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree::xmastree:

£3.26 a day!! :eek::eek:

rubywhatashmoo

Oooh and a mini payment update - had saved £10 for tea tonight, then my OH got a scratchcard earlier, won £10 and said we could use that for pizza instead!! :cool:

Paid off so far:

£330/£1550 - 21.29% :T:T:T:T:T

sharronej

We do a sealed pot for Christmas Eve, this year was a little bit low at £50 still we only do it so that we have money to go for a curry. I think ours has been lower this year because I have introduced a system of envelopes which has taken up a lot of our pennies, I suppose we can't have it both ways :rotfl:

mf0u1098

I've just had a read of another thread where a newbie was obviously in an emotional state about something that happened that was obviously her fault but wasn't helped by a large organisation. I just have to say that I was absolutely appalled by the tone of some of the replies to her post. I understand that ultimately it was an error of hers but 1) she is a newbie and so has just realised that she has problems and is just facing up to them and 2) the people handing out "advice" in my opinion, whilst correct in what they were saying, could have written their replies in a much kinder tone. I understand that what they were saying is effectively true and they were being honest but the girl was obviously very distressed and whilst I wouldn't have pandered to her, I believe they could have been a lot more tactful in how they delivered their advice. I was also very shocked that the people I felt were blunt were in fact long timers on the forum who have posted in the 1000's and thanked even more.

As I said, I agree with what they were saying was true but not how they delivered the advice...

Sorry, just had to get this off my chest as it's really wound me up, guess I now know why they have that box under the newbie's detail that says to be extra nice to them!

I've had a similar experience and if I'd just joined the forum then I know I wouldn't have returned. It wasn't anything that they said, it was their tone, just very patronising and lecturing. I know that when writing a post it is easy to misinterpret things but I always try to make sure that my posts are always friendly in tone. I guess though that with so many different "voices" on the forum that it is easy to get the wrong end of the stick!

rubywhatashmoo

I've seen that before on posts and just sort of sit there like :eek: how rude are you?!? Sometimes it's easy to forget that you were a newbie here once and the "obvious questions" that new members are asking now, a couple of months/years ago you were asking too - and if they're ever going to get to the same point on their debt-free journey as you they need support not being made to feel stupid for asking for help in the first place

sharronej

I suspect we have read the same thread tbh I gave up after the first page where basically the poor girl just got attacked, post after post basically saying the same thing - there's just no need! I seen it a couple of times on the forum (not on ours obviously) and have even seen people advise that certain items are disguised on SOA's so that the advise isn't too critical!

I also think Ruby that sometimes people forget that they are talking to real people and I think it's one of the issues with forums and messaging that the social graces are sometimes ignored, I have also noticed very established members taking on a new identity to post a query just to protect themselves.

jakes-mum

rosiest wrote: »

HI Jakes mum - im running 2 sealed pots just now. 50p's ( even put a wee fiver in it the other day ) and over £1's and would like to join the challenge but cant find the newest one on the list of challenges. Its maybe me being a bit dense but could you point me in the right direction.

Here you go, they are a lovely bunch over there (as well as here!!) https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3649179

jakes-mum

I have to say ive read some nasty threads in my time on here, some on the money saving and marriages and the benefits board can be really bad. I know there are a fair few trolls out there both posting threads and replying, but some are indeed old posters

mf0u1098

rubywhatashmoo wrote: »

I've seen that before on posts and just sort of sit there like :eek: how rude are you?!? Sometimes it's easy to forget that you were a newbie here once and the "obvious questions" that new members are asking now, a couple of months/years ago you were asking too - and if they're ever going to get to the same point on their debt-free journey as you they need support not being made to feel stupid for asking for help in the first place

We have all been in that place where you have just realised how bad your debt is and you're panicky and don't know where to turn and this is where you think you will find sympathy and help from people who have been there before. It is easy for them in hindsight to say what she should have done but whilst knowing this for the future will be useful for her, it is not going to help someone who is completely on the edge! I think you can tell how angry I am by this! :mad:

sharronej wrote: »

I suspect we have read the same thread tbh I gave up after the first page where basically the poor girl just got attacked, post after post basically saying the same thing - there's just no need! I seen it a couple of times on the forum (not on ours obviously) and have even seen people advise that certain items are disguised on SOA's so that the advise isn't too critical!

I also think Ruby that sometimes people forget that they are talking to real people and I think it's one of the issues with forums and messaging that the social graces are sometimes ignored, I have also noticed very established members taking on a new identity to post a query just to protect themselves.

I suspect we have read the same thread, disgusted isn't the word! I did read all of it and feel very ashamed tbh that this is what the newbie will believe all of us on the forum are like, doubt she will come back and that is a sad loss as there is a wealth of support and help and advice on this forum that has most certainly helped me get out of the debt hole!