Too much month left at the end of the money

Belle208

Hi all,

I've been a lurker around MSE on and off for a good few years, but never posted.

In 2009 we had debt of nearly £60,000. God I feel sick just writing that. A lot of focus and hard work has got us down to owing £14,654.51.

In the two years, the motivation and time to focus on debt has gone. We've had twins, moved house and my DH got made redundant.

I really want to kick this last bit now, so I'm committed to clearing it anyway I can before I start attacking the mortgage.

I'm also on a weight less journey to lose 50 pounds.

Also trying to save as much as we can for our little people and renovate our house..

Life gets pretty mad at times!! :j

Hovel_lady

Hello and welcome to MSE and diaryland

That is a serious amount of debt you've already cleared :T

Good luck with clearing the rest.

Look forward to hearing how you get on

Eliza_L

Well done on clearing the majority of your debt. I have some weight to lose too, ideally around a stone I think. I look forward to following your progress.

Only_me_3

Hi and welcome. I am also new just starting my diary last week

Congrats on the twins... Fab . The amount you have cleared is amazing.... Well done. Do you mind me asking how you managed this? I am looking for ideas to help along the way.

Belle208

Hi and thanks for taking to time to read and comment.

To clear the debt we have done so far consisted on regular monthly payments, I did surveys, clicks on websites, eBay selling ( decluttered the house massively) car boots, paid over and above wherever we could, moved everything onto % credit cards, attacked the smallest first and then once that one was once, moved that payment onto the next size debt up. We didn't go out very much, I bought a lot of gifts for birthdays and Christmas from eBay or re cycled gifts I've been given. We reduced our outgoing on mobiles, utilities, I use cashback sites for everything I can, do online food shopping to keep costs down, menu planned to ensure we have minimal food waste. About £10 was paid off when DH was made redundant, but the rest just thought throwing everything and every spare penny at the debt.

Only_me_3

Thats amazing. Hope I can do as well as you

Can you recommend any survey or click sites? What age are the twins now? Handful I bet

Belle208

1.5. Yes they keep me busy! Valued opinions. One I can't remember, will check and yougov, slow but getting there.. Has taken me nearly 3 years to get my £50. £5 to go!!

Belle208

Ebaying done tonight, so hopefully some more pennies on the way.. Few other bits to sell over next few weeks. Decluttering the house again at the moment.

PinotGrigio41

Belle, that is an amazing amount of debt to clear ! Well Done !!

Congrats on the Twins, they must be a handful, but lovely with it I bet !

Good luck with the rest of the debt clearing mission, and with the weight loss.


If you dont mind I will subscribe and follow you on your merry journey if I may !

Pinot x

Belle208

Thanks Pinot and thank you for subscribing!! Well done for taking control, you've done amazing so far. It feels so massive in figures, but it does come down soon enough!

Well today I fessed up to our water company that they haven't sent us a bill for nearly a year since our supply was put in. I'd forgotten about it thinking the bill might be 6 months, but it appears they had us down wrong!! So a large bill is on the way I guess. I've been saving every month so hopefully we have enough to cover it.

Also had a nightmare with our childcare falling down on one day a week.. Spent the day searching for alternatives and hopefully going to see a childminder that will have the twins one day a week, but outgoings will go up a bit for a while. Needs must though, they can't be trusted on their own at 16 mths!!!

Been saving away for the twins over the past year and have another £600 for their ISA's to deposit now.

Also picked up a bargain toy from Argos today reduced from £44.99 to £11.24 for Christmas 2013..

So A lot of money going out it feels, but savings are up!

Hope everyone is having a great evening.

Belle208

Nothing fabulous done today towards debt repayment. Though we have recently done our wills, so I posted these back. Good to feel everything is sorted, not that it's needed quite yet I hope!!