Determined this is my last debt diary

clearmydebts

I feel like we are a bit of a standstill with the debt at the moment. We haven't added to it which is a good thing though. OH wants us to save some money every month towards a house deposit and while I would prefer to get rid of the debt first, in Ireland you need to show that you have been saving for between 6-12 months to be given a mortgage so it is good to start.

New aim is to be under 11k before Xmas, with €4,000 savings towards a house deposit.

We also told our tenant (a great friend too) that we are looking into selling the flat. If we sell the flat at the price we want we would have a house deposit straight away. If not, we will have to plug away at saving for another year. The flat is making us money so not all bad, but really it would be good to have our own place.

clearmydebts

Even though I feel like we haven't done anything debt wise over the past few months, we did buy a car and haven't booked a holiday. Not booking a holiday is huge achievement for me. I don't think we will go anywhere next year either (just Ireland) and then the following year I think we will treat ourselves to a Holiday Village for the kids where they can have a ball

Lara44

It might feel like treading water but it's great that you're at the stage of making future plans. It's not that the debt is in control of you anymore, now you're thinking so differently about your money and what you want from it.

Yay! :j

Tete_en_l'Air

Agree with Lara, you've done so well, you've paid off almost half your debt since the start of this year! And we all know what a weakness those holidays are for you, I'm genuinely really proud that you haven't caved and booked one! Keep it up keep it up keep it up!! xx

clearmydebts

Thanks so much Tete and Lara. I do feel good that I didn't book a holiday this year. I finally feel like I am starting to educate myself about money. I just need to get rid of the debt!

I have been selling bits and pieces of the kids clothes (out of season stuff that I can't pass in to my sister) and have made £30 in the past 2 days. Unfortunately I can't use it to pay off any debt but it will go towards some Christmas presents.

I have most of my Christmas presents gotten. And I wrapped the majority of Max's today. So I am hoping that December won't be too much of a shocker spending wise. The majority of things I have bought have been 20% off or in a sale. Myself and OH have agreed on a maximum spend of £50 on each other as well.

clearmydebts

Oh dear - haven't been on here for ages. I am not making headway with the debt other than minimum payments and am getting frustrated, No flat deposit money either this month, as I got my tax bill and have had to pay an accountant and also a bit towards next years tax bill!

Am continuing to sell bits and bobs of clothes. I won a stand at a baby fair a few weeks ago and spent all of the Saturday organising and pricing it up. I made €16. So annoying but there was hardly anyone there. At least I didn't buy a stall, but had I sold it all, I would have made around €500 :mad: and cleared my house of a lot of clutter.

So I need to refocus and still get rid of the clutter as I am drowning in it. My cousin is due a baby in a few weeks and I am giving her my cot, baby gym etc and my sister is due in March so she is getting any other baby clothes and equipment she doesn't have.

My aunt is collecting my cousins stuff on Monday so at least there will be a good bit gone, and Max will have more space in his bedroom.

clearmydebts

Figure slightly down, but not much. Would have loved to have gotten under 13k by Xmas but it's not going to happen. It doesn't look like I will add much to my house deposit savings either

clearmydebts

New Year and another year in debt. Oh dear

I have told OH this is our year of austerity. Just one year and one big push and we could have a house and be out of debt. 1 year.

We didn't go away last yr and won't again this year. It is my birthday on Friday and I have told OH not to get me much and I will do the same for him. Max's b-day is in March and he has asked for a present worth €40 so will get him that and something small.

The big area we need to make savings in is food shopping and non-essentials such as magazines (me) and buying lunch out (both of us). This is where we can save the most.

So the plan for 2014 is try and save as much as we can, while also paying back our debts. We are also going to be selling our UK flat this year which (if it sells) will give us most of the deposit we need. So we really need to just get our heads down and get on with it.

Birdie85

Nice to hear you're still focussed CMD! :T This time next year things could be so different for your family, just think about that every time you want to book a holiday or read a trashy magazine or buy an overpriced sandwich from a coffee shop!

Could you make a little challenge to earn vouchers or something to pay for Max's present? Every little helps!

clearmydebts

Birdie85 wrote: »

Nice to hear you're still focussed CMD! :T This time next year things could be so different for your family, just think about that every time you want to book a holiday or read a trashy magazine or buy an overpriced sandwich from a coffee shop!

Could you make a little challenge to earn vouchers or something to pay for Max's present? Every little helps!

Hi Birdie,

How are you? How many working days left now? My cousin had a baby yesterday. I am dying to get a cuddle!

Earning vouchers is a great idea but it hasn't really taken off in Ireland yet. I do get the odd invite but it usually screens me out. I will try and see if there are more sites though.

Yes, I sound foucussed but the key it to actually walk the walk. I have been MSE after Xmas though and used work vouchers OH got for Xmas to buy lots of presents for people for next Xmas (in the sales) or their birthday, particularly children. I think I will also aim to buy one Xmas present a month after payday so it's not such a huge expense in December.