Debt Free By 30 - Mission Possible?

Mockingjay

September is apparently the month for fresh starts & thanks to a very generous (although I have worked my butt off!) pay rise at work I thought it was time to SORT MY DEBTS OUT :money:

I have been ridiculously stupid with money in the past. Just popping the odd (read: weekly) treat on a credit card. Now I'm £8k in the red on my CC. Luckily I got my yearly bonus in August so I have paid off an extra £1000 on that. And, today I set up a direct debit. One for £200 for the CC ontop of the min payment I already make.

Other plans;
* RESIST! I do not need a new car, iPhone, fruit tea, blusher...! Make do with the things I have!
* Create meal plans each week.

Anyway a little about me... I'm Hannah, 28 yrs old and thoroughly ashamed to be around £10k in debt overall (including my overdraft but that's Mission 2 after paying off my CC). Funnily enough I feel relieved to tell someone as no one knows. Not even my boyfriend who I live with.

beanielou

Hi & welcome to MSE.
Shiney new diary.
Keep posting!

Mockingjay

Thanks Beanie! I've been lurking for some time so it's about time I sorted out myself!

Today I'm dedicating to chores, recycling etc. Unfortunately I do need to go & buy bread and petrol so it won't be a NSD. However I'm going to also get a few bits for lunches so I stop spending a fiver in our canteen every day!

Mockingjay

NSD TODAY! Horrah!

I even walked away from a Barbour coat I've been swooning over for ages. Even the £100 discount didn't tempt me...ok that's a lie. I was tempted. I tried it on TWICE but still walked away. A week ago I would have snapped it up without any guilt.

Mockingjay

Just wrote out my budget (the mse one doesn't work on my iPad for some reason!) and I've worked out that after my normal payments mentioned in the post I should have £580 leftover which is great but where have I been spending all my money these past few months?!

I'm going to print out some statements tomorrow and find out!! I'm guessing Boots mostly... My addiction to makeup is mental. Cold turkey!!

Mockingjay

Today is not a NSD. I bought the Avengers for £9.99. Naught naughty.

However my lunch is free today & tomorrow - hurrah! And I'm going to list a few bits of furniture on eBay next week when I'm back from holiday. I know today's spend was naughty & I'm suffering serious buyers guilt!

Tomorrow we're staying in a hotel at the airport so will probably grab dinner out but I'm going to make sure it's cheap & cheerful *cough*mcdonalds*cough*.

beanielou

Nothing cheap & cheerful at airports :rotfl:

Mockingjay

beanielou wrote: »

Nothing cheap & cheerful at airports :rotfl:

We're just on the outskirts & near a drive thru so fingers crossed!! :rotfl:

Mockingjay

Ugh just got details of interest on my CC through the post. 25% interest!! So I'm changing my gameplan.

ALL spare money is going on the CC now. I'm going to pay off at least £300 a month but will aim for £500 with extra payments outside of the direct debits.

I've just applied for a Barclaycard with 0% on balance transfers so I'm hoping I'm approved. I've actually got good credit but too much so I have been turned down previously. Fingers crossed...! This is a big kick up the bum I need either way.

Oh & got my tax disc reminder through the post. It's now £75 for 6months!!

Mockingjay

Back from holiday! Spent £100 in total. I budgeted £200 so I'm pretty pleased The £100 not spent has already been transferred to my CC.

Although realised on the flight back that I've got to get a new MOT by the end of the week. Bah! Always a tense time. It's always passed before but I think the rear tyres need replacing. Ho hum...

Mockingjay

And just sent over another £30. Now I'm in the 7s! Next stop £6999!