Tackling my Debt and Simplifying My Life

ChocaholicHandbagQueen

Hi, I just had a few quiet minutes during lunch at work and came across your diary. I completely identified with your first post because I've spent years buying all the latest gadgets (for me and the home) thinking I had to keep up appearances. I feel really shallow now when I think about it, but in the end none of it matters because after I divorced the ex, I had to start from scratch and have never been happier. Life is much simpler (apart from the debt!) and much less clutter. Eb*y has been a life saver for me. I just wish I'd woken up to it sooner, but never mind, better late than never

Good luck with your diary, I've subscribed too

[Deleted User]

Thank you ChocaholicHandbagQueen,
Seems like most people reading the diaries have had issues with spending to keep up appearances, and as you say, I also feel very shallow when I describe how I used to spend to keep up with the Joneses, but as you say, better late than never- at least we've seen the life and will hopefully live a more fulfilled life now.

Most Saturdays would be a shopping day with lunch out. Today however I am having my perfect Saturday. Bit of cleaning this morning, homemade toasted sarnie for lunch and now having a mooch about on MSE before settling down with my book for a couple of hours- then I'm off to my sisters to have our weekly fix of Strictly with nibbles and a cheap bottle of wine! Might not be exciting to everyone but its exactly the sort of weekend I love!

Tomorrow I plan to use that snowball calculator - will feedback the results here.

No news on the house selling front- reduced by £5k on Thursday, no phonecalls flooding in yet unfortunately!!

GL x

[Deleted User]

Hi GL,

Just popped over to say Hello.

Have subscribed to your diary and look forward to following you on your journey.

Pm02 xx

[Deleted User]

Thank you Pmo2, glad to have you along!

Well, my MSE plans today are to do the snowball calculator and create a signature to mark my progress (thank you CHQ).

At home I have some ironing to do and some paperwork I've brought home from work.

I love weekends but they go so quickly.

I also need to start planning for Christmas gifts. Its starting to stress me now, really hate the thought of having to spend but trying to tell myself as long as I budget (and stick to it!!), its doable. I have started in that I did a car-boot sale a couple of months ago and gave the profits to my mum to keep for me for Christmas (£125). I am planning another car-boot sale next weekend, so hope to have similar amount again, plus I will have approx (£200) from the small amount I have saved with mum all year. Problem is I am no good at choosing Christmas presents (prob why Ive spent so much in the past).

Also, I need to think of DS birthday which is the week before Christmas, he'll be 12. We have warned him money is tighter this year and he appears to understand. His TV broke last night (bummer timing), he can borrow our old one and we will buy him one for his Christmas present I think.

Off for a cuppa now before my day in front of the computer! Will update my progress later.

GLx

Scuff

Morning GL! Just wanted to say, you're probably not as bad at choosing presents as you think, you must just have difficult people to buy for. I love present buying but there are certain family members that I know really well but still cause me pain (& wasted money) every year.

Also, I feel for your son, and now I'm a bit older, I feel for you guys too, my birthday is Christmas day, not too bad on the pocket now I'm 'too old for big presents' but when I was younger and used to get a reasonable sized present for each event, that must have cost my dad a fortune!!

[Deleted User]

Signature updated - looks far worse and more scary written down.

Also- snowball calculator updated- it'll take us til July 2016 to pay off the debts. Hopefully moving, selling the car and our more simple, frugal lifestyle will reduce this and make the date much sooner.

Feel rather down- its nothing I didnt already know but it now feels so real- how the hell did we get into this mess??

Sorry for the miserable post- I'll be more upbeat by next time.
GL x

Scuff

Chin up, at least you're on the right track now and look how well you've done already!!! AND you'll have a better less materialistic lifestyle to boot xx

[Deleted User]

Thanks Scuff- wise words.
I really want a less-materialistic life-style, and I know the long journey to become debt-free will be worth it. The quick fixes of consolidating cc's hasn't worked in the past (hence the Santander loan, which started at £17k).

I think de-cluttering and minimalising has been a fab start to my more simpler life (plus made me some money to throw at the debt).

I always want quick fixes and a easier way out whether it be debts, diets etc. so I've got to take things one day at a time and continue with this journey.

I have done everything I planned today- really pleased. Going to spend an hour every night de-cluttering shed and ds's room ready for car-boot sale on Saturday.

Gutted but have to put the heating on cause its so cold- been trying to keep energy useage to a minimum.

Maybe this is the week we'll sell the house..............
GLx

Ladybird.

Sounds like a productive weekend and the progress in your signature looks great too GL! :T

I know just what you mean about wanting quick fixes- I think when you become so focused and work SO hard trying to save/make money you want and almost expect fast results... but when you have as much debt as we do it just doesn't work like that does it. Ultimately it is just the passage of time we have to get through, one payday after another! Sometimes it is hard not to feel utterly exasperated with it all isn't it.

Still, I bet your first couple of months have flown by, and the rest of the time will too. Can hardly believe it has been 7 months now since we started our journey, it goes FAST.

Another thing that I try and remember when I'm feeling low is that (some financial disaster aside) this is as hard as it is going to get. As the debt comes down so do minimum outgoings freeing up more money to actually pay things off, or to take the pressure off a bit now and then. For us, every £1000 paid off seems to equate to a £25 drop in our minimum payment total each month, sometimes it helps me to remember that, makes smaller steps a bit more tangible.

Anyway, I'll stop rabbiting on now!:rotfl:

Have a great week GL x

Fae

Hi GL,

Don't worry about coming on hear on having a moan, we have all done it Unfortunalty it takes longer to pay of the debt than it did to get it, so the time it takes can get fustrating, just try to remember all the great progress you have made, and how wonderful it will feel when you are debt free.

Fae