Ultimate Challenge. 457 days / £16600!!!

Siouxsie32

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

We face unexpected mountain - we climb over them!!!

I LOVE THIS :T:T:T:T:T I actually found myself quoting this at work today!

No weeping over the new spreadsheet kat, it's all good! Yes, it's an expensive month but also a very important one. You managed to pay for all of that and STILL be ahead of your target. I speak on behalf of us all when I say it's been so helpful to stand shoulder to shoulder (not sure what the online equivalent is...post to post?) with someone so determined to kick debt's a$$! Enjoy April, you worked hard for it and you deserve it.

I just managed (finally) to pay off my Capital One Visa card today so that's debt number 3 bitten the dust :j I felt as though I didn't make any overpayments for ages as I had a dreadfully expensive February (unexpected and unplanned) and all my money got diverted to that instead but I'm back a$$ kicking and I [STRIKE]hope to[/STRIKE] will have debt number 4 paid off before the end of March!

Two weeks off work for me so it's another opportunity to take on as much extra work as I can find and list like crazy on ebay and Gumtree - time to strive for minimalism...again!

NinjaSavingKat

I am having a wee think. There is so much that tares around in my head that sometimes it won't come out. Typing is easier than writing in my journal as I can [STRIKE]strike things out[/STRIKE] change as I move, recognise words that belittle my person, accostom myself to positive rhetoric and allow myself some grace. A thing my head doesn't allows permit. My heart however is slowly turning to stone - with ruthless abandonment showered only on what will earn me money I am scared my life will not evolve as I move to the golden fleece. Debt freedom.

But dear reader - should we feel like this is wrong? That assuming control of our existence somehow renders us vain. Yes I am happy to stand up and say "This year is all about me".. Are we also too assume that being negative and self depreciating is all that is allowed should we accidentally make someone else uncomfortable?

Well I say no more. I am happy. I am happy with where I am going and the path I am currently on. There are things that I would like but they are not far out of my reach. I might seem like Medusa ready to turn you to stone should you glare upon my hideousness but in time you will see not fear upon my face but a dimension that only you can find for you.

Contentment. With who I am and where I am. That I feel will come from the end of the journey being celebrated with fireworks and a new year.

A contender noted in my March challenge that pulling finances from the Gutter of Hades and handing it to the God of Common Sense shows us how we are faltering in other areas? Boxes of clutter, books gathering dust, mementos clung to like magpies, extra weight that makes us feel disgusting and perhaps people that are causing more harm than good.

Is not a revolution of self what every person must strive for. Pushing not only for the greater financial good but for the better version of ourselves. I fear people are too happy with their lot - yet we must learn. Never stop learning. How many books that are non-ficion have your read recently - how much of current affairs takes up your reading of the newspapers... I am guilty of leaning towards reading tat.. I must practise what I preach...

Yet I extol the virtues of a desired intellect, though put nothing towards gaining in. Yet.

I have a goal to be debt free. This means sacrifice. I reiterate often that my debt is not frivolous but it still debt that I owe another. A debt I no longer require.

I shall prepare dear reader in order to make my life easier.. I have a goal - 31.12.2013.. but things will get tougher at this time of year so right now I push and earn as much as is physically possible.

So I have no life. I am eBaying the little I have, I am prepping now to pay my motorbike insurance in one hit (£75 a month), I am also prepping to collate an "Emergency £1000" which will mature in April next year.. although it will be used to clear any remaining funds should I be short come December...

My student loan finishes in two months, my bike will be paid off in 3, leaving those monthly payment of £354 free to go straight to the land repayments.

That is my plan. Now hear me roar!!!!

Onwards and Upwards!!!

liltdiddylilt

Hahahaha hear me roar indeed!

Just popping on to say bridesmaid feat accomplished. Ex avoided with aplomb despite several photocalls involving both bridesmaids and groomsmen. Luckily I didn't have to walk back down the aisle shoulder to shoulder with him!

It has been an exceptionally expensive month, but we have had a bit of a 'screw it' moment since we are officially debt free, have £1000 savings and I just received a £3k payrise and a £600 iphone 5 from work this drops my one remaining 'expensive' bill £33 per month on my phone, down to £9.90 inc VAT per month since three were so desperate to keep me!!

Still an extra £250 paid out this month on suit/shoes/travel...

Ho hum, onto the next one. Nothing planned now until July & that's a wedding where my bridesmaids dress will be re-used as a wedding guest dress

Keep on digging away at your debt Kat. Please don't allow that tunnel to collapse on your head though! We need you!

Take care

Siouxsie32

Siouxsie32 wrote: »

...but I'm back a$$ kicking and I [STRIKE]hope to[/STRIKE] will have debt number 4 paid off before the end of March!

Oh yes, bang on target, debt number 4 is gone :j It was sooooo satisfying transferring the whole £600 into the account with the overdraft and seeing the balance as £0.

So that brings me nicely onto debt number 5. I have a £1000 overdraft on my Santander Account and get charged the same whether I'm 1p overdrawn or £1000. I was planning to save in my general every day account and as soon as I get £100 together, I was going to transfer it to a savings account and then clear the overdraft in one from the savings account as soon as I get £1000. However, I was looking at my credit report today, and I think that even although there's no financial benefit to me paying off the overdraft in stages, it will look better if I have an overdraft of £900 or £800 against a £1000 limit as savings don't show on your credit file. It'll only take me til the end of May maximum (there's me being hopeful/ruthless again!) so the amount of interest I get if I put it in a savings account will be only be pennies anyway. Does anyone have any thoughts on the best way to pay this one off?

I'm ready to transfer my first £100 so answers on a postcard please

Siouxsie32

liltdiddylilt wrote: »

Just popping on to say bridesmaid feat accomplished. Ex avoided with aplomb despite several photocalls involving both bridesmaids and groomsmen. Luckily I didn't have to walk back down the aisle shoulder to shoulder with him!

Yikes lilt, that sounds a bit hair raising. Well done for coming through that in one piece (and not drinking all the champagne and causing a scene :T:T ...not that that's what I would have done )

And fab news on the wage rise. It's really all coming together for you isn't it? Very pleased Hey, even three think you're amazing!! I've heard the transition to a new debt free life is difficult so, even with a 'screw it' moment, you seem to be coping well.

NinjaSavingKat

Hello ladies.... I am super impressed with all this money saving and debt-paying! Well done Lilt on that payrise.. it's superb! AND having those savings must be great! Perhaps the most impressive of all it not throwing cake at the ex.. waving pictures of your beautiful baby in his face or accidentally on purpose spilling wine on his crotch. I am so proud of you!..:)

Siouxsie with an X you must feel fantastic to get rid of another debt. I must admit it does feel great getting rid of an overdraft. I remember slaughtering the OT before Christmas to get rid of mine and nothing felt better..

Which leads me to the guilt I am feeling with £1200 in my account ready to go on holiday when I could transfer the lot and clear my bike loan. The stress it took to get this money together makes me think I need to just enjoy the holiday. I have over-budgetted just in case as I refuse to put anything on the CC...

Come May payday I am expecting a lot as well.. I would like at least £1000 to go on the bike loan, along with the typical £133 should leave me with only £150 to pay.. who knows.. maybe I can add a little from my deposit on the current house and clear it entirely! Oh what joy that would be!!! :rotfl:

I have been researching Italy and the area I am heading to... Desenzano Del Garda, Venice for the day, Verona, Milano, and Mantua... I only expect to pay for a city pass at each place to gain cheaper entry to the sites.. and food. That is one thing I cannot scrimp on... FOOD!!!! :T:T:T..although I am spending one day at a lagoon with outdoor, naturally heated water and treating myself to a massage.. a ssilk scarf or engraved pen from Venice and I am happy. I intend to come back with some money. It would kill me if I spent all that although it includes paying for the hotel in cash also.

Anyho.. off to research some more.. gotta figure out so much before I get there...

Onwards and Upwards!!

liltdiddylilt

Good pre-vening ladies.

Siouxsie - fantastic news on the debt busting! I can't believe how quickly you have gotten to number 5 on the list! Hopefully ever decreasing interest rates per debt mean that more of your money each month is going towards paying off actual debt amounts!

Kat, you had better enjoy every last second of your holiday! You are only 30 once... well, for 365 days... :rotfl: and you definitely deserve the break! Imagine getting to the end of this year, becoming debt free and having still had an excellent holiday and a house move to contend with. How much sweeter will that feel?!

As for the ex.... I was a perfect lady, with my beautiful family all around me - what better way to show him up than to be perfectly serene & content with my lot, as I am.

I am sat in my perfectly still flat. DD has not yet adjusted to daylight savings time, and finally went down for her nap whilst the grandparents were here, after much cajoling. She's been asleep about 2 hours now but I am loathe to wake her.. OH is asleep in bed, unwell.. So it's just me and the roast lamb slow-cooking in the oven. **Bliss**

I've suddenly realised I am to be 27 this month... the knowledge has been with me for a while but a recent photograph showed me to have some laughter lines I don't remember from this time last year. I am very thankful that this year has been such a smiley one; however, I am not so fond of the wrinkles!!! So, I have invested. In No7 Protect & Perfect serums, & moisturisers. In Avene triacneal/cleanance k & cleanser to clear out my pores, & even in some nip+fab glycolic facewipes. Paranoia has come to visit in a big way & I am going all out!! In my defence, the £90 of No7 was got for £39 + £10 of Boots points.. the rest was achieved via careful online shopping! And I am noticing a difference!

So, to being young, debt free, and happy with my lot.

Onwards.... xx

NinjaSavingKat

liltdiddylilt wrote: »

I've suddenly realised I am to be 27 this month...

Oh give over wench!..:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Siouxsie32

liltdiddylilt wrote: »

So, to being young, debt free, and happy with my lot.

I think this is the largest part of the battle. Look at the average person on the street - I'm kinda generalising here but most people don't like their job but can't leave. They're caught in the cycle of daily life. On the happy scale, they're somewhere in the lower end and they have a sort of grey look about them. They wear dark clothes and all look the same. Often, they appear older than they actually are. Then you have the happy people who are content with what they have and they have a more radiant aura and they look less wrinkly!

I actually quite like the wrinkles around my eyes because they show that I laugh a lot. I may change my tune as I get older and they get deeper, but for now I'm embracing them!

I also think the best thing you can do for your skin is to eat well. If you don't feed your body well, there's no point spending a fortune on the latest face cream...well, there is, but it's an uphill struggle if your skin is not being fed from the inside.

Oh, and wax your upper lip - that instantly knocks 5 years off

So, in 3 easy steps: be happy, eat well, wax your tash!

Right, I'm off to google what you bought

liltdiddylilt

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

Oh give over wench!..:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

:rotfl: I know, I know!! But I've got to start 'maintenance' sometime... OH was only 22 a couple of months ago...!

Siouxsie32 wrote: »

Then you have the happy people who are content with what they have and they have a more radiant aura and they look less wrinkly!

I actually quite like the wrinkles around my eyes because they show that I laugh a lot. I may change my tune as I get older and they get deeper, but for now I'm embracing them!

I also think the best thing you can do for your skin is to eat well. If you don't feed your body well, there's no point spending a fortune on the latest face cream...well, there is, but it's an uphill struggle if your skin is not being fed from the inside.

Oh, and wax your upper lip - that instantly knocks 5 years off

So, in 3 easy steps: be happy, eat well, wax your tash!

Right, I'm off to google what you bought

A whole bunch of excellent points there!! I am incredibly lucky in that I am very happy with my lot & LOVE my job. I am appreciated in every aspect of my life & this last year has definitely been the best.

I think it shows, and the laughter lines are welcome really. But that, combined with the odd grey hair wandering in here and there, do combine to make me think I need to take better care of myself.

You're very right with the diet too. I just had a beautiful home-cooked roast lamb dinner. Plenty of vegetables I'm trying to watch what I eat more because I inhale chocolate like it's going out of fashion and I have no willpower! I also drink far too much coffee and not enough water so I am trying to swap one for the other!

Lip duly waxed... :T:D

Avene Cold Cream Gel - so gentle, soap free & PH balanced...
Avene Triacneal Cream - overnight only/small area treatment (think T-zone nasties & must be compensated with suncream during the day but sure cleans out pores (again GENTLY!)
Avene Cleanance K - the same as the triacneal but a formula able to be worn during the day under your moisturiser/stops pores getting full of daytime gunk

Nip + Fab anything is worthwhile. My mum was bought a HUGE bag full of the stuff by my uncle at Xmas and she's a convert, from someone who only used to wash their face with warm water, no noisturiser.. nothing!

I am a real fan of the things I bought already. Have been googling the life out of this stuff for a few weeks and very happy with my purchases!