Starting again and sticking to it!

Chai_2

Just some thoughts but do u really need the car? Also the mobile is way too high, are you able to change to a sim only plan? Tmobile do unlimited everything including Internet for £26.

I ask because 20 months is an awful long time for the amount of debt so it may be worth a harsh sacrifice to cut that time in half

CandyCupcake

Hi Chai,

Unfortunately I can't get rid of the car. It's my only means of getting to work, I live in the middle of no where so public transport is non existent The car will be fully paid up by August 2013.

The mobile phone I have recently reduced, it was 45.00 a month, but I managed to have it reduced to 35.00 (I just budget for 40.00 because I prefer to over budget than under budget). My contract is up in June 2013 so I will be deffinately looking for cheaper. I never use the minutes, texts or data that I have!

You're right though, 20 months is long. I WILL pay it off sooner than this :P

Thanks for the advice

Candy x

parsniphead

Good luck with paying off the debts. I'm 20yrs older than you:eek::eek::eek: and wish I had had your common sense at that age. Hindsight eh.

I have a little boy who I would love to stay at home with but have to work to pay off the debts, and it breaks my heart. I have 36 months of DMP left which ideally want to cut down.

Getting those debts paid off ASAP will improve your future and give you more opportunities.

I will subscribe and be nosy if that's ok.:)

CandyCupcake

Hi parsnip,

Feel free to subscribe, the more the merrier I say!

I'm glad I have had my LBM now and not in 20 years, the way I was going I would have been in about 60K debt by then :eek: We all have it at different times, but atleast we all have one at some point so that we can get our debts sorted! I know everyone has debts, but I wasnt to be debt free & have a decent savings account and me able to say all my money is mine!

Bring on June 2014!

36 months isn't too long, and time flies so fast so you'll be off your DMP in no time! We've just got to keep at it, and keep that debt free date in sight.

Candy x

CandyCupcake

OK so not the NSD I was anticipating. I completely forgot that I made plans to go for a meal tonight with friends! Luckily it's quite a bargain, £10.00 for 2 courses & a glass of wine. Plus my friends driving so I don't have to worry about the petrol cost either... :beer:

The rest of the week I really can't see me spending anything. I have a day off tomorrow and a list of things to do! I wonder how many of the below I will accomplish tomorrow:

• Dismantle old rabbit hutch and take to the tip
• Take doggy to the groomers
• Clean out fish tank
• Wait for TV man to come and fix the television (for free of course!)

I have pledged for overtime tomorrow evening, it's only 3 hours but every extra bit of cash I get can go straight to the debts so it will be worth it I can't wait to start getting those balances down & seeing the effect it has on the DFD!

Candy

CandyCupcake

So, from yesterday's list did I actually complete anything?

• [STRIKE]Dismantle old rabbit hutch and take to the tip[/STRIKE] - Even took some other scraps of wood that were cluttering up the garden. After the journey to the tip my car was filthy so I also had the car cleaned - well needed.

• [STRIKE]Take doggy to the groomers[/STRIKE] - Now have a pretty doggy again

• Clean out fish tank

• [STRIKE]Wait for TV man to come and fix the television (for free of course!)[/STRIKE] - this would have cost me £350.00 if it hadn't have still been under warranty!!

Today I realised that NSDs are very hard to come by. Yet again I spent money that I didn't think I would need to spend. Had to buy rabbit food & hay and also a pet carrier as the rabbits need to go to the vets soon for their needle (more money) and the last carrier broke a while ago. Managed to get a carrier for £6.00 from the local animal sanctuary and it looks almost new!

I think I need to start noting my NSD's in my signature. Think I may do it month by month to see if I actually improve. I didn't realise all of the little things that I spend money on

Candy

HeadAboveWater

Hello :wave:

I'm gonna subscribe to your diary and keep a check on how you're doing if that's ok!!

Cars suck! That was the mistake that got me into debt in the first place. We've learnt the hard way I guess!!!

Mind if I comment on a couple things on your soa?

Mobile phone............................ 40
I see your comment about already trying to get it down so thats good. Just a matter of time.

Groceries etc. ......................... 80
Good

Haircuts................................ 35
A month? Can you DIY or shop around? Or leave it a couple extra weeks in between?

Holiday................................. 75
Personally I'd cut this out and put the money towards the debt... but that's me!

Beauty.................................. 20
Seems reasonable but depends if you're 'splashing out' at the beauticians or not.. (I treat myself to that one when I can afford it!! lol)

Car Wash................................ 12
Really? A hose would cost not much more than that outta Argos and you can make your money back in no time. Plus offer to do the family/neighbours cars too for a bit extra cash. Plus it counts as exercise if you are so inclined!!

I've joined the Autumnal October NSD Challenge for the first time and would definitely recommend it! Good to get the encouragement for sure!!!

Good luck in becoming debt free

Hugandroll

Hi candy, I'm going to subscribe if you don't mind. I've just started my debt free journey (again) and am subscribing for inspiration.

CandyCupcake

Hi Headabovewater and thanks for the comments I love any little bits of advice anyone can provide as I do need it!

Yeh I know my phone is high as previously mentioned I recently reduced it by £10.00. So I'm hoping that if I continue not using the data, texts & minutes I'm paying for then hopefully they will let me reduce it again soon and then when I renew my contract I'm going to shop around! When your young £40/£50 doesn't even seem much, how does this work out when you don't earn much as a teenager haha!

I've tried the DIY hair... let's just say I will never make it in the hairdressing industry Numerous occasions I've tried but never have much luck and end up running back to the hairdressers for help hehe. I am trying to get the most out of it as possible though & not going every 6 weeks as recommended.

I am glad you mentioned the holiday... this is one I've been mulling over since the SOA. The thought of not going away is abit but then the thought of being debt free is So I've just had a play with the snowball calculator, and by using that £75.00 a month to throw at debts along with my pay increase I will knock 6 months off my DFD!! This is amazing..! Bye bye holiday funds... hello debt free me!! I can always treat myself to a fab holiday to celebrate bein debt free. As soon as I start receiving my increased salary I will update the snowball calc officially & update my signature with the new DFD

The beauty is my nails... I know I really shouldn't but it's one luxury I miss too much :P Typical girl!!

I'm going to have a look at the link you have just sent me. I sooo need encouragement with the DFDs, I really didnt realise that I spend money virtually everyday without thinking about. It's only since consciously thinking about it to update my diary that I've realised!

Thankyou so much for your comments, you really don't realise how happy you have made me mentioning the holiday. 6 months of my DFD is really amazing! It's something quite obvious, but I think I just needed an outside party to give me the push. Thankyou

Hugandroll - Hi Ye no worries, the more the merrier! Are you doing a diary? I think it takes us all a couple of LBM's before we stick to the right track. Atleast we have MSE for the support & encouragement we all need!

Candy x

CandyCupcake

After a helpful suggestion from HeadAboveWater, I have a slight adjustment to my SOA & snowball calculator.

I was previously budgetting to put £75.00 away for a holiday, this was just silly as going on a holiday when in debt is really not going to help the debt situation. So I have now removed this and added the additional £75.00 to my debt repayments meaning I have knocked 3 months off my debt free date!! :j This is before adding on my pay increase, any overtime/shift claims & bonuses!

Happy Happy Happy *amends signature*

Candy