£100k Debt Free in 4 1/2 years - My Debt Diary

ThankYouAndEnjoy!

ThankYouAndEnjoy! wrote:

* Give Up Bread & Rolls (plus anything affiliated) for 6 months minimum (started today - found it difficult but have some new culinary ideas )

* Give Up Meat for 6 months minimum (started today and found it easier than not eating bread ... really enjoy my meal)

Well; having given up Meat and Bread, i find myself sitting here, having lost 1 STONE already, feeling fantastic!! - Felt hungry for the first 2 days; but now feel comfortable with the level of food im eating. Have pre-prepared Vegetable Pie & Vegetable Soup (simmering as we speak) for the next weeks lunch (during work) and dinner ... and whats even better is that the vegetable cost no where near our normal spend !!

On the money front, worked this morning and also working tomorrow, both 7 hour shifts, so will have earnt £500 in overtime payments already

OH and I are planning to go see some Bungalows over the next couple of weeks; really want to move to a place with a garden (currently in upstairs flat) - we cant consider moving until June time (at the earliest) but want to see 'whats out there' - hopefully come June the housing and stock market will have calmed down.....

ThankYouAndEnjoy!

Im really pleased with myself, i set myself a 10 day goal of creating a 'To Do' list attached to my finances. Over the last 10 days, not only have i managed to comlete the list (which i am working my way through daily) i have completed the following tasks; -


* Having paid off my Virgin Credit Card in full, which i was terribly pleased with, i find myself having put another £5850 on it in the form of a 0% B/T for the next 9 months :eek: - Sounds bad doesnt it? The good news is that even after the fee has been taken into account, we should be in profit by £180 - £200. Im going to pay the amount of my loan (its at 6.2% so my highest APR)
* Sent e-mail to o2 to cancel my £35.99 /month contact - im waiting for a response to confirm action taken
* Spoke to my local council to spread the cost of council tax over 12 months instead of 10
* Reduced my sky package by £18 /month
* E-Mailed Nationwide to increase our contracted mortgage payment to £600 /month
* Contacted Npower to confirm the current 'tariff' i am on - im going to wait 6 weeks for the rest of the power companies to 'follow suit' in their price rises before deciding if/when to change supplier

* Joined SliceThePie

I've still 5 or so actions to take

On the down side, our washing machine went wrong (after a power surge) so am making a claim on the contents insurance - hopefully it wont take long to resolve :rolleyes:

ThankYouAndEnjoy!

OMG:eek:

Took the car in yesterday for MOT and Service. Knew the Exhaust needed changing but wasnt really prepared for the price £312!! Thankfully, we had the money from the Egg B/T, but still .......

Possibly making the best, or worst decision of our MSE days. The £5700 B/T from Virgin is no longer going off the loan, decided to purchase additional shares in the Banking Industry!! - Prices seem low and im in it for the long run so yearly dividends should yield £500 /annum (before tax) - Its almost a buy-now-pay-later share scheme (Virgin is 0% until October) We will have the money to cover repayment within the next 4 months (thanks to the amount of o/time im doing )

On the job front, i've been given the opportunity to undertaken testing/training/analysis of our new system, due to go 'live' septemeber. Its a really good opportunity (will get me noticed by the 'powers' above me, but does mean i could spend either 5 of the next 6 months or even 1 year away from my 'normal' day-to-day role. Will be **assuring** i can fit in o/time (as i wont be paid any extra within this 'bolt on' task/role.

Good times ......

ThankYouAndEnjoy!

ThankYouAndEnjoy! wrote:

Possibly making the best, or worst decision of our MSE days. The £5700 B/T from Virgin is no longer going off the loan, decided to purchase additional shares in the Banking Industry!! - Prices seem low and im in it for the long run so yearly dividends should yield £500 /annum (before tax) - Its almost a buy-now-pay-later share scheme (Virgin is 0% until October) We will have the money to cover repayment within the next 4 months (thanks to the amount of o/time im doing )

The deed has been done - £5700 of shares purchased - Im 100% happy with the decision i made; if i hadnt of been then there is no way i would have purchased such a large amount.

Decided to change my SIG to reflect the investments i have ongoing at the moment. Previously, i was showing the debt accrued on my SIG but not the benefit gained as a result of being in debt. Im liking my SIG a h*ll of a lot more now, instead of a 10% gain, we have reduced debt by 20% YAY - As with the Debt, the Benefit will be fluctuating daily (hopefully for the better)

Skint_Catt

Well done you! Don't understand investments but I'm just keeping up on what you are saying! Well done! £23k gone already - thats amazing. I really want my OH to read this as he has no idea of saving but moans he has (small) debts but we want to get a mortgage this year and this really spurs me on!

Catt xx

ThankYouAndEnjoy!

Thaks Catt

TBH, i dont know all there is to know about investments, just choose ones that i consider 'sure bets' (big companies with big profits) - may not always yield a massive price increase, but the dividends sure make up for it

OH and DS were unwell yesterday and today. I know there is more to life than money, but only worked 5/14 hours at work this weekend so 'lost out on' some £200 or so in o/time. On the Plus side, when talking about work, i have been asked to become a UAT (User Acceptance Tester). Basically, our service provider is bringing in a new system in Septeber and i have to test it to make sure it does everything that we need it to do. Its a really good opportunity for me, and UATs are recognised industry wide so opens up a load of options outside of the Bank. There is also the position of 'Team Leader' within the team i will be joinging up for grabs, so have already put my name forward :rolleyes: - Starts in 6 weeks for 6 months, and then who knows!!

Money wise, got paid friday so the debt continues to reduce and with GF getting paid Monday, things are looking good. On the other side of things GS hasnt paid her £210 this month yet ... mmmm ... going to leave it until the 26th of the month, and if it still hasnt come through will enquire gently about it. TBH, will be glad when she finishes paying (albeit it thats some 3 years away!!)

ThankYouAndEnjoy!

ThankYouAndEnjoy wrote:

On the other side of things GS hasnt paid her £210 this month yet ... mmmm ... going to leave it until the 26th of the month, and if it still hasnt come through will enquire gently about it.

GF sent text to GS this morning, GS is paying the £210 on Friday, a good deal to as had to pay £249.60 into an o/draft i forgot all about! :eek: - Im phoning up tomorrow to cancel the account as i cant afford to fund it, plus its registered at parents address so looks bad on my credit rating.

Have placed a couple of items on Play.Com for sale - hopefully they'll sell fast and can enjoy the *extra* money. I really need to start thinking about selling some of my unwanted (not needed) electricals, DVDs and CDs. There just sitting here. Will dedicate tomorrow afternoon (have the whole day off work ) to sorting them out and putting them up for sale.


BAD BAD BAD news about the shares today! - Still, im holding onto them for the long run so, as with all market investments, you have to take the rough with the smooth

ThankYouAndEnjoy!

:mad: GRRRR

Just got my bill from NPower - £509.41 !! :eek:

Having looked over my bill; im happy with all of the meter readings and charges, but NPower seem to forgotten the £415 of payments i have made over the last 5 months. I cant find them anywhere! RAGH! - And, with the time being 20:20, i cant phone them now till 8:00Am -

Rest assured, i will be wanting a comprehensive response by C.O.B tomorrow, updated bill and letter of confirmation to follow!