It's kind of fun to do the impossible

Sholly · 18 December 2020 at 1:48AM

cannyscot_2 said:

Hang on in there ! Something so great is worth waiting for !

You're right!! I just need to learn a little patience 😂

Viking_mfw · 18 December 2020 at 10:04AM

Your fleabaying is truly impressive!

Sholly · 18 December 2020 at 8:39PM

Normally my son and I go out to the cinema and for pizza on Christmas Eve, but we're in tier 3 so our usual Christmas Eve is cancelled. Instead, we're going to get a pizza, popcorn and watch Netflix. So, the question is, with debt neutral being 2 days before that, how do we celebrate to make it different and special??

cannyscot_2 · 19 December 2020 at 12:36AM

Fancy takeaway delivered from just eat and a bottle aldi champagne

Sholly · 19 December 2020 at 2:04AM

cannyscot_2 said:

Fancy takeaway delivered from just eat and a bottle aldi champagne

This sounds perfect! Thank you. We've got an amazing Vietnamese restaurant near us which I don't go to often because it's difficult to get a table (in non-COVID times!), but I've checked and they are doing takeaway so I'll call them tomorrow and book. And coincidentally I did buy some Aldi bubbles when I was there the other day so sounds like I'm all set! Eek!! I do wish that I was paying it all off next week and being officially debt free but it's just too much interest to miss out on. Nevermind, I reckon it still deserves a celebration. I hope you have a lovely weekend @cannyscot_2

Sholly · 22 December 2020 at 12:26PM

I'M DEBT NEUTRAL!!

December payday is always earlier than the others so I transfer all of my pay into my savings, and then transfer it back again on December 31st (I've always done this since living paycheck to paycheck so that January wouldn't feel as painful, and whilst it's not necessary now, I might as well get the extra week and a bit of inflated interest payments). So this means that my savings are higher than they will be by December 31st, but I will still be debt neutral in January when my bills come out. So today, my figures are:

Debt: £13,228.79
Savings: £14,972.14

I can't wait until January 2022 when my last 0% deal ends and I can add myself to the debt free roll of honour!

I've also made a decision about what I want to do next. My son admitted he wasn't that bothered about going on safari now - this was always my dream for when I became debt free, but it was a dream created when he was a lot smaller so I understand. We've decided to go to New York for Christmas next year instead. So that's freed up a lot of the money that I'd planned to save next year, and I've decided to buy an apartment in Spain (Brexit and COVID dependent). It's not the best financial option as it depends on getting it booked out regularly, but it'll be a home away from home for my son and I, and family and friends can also go - so any bookings will be a bonus. My aim is to buy before December 2021 as I'll still be under 35 so will pay less tax (I turn 35 in December 2021). I'll need about £27k to buy it which should be doable as long as I get my bonus in June. It will still be a push, but I need goals and I think it'll give me focus - I won't spend on frivolous items etc if I know it'll delay my purchase, especially because after December it'll cost me more! If Brexit/COVID spoils the plans, I'll buy another BTL here - that would probably be the best financial decision anyway, just not as fun!

But for today, we're going to celebrate. The first thing my son said to me this morning was "Happy Debt Free Day!" cutie! I've booked a takeaway from the Vietnamese place for my lunch and my son wanted fish and chips so we'll get that, some nice drinks and something for pud and go to eat them in the car by the beach (this is what a tier 3, December celebration looks like in North East England 😅)

Merry Christmas!!

cannyscot_2 · 22 December 2020 at 12:57PM

Amazed and thrilled for you - True Grit ! Hope the celebration is awesome .

2021 - a new challenge - look forward to seeing what it is . I might even work on my non spending muscle by having a no spend month or a low spend few months - now in serious saving mode !

Keep up the thread - very motivating!

Sholly · 22 December 2020 at 6:02PM

cannyscot_2 said:

Amazed and thrilled for you - True Grit ! Hope the celebration is awesome .
2021 - a new challenge - look forward to seeing what it is . I might even work on my non spending muscle by having a no spend month or a low spend few months - now in serious saving mode !
Keep up the thread - very motivating!

Thank you so much for the lovely message! Apart from my son, I haven't told anyone outside this diary about being debt free today for various reasons so really thank you! It means a lot.
I'm planning as many no spend days as possible in 2021 too, and hopefully for the whole of January, so it would be great to be accountable to someone else doing the same thing!
I will definitely keep the thread - I'm glad you find it motivating. I really like having somewhere to write my thoughts and it's so interesting to go back and see where I was a year or 2 ago. The title still stands too; buying a place in Spain feels like a crazy pipe dream right now, but it's kind of fun to do the impossible!