Catriona's Credit Card Countdown

Orange_Ena

catriona79 wrote: »

It would be great to be able to pay the vouchers towards the debt. I'm not sure if anyone i know is about to buy something big at m&s... I thought I could do my weekly shop there and then transfer the equivalent to savings. If I'm careful and buy bargains and stickered stuff, I may well live on it for 4 weeks. Do you think that's doable?

Or you could just treat yourself like you were going to before I waded in!

I always think their food is a bit expensive but if you can get some YS food, yeah go for it. I have occasionally bought their £10 meal deal as a treat. I don't drink so I get a nice meal that last 2 nights and a bottle of wine for a pressie. :T

Orange_Ena

catriona79 wrote: »

Have done my new SOA. It looks like I can be paying £1100 towards my debts a month. Or saving the same amount.
Which means that I should be able to get rid of this debt within 12 months, taking also into account that I will need to pay my tuition fees and have some expensive dental work done. Also pay off a holiday.
But that's heartening! I think I'm going to sit down and work out when, realistically it can get paid off. Hopefully just halving it and then sticking it onto a three year 0% deal, like a Barclaycard, would do it.
I wouldn't mind it if the cards were in the background, if only I had cash to pay them all sitting in an account, making me feel secure.

I am sure life's twists and turns will make a hole in any plan, so they key is to have your options open!

You've definitely got options. I think either way to pay them off or save or a bit of both, you are working towards something. I know some people work towards being debt neutral and that must be very satisfying. You'll do it.

Orange_Ena

catriona79 wrote: »

I'm having a pretty low day after a semi sleepless night. Thoughts about loneliness etc reigning supreme - I need a good listen to my mindfulness book!

But let's look at the positives
- I am ok the way I am, I have everything I need
- I have just got a new mortgage deal meaning that my expenses will decrease by a bit
- I am healthy and live with two cool girls, one of whom is already a really good friend, and the other one may become one in the future
- next week will be my first week of compressed hours! Whoop whoop!
- I am going to study something I enjoy - hard work but worth it! Fulfilment! Happiness
- I am going to my first Samaritans meeting tomorrow night and will hopefully start doing voluntary work soon!

I can't seem to multi quote on my tablet, sorry.

Aww bless ya hun. I'm sure someone said you're never lonely when you've got the internet. I might have just made that up though :rotfl:

You've got a lot going on, thinking about the new mortgage, changing your work hours, starting a course and exploring volunteering and a change in direction. I think anyone would be having sleepless nights with that lot going on. It is I think, harder on your own. You're relying on yourself and even if you discuss the financial side with friends and family, only you can make the decision as you're the one that it effects. In a partnership, you share the burden usually and maybe it's not quite as much pressure. I don't know......I'm a long time singleton! Sometimes I just want someone that can deal with financial stuff and let me just chill out and read!

catriona79

Orange_Ena wrote: »

I can't seem to multi quote on my tablet, sorry.

Aww bless ya hun. I'm sure someone said you're never lonely when you've got the internet. I might have just made that up though :rotfl:

You've got a lot going on, thinking about the new mortgage, changing your work hours, starting a course and exploring volunteering and a change in direction. I think anyone would be having sleepless nights with that lot going on. It is I think, harder on your own. You're relying on yourself and even if you discuss the financial side with friends and family, only you can make the decision as you're the one that it effects. In a partnership, you share the burden usually and maybe it's not quite as much pressure. I don't know......I'm a long time singleton! Sometimes I just want someone that can deal with financial stuff and let me just chill out and read!

Thank you for your kind words.... I'm off to listen to a (free) podcast of Oli Doyle. Meditation / mindfulness.

I will reply properly tomorrow, but just wanted to say thank you for being so sweet.

Orange_Ena

catriona79 wrote: »

Thank you for your kind words.... I'm off to listen to a (free) podcast of Oli Doyle. Meditation / mindfulness.

I will reply properly tomorrow, but just wanted to say thank you for being so sweet.

You're welcome. Sleep well!

catriona79

It's pay day tomorrow! It's pay day, it's pay day!!!

I'm doing a happy pay day dance in anticipation :j:j:j

Orange_Ena

catriona79 wrote: »

It's pay day tomorrow! It's pay day, it's pay day!!!

I'm doing a happy pay day dance in anticipation :j:j:j

I'll join you for that dance :dance::j:dance::j:dance::j

Happy payday :money::)

catriona79

Orange_Ena wrote: »

I'll join you for that dance :dance::j:dance::j:dance::j

Happy payday :money::)

Only a few hours left!!... :rotfl::T:D:D:D:j:beer:

catriona79

Orange_Ena wrote: »

:j:beer::T Brilliant work Catriona, sounds like a very good deal to me. I know you say it will cost more long term but you could always overpay if you could and wanted to in the future. In my mind, there's no point making it unaffordable now, working to pay for it and not having a life. Definitely breathing room. You're in a fantastic position, with the lodger income, to be able to follow your career dreams. Go for it. It's very exciting getting the financial side of life sorted.

Bring on the better days :beer:

I've been meaning to write back on this... You're spot on.

I'm only discovering meditation and mindfulness, and it's hard because I'm always delaying gratification. So hard! But yes, "breathing room" is my new mantra.

It's not natural for me to do this, but I really want to feel happier.

I think it's all because of yet another breakup (same person, will I ever learn!) and I'm feeling low now. It's the anxiety and loneliness though, not love. At least that's what I think. It feels scary.

Friday tomorrow and two great things happen - it's pay day (whoop whoop) and it's the long weekend finally! London calling!
Also my lodger gets back which is lovely.

Life is good.

L&C mortgage advisor says that we should be ready by end of September with the new mortgage. Not bad! Fingers crossed!

catriona79

:dance: :dance: :dance: Pay day!!! Wahoo!!!! :dance: :dance: :dance:


Woke up at 5.15, which, for me at the moment, is good.
Its the day to check the bank! And there's already only £295 in it ha ha! It's because I've set up loads of different savings accounts and everything is automated now, rather than me having to sit there, and transfer stuff out and in.. Aaaand out and in.
Went and paid off my hsbc credit card, which was good too, but with the glitch it may not transfer that soon. Thankfully I bank with FD, so been unaffected.

I listened to a few Oli Doyle podcasts on the way to work, sooo good! I am going to try and sit mindfully for 10 minutes this evening. I'm so tired!

Naughty naughty - went to tk max and got two pairs of shoes. Well, one are trainers, which I'm not sure that I'll keep, but the other are a smart pair of brogues that will do me for the winter at work. £40. How much would they be from another shop? Easily double that.

Hopefully an early finish today, 4.45!

Can't wait till the weekend. All the excitement of london and good chats with my friend - and maybe even a trip to Brighton, if it isn't peeing it down!

Overall, a very good day! And a leisurely evening ahead.