Are we really in debt? YES WE ARE

duchy

Another inspiring diary-and one that shows that debt can hit anywhere.
My question having read your diary through in one go is........At the begining you expressed some worries about "What the neighbours might think" -a worry I suspect you've left far behind now -and don't care about But I'm wondering-has anyone actually noticed ?

tallyhoh

Duchy, you are correct, what is there for the neighbours to notice really - unless you change your car dramatically and even then they will probably not notice or even give a chuff.

Good going Tolip!!! Keep us posted.:j

tolip

Thanks Guys

I actually dont think anyone has noticed!

I am addicted to snowballing !!! I just cannot wait each month to be paid and see how much I am going to snowball. Being able to print the snowball chart out and see what you have achieved is fantastic.

Hypno06, simple days out like that are great and children love them even more as they are an adventure!

tallyhoh, you are right, think if we changed the car people would notice, but the car stays!!!!

Thanks!

tolip

oh just on a more basic level, Mrs T read on another thread about dishwasher tablets / powder, she has now taken to buying dishwasher powder rather than the expensive tablets and uses the smallest amount of powder ! same results !

I know there is a lot of dishwasher powder in our debt ! however every little helps !!

hypno06

They may only seem like small steps, but things like changing the dishwasher tabs are sustainable so will keep you out of debt when you get debt free, without changing your lifestyle in any way!

From little acorns......and all that!

Washing powder is another one - I now buy a big box of supermarket own which lasts a month, and add soda crystals to it! Bargain, and just as good as anything else!

Verbatim

Thanks for touching in Tolip.

Glad to hear it's going well and that you're as addicted to seeing the figures go down as the rest of us!

HairyHandofDartmoor

Hi, just noticed this thread and read it through. Well done on your efforts.

I have relatives who earn a lot of money and just spend it all, a lot to impress the Joneses, and I always think what a waste! My brother in law and his wife earn massive salaries and don't even own their own house. They are supposed to be saving up a deposit and next you hear they are jetting off to Las Vegas for their anniversary. For a financial director and a corporate lawyer they don't have a lot of money sense! Another one owns his own business and is always doing unnecessary things to his house (like having the floors straightened, aren't old houses meant to be a bit wonky?)

So congratulations on being able to cut right back on the spending and not worrying about what people think. Although you say that noone appears to have even noticed anyway! I love the snowball calculator too, isn't it great? I am always printing out different versions of it to compare progress (what a saddo!)

Keep up the good work.

tifnstav

i have finally pulled my finger out and cancelled the credit card with nil balance on it - thanks to a bit of inspiration from you!
my oh is on the phone to halifax doing the same thing as we speak - and he's getting his £2.50 balance sent to him!!!
the new card would have been arriving soon, too much temptation methinks!
as well, i tend to cut up the cards but have a wicked memory for numbers, i can easily still buy stuff by remembering the details! luckily i have held back from doing this for about a year, so it was time to say byebye.

tolip

HairyHandofDartmoor, isnt the snowball calculator great!! My brother in law is the same as yours! he owns a building firm and always changing to the biggest TV, newest mobile phone etc They both earn good salaries, but seem to squander so much.

tifnstav, this has been our downfall, zero balance and cutting card up, then new one arrives and away we go again. I have cancelled every credit card that has a zero balance. I just cancelled my co-op visa card last week as I paid it off. I was a customer for 14 years, they try and get you to keep the card, is the credit limit sufficient? would you like a gold card with stripes? etc etc NO JUST CANCEL THE THING!! Its a great feeling. I have no idea why I thought we needed so many cards anyway!

Once we pay all off we will keep 2 credit cards, a visa, and amex.

Well done on cancelling them, its a step in the right direction!

tifnstav

OH just got me annoyed - Halifax asked did he want his £2.50 by cheque or did he want to donate it to charity - he chose charity!
sounds awful but its begins at home - with the "tifnstav and mr tifnstav to be debt free moving house getting married benevolent fund"!!!!
and which charity are halifax giving it to - he didn't ask. could be the "shareholder profits champagne christmas do fund"!
he says his dad has shares in halifax so he'll ask his dad for his £2.50 back.