30 months to no debt - an Optimistic Journey

Skint_but_Optimistic

Indeed. I do need a small emergency fund as soon as possible, sick of living on bare bones and feeling stressed. Mostly works out ok but sometimes, it goes wrong.

millionaire_in_training

I used to have an emergency fund, but then I had an emergency :rotfl:

So sorry about your doggie

And teenagers ...............pah!! boys are just as bad and they smell into the bargain

Skint_but_Optimistic

Month 25, Day 12.

Its a new month! A definate autumnal feel this morning, a little moist with weaker-than-we-have-had sunshine which seems to have a more yellow than orange hue.

Last night I worked heavens hard. My plans and schemes have come asunder a little and once again I have canceled all but unnecessary direct debits. The reason for this is because I heard horror stories, not of halloween but of the repayment of expenses. It is taking upwards of 3 and a a half weeks, one calendar month plus. It used to be 8 days.
Belts are now tightened, I have a painter to pay.I am steadying myself for the onslaught of letters from folks expecting me to pay them - I had to cancel all but essential direct debits and will be meeting those a little later. Once normal service is resumed I will reenable all of them.

I ironed all that was in the basket. Did 2 further loads of washing, packaged and posted ebay, cleaned the living room and thought deeply. I also blanched this weeks crops of swiss chard and kale.

My emergency fund will be established as soon as I am able. It may not reach the giddy heights of 300 pounds this month but its a decent aspiration.

I need to make my minimum payments using the proceeds of ebay. Currently this is standing at 8.80. It all helps.

I am batchcooking on Friday or Saturday, it will be coq au vin. It will allow me a sniff of wine, as we are going mostly dry (apart from an allowed 4 light beers each a week) for October. We are also giving up chips, chocolate and crisps unless they are part of a meal like nachos.


So fitter healthier, a fast financial recovery and a house which only needs flooring.Thats the aim.

Other - better news. I am a step closer to getting my backpay. Still no word however on when.

I have a follow up interview for the job I went for a couple of weeks back.

Heres to the new month (toasted with a small cup of milk) and more inroads into debts and a large chaser of knuckle down and get sorted!

Skint_but_Optimistic

Use of the office printer today to print out a hermes posting slip. The boot already contains the parcel, ready to receive the posting slip. I have free parking this week too must begin channelling that money ina formulated way into paying cards etc. Even with the current slippage and even if the house isnt rented out, I am still debt free within boundaries.

The plan is to race ahead and beat it.

The next debt I will clear will be my solicitors debt. I have repaid that at 100 a month for 12 months, it will be gone in January. Its zero interest so even if the house is rented, I may as well let it run its course and pop the saved money onto Vanquis.

Obviously I will be revisiting my snowball once I have more income and changing the amount I pay out. Not sure whether I need to redirect some of it toa lump sum fund. I could use some for emergencies and some for lump sum payments and clearing things.

That would consist of 189 pounds a month. So say 90 pounds of that, straight to the emergency / lump sum fund. I think that would work really well. The remaining 90 pounds added to the money available to debts.

Might be a plan.

Skint_but_Optimistic

Lunchtime discussions with the band of hus.

Agreement was reached and the end goal agreed for sorting things out and hes been lovely. I feel so useless, I could cry.

please-let-me-be-lucky

Why do you feel useless SBO? You come across as the complete opposite, the anti-useless if you like Xx

millionaire_in_training

Aww you'll get there SBO. I am in money panic mode just now too so I get how you are feeling. Chin up xx

Skint_but_Optimistic

Month 25, day 13 Thanks everyone, perhaps my mood was indicitive of the state of me physically at the moment. Woke up this morning feeling less than sparkling, and an interesting array of coldsores on my face and lips. Very very sore, and have taken oral aciclovir and applied aciclovir cream but they are still very sore and hurt when I speak, eat or drink.

I suppose I always aspire to be slimmer and quieter!

In other news yesterday was the first day of stoptober. Not a smoker, but wanting to stop something to be healthier, I have given chocolate, wine and chips the heave ho. I am also having reduced amounts of crisps, salted nuts and pork scratchings. These are definate luxuries and create my idea of a perfect evening in- but financially and for health reasons I am giving it a go.

Obviously its working well- going by the state of my face. Ive not given up all alcohol, a few light beers and perhaps a g & t are permissable. The problem with wine is the taste is so nice, I may as well have an entire bottle. - haha.

So thats another thing. Tonight myself and my husband are having venison steaks. A lovely luxury, nice with wine. However they were down to under 1.50 in S4insburys and we shall have mash with them probably with roasted onions, some home grown sugar snap peas and a nice reduction.

Financially, I feel a little more confident today. I know what I have to do and I know what I have to do to move forwards.

Just had another email to state that I am NOT going to get my backpay. So the great debate continues. That money is owed to me rightfully, and the hoops are being jumped through not to pay it.

Still waiting to hear when my interview will take place.

My husband still wont even talk about another dog. I am not wanting one immediately, I just want an agreement we will have one and what we will go for. Will keep trying.

Made another 25 pounds on ebay last night -listed some more choice items and will list some more tonight. Need the money to roll in and off the cards hope everyone is having a lovely day.

debtfreewannabe321

Well done on giving all that the heave-ho for stoptober! That's an awful lot to give up at once though so I hope you've an iron will

Why do your work keep contesting your back pay have they given reasons? That would get right on my nerves...I remember I left a position once and I wasn't paid my last month's salary, had a young boy to feed and a mortgage, I contested it and they said no way so I left it. I wish I'd had your gutso and got what was owed to me especially as i'd worked a whole month in hand and knew I was owed it so carry on with your fight and I hope you get what you're owed! xx

Skint_but_Optimistic

its to do with retained terms and conditions, they are giving me notice as of now that they are changing my terms and conditions.

I am going to the union, its not on at all!