We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The DF journey diary of ilovelondontown
Options
Comments
-
For some reason or another the last 4 weeks have been really tough for me financially, I had a lot of additional payments to make last month and I suffered in the process to make it to payday, so much so that I had to “borrow” £130 from my usually-untouched- overdraft facility. In one way I’m annoyed at myself that it had to come to that and in another I feel lucky that I have the opportunity to tap into other means of hard cash that don’t result in me being tempted by PDL or having to borrow from family or friends.
What I’m learning on this journey is that I’m not a saint and this DF journey isn’t plain sailing, but in the grand scheme of things I’m still heading in the right direction even if it means my DF date has taken a push back by quite a bit. For me, consolidating my 2 BNPL loans and having to pay for leg surgery has pushed my credit card debt up slightly but it is still manageable and I plan to be well under the £3K debt mark by the new year, so not too shabby for ILLT
Still it’s not all bad, I’m now in the last month before my loan is paid off, this time next month I’ll be free from the shackles of a loan I’ve been paying back for the last 12 months. It’s not having the loan itself that bothers me, but always that horrible worry of “what if I lost my job? What would I do then?” – You see while getting debt free is obviously the ultimate goal, knowing it’s a long way off means you need to find other senses of achievement, for me in the short term just being down to one creditor will feel like I’ve gained a huge sense of control back, and being a credit card I can make over payments or minimum payments according to the month I’m having. And this month for the first time in a long time, after making all my monthly payments, I’m actually £200 in credit rather than already into my overdraft! Happy days!
So after all that waffle the new figures for me are in:
Credit card- Current £3250
Bank loan-[STRIKE] At highest £4700[/STRIKE]. Now £395
Next Account -[STRIKE] At highest £560.[/STRIKE] PAID OFF! :j
Bank of Dad-[STRIKE] At highest £630[/STRIKE]. PAID OFF! :j
Sofas- [STRIKE]At highest £1780[/STRIKE]. PAID OFF! :j
Laptop-[STRIKE] At highest £550.[/STRIKE] PAID OFF! :j
Some times in this journey it’s hard to see how far I’ve come, especially when you don’t have anything to show for your efforts apart from the numbers on the screen going down, but to put this in perspective, my original debt just over a year ago was in the region of £11,000, all things considered my spread sheet now tells me my total debt stands at £3645!Some times you have to hold back to go forward to where you want to be.
Like a catapolt!0 -
There really is something so psycological about having more money in my account than usual. I feel "richer" Obviously I'm hardly in a position to go wild with plans and shopping sprees, but it feel lovely, so lovely to not be in my overdraft a day after pay day and to know once all my usual monthly outgoings are paid up I still won't be in my overdraft. Ok, by about £100 but still!
Ironically I've got a busier than usual month a head of me which isn't feeling as daunting knowing that I'll have the funds to cover every going on, I'm planning ahead too, a friend of mine is about to give birth so I purchased her baby gift in a sale, I need a new pair of work shoes as mine are literally falling a part, I've managed to dig out some voucher codes so they are only costing me £20 and will last me through until the new year.
Talking of planning ahead, I've also started my xmas shopping, I'm doing it a bit by bit and have a strict budget that I can't excced. My sister and her kids will be visiting at the end of October and I won't see them again before xmas so if I get their pressies all wrapped up, that'll save me a fair bit posting them in December, and will give me one less thing to worry about in the xmas run up maddness!
I've got my fingers crossed that this good mood and spirit continues until next pay day
ILLTSome times you have to hold back to go forward to where you want to be.
Like a catapolt!0 -
Join this thread
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63240357#Comment_63240357
Lots of bargain hunting christmas tips.I don't respond to stupid so that's why I am ignoring you.
2015 £2 saver #188 = £450 -
As always thanks quidsy
I've been making headway on the xmas tips front, but that threat moves so fast its hard to keep up!
Usually about this time of the month I come to my diary bemoaning how things are getting tight and worrying about how I'm going to make it to next pay day but I'm finally starting to see my DFW efforts pay off (excuse the pun!) You see it's not uncommon for me to only have about £200 left by now to get me to pay day, and at the moment my available balance is £715 :j and all my direct debts, usual monthly bills are paid and I've done this months xmas shopping!! :eek:
The funny thing is I though having this money "disposable" would encourage me to go on a shopping spree but it hasn't, in fact I've pulled aside £300 in to a saving account so it makes me feel like my current account balance isn't so attractive. I've got a few socials to go to this month and I'm trying to budget these in so I don't go nuts at the bar, so there's no reason why I can't get to the end of the month 1) without borrowing any money 2) with "savings" and 3) not at the absolute limit of my overdraft.
After so long feeling like I've been slogging away the efforts of the last year are starting to show. It's mad to think that if I hadn't had my light bulb moment when I did, I've no doubt I'd still have a lot of pots of debt in different places, would have probably taken out another loan and would have maxed out both my credit card and wouldn't even be nearly close to considering myself financially ready for a baby.
Anyone who might stumble upon my diary worrying about there next move while they feel neck deep in debt, my advice to you is to stop ignoring something that won't go away and face it. There is always a way out, even if it means a dmp or filing as bankrupt, life on earth is too short and sweet to be losing sleep over money woes. Sure it's easier said than done but my diary has proved it is possible and it is definately worth it!:):)
Some times you have to hold back to go forward to where you want to be.
Like a catapolt!0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.1K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards