Debt Free By 30!

Mockingjay

Hello,

This is my second thread. First one started off well but then I got distracted by Christmas, illness and an expensive trip

So this is part 2. My aim is to be debt free by 30 = July 2014.

Outstanding debts:

• Halifax CC - Balance £6146. Initial balance was £8124 so I have reduced this by 24% so far. An expensive holiday & Xmas have been set backs but I have budgeted for Xmas this year & no more holidays until next year! CC free date - March 2014.
• Halifax OD - Balance £2300. I'll be chucking £600 at it per month once the CC is paid off. Overdraft free debt - July 2014.

Organisation is going to be key! I'm going to dig out one of my cute notepads and use that as a spend diary. I put together a meal plan yesterday and did the big shop today, spending roughly on budget including all lunches. Healthy lunches too! Why is white/beige food so cheap but the green stuff so costly?

Anyway, i'll be updating this diary daily & hopefully one day post the link on 'The Debt Free Roll of Honour'.

Good luck everyone!

Mockingjay

Got to work a bit early today to get cracking on my own snowballing spreadsheet. It's looking pretty fancy & so easy to adjust which is exactly what I need. Lots of extra payments!

In other news, heard rumours our bonus will be 6%. Still needs to be confirmed by the big boss but if it is then after tax I'll have £1400 plus £400 from my partner (payment for our holiday) plus the usual £600 direct debit payment all in one month! Horrah! That's going to have a brilliant effect on the interest rate!

Also, I've been looking at sorting my credit rating out. My main problem is that 80% of my available credit is in use so paying off them will obviously solve that problem! Thankfully I have no defauts. I'm putting myself on the electoral role & I'm planning to stay in my current house for at least another couple of years. Once the CC is paid off, I will use it for small purchases with a direct debit setup to clear the balance every month without fail! I hope this all helps! I'd like a mortgage in a few years...

Mockingjay

Spend free day :beer:

Today is a 'fast' day. I'm on the 5:2 diet and I am HUNGRY so drinking lots of water to fill me up or at least I hope that's the result! Aside from losing weight & being generally healthier, being on this diet also means no lunches twice a week so I'm actually saving money by being on it :money:

I've been invited to some leaving & birthday drinks but have declined both, saying I need to save some money for a new car. I'm still very embarrassed by my current situation so the new car excuse will be used a lot over the next year!

Spent a good 20 minutes staring at my snowball spreadsheet today. So looking forward to August pay day. My CC debt will be very nearly be in 2000s after the chunky payment! Hopefully, I can scrimp & save and be in the 2s by September then it's going to be easy & less scary... I hope.

Katzen

All very positive, well done! If you can get in the 2's by September you may even be free early- keep up the good work!

Mockingjay

Damn Joules & their persistent email campaign! I got all the way to filling in my delivery address details when I closed the tab & put a movie on instead. Nearly spent more money on clothes this month... Already spent £68 on a wedding outfit. Phew!

In other news, my work motivation is BACK! Been feeling off my game for a few months, since my diagnosis really, but the old me is back! Horrah! Feel like I'm really earning that payrise now .

According to my snowball sheet I'm 9 months away until I'm credit card free . Keeping that in mind is really helping to curb my spending.

Mockingjay

Going for another spend free day today

Luckily, there's a buffet on for lunch in the office so I'm making full use of that. Even nabbing a couple of bags of quavers for future snack attacks... well hardly anyone is here anyway

Not sure what cheap things to do this weekend though... I don't want to hen my poor boyfriend in. Any suggestions? I was thinking about a walk around the lake on Sunday and we have plenty of wine for a fun night in tonight but what about tomorrow? Hmmm

MrsSmith2013

Mockingjay wrote: »

Luckily, there's a buffet on for lunch in the office so I'm making full use of that. Even nabbing a couple of bags of quavers for future snack attacks... well hardly anyone is here anyway

Hi mockingjay - I like your style! Stocking up for future snacks is always a good idea, especially when its free!

I'm not on the 5:2 diet, but I'm going to stop taking my purse to work to keep me out of the cafe, I'm sure that I must spend at least £15/20 per week on stuff I probably have in the house!

Wildchild_2

Hi - it's great that things are going better at work. Imagine how much better you'll feel when you get those debts out of the way. Nothing quite like financial freedom to make you smile !

Mockingjay

Thanks guys Already feeling better but wish pay days would come around quicker. Feels like I'm not really moving forward but I know with every spend free day I'm closer to being debt free.

Yes! I highly recommend leaving your purse at home! It's worked wonders for me!

OrangeFairy

Hi MockingJay

I am also on a mission to be debt free by the time I am 30 which is next May. We also have similar debt amounts!

You sound very focused. Leaving your purse at home is a great move!!!

OF x

Mockingjay

Thanks Orange Fairy! Good luck to you & your debt free quest!

Interest has gone on my CC so I've updated my sig . Just got back from the big weekly food shop & spent £51 = £108 this (payday to payday) month so far and I have budgeted £200 for food for the month so not far off!

Filled up & washed the car today too. Hasn't had a wash in around 2 years. Poor thing! It's bright & shiny once again! Horrah!

No more spending this weekend though. Going to watch Downton on Lovefilm & go for walks.