Mr and Mrs K's New Journey to a Debt Free Life.

AlexLK

I'm beginning to feel like I'm struggling a little with the debt-busting in all honesty, snookey. Still, I'm persevering. However, I struggle to see how I am old fashioned? I suppose over some things I am but I wouldn't say that I am in general? Unless good manners and looking out for one's family constitutes "old fashioned" these days.

Sounds nasty, hope you get well soon.

Mara_uk7

Alex, you're not failing at all . You will only fail if you pay it all off and build it up again.
Now go get some sleep hun, you're poorly !

AlexLK

Mara: I don't feel as if I'm failing, just struggling to keep up with the pace that got me over a third of the way there in a month. I am also worried about not managing to keep to a budget once out of debt and ending up in a similar circumstance, when I know we'd be much better off tackling the mortgage, which we will still have whether or not we end up moving to the parents house.

I ought to get some sleep, agreed.

Mara_uk7

Morning Alex, Hope your feeling a bitty better today, How is Ebay looking ? I believe you put a few more items on recently ?

Dont worry about tackling your mortgage until the debts are cleared, mortgages are a cheap way to borrow money. One step at a time.
Perhaps if Mrs K is determined to have her SECOND car, She should be encouraged to start herself saving for it, put the money away in a separate account and only buy the car when she has the money, Might focus her mind on what shes frittering on lunches ?

Alex, An easy way to help stick to your budget ... once the cards are clear, cancel them.. but in the meantime .. keep one for an emergency, Cut up the rest ! Go on ....Be brave ..

EchoDelta

AlexLK wrote: »

Mara: I don't feel as if I'm failing, just struggling to keep up with the pace that got me over a third of the way there in a month. I am also worried about not managing to keep to a budget once out of debt and ending up in a similar circumstance, when I know we'd be much better off tackling the mortgage, which we will still have whether or not we end up moving to the parents house.

I ought to get some sleep, agreed.

Don't feel bad about this!!

It's completely normal. When you start there are lots of big life changing moments and big grand gestures etc. Then it settles down and just becomes life. There is a thread everyday about "small things" you have done to become debt free. Maybe check it out.

Give yourself a chance to let this new way of thinking and doing become habit.

As for the mortgage once you are all debt free consider increasing your direct debit to the mortgage company - then the money is gone and the overpayment made without ever having to think about it.

snookey

Hi Alex hope your on the mend. When I said your old fashioned I meant that you still have some of your parents views ie on the way you judge others. Although Im glad to see your much more open to changing your mind set.
Good manners and looking after ones family is not old fashioned Im glad to say.
Your doing well with your debt busting just by keeping it to the front of your mind and not burying your head in the sand.

My foot is now near normal size but Im still hobbling,lol.

AlexLK

Mara_uk7 wrote: »

Morning Alex, Hope your feeling a bitty better today, How is Ebay looking ? I believe you put a few more items on recently ?

Dont worry about tackling your mortgage until the debts are cleared, mortgages are a cheap way to borrow money. One step at a time.
Perhaps if Mrs K is determined to have her SECOND car, She should be encouraged to start herself saving for it, put the money away in a separate account and only buy the car when she has the money, Might focus her mind on what shes frittering on lunches ?

Alex, An easy way to help stick to your budget ... once the cards are clear, cancel them.. but in the meantime .. keep one for an emergency, Cut up the rest ! Go on ....Be brave ..

Yes, a little better today and a good job too as I have been ridiculously busy with work.

A few auctions ended, gained another £780 towards the debts. Baring in mind these were items neither Mrs. K. nor I wanted we were both VERY happy with the end result.

So far as the mortgage goes, I was just looking towards the future, certainly not going to be clearing anything off that whilst we owe a lot of money in other debt. However, after doing the mortgage free calculator, Mrs. K. and I both agree it needs looking into in some more detail later on.

Yes, Mrs. K. is rather determined to buy herself a second car (as she "doesn't have a sports car") ... we have agreed that we shall start saving towards it once the debt has gone, she's thinking of starting with £1500 worth of rubber bumper BGT and trading her way up (as in buying a car at a cheap price, having some fun and selling it on at a higher price). I was actually rather impressed with her plan. Besides, she had her pay review today and we've had some nice news from that, up £7,500pa, not that she will see an awful lot of that because of higher rate tax band, but hey she's happy.

The cards are gone, anyway. They were maxed out a long time ago and I'm fairly certain I couldn't get credit again for a long time. They have also been ceremoniously "cut up".

EchoDelta wrote: »

Don't feel bad about this!!

It's completely normal. When you start there are lots of big life changing moments and big grand gestures etc. Then it settles down and just becomes life. There is a thread everyday about "small things" you have done to become debt free. Maybe check it out.

Give yourself a chance to let this new way of thinking and doing become habit.

As for the mortgage once you are all debt free consider increasing your direct debit to the mortgage company - then the money is gone and the overpayment made without ever having to think about it.

Echo - Thank you for the advice. I often post in the small things thread.

Yes, we do need to do that re. making the new ideas become habit. The fact is I'm never going to stop liking "nice things" and neither is Mrs. K. but we can buy much less in quantity.

Brilliant idea on the mortgage.

snookey wrote: »

Hi Alex hope your on the mend. When I said your old fashioned I meant that you still have some of your parents views ie on the way you judge others. Although Im glad to see your much more open to changing your mind set.
Good manners and looking after ones family is not old fashioned Im glad to say.
Your doing well with your debt busting just by keeping it to the front of your mind and not burying your head in the sand.

My foot is now near normal size but Im still hobbling,lol.

Hello there, yes on the mend a little bit.

Ah, I see and yes, I cannot see me being able to change overnight. Perhaps to an extent I never will but this diary has taught me to not be so narrow minded.

Indeed, I need to carry on - on wards and upwards.

Glad to hear your foot is healing.

AlexLK

Monday 7th October.
Day 36.

Dear Diary,

This is going to be an awfully quick one as I've spoke of my debt-free developments in my previous posts and have little other to report due to my day being hectic with work and little else. Tomorrow is less hectic and I shall get around to finally getting the new items on eBay.

Summary:
-£17.95 Groceries.
-£32.00 Clothes for Son.

Yours Faithfully,
Alex.

snookey

Alex well done to your wife for getting a pay rise.

Your debts will be a thing of the past if you keep going at this rate. Thats a massive amount from your auctions.
So glad your feeling better but try not to do too much until your fully
well.

Mara_uk7

Oh Alex , ive just realised I dont have a sports car either ... Now Im miserable.

Your dear wife needs a reality check.

Good job one of you is attacking the debt problem, else goodness knows where you would have been in a years time.

Nursery day ! Have fun .. Both of you