Broke Kitty's Debt Diary

Broke_Kitty

Updated my sig, no longer in double figures, woohoo for being under £10k

Broke_Kitty

I was feeling a bit blah this month because I haven't really brought in that much extra, and I'm really struggling for funds and pay day is so far ahead...

I filled up my car this morning, and the receipt shows £30, but when I log into my online banking it's pending at £1!! I really hope it's gone through as £1, that would be absolutely amazing.

Broke_Kitty

Just wanted to update this for myself really, even if nobody is following, because as of this week my Bank Loan and my Invisalign loan are both paid off!! :j:beer: :T I haven't really been posting in here regularly, but I have been coming in to update my signature every month!

They actually ended up being paid off early, as I made two invisalign payments instead of one last month (due to direct debit dates both being within the same payday anyway so I thought I might as well change it to the beginning of the month and get it over with), and ended up taking a payment holiday on the bank loan, but then having a bit of money left over at the end of the month and making a nice big payment anyway (when did I get so good at being frugal that this is even possible??)

I am over the moon as this means that from month to month things will no longer be really tight, I can channel around £300 a month into the three credit cards that remain, and my emergency fund (which is just in the nick of time as said emergency fund only has about £170 in it now, because you know, emergencies happen)

Also sadly my previous post about the petrol thing... it did end up leaving my account about a week later, no freebies here haha! :rotfl:

Broke_Kitty

Updating my signature makes me so happy now, looking at the original total and looking at where I am now it's really incredible to see just how much has been paid off in 9 months!! I've just about halved my debt. Ish.

It's incredible what a difference the two small factors of making sure I have LTW days most days of the month, and consciously avoiding going to shops unless I specifically need to "do a shop" or need a specific thing.

Broke_Kitty

Looking back on a time where I was never out of my overdraft, even on payday, and it's insane to think I lived like that 9 months ago!

Now I don't even HAVE an overdraft, I have three bank accounts for different purposes, all in credit at all times, a strict budget, and the ability to overpay on debts I was barely able to scrape the minimum payments on.

Just goes to show what can be achieved with a forum like this to learn from.

Broke_Kitty

Almost managed a no spend weekend this weekend, despite having gone to visit a friend in the city. Spent less than I usually do at home!!

Broke_Kitty

Bank balance is only £5 down from what it was this time last week... cheapest week ever?

Didn't go for our usual meal and film last night because we checked the times on Monday but when we went to book last night the one we wanted to see wasn't on - weird, and disappointing, but money saving I guess.

Off for an eye test now, which is free because I get my contact lenses monthly, but fingers crossed my prescription hasn't changed - don't fancy shelling out for glasses I'll never even wear. I wonder if you can get away with saying "I wear contacts every single day so no thank you".

Broke_Kitty

Another cheap weekend, only essentials paid for, and managed to get free lunch on Sunday!

Got a comfortable amount of money left for the month considering it's pay day a week tomorrow.

HOK3Y

Hey BK, just wanted to let you know that I am subscribed to your diary and do pop in to read now and again. You have done so well!! Congratulations to you in dropping your debt almost 50% - that has to feel amazing! It a great thing to get out of your overdraft too. The simple things really are the best. Keep going! x

Broke_Kitty

HOK3Y wrote: »

Hey BK, just wanted to let you know that I am subscribed to your diary and do pop in to read now and again. You have done so well!! Congratulations to you in dropping your debt almost 50% - that has to feel amazing! It a great thing to get out of your overdraft too. The simple things really are the best. Keep going! x

Hi Hok3y, lovely of you to stop by and great to see you round these parts again!

Well it's certainly a good thing that I did have a comfortable amount of money left at the end of the month... my car only went and died, didn't it!! That car caused me nothing but trouble, but I did love it With it's last dying breaths it got me 40 minutes down the country lanes to my dentist appointment, and only broke down right opposite a lay by, at the top of the hill and I still made my appointment while the AA were on their way! So you have to be grateful for things like that really, it could have been a lot worse!

The water pump collapsed and unfortunately that caused the cam belt to break, taking the engine with it. RIP.

For peace of mind, I am not going down the second hand car route, I've been burnt too badly and I think I just need to have set of reliable wheels now. I've got myself a 2014 Ford KA on finance which I imagine people on this forum will berate me for, BUT it leaves me with £200+ a month still for debt over payments, and yes, it will push back my DFD but it is worth it to know that if anything happens, I won't have to spend a fortune on it, and most likely nothing WILL happen to it.

I need to ring my insurance company next week and pray that it doesn't have a negative affect on my monthly payments, but it shouldn't as it's the same insurance band as my now deceased car and has a smaller engine!

The only slightly painful experience was having to fork out £120 for full AA membership because I thought I already had it, but I only had 'roadside assistance' and they wouldn't take me home otherwise! I didn't realise that downgrading my bank account meant I had less cover, but it's important to always check these things... but oh well, lesson learned, and it was a good thing I did take it out because my boyfriend helped me out by paying for half of it, and then the VERY NEXT DAY we had to call them out for his car! You just have to laugh, don't you. Luckily his was very easily fixed with a £15 part from the scrappy - which the very nice AA man advised us to go and get instead of the ones they carry which cost £100!!

All in all the whole situation could have been so much worse, I feel quite lucky that it's all worked out the way it has!

My new plan now is to alternate putting my spare money into my emergency fund, and paying extra off the CCs, so that both are given equal attention. I was lucky to have built up what savings I had, it meant I had absolutely no need to even consider using credit! Yippee! Obviously it's gone now, because I'm having to put down a deposit, but this time last year it would have been a whole lot worse. This has made me appreciate my lightbulb moment SO much more :rotfl: