"The best way to get something done is to begin"

Domayne

Stop taking cabs and walk NCM! It will be good for the waistline AND the bank balance :rotfl:
Echoing Catriona - Is it because of the tube strikes?
I've had a nightmare getting to work the last 2 days - even though I leave at 5.45am, the buses were packed!! So I was getting a bus to Euston then walking to regent street from there - and what I realized was that I really enjoyed that walk - so I did it again today, even though the trains were running normally again
How are the swimming lessons going? Are you enjoying them? Are you a natural born fish?

Non_compos_mentis

Hi C & D,

I would like blame the cabs on tube strikes but sadly not all of it relates to it. In addition to tube strikes, I have taken a cab after a night out (albeit not all the way from central), I have taken cabs to the station - not my usual station - because I need to get into work earlier/am running late.

You are right Domayne, walking is good for me but the weather really doesn't help!

Swimming is good - really enjoying it, need to work on the co-ordination. I am not quite a fish, unless we are talking about drinking!

Talking about drinking, Catriona - you are right, I think I am letting a bit of overspending bring me down. I am being too strict with myself, last year just my social midweek drinking and dining out bill was on average £350pm. Then there was other going out on weekend costs, cabs etc.

My social life seems to be on an upward trend, albeit it is a crawl rather than a gallop. It is so hard to meet girls, let alone "the right girl" - maybe I am not hanging out at the right place or connecting with the right people.

I am certainly keeping positive, I seem to have found a spring in my step. There maybe the odd time when I am on an emotional roller coaster - particularly when I think about the fact that despite asking the ex-gf to at least tell me honestly why she decided to chuck it and why she refused all offers to work things out, she hasn't bothered replying - but on the whole I am Mr. Positive.

How are you Catriona and Domayne?

NCM

killerpeaty

Hey ncm, I've been lurking.

On the subject of meeting girls, I met my boyfriend on the train to and from work. And I approached him. I wanted someone to walk back with from the train (25 minute walk) and I had noticed that he went somewhere in the right direction. We became pretty good friends and then boom, relationship- his idea. So, try not to worry too much, it can happen when you least expect it. I generally find that relationships happen from friendships, a couple of dates happen from going straight for the date. But then, I tend to clam up and panic. :rotfl:

You're doing amazingly, try not to kid yourself that you're not.

It might be a bit late, but good luck on the interviews catriona.

Non_compos_mentis

Hi KP,

Thanks for delurking.

So you two are one of the lovey dovey couples that I hate to see on the train! Only kidding! You are right, you can meet the right one anywhere - work, cafe, train, supermarket. The harder you seek the harder it becomes to find.

You are right, I am probably not doing too badly but I am on this mad quest to try and be debt free or at least as close to debt free as I possibly can at the end of the year. Horrible as it may sound, I really want to repay the ex asap - thats the £12k curveball life threw me - till I don't repay every single penny I won't be able to properly move on. Barclaycard and Natwest are offering me money transfer at 0% but only for 6 months . Whilst I am really tempted, I really don't want to cut my nose off to spite my face. So I shall wait for a better offer, I am hoping if I am not too tempted they might offer me 12-18 months.

How is IGCSE/GCSE and AAT coming along?

NCM

killerpeaty

He wishes! I hate PDAs urgh! :rotfl: I know a lot of couples happen from rotaract (youth division of rotary), although I only ever went to make friends. It tends to have a £30 year long membership fee, lots of activities you can get involved in and generally has really nice people in it.

I don't know if this is helpful, but this is a fairly good site for financial products (some pretty good guides as well). Have you spoken to her about a repayment plan? My friend (who broke up with her boyfriend well over a year ago) was just happy that the guy intended to pay even if it meant not getting it all at once.

AAT is going fine-ish. This weekend I should know whether I'm ready for my first exam. Then I will get membership (moneys ) and get the exam date (more moneys). I had wanted to be a lot further through by now but eh health dictates hours studied. It's just overly easy. It'll get more challenging.

Non_compos_mentis

Thanks for the tip and the link. Will check both out.

R: repayment plan - to be fair to her, she has told me to take as much time as I need and did claim to be !!!!ed off when I made the initial transfers. It is I who wants to repay it asap - I want total closure with her. I really don't want to associate myself with her particularly as 1) she feels deserves better and 2) not have the decency to at least tell me why she did what she did. I would have thought its the least she could do after so many years together and all the sacrifices made.

Well done you, the last time I spoke to you, you were doing level 2. Tell me about professional subs - I pay in excess of £100 pm.

cherrylips30

Non_compos_mentis wrote: »

For anyone reading my posts, I have a question for you: would you rather be debt free sooner or rediscover happiness in your life and be debt free slightly later?

Hi NCM,
Thought i'd better pop up and say hello. :hello:

I'd go with the latter. Whilst it would have been great to be debt free sooner, the only way for me to achieve that would have been by living life like pauper. I couldn't have handled that, scrimping and saving just for a basic lifestyle. But what makes me feel guilty is that there are so many people that do live like that, and they're probably not even in debt. On this note, I too would keep up with the charity donations. I prefer to give my time, as I know none of my contribution is going to pay wages, and I can see the direct benefit to the people that I support. Appreciate that with the hours you work, this may not be possible for you, so you do what makes you feel good.

Having read back, I think you're doing a brilliant job so far, yes you've had a few slip ups, but the key thing is, you're identifying them as slip ups and will know what to look out for/beware of when you're next in a similar situation. Life is all about learning and as long as you learn something from every lesson in this life, then you're doing just fine.

I too know the irony of being in such debt and working in finance. I juggle my employers monetary millions on a daily basis, so why can't I manage my own? :rotfl: (not millions, but you know what I mean!!

Have a great day!!

Non_compos_mentis

Hi CL30,

Thanks for stopping by.

I think there are two different schools of thought and my thinking is very similar to yours. In terms of feeling guilty because of other people's lifestyle, I suppose it is all relative isn't it? I do tend to regularly give to charity, both money and time. I am a regular volunteer for the local hospice. Giving up time means I am giving up something that is a lot more scarce and precious to me.

I am taking every lesson that comes my way on the chin and using it to make me stronger. My spending is still a bit ridiculous but it is a lot less than what it was only a few months ago.

It always amazes me that we are really good at managing other people's finances but never our own. It is not much different to one of my mates who is a Doctor dealing with addiction, and he is bloody good at his job, but is an addict himself!

Onwards and upwards!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend!

NCM

Non_compos_mentis

Spent quite a bit of money last night! Hopefully, my last night out in Feb!

On a positive and happy front, I had my first ever driving lessons (10 years later than I should have) and it felt amazing! I have got 3 lessons booked for next week! I am definitely not going to meet the £2k target this month because I have block booked my lessons but hey, I am still repaying quite a bit of debt and learning a life skill!

cherrylips30

I like to think that because we're so sensible at work, we have to relax when we're not there. So we loosen our purse strings - obviously in our cases, way too much - but I for one enjoyed spending when I did. My house wouldn't be like it is now, I wouldn't have had such fabulous holiday experiences and all the other baubles that I bought. Admittedly, they cost me a fortune in interest, but i'm a firm believer that when we got to our graves, we go out with the same as we came in. What's the point in not enjoying life whilst we're here. Another reason for taking a little longer to pay back what I borrowed. But hey, i've done it! And you will too.
I'd like to say I'll never use credit again, but I don't think that's realistic. But I do know that I'll never have another credit card. I'm not sure I've got the willpower, so I wont let it become an option.

Watching the winter Olympics, wondering who invented the luge, and more to the point - why?????