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

LAM2011

hi NCM - sorry to hear about your new single status but sometimes things happen for a reason - may not seem so at the moment and if you want to travel - that's what you should do. You will work out the details - life is too short - surely there is a way to have a life and still keep chipping away at the debt?

Another job / extra income - always seems draining but needs must and all that - think of the long term advantages.

Good luck - will keep following your journey.

Non_compos_mentis

Hi Domayne and LAM,

It is certainly not an ideal way to start the festive season but whatever happens, happens for a good reason. I would rather have us split now than a year or two down the line when we have got a place together or are married.

This has certainly given me the kick up my backside but also has left me feeling stupid and low. How could I have been so stupid in my life?

I am also struggling with the best way to go about upping my income, I have got a few ideas but all of them either need a capital investment upfront or a significant investment of time without a guarantee of a return. Neither of which I have at the moment so we will see how it goes. However, sooner rather than later I will have to find a way of earning an additional £130k very quickly (the £130k number is based on a back of a fag pack calculation which shows that I should have had c£100k in savings, so £30k debt repayment and then £100k savings).

As for travelling, I will see how it all goes. I am not going to take a hasty step, I will make sure I am well and truly on the way to being debt free before I go away. At that point, I will let the wind blow me in the right direction.

NCM

Non_compos_mentis

Finances still on track - as best as they can be - consecutive NSD number 17 today! If only I could become a total hermit and lock myself in the house for the rest of 2014 and maybe 2015.

I have been working and re-working my finances to see if I can make my finances work with the new reality. It will be virtually impossible to pay off £32,140 unless I get a £12k bonus (which I definitely will not) or increased income (which will be virtually impossible).

One option is not to pay off the balance sat on 6.9% LOB but then I am incurring interest - c£60pm. I don't know if that is a wise move financially but at least I am getting closure sooner rather than later. I will not be able to move on without repaying the £12k and making a clean break.

An ideal option would be for Barclaycard or MBNA to offer me a 0% for 27 - 30 months, preferably on a money (super balance) transfer! Barclaycard are currently offering me a 6.9% LOB balance transfer offer.

Time to stop rambling.

Domayne

I ask myself that question quite frequently NCM! - How could I have been so stupid?! BUT we can't change the past, so there is no use dwelling on it, all we can do is look to the future and try hard to change our behavious patterns and not be stupid anymore *waxes philosophical*
Unfortunately - I can't help you much with upping the income - I've also been trying to do the same, and failing with sites such as swagbucks/valued opinions - Most of the time I get disqualified from the surveys or they have reached max participants, which makes me feel like I can't be bothered to do it anymore
Wow - congrats on 17 NSD's!! Your doing fantastic!! I will be taking some inspiration from you in the new year!! lol
Hope you have a great new years/eve NCM!! :beer:

Non_compos_mentis

Domayne

You are right, I can't change the past, and whilst I think the past has an extremely important lesson for me, I need to stop waking up every morning regretting the past because this is hindering my future progress.

I think the NSD streak will come probably come to an end tonight, I might go out to a NY party. It is still a big might because I really can't be bothered to get out. Additionally, I will need to get some essentials soon so NSD streak will end.

The NSD streak has been quite enlightening for me. Despite racking up 18 consecutive days, I may just exceed my spending budget for the month if I spend more than £50 tonight - that says a lot about my spending habits.

Re: upping your income, I will be honest I have found surveys/opinions very disheartening because it is pennies or a couple of quid for a lot of effort - it worked out to be a lot less than minimum wage. Without sounding arrogant, I would rather invest that time to either 1) setting up my own side business 2) improving my cv or 3) mapping out my future, because this could improve my income by £5 - 25k per year (don't think surveys/opinions could allow me to earn that much in year let alone as an annuity).

I really do ramble/waffle. No wonder very few people bother reading my posts :rotfl:. It will make for a very long and boring read when I re-read these posts in the future.

Everyone

Thank you for making the last month bearable and helping me with my debt free journey with words of advice, support, encouragement and the kick up the backside.

For those of you who have been lurking and reading, thank you! Feel free to delurk, I don't always bite - only occasionally.

Hope you all have a very happy 2014.

NCM

Domayne

I think you should go out and enjoy yourself, you've worked hard this month and made a lot of progress NCM - Just take the £50 with you and leave all cards/money at home...when your money is finished, go home! It will be good to see your friends though and not spend the last night of the year at home thinking of the past!
I don't think that sounded arrogant either...and I very much agree with you! It is peanuts for hours of clicking but as I work 60 hours in a regular job...where I don't actually do anything, it's not that bad...if I could get to finish a survey :rotfl: and I'll be honest and say I can't be bothered to work more hours than that. However, if you have the means too, then try and make as much as you can, however you can I say! I'm not good at making money or magicianing (what a word? ) out of nowhere...my best friend though, whose never had a job in her life except stripping, consistently manages to have 5-10k in her bank each month by fleecing stupid men xD I can't do that either, my conscience would probably kill me :rotfl:
Don't worry about people not posting - Not many people post on mine either but I don't care as I find that it helps anyway, reading back and seeing how far you've come yourself is a great motivator to continue!

Non_compos_mentis

I know what you mean, I will see how it goes. Money is not the main reason why I don't feel like going - I am still not over the split and I am a bit worried that I will end up ruining everyone's party plus there are a lot of uncomfortable memories associated with it, IYSWIM.

Stripper? Probably exactly what I need to distract me lol :rotfl:. You should send me her details, £5 - 10k might become £10 - 15k for her . Now, if I work on the body and am able to get behind the wheels I might be able to up my income each month by fleecing stupid women:money: :rotfl:

As for people not posting, I am actually not that bothered. It is frustrating to be self rambling but the reason why I started this diary (journal) was only for my benefit.

Domayne

Ah ok ISWYM ;-; I'm sorry - though that could also be a good way to take your mind off of her and make new memories *hugs*
:rotfl: Well I think sending you her number would only push you further into debt so I'll refrain from that! In fairness though, she hasn't been a stripper for the last 5 years...just a full time fleecer! xD
Well, I may not be great company NCM but I'll come along and ramble with you sometimes, I like a good ramble! ^_^

Non_compos_mentis

We officially got together at a NYE party many years ago.

I was going to make an initial investment, learn from her. Now as ML would say, it is good debt! Full time fleecer sounds a lot better than a full time stripper - sounds like an ideal job!

LAM2011

I'm here! :j

I often read but don't post as having been away from the forums for a while its hard to catch up and keep up with the diaries. I think also a lot of people are really worried and busy about their own debt - sometimes I worry that I might not sound genuine enough in my posting but honestly there were times when I started a few years back that I thought I cant live like this but I persevered and its finally getting easier - they say money doesn't make you happy but it sure makes life easier.

On reading your posts above I will sum up with something I heard the other day
'don't regret the things you have done - regret the things you didn't do' so go out and do what you want to do or the moment will pass

Happy and better 2014 for both of you x