Debt free by 40 -- 19 Months and counting

StressedSteph

baglady1 wrote: »

Hi Steph, I agree with the others. My thoughts - it's only a long weekend, if the flights are cheap, even if there is a meal out it would be lovely break from the daily grind (bread and water when back at home). Your OH seems quite receptive. The cost seems manageable. A nice relax time for you. You're so lucky over there, couple of hours flying & you're in any number of different countries whereas here in Oz after 6 hours en route to say Hong Kong you're still over Oz! I say if it's feasible financially with a couple of treats like nice meal & glass or 2 of wine added then do it. Blow away the cobwebs & life's too short etc etc. regards baglady xx

Hi Baglady,


Thanks for replying, I think I have gotten into such a "Hardship Mentality" that it is now hard to justify spending anything on myself. I also think I am a little scared in case it opens the spending floodgates again. But in reality I don't think it would, I have made so much progress this year and I can still remember how desperate I felt in January wondering how I was going to ever stop the nasty letters and phone calls. I don't think I could EVER risk that happening again.


I think as long as I can raise the money somehow without adding to debt or not paying one of my debts then it can't do much harm.


Will wait to see how much the other ladies plan on taking with them and figure out if I can afford it.

SuperAllyB wrote: »

The rate you're going £350 won't add much more than a week onto your debt-busting schedule!

Hubby might need a bit more :beer: money on his turn though?

Hi SuperAlley,


Think you are definitely right about hubby trip. I don't barely drink, so I could quite easily nurse a white wine for most of the evening and I also don't play golf .


I am hopeful that hubbys trip won't be until next Spring (another thing I need to find out). I then have plenty of time to squirrel away money in preparation for his trip.


Mine threw me into a spin as they are planning on it being in October :eek:.


I think it is easier for me as a woman to be frugal than it is for hubby. Men seem to be abit more expensive with beer drinking and golf playing etc. :mad:. I am quite happy to read my kindle, window shop and have 1 glass of wine. I must the boring one in our relationship :rotfl:

sweetpea26

Steph

Please be kind to yourself. Go and enjoy yourself. Relax and unwind a bit. You work hard, you have achieved so much, please realise this. Life flies by so quickly grab a bit of fun now and again.

Puzzcat

Hi Steph,


I'm with the others... you should have a break, you have worked so very hard this year and life is too short.... Go for it...


Puzz. x

mummytogirls

I totally know and I'm sure the others agree we all get into the hardship mentality and find it hard to spend money on ourselves however the kids get everything they need etc.

You do deserve it.. never mind you're not sure you do Mrs!!! xx

StressedSteph

Thank you so much Sweetpea, Puzzcat & Mummytogirls. Got the meeting tonight so will wait until then to make my decision.


Its weird but in the past I have felt a total compulsion to HAVE to do something like this, but I feel I may have finally grown up with money and now feel that unless it seems like they are all going to be very careful with money and make sure it stay a cheap break then I won't go. That simple.....


Anyway, I am sure I have bored you enough, so onto today.


Just balanced my YNAB against my bank statement. I have shifted £200 into the holidays fund. It makes the rest of our month VERY tight but I am holding it there just in case I need it. If it turns out I am not going then I will pay it against the NEXT debt.


Hubby is currently doing a job at the moment that is only three weeks long but could turn out to be a decent extra payer. Would be so nice to have some extra to pay against the debts.


Can't really decide what I am doing this morning, but one thing I do want to sort out is a "Legacy Box".


Dave Ramsey advocates this and it is a box file with sections and in it, you compile your Will, Life Insurances, mortgage deeds, details about bank accounts and savings etc. Basically everything in a safe place so in the event of your death, your loved ones can lay their hands on all the important documents really easily.


Definitely a good idea in our house as hubby is pretty clueless about who our life insurance is with and what we are covered for etc.


I have a large tin box, so just wanted to get it organised and filed away.


Really need to do some weeding down at the polytunnel but not feeling very energetic today .


Had abit of a worry the other day, a friend who works at the spa said that a woman has complained and left without paying.
She left on the Sunday morning and I did a Reflexology treatment on her on the Friday :eek:. I really hope that she wasn't unhappy with the treatment I gave her, surely if it was she would just refuse to pay for that treatment rather than the whole thing and leave early.
As far as I know the treatment went well, but who knows. Eeeek.
Its not helping that I haven't had anymore booking yet since Monday morning. I feel I am maybe being a little paranoid, but think I am so scared of ruining this amazing work opportunity that I am waiting for the bubble to burst all the time.


My friend who works in the office, said she didn't say what the problem was she just emailed to say she was "Very disappointed".


Aaaarrgggghhhh.


Oh well, will try not to stress too much, I am sure I will hear if it is anything to do with me.


Hope you all have a wonderful day, try to enjoy our last bit of sunshine . xxx

wantabetterlife

Hope the meeting went well

Buffythedebtslayer

If she was p'd off on Friday she wouldn't have come back on Monday, well at least, I think so.


take care gorgeous and book that holiday XXX

StressedSteph

Morning all,


We had our Portugal Break meeting last night. Lost of searching websites for cheapest solution to flights etc.


It has worked out at £200 expenses. Which should include:-


Transport there & back to Bristol Airport
Return flights
Car hire (Apparently 1 hour from the airport and apartment is a little isolated).
A Starter fuel budget.


Then the ladies agreed that on the way to the apartment we would stop at a Supermarket to stock up with breakfasts & lunch ingredients.


Apparently you can have Steak, dessert & a bottle of wine for 15 Euros. So it was agreed that evening meals would be ate out.

The amount of £200 was banded about as the spending budget each.

So total cost (if frugal!) is £400.

Kind of what I was expecting. What I just need to do if I go, is not to get caught up in drinks Kittys. I hardly drink and don't want to end up subsidising peoples drinks. Think I could come home with money left over if I was careful like that.

Everyone has gone off to speak to husbands and check dates.

I am half hoping folks will come back with No's so that the decision gets taken away from me, because I feel like saying yes at the moment.

I have £200 squirrelled away, so just need to find another £200 in the next 5 weeks. Should be do-able.

Will wait and see what the replys are.

Otherwise not a bad morning, got to drive into town today (30 mile round route). Hubby just got paid £650 for hiring out his scaffolding :T, fantastic extra payment, want to get that banked and put it in my savings account to pay for Heating oil when we need it. I was supposed to be saving £100 per month for oil but just haven't managed to afford it. Will be so nice to not have the annual "no oil" panic.

I also have to get Ds's fondant icing to make his birthday cake over the weekend.

Still trying not to stress about the continued silence from the Spa . I am praying I am just being paranoid and they are just abit quiet at the moment. I am owed £60 but too scared to ask for it. .

Oh well, maybe I am being silly, its only been four days. They never guaranteed me lots of treatments so maybe I am worrying for no reason.

Oh well, had better get changed and get the Big town trip over and done with xxx

StressedSteph

P.s Had an email from my NEXT account last night to say they are generously reducing my interest rate.


From 25.99% down to 24.99% :eek: How generous!!!! :mad:


Got to get that thing paid ASAP.


xxx

wantabetterlife

I got that email too steph...laughable really! Try not to panic too much about the spa..I am sure it will work out. Is the spa a place where you stay overnight?...maybe she was one of those types that just complains to get out of paying!