Debt free by 40 -- 19 Months and counting

Swash

StressedSteph wrote: »

Hi Swash

Thank you so much for taking the ridiculous amount of time it must have taken to read my whole diary. You probably know me better than I do now :rotfl:

I think I have had about 20 money spinning ideas since my diary started. I feel I am constantly looking at everything and how I might be able to turn it into something that makes money, it's quite exhausting.

Well done for getting out of debt, I am in the last third of my debt but it seems to be taking forever. Loads of luck with your saving for a deposit. Let me know if you have a diary I can also read.

Stick around if you can, great to have a new friend xx

No diary, I just lurk in other people's taking in all the advice out there

abba1772

I had a tesco card as a balance transfer always paid over double the minimum payment and not once in two years did my account allowance ever increase.........my limit was £750 so had to balance transfer a couple of times for it to be useful to me xx glad I got rid of it tbh xx

StressedSteph

Morning Diary

Had a dodgy start to the day. My car has been hard to start in these slightly colder mornings so not sure if its the battery or alternator that needs replacing :mad:, along with a bald tyre I am building up to a large car cost soon.:(.

Just pulling into school the car stalled, but then when I restarted it again it was fine, so who knows what is going on with it.

Then I noticed I had trodden dog poo onto my foot mat, so I gave up and went to a friends for a quick coffee before my day got any worse .

Back home now, have balanced YNAB against bank statement, tight as usual but covering all bills, food & fuel so not much to complain about. I reminded myself at how I have done so well to keep this new bank account in the black and not use an overdraft. Back in 2013 my Barclays account was always 2.5k-3k overdrawn which was a very depressing sight. My overdraft with Barclays is nearly nearly gone only £700+ to pay off now :T

I want to clean the bathrooms in a minute and also have a shower. I have been rained on the last couple of days so my hair is a disaster. We have an open evening at the local high school for Ds tonight. Quite excited about having the tour round to see where he will be next September. Quite scary to think he is nearly ready for senior school :eek:.

I want to get a Coq au Vin on the go as well this afternoon so it is ready to eat at 5pm.

I have taken the plunge and booked our 4 lambs in for slaughter . I love them dearly but this is what they were bred for, to fill our freezer with wonderful joints and mince to feed us for over a year with amazing quality meat. The lambs will go on October 21st so I have a couple of weeks left with them .

Not much else to report today. Had better get moving as I am behind with my jobs after my sneaky coffee with my friend.

xxx

Verbatim

Good for you on sneaky coffee. Yes you're right you ARE doing really well on keeping the new account in credit and rducing the old OD at Barcl*ys. Did you count the 2.5-3 k OD in your debt total? If not you've paid off an extra £2k!!

StressedSteph

Verbatim wrote: »

Good for you on sneaky coffee. Yes you're right you ARE doing really well on keeping the new account in credit and rducing the old OD at Barcl*ys. Did you count the 2.5-3 k OD in your debt total? If not you've paid off an extra £2k!!

Hi Verbatim

The overdraft is included in my 20k original debt amount, back in January 2014 I started treating it like any other credit card debt. Its been so much easier to pay it off with it being separate to my current account.

It was just far too discouraging to pay wages in on a Friday and still be -2.5k :eek:. It doesn't give you any reason to scrimp as you feel you are in far too deep a hole.

Think my life really turned around after that moment.

xxx

StressedSteph

Hi Diary

Not a whole lot to report financially today.

Been home all day. I cleaned bathrooms this morning and have baked cakes for Ds's school tuck shop tomorrow. Rainbow swirl cupcakes which look really cute. I really enjoy giving him the cakes to take in every Thursday, he always reports back how mine sold out first . Think he is probably just being a charmer .

Not much else to report apart from hubby and I are on a double date tonight to see The Martian at the cinema.

I was supposed to be seeing it with my best friend but both our hubbies really wanted to see the movie too. Costing waaay more than normal as having to hire a sitter for 3 hours, but considering hubby and I virtually do NOTHING socially together it will be a lovely treat.

Wish we could afford a meal out before hand but with having to pay for a baby sitter I have been sensible and will just have a small popcorn .

That's about all to report. Got homemade Pizza for dinner, and then babysitter round at 730pm. Can't wait

kelpie35

I hope you enjoy your "date", you both deserve a treat.

abba1772

Have a lovely date........you deserve it xx

sweetpea26

That's lovely SS. Enjoy your night out. You deserve it.

misstara

Enjoy your date night