Debt free by 40 -- 19 Months and counting

maddiemay

Hi Steph, great news that payments are in and you have been able to get to grips with your outgoings.

Day 2 today of potentially 10 day jury service, early start and 60+ mile round trip each day, plus the tension of doing something new and a little scary = MM feeling absolutely cream crackered:(

Keep up the good work, you are so talented with your craft items I think you should try and fit it into your schedule if you can.
MM
xx

dawnybabes

Did you ever grow the seeds to sell ?

debtfreewannabe321

Hey steph, keep going things will get easier. I've had a rubbish month money wise and have not saved a penny in over a month then today I finally got my rental income and could make payments to outstanding bills and savings pots! I also fret about not having a job and was given an application the other day but really umming and ahhing over it. I won't be much better off (maybe 200 a month for over 25 hours a week! ) and it got me wondering who would do all the other jobs that I do during the day. ...that would be me I suppose just I'd have to do it around it! Take care xxx

StressedSteph

maddiemay wrote: »

Hi Steph, great news that payments are in and you have been able to get to grips with your outgoings.

Day 2 today of potentially 10 day jury service, early start and 60+ mile round trip each day, plus the tension of doing something new and a little scary = MM feeling absolutely cream crackered:(

Keep up the good work, you are so talented with your craft items I think you should try and fit it into your schedule if you can.
MM
xx

Good heavens MM, Sounds like you have a stressful time at the moment. I hope its an interesting case so that it makes the time go easier.


Thank you for your kind words. xxx

dawnybabes wrote: »

Did you ever grow the seeds to sell ?

Hi Dawn,


Yes the seeds are slowly growing in the polytunnel. I will hopefully have a fully flower barrow in a month or so's time.
Got to make sure I price them right as compost and pots are expensive but every penny helps I suppose.


xxx

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Hey steph, keep going things will get easier. I've had a rubbish month money wise and have not saved a penny in over a month then today I finally got my rental income and could make payments to outstanding bills and savings pots! I also fret about not having a job and was given an application the other day but really umming and ahhing over it. I won't be much better off (maybe 200 a month for over 25 hours a week! ) and it got me wondering who would do all the other jobs that I do during the day. ...that would be me I suppose just I'd have to do it around it! Take care xxx

Thanks DFW,


Your post made me feel that I am not on my own with feeling like I need a job, but once you factor in childcare, tax, loss of Childrens Tax Credits, petrol and who on EARTH will do all the jobs that feel like a full time job already, it doesn't really make much sense to go back to work.


Will just keep plugging away at my little money spinning ideas that are home based.


Is there something you could turn your hand to? xxx

StressedSteph

Morning all,


Paid two big-ish bills today


Barclays overdraft £130
Tesco Credit card £250 :eek:


Had to pay Tesco a large sum to get them off my back. Its the credit card that is in hubbys name so I cant ring to compromise with them and their letters are getting abit heated. Think that payment will keep them happy for a while.


I have been slightly tempted to contact my closed Barclaycard and ask if I can do a good bank transfer with them to move some of hubbys Tesco CC onto that. But abit nervous of this as it almost feels like a step backwards and what with transfer fees etc, sometimes I wonder if it even makes financial sense anymore.


Two more wage packets this month, which should pay the mortgage and the rest of my debt repayments.


Ive got nearly £800 saved now, but this will probably all disappear and more in July when the car and van have their MOT.


Off to do more sewing. Speak soon

StressedSteph

Just thrown caution to the wind and also paid £120 off my NEXT bill

debtfreewannabe321

just another £39 and you'll be below the £1k mark on next! well done

I used to make sock monkeys as a part time income but I hated doing it. so much work for very little income. I might get my sewing machine out and give it a whirl, see what I can knock up. not sure if it would be good enough to sell though lol xx

Chrysalis1976

Great going Steph, the 3 figures on your N**t account are itching nearer, I hope the MOTs go well is there anything you can check before they go in?

C x

StressedSteph

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

just another £39 and you'll be below the £1k mark on next! well done

I used to make sock monkeys as a part time income but I hated doing it. so much work for very little income. I might get my sewing machine out and give it a whirl, see what I can knock up. not sure if it would be good enough to sell though lol xx

Thanks DW,

Yes looking forward to getting the NEXT debt under 1k. I have a £30 and a £80 cheque to come in any day now, so will pay those off against Next as soon as they clear.

Made me laugh when you said about the Sock Monkeys. They do take an age to make and I try to charge £9.50 each and even at that price there is barely any profit in it.

I love making applique cushions but again i struggle to sell them for £25 each and they take me well over double figures in hours labour.

Have wondered about instead of applique cushions to do them as framed pictures instead and then people may be prepared to pay a higher premium for them.

Thats on my to do list . If you have time you should definitly have a go. i have to admit that there is nothing better than selling items that you have enjoyed making.

Chrysalis1976 wrote: »

Great going Steph, the 3 figures on your N**t account are itching nearer, I hope the MOTs go well is there anything you can check before they go in?

C x

Thanks Chrysalis. i can't wait to get rid of these debts. Unfortunately I have been under pressure by a couple of my debtors and have had to up the amount I am paying them. So with the 1k per month, I am only managing to pay NEXT around £180 per month. So it is even more important for me to find ways to bring in extra pennies to chip away at the debt.

I have got over £500 saved for the MOT's. Planning on putting hubbys van in next week which is a few weeks ahead of the MOT expiry to give us chance to shop around to tyres etc. fingers crossed xxx

StressedSteph

Morning all,


Phew....Well hubby got paid £666.00 today and I just paid £701.34 to the mortgage :eek:.


Abit annoying that week fours pay day works out to be the very last day of May. So I couldn't dare leave the mortgage payment until next weekend in case it didn't reach them in time.


So now having to gamble on my Virgin and Co-op debt repayments getting paid on the last day of the month :mad:.


Interestingly I worked out my income and expenses on a different budget sheet online yesterday and I am coming up £346 short :mad:


Have spoken to a friend who has managed to get lots of little cleaning jobs and asked her if she gets offered anymore that she doesn't have time to do, could she pass them on to me. I know she is virtually maxed out now. She said we could maybe work together so we could take on more jobs. Not a bad idea.


Will see if anything comes from it.


It works out that I need to make about £85 per week.:(


Think we are looking short because I am trying to put away £330 away in savings per month. This is vital because it is me trying to cover Birthdays, Christmas, car tax, Emergency fund and also a savings pot for car repairs etc.


Going to have to have a look at what I can cut back on more.


Abit depressing really.