Pay Off by Christmas Challenge

Fannyfanackapan

Thanks I'll give it a go. Hey check out the new signature line. Doesn't look very impressive yet!

Fannyfanackapan

Oh Wow Lucy

Thanks so much for the snowball link. I just did a quick calculation and got the biggest kick out of it. I have gone from feeling like I can never be debt free to seeing it written down just exactly how it would be achievable.

I need to do this one again with my husband and then come up with a real long term plan.

Thanks again

Lucy1982_2

That's ok, it's great if you come across any extra cash to as you can see what effect it will have.

Good luck and you'll get there, my challenge sig didn't look to good for a while, but has been getting better all week.

Lucy1982_2

Morning.

Well had a bit of a shopping spree at the weekend not helped the OD, but I'll just have to pay it off wont I.

Had another couple of Amazon sales, which has helped. Looking forward to payday so I can knock some more off my store card and OD. Will update everything as it happens.

But the first lot of Amazon money has hit my A and L OD so that's looking much better now. Just need to get some more online and see what happens, but I'm tried today so might leave that for tonight and do it another day.

Take care everyone

Tete_en_l'Air

Morning all,

Oh dear oh dear. My little car failed its MOT last week and has had £235 of welding done on it, needs to go back this week for another part, that'll be another £35. It's worth it, as it's a fab little car, just could have come at a better time!! My OD was down to something like £1300-and-something, then had to pay for that and a few other things and I'm back at £1700-and-something which seems to be my constant. (will update sig in a min).

I'm going to be at my OD limit (£2100) over the next couple of weeks, because of the car and because I'm going on hols on Thursday- I owe my friend about E300 for flights and car hire, plus spending money (this shouldn't be too much hopefully as we're going to a little French village, but we will need to feed ourselves and sample the vin!!). I was hoping to pay off about half of my card balance this month but it'll have to wait until Sept as I just can't afford it

Money will be a bit strange too as I've been made permanent in my job. I've been getting paid weekly from the agency and my last day with them is today. On Friday I'll get my full week's pay from them for last week, then the Friday after I'll get one day (today), plus about 3 days holiday that I've accrued. My boss has agreed that I can take my holiday from the uni even though I'm going 2 days after my official start date. That Friday I think I'll also get my first pay from the uni- about 2 weeks' worth. It'll be great once I get my first full month at the end of September though, it's quite a decent pay increase from what I was getting at the agency!

So finances will be looking a bit healthier when I get back from hols and I don't have many outgoings in September, but I'll have to make it stretch the month. Once I get home I'm going to start putting a few things on ebay and Amazon to help tide me over.

I was about to say I'm aiming for a couple of no-spend days until Thurs, but as soon as I thought that, a list of things I need to buy has popped into my head: new sunglasses as mine broke this morning, dental check up tomorrow (this is a good thing as I've finally managed to register with an NHS dentist near me rather than the 80 mile round trip to my student dentist, so it's moneysaving in the long run!), the part for my car, and I want to swim a few times as well before I hit the beach! Life's just an endless spiral of spending isn't it?

Well, sorry this has turned into a bit of a ramble, but it's helped to get things straight in my own head. The bottom line is August is turning out to be a high spending month, but I'm going to try my best in September!

How's everyone else doing?? xxx

Lucy1982_2

I agree with the spending. Every time I think ok no more. NSD from now on I end up going shopping!!!!! Something is not right there!

I'm looking at it as a learning curve, I'm not going to do it again and I'm just going to have to pay it off. Nothing more I can say about it really. Just try to limit the damage.

Take care and enjoy your holiday.

Tete_en_l'Air

I know, and the most annoying thing is, I'm not generally spending more than I earn so if I hadn't got myself into this mess in the first place I'd be able to go out shopping without any of the guilt! Still, you live and learn and I guess it acts as an incentive to get in the black - I look forward to no-guilt shopping!!

You're right not to fret about your shopping at the weekend; if you felt too bad then you might end up going out and buying a treat to make yourself feel better and then it's a vicious circle. xxx

Lucy1982_2

Exactly. I would be so much better off each month if I didn't have debt, but that's for the future!

I think little treats every now and then make it all so much easier!

Tete_en_l'Air

...I cut my own fringe

Still, at least it'll grow back

Lucy1982_2

:eek: I don't think I could do that! Although I am very lucky and a family friend cuts mine for £10 (luckily as he charges £50 in the saloon!)

I'm sure it looks fine though, if not does your hair grow fast??