Tales from the city

Igamogam

Good idea to have a pension. ....I am fortunate, I hope, to have paid into pension scheme since I entered the job market over 25 years ago. Payment always taken through payroll and before tax......so never really noticed it. I am looking at retiring early so I really hope it's all be worth it!

ani*fan

Hi joeyjimbles :hello:

Only just noticed a new poster on my diary. Nice to meet you.

ani*fan

I just updated my signature with the most recent monthly minimum payment. The debt is still heading in the right direction...downwards

This has been a difficult month to manage through and I'm glad it will be over on Thursday. I haven't worked out the details of the new budget yet but will hopefully get a chance later tonight.

Happy debt busting everyone. x

in_need_of_direction

You're close to being in four figures. Next stop halfway there.

ani*fan

Thanks INOD. I can't even remember the last time the debt was in four figures. It must have been at some point, on it's way up to almost 20k, but I have no clue when. It must have been a very long time ago.

I'm trying to keep thinking of everything, and keep it all paid up, so that I can make my first big payment at the end of July. It's hard though.

Happy debt busting everyone. xx

ani*fan

The first monthly direct debit has gone out so one of the CCs is reduced and I've updated my signature. I love celebrating the small stuff. :j

I can't figure out what is happening with my pension and no reply despite various efforts from that department at work. I'll keep trying and in the meantime I think they're taking about £160 per month from me. I can manage that.

Everything else seems to be staying in budget so that's good. We're off on holiday tomorrow, possibly the first in my life where it has all been paid cash upfront with no addition to credit card debt whatsoever. I used to believe I would pay the excess off later. I never did. I'm a bit incredulous that I used to keep using my cards while I was trying to pay off debt. It really doesn't work. You need to get rid of them, cut them up, whatever, but just get out of the habit of using them and get them out of your mind. I think that's been my main achievement this last year or so and it made a big difference to debt reduction. I've been watching this guy on youtube who's name I can't remember talking about money management. He has this slogan 'act your wage' (instead of your age, obvs!) I'm trying to do that.

I've contacted a shop in London who might want to buy my expensive thing. I haven't heard back from them yet but the process has begun and if it takes a wee while, so be it. I can't guarantee any money made would all go to debt. The wedding fund could do with a top up, but we'll see. I'll figure it out as I go.

Happy debt busting day everyone. Hope its just as sunny where you are.

hiddenshadow

ani*fan wrote: »

We're off on holiday tomorrow, possibly the first in my life where it has all been paid cash upfront with no addition to credit card debt whatsoever.

:T Enjoy your holiday - it's so much nicer knowing there are no repercussions (other than sunburn, for me :cool:).

in_need_of_direction

Sunburn and freckles for me.

ani*fan

Good morning everyone.

I'm having a disaster of a time. The resort was much more noisy and expensive than we anticipated. We had to take more cash out of the bank while we were there. The hotel was dreadful and nowhere to escape to. I was so ready to come home half way through, then when our flight home landed we realised our connecting train was cancelled, tickets (prepaid and extra cheap) invalid on any other train with British rail taking no responsibility for getting us home. There were no more buses or trains so we had to fork out for a hotel room then begged the station manager to let us take a train today with our tickets. Small mercy that he agreed and this was all down to OH'S wonderful way with words which got us a sympathy vote. We're about to head off, and I'll need to pay for an extra day for purr ball in the cattery which we can't afford either.



This supposedly 'cheap and cheerful' holiday has been an absolute false economy and much more stress than it was worth. The budget for the rest of the month may not even be doable. I'll find out when I get home.

The one good thing is that so far, there has been nothing added to credit cards. Nada. Oh, two things, I also have a great tan.

However, after today's news from Nice, on the back of all the Brexit chaos, I don't feel so inclined to take another holiday for a
really long time.

I hope everyone is well and that the debt busting is going strong. Despite this nightmare I feel more motivated than ever to get things paid off.

in_need_of_direction

You survived without upping the debt, well done. Now start issuing letters of complaint and see if there's anything you can claw back.