I Wanna See the Light

Mysteek

When I woke on saturday morning and realised my birthday had passed as a bit of a non event, I started to get a twinge of something, not sure what, but soon swept the feeling away. We have made the decision to make these sacrifices so we can have a debt free future, so no feeling sorry for myself.

Went to see DF on saturday as I do every saturday. He's doing well now, able to manage to walk with only the occasional use of a stick and can now drive a little and do his own shopping.

Saw DD2 and DGD too on saturday, Little un is 4 months old now and such a joy.

My broadband contract with EE had expired so was on the lookout for a good deal. EE have an offer on MSE but it was only for new customers. I rang EE and said I thought it was unfair that they have all these offers for new customers but for loyal customers like me they only want to increase their monthly charge. I told them about the deal on MSE. Anyway managed to get a deal which will save me £72 a year, so quite pleased with that. Also, DH phone contract had expired so managed to get him a new phone for free with contact reduced to £21.99 pm instead of £28 pm. So all in all quote a productive weekend.

Had quite a few carrots and onions left at the end of the week so these were peeled, chopped and frozen. Also had 9 eggs which had to be used up by sunday so made 40 fairy cakes and some pastry, supposedly to be frozen but have eaten half of them already!

Have decided to change tack a little with regard to paying debts. Have just about got the overdraft down to below £500 so not attracting any interest. The plan was to transfer the tv pay now buy later onto the overdraft early September when it fell due for payment and try to have this paid off by end of the year. The overdraft is 11.5% pa. The highest CC is 26.4% pa. Think I will start throwing everything at this CC instead as it makes sense to pay off the highest interest generating product first. Will mean less interest = paid off earlier.

Seasidegal58

Happy belated birthday Mysteek.

Your birthday plans sounded lovely - please don't think of this year as a non-event. You are doing really well on the MSE front and eventually you will be able have a slap- up occasion if you want. I felt for you as it's your first birthday without your dear mum but glad to hear your dad is much better. From what you have written you have a close and loving family - hubby's frothy coffee sounds quite a treat!

nannytomany

Hope you had a nice birthday, changed my user name, so nice to keep up with you, will subscribe and keep watching x good luck x

Mysteek

Aw thanks Seasidegal58 for your birthday wishes, I think I was still feeling a little bit sad about mum on saturday but I'm ok now apart from this dreaded migraine!! So only a quick post for now as I'm struggling to see the monitor lol. Dad is doing well physically but he still has his days when thinking about mum gets him down which is understandable in the circumstances.

Thanks for joining me nannytomany and welcome!

Thank you both for taking the time and trouble to pop in, its very much appreciated X

Will try and post for longer tomorrow but must go now and try and shake this migraine off!

Hope you all have a good evening.

Seasidegal58

Hope your head is better today Mysteek and you are on the mend. A virtual hug from me across cyberspace for your dad (even though he doesn't know I exist!).

Mysteek

Ah Thanks Seasidegal58, I will take the virtual hug thank you very muchly and will pass it on to my dad when I see him on saturday, he won't know but I will. You are such a kind and thoughtful person, thank you x.

My head is much better today too, I put it down to a sugar overload from all those buns on sunday!

My DD2 and DGD have just left, they came round for tea. Poor little mite has had her 4 months injections today and was feeling a little under the weather. Hope she gets a good nights sleep and feels better tomorrow.

Before I start washing the mountain of dishes and general tidying up, I just wanted to record our progress with the debt busting so here goes. The period in question is around 6 weeks cos I started in the middle of a month, but want to record from the first of each month from now on.

Unsecured Debt
14 May £36,017 - 1 July £32,920 (-8.6%)

Mortgage
14 May £62,951 - 1 July £61,368 (-2.5%)

I'm really pleased with what we've achieved in the short period of time that we've been doing this for but its proved two things to me, that we should have done this a long time ago and that we can do this. Still, no point in looking back to what we could or should have done, I just want to keep forging forward to get this debt cleared off as quickly as possible. Instead of clearing the overdraft off completely, I have paid about £800 off the credit card with the highest interest. Its very addictive watching the balances come down as I just want to keep paying money off and am not interested in buying stuff at all. Fingers crossed this will continue. Pay day doesn't come round quick enough!

Well dirty pots are a'calling so must go and get them done so I can shower and get to bed at a reasonable time as its work again tomorrow.

Hope all you fellow diaryers (not sure this sounds right but diareers sounded even worse lol) have a good evening.

Seasidegal58

8.6 per cent is fantastic going in six weeks on your unsecured debt! You and hubby must be so happy with this figure. (Would plant a happy jumping little yellow bloke here but can't get the smilies to work on the iPad!)

Here's to debt blasting for 2014 and beyond!

Mysteek

Had to give staring at a laptop a rest for a few days as my migraine came back with a vengeance! Unfortunately, I use a pc at work all day so not so easy to avoid there but at least I had the weekend to rest up so fingers crossed I'm over the worse now.

Yes Seasidegal we are over the moon with our progress, just need to keep plodding until we pay off the first CC, then I think things will really gather pace and the others will then hopefully follow very quickly. I said I wouldn't let DH know the result of our debt busting until 1 July so he could get the full effect lol. I asked him to guess how much he thought we'd paid off and he was well down, he didn't realise that a bit of effort could make such a big difference. I think I've converted him now! :money:

I had to spend something on the little un this weekend, its something I promised I would buy her and I've been good for the last few weeks in not impulse buying clothes and toys for her. I love buying my DGD things but do you know, it was quite a wrench actually having to part with the money lol. Which is good as that is the attitude I want to have for the rest of my life. Too much money wasting has been undertaken in this household over the last few years, its now stopped.

I was paying a little bit over the minimum payment on 2 of the CC's but having had a look at the snowball calculator, I am now only going to pay the absolute minimum on these 2 CC's so I can throw even more at CC1. Its probably going to be somewhere in the region of between £40/50 pm extra which I think is going to make a big difference. DH was able to give me an extra £150 this week which went straight to the CC1. I have to make the most of any extra he can manage at this time of the year as it will soon drop off for the winter. I would LOVE to be able to clear CC1 by the end of the year but I think £7,650 could be a little bit too much, but do you know what, I'm going to try!! If you don't aim high you will always only ever achieve low.

Food budgeting is still going well and keeping within budget apart of an odd pint of milk or loaf of bread. Not spending on cakes, biscuits or sweets, so even better for the waistline. However, I have some GF flour in so have made buns, and a sponge pudding on sunday . A little of what you fancy does you good and keeps you debt busting!

Well suppose I must get back to work and earn a crust!

Bye for now!

Seasidegal58

Hi Mysteek. I find throwing the extra money available for paying debt at one card is really satisfying as you see the amount go down so quickly.

Glad to hear you are over the worst with your migraine.

Mysteek

You're right Seasidegal, it is so satisfying to see those balances tumble. Well mine are sort of slowly moving downwards but hoping that they will tumble quickly soon. By only paying the absolute minimum on CC2 and CC3 this will release a little more to throw at CC1, hoping this will make a difference.

I just can't get hold of the money quickly enough at the moment lol. Did I tell you I was impatient . When I put my mind to do something I want it to happen quickly, I want to be able to put it into practice and get frustrated when other things don't allow me to, like lack of money. Its so hard to not wish your life away.

If anyone knows where I can get some free patience from (I can't afford to buy as I have no budget for any) or I can borrow some for a while please let me know.:D