Debt free in 23 (months)

pinkgiraffe2014

Thank you. I nearly managed one yesterday but remembered late last night that I had to order cat food.

Yes I'm getting frustrated too that I can't do anything until payday. I've put some stuff on eBay and gumtree too but no sales or watchers yet. Not quite sure what else to try at the minute! How do others keep up the enthusiasm when you're waiting for the next payday?

Redemptionsong

Not sure about how to keep up enthusiasm pink, I'm enjoying totting up no spend days, using car as little as poss and trying to use up cupboard stocks up but this isn't denting any balances but still doing way better than most months regarding O/d and CC's.

Had a letter from Barclays yest, offering 0% on a balance transfer to current acc! 3.90 fees! I'm thinking I'll take it - I was going to clear balance of 345 on that CC so if I do that on thurs (when I get paid) then pay off O/D at least I won't be paying £40 + charges each month on current Acc - as long as I don't view O/d limit as "money left to spend" I shall prob call bank and reduced it so am not tempted. Then all debt barr next is 0% - I think I'm going in right direction

pinkgiraffe2014

Great news on your offer. That's what ive just got to pay my loan off. I didn't want to take out another card but I also didn't want to pay anymore interest! Half of each repayment was going on interest so at least this way I know every repayment is paying the debt off.

I feel a little bit better today. I still need to get up in the attic at some point. Have loads of baby/toddler toys that I can stick on gumtree so hopefully will make a little bit off that.

It won't be a NSD today I'm afraid, dog is at the vets and I need to call for some nappies! My aim is to only buy nappies though! I might leave my purse at home and just take the cash I need so I'm not tempted by anything else.

pinkgiraffe2014

Haven't had much to update recently. Still waiting for payday! I saw someone mention on another diary to make regular smaller payments if you are struggling with motivation rather than one big one at the beginning of the month and then having to wait another month until you can make another. I think I may try this.

I'm still waiting for my account change bonus. Which reminds me I need to set up a new savers acc to take payments by dd...must do this today!

I sold something on gumtree last night so that's an extra £10. But I may put this in my Xmas fund as I don't have much in there. I don't want to just concentrate on the card debt and then end up adding to it at Xmas. I've seen the Xmas challenge thread so may join that.

Have received my pack to sell my old phone... Also need to get this done today.

Have had a couple of NSD this week, and also doing quite well on petrol - I'm hoping I can make this last until payday.

Oh, nearly forgot... I paid off the smallest credit card the other day! :T

tootallulah

Hi Pink you are making great progress. Re motivation I make the big payments at the beginning of the month - major job done. Then I stalk my own bank account and round down every day to the nearest £5.00, does that make sense? Sometimes I only pay off a few pence other times a few pounds but over the month it is always an extra £30-40 without noticing. By week 4 I sometimes have to stop because funds are low but really that doesn't happen often. And everything that I sell goes straight off the debt. In terms of Christmas I would set a budget divide by three and get that made up between Sept and November that way you won't need to use your cards.

pinkgiraffe2014

Thank you for the advice. I did start rounding down my bank account on a Friday but have had to stop until payday! Definitely need to do something about Xmas. I'm determined not to put anything on credit. I'm really cutting down this year. I've also joined swag bucks so hopefully I can earn a few amazon vouchers by Xmas

pinkgiraffe2014

Some good news and some bad news for today's entry...

Good news - was in town today and resisted the temptation to buy some Xmas presents for my daughter. Will wait until I have enough saved in Xmas fund!

Bad news - was on a downer the other day so ordered a load of stuff on nxt account. Was ready for collection today and had the intention of returning it all but ended up keeping two work tops.

I do realise there is a definite connection between my mood and my spending. Not quite sure how to tackle this at the moment.

Hopefully will have something a little more positive to report tomorrow

pinkgiraffe2014

Dear diary, sorry for abandoning you! I promise I have not abandoned my mse ways and debt busting goals. I have been making progress, which I will detail here later.

Aims for today

- sort out what progress I have actually made since my last update
- tidy the house, we are in a serious mess!
- sort the pile of paperwork that seems to be increasing daily on my worktop
- possibly tackle the ironing pile
- do a proper update on here later

I think that's more than enough for today. I'm not quite sure where to start with all this mess and clutter but sat on here isn't going to get me very far!

Enjoy your Saturday everyone x

pinkgiraffe2014

I didn't get everything done on my list yesterday - this update being one. I did however sit down and work out what progress I have made since starting this.

I also found the snowball calculator on here and worked out how long it could be before I'm debt free... 16 months comfortably! I'm so happy with this but believe I can push myself and my finances further to reduce this by a little more. 12-14 would be ideal. Then I can start 2016 debt free, increase my s/o to my parents and finally start saving for the bathroom and my daughter's big girls room!

The 0% cash transfer went through ok so I've paid my loan off. Apart from Nxt then everything is on 0% now for between 14 and 33 months. Plenty of time to get them paid off.

I've been rounding down my bank account on a regular basis and paying this off nxt. Along with a couple of small eBay sales and one gumtree sale.

I figured out how to clear everything off my old phone so finally sent it off... Another £21 off the nxt account.

But the best overpayment by far was one made yesterday. I set £180 aside when I got paid. I must admit I was very nervous about paying this over just in case something crops up during the month. I know though that if I hadn't paid it then I would have just frittered it away.

I am mad with myself though as if I hadn't had my set back earlier then my nxt account would be under 150 by now with all the extra payments I've made lately.

My swag bucks is going well. Currently up to £15 so will save these for Christmas. Along with a £50 tsco gift card I got when I joined sky. Slightly naughty I know but it's keeping me occupied at night instead of internet shopping and I got 50% off for 12 months. And £110 for going through a cash back site - just got to wait 8 months for this!

Bagged up all the change I found round the house so will take this to the bank on Monday and pay straight off nxt.

I think I'm slightly obsessed now. I check my bank balance at least twice a day and I walk round the house thinking 'what can I sell'!

I think that's everything for now. Will make a conscious effort to update more regularly from now on.

pinkgiraffe2014

Loose change taken to the bank and paid straight off next today. (£11). Wasn't a NSD though unfortunately as weekly shopping has started falling on a Tuesday. I'm trying to budget about 40 a week for this but it just doesn't seem enough for us. I'm averaging out about 60 a week at the moment. I think this is about the only place in my finances that I could reduce further... Apart from the frittering of course!