I am such an idiot! When will I learn?

bizzy_lizzie

I am counting it as 'good with money' as long as they are not borrowing and making sure they pay their bills. The odd week of living on noodle soup is just a part of the learning curve!

judi24

Nothing wrong with noodle soup at all! At the moment in my house I am looking for innovative ways to serve spam - I have been given 10 tubs of it!!! ( didn't know they had changed from tins to tubs!) and have no idea what to do with it!!!


I have decided that 2015 will be my debt free year!! I have now put it in my signature (I have had it as a goal in my head for a few weeks but didn't want to display it as I wasn't sure if it was a little too challenging!) Anyway its done now!!! Will be under 15k by the end of December 2014 and than will need to pay off around £1200 a month to achieve my goal - thats just under 1k on CC debt plus the £256 of the loan payment. My plan is to pay the £4995 of the Nationwide card by May (while the barlaycard is 0%) then attack the barclaycard paying that off in another 4 months. Once that is gone I will find out how much an early settlement would be for the loan and hopefully pay that off 9 months early (Dec 2015 instead of Aug 2016)

judi24

Oh and totally forgot November NSD 15/30!!!

Bobarella

Good luck Judi. I think it's great you have set your intent for 2015. Even if you don't make it the goal will mean you move towards it hard.
I have spent all of 2014 working to get our situation stable. Have reviewed every single fixed cost, remortgaged to a great deal, & now want to firm up our situation by building savings whilst reducing debt. The frugal living thread is proving a huge inspiration to me. Worth a look?

judi24

Thanks Bob - I am a little worried that my goal is too ambitious and I should be a little more patient than this (as Ampersand regularly tells me!). But with this plan my fixed costs and debt repayments will make up most of my salary with me living on additional income and a little of my salary - I will have around £800 a month to 'live on' after bills - which feel is quite generous if I am careful. I will also have my CSA money on top of this whch I will pay into a separate account (supposing I actually get some at some point!) for use for kids trips, uniforms, clothes and maybe a little camping trip in the summer) Will definately have a look at the frugal living thread - Thanks

beanielou

Dident realise that you had a new diary!
Hope you get the CSA sorted out pronto.

Verbatim

Re Spam mountain
Spam bolognaise/ lasagne?
Casseroles with loads of veg and stock cube?
Spam shepherds pie or pie with pastry and loads of mushrooms.

patanne

When I was a child my mother used to slice spam dip it in egg & fry it, I'm not sure I'd recommend it though, but it did make it edible!

judi24

Hi Beanilou - nice of you to pop by and say hello - I guess it has become a diary (although didn't really intend it to be!) I am finding it really helpful though to keep me motivated - Ampersand tells me off ever so nicely when I loose the plot! Got a letter from CSA outlining how much and when payments should be made - but not had any money yet - I will ring them if he fails to pay this week.


Loving the spam ideas!'1001 things to do with Spam' - sounds like a catchy title for a cook book!!! Could make me a millionaire!

enthusiasticsaver

Nice to see those debts coming down, you are really doing well and great to have a target to aim at. Totally doable too as you have paid off more than £3500 in just three months! Well done. I see you did the balance transfer now and think you are right to concentrate on getting the Nationwide card cleared asap. Just think of how well off you will be in 2016 with all or most of those debts gone.


Word of caution though it may be an idea to set up a small emergency fund so you are not tempted to use the credit cards for any minor setbacks. Clearing your debts a few months later would not be the end of the world.