I want adventure in the great wide somewhere

belleandthebudget

Hi all, I'm a long time on-off lurker who finally drummed up the courage to make an account and start this here diary to keep myself on track.

I'm 28, Scottish but living in London for work, single but living with roommates to make the city even vaguely affordable. I started my journey with just over £5000 of debt a couple of months ago and I'm committed to clearing it and working towards some financial security.

Creating a real budget and working within it over the last couple of months has been really eye opening. Who knew I spent so much money on food?

Reading other diaries here during that time has also been enlightening. I've expected way too many luxuries in my life and I need to accept that things I can't afford are not rights.

I suffer from a condition which if untreated causes, among lots of other nasty symptoms, extreme exhaustion. In fact if untreated in the long term it's eventually fatal. Luckily it's easily treated and the treatment has no side effects so though I'll be dealing with it for the rest of my life it's very manageable. Before I was diagnosed and started treatment (took almost 5 years) is when I spent most of the money... take away food when I was too tired to cook (always), new clothes because I put on so much weight while ill, presents and treats to myself because I was sad and tired and scared of the fact that no one seemed to know what was happening to me.

Seriously glad that part of my life is over and definitely ready to tackle this debt and get started with my life again. It's on a 0% credit card until January 2016 so that's my deadline!

I've made this diary mostly as I thought it would be good to keep up with day to day spending and all those little things that fritter away at my budget.

So, here we go! :j

Caterina

Just lurking on this thread but wanted to stop by and wish you the best of luck in your journey. x

belleandthebudget

Thanks Caterina! Fingers-crossed I can keep myself organised. :rotfl:

freckles1_2

Hi Belle


Just wanted to say good luck to you too! I will be subscribing.
Great job on getting your debt at 0% for so long!
It'll be gone before you know it x

Shelbi

Best of luck with slaying your debt, Im sure it will be zero in no time...happy new shiney diary, look forward to reading more....
Shelbi x

NoOneAround

Best of luck on your journey x

belleandthebudget

Freckles - I was very lucky that I've got a great credit score so managed to nab a 28 month 0% deal. That's one of the things really motivating me to get rid of it ASAP. Thanks for subscribing, I did the same to your diary, I think it'll be so helpful to follow along with everyone's journeys. Lots of support!

Shebi - I'm getting my stakes and crossbows at the ready for taking down that debt.

NOA - Thank you

freckles1_2

Ah the perks of good credit. Unfortunately mine is 'fair'. must improve!

emslovesmickey

Good luck on your journey Belle - and can I say, I love the title of your thread!

belleandthebudget

Freckles - I still haven't given up on being able to buy my own wee place someday, although it's likely to be in Scotland not a chance in London unless I win the lottery, so I've tried to keep on top of the credit record. It's hard though! I'm really aware that any change in circumstance that stops me from making my CC payments could ruin it - another good reason to get rid of them!

Em - thank you! It's definitely one of my favourite movies. Gotta get rid of this debt so I can afford all that adventure though!

liltdiddylilt

Hello Belle!!

Happy shiny new-ish diary. I love the title, and your name!! I am a bit of a Beauty & the Beast freak. Probably because like you I am 28 and watched it most days growing up on video! That, Lady & The Tramp, and Dumbo I am impatiently waiting for my daughter to be able to sit still and hold her interest long enough that we can watch it! I need an excuse

Well done on having a decent credit score. Until I did a mystery shop a couple of weeks ago & was given a £1600 limit 15 months 0% on purchases and balance transfers, I assumed my history was still somewhere in the murky depths! It was a big boost, but better yet was not needing the card in the slightest! I just did it for the £50 fee I was paid!

I really hope you hit your deadline of 2016. It may seem a long way away, but with no interest, I am sure you will manage it!

Don't panic too frantically about your credit score by the way. As so many people say, it's a made up number and everyone scores you differently. I don't really agree, but I do work in finance and know that mortgages are getting a lot easier to obtain than they have been for the last few years, since Northern Rock went down. I've obtained decent rates for people with 1-2 missed payments in the last 12-24 months. Prior to this last year, we wouldn't even have bothered trying to put an application through for a mortgage. Everything is fixable in time.

I will subscribe. I look forward to watching you complete your journey!