The Final Countdown...

black_cat

I've been wanting to start a diary for ages but I couldn't think of a witty title. I still haven't got one but I decided that I needed to stop prevaricating (I love that word), and go for it. So, here it is: my long-awaited Debt Free Diary (long-awaited by me, not by anyone else!).


OH and I have been on our Debt Free Journey for a quite a while and the end is now in sight. This will be my space to record the little and big successes and to provide motivation and accountability. I've lurked in this diary section for quite a while and have found so much inspiration and support from people who don't even know I'm reading their dairies. I love MSE

twiggy86

Hi black cat! I'll be subscribing so I'll be awaiting your next post (in case that gives you the motivation, promise I'm not a crazy stalker!)

black_cat

Thanks Twiggy - my first subscriber! I'll take the motivation where I can get it, stalker or not!

Three and a half years ago we owed £25,312.76 - loan, overdraft, 5 credit cards and 1 store card.
Today we owe £4,873 on two credit cards.

Not only have we paid off £20,439.76 but we've made one extra mortgage payment this year, and paid cash for holidays and car and house repairs.

It will take us another year to pay off the final two cards - being debt-free for Christmas 2015 would be great - but I'd like to pay them off a lot sooner. Could we I pay them off in 6 months? (I say "I" simply because DH is totally on board but he leaves the finances to me). I would love to be able to surprise him with the final zero statements!

This diary is about trying that little bit harder...

black_cat

Things to do today:

• NSD other than prescription
• Plan week's menu from stores
• De-clutter and organise spare room
• Make progress on PPI claim
• Update spreadsheets
• Work out where to get extra payments from
• Read MSE for ideas and inspiration

Feeling positive now that I've set myself a specific target - everything paid by June 2015

black_cat

Online banking - done
Update Spreadsheets - done
Plan repayments - done (see below)
Read MSE - done!
NSD - done (only prescription)
Menu planning - done

Planned Payments:

• February and March’s Council tax payments = £224
• December – March’s water payments = £131.40
• Reduce storage space - £37.20 x 6 = £223.20
• Current repayments = £125 x 6 = £750
• DH extra income before January? = £1000
• PPI = £1000 (assumption)

£3328.60 / £4,873 found for June target

Just need to do the two things I've been putting off - the PPI and the spare room!

janey72

Hi black cat, I too am a long-time lurker, and am using the wisdom of the lovely people on here to help me in my own situation. Good luck with your plans, hope you don't mind me tagging along for the journey? Subscribed xx

black_cat

Thanks Janet. I don't know what a lot of us would have done without MSE. There's so much great advice, support, inspiration and humour Financial problems can be so isolating. Apart from each other, DH and I can't talk about it with anyone else - that means we can't even celebrate the achievements, however large or small. People on here understand how great an NSD feels and how exciting spreadsheets can be! My mother loves it when I tell about how I've saved money — but she thinks that we've made a large savings stash rather than an inroad into what we owe

black_cat

Meant to say "Janey" - got caught out by the predictive text!

black_cat

Disappointed today to hear that DH won't be getting the extra income that I had included in the extra payment plan. Never mind, I'll find the money somewhere...


Menu plan:
Wednesday - slow roast belly pork (yellow-stickered) with roast potatoes etc
Thursday - meatballs (yellow-snickered) with spaghetti and sauce
Friday - chilli with rice
Saturday - sausages, egg and chips
Sunday - cottage pie, peas and carrots
Monday - spaghetti Bolognese
Tuesday - chicken casserole with jacket potato


I have good stock of toiletries and cleaning products but I need to make an inventory. I'll also make a food inventory - it would be great not to have to shop before the end of the month (apart from milk and fruit).


Planting is the key to success, I think!

black_cat

Plan for tomorrow:

1. PPI - still not done it.
2. Organise spare room - still not done it.
3. Batch cook for freezer
4. General housework
5. Online banking
6. Update spreadsheets
7. Make inventory of food, toiletries and cleaning products

I need to make more space in the spare room as we're paying for self-storage at the moment. I'd really like to reduce the size (and therefore the cost), as soon as possible. Obviously I'd like to get rid of it altogether.

black_cat

black_cat wrote: »

Plan for tomorrow:

1. PPI - still not done it.
2. Organise spare room - still not done it.
3. [STRIKE]Batch cook for freezer[/STRIKE]
4. [STRIKE]General housework
5. Online banking
6. Update spreadsheets[/STRIKE]
7. [STRIKE]Make inventory of food, toiletries and cleaning products[/STRIKE]

Have done a lot of cleaning and laundry - very pleased with myself!
Still not done the most important things...