I Will Be Free

crazy_cat_lady

I had a little giggle at the thought of you out in your pj's moving your car.
I did the energy switch today as well - hopefully the cashback will be here sooner rather than later. I'm so impatient.

IWillBeFree

Hey crazy cat lady

I'm pretty sure most of my neighbours now know about my little pj adventure. I came in a little while ago and the neighbour across from me, who was taking the rubbish out, said 'so no dressing gown walk tonight' haha..

No booking for tomorrow so no more neighbourhood entertainment

in_need_of_direction

At least where you live, pyjama tramps appear to be a one off.

Lacherlich

Hi!

I've just been having a skim read of your thread, I'm amazed you've managed to pay of £10k of debt in 3 months! I am just about to leave work so will try log back on to read through how you did it, but would you mind summarising what you've done so far to hit that figure? It might give me some inspiration! Currently, my plan will pay that amount of by April 2016! But that is just using income from my job.

I noticed something about a lodger in previous posts - might also be an option for me!
hmmm.

Anyway, congrats on how well you've done so far!

kaf3g

Hi IWTBF

I have been reading your diary after you posted your encouraging comments on mine and just wanted to say a huge well done for what you have achieved over the past few months, it's so hard to keep the momentum going for the long haul but hopefully we can support each other with this.

Also the post where you explained how you were feeling, manic busy, happy socialising then all goes to pot feeling lonely and sad is the first time I have read somebody putting into words exactly how I feel every month, thank you for making me feel like I am normal

Going to subscribe - if I can work out how x

crazy_cat_lady

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

At least where you live, pyjama tramps appear to be a one off.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
This is totally true - we have a village about 3 miles away where everyone is always out in their onesies and rollers etc.

IWillBeFree

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

At least where you live, pyjama tramps appear to be a one off.

Now this made me chuckle! I could be a 'pyjama tramp' if that meant a regular drive booking but sadly, it seems it was a one off. £3 to go on paypal eventually

IWillBeFree

Lacherlich wrote: »

Hi!

I've just been having a skim read of your thread, I'm amazed you've managed to pay of £10k of debt in 3 months! I am just about to leave work so will try log back on to read through how you did it, but would you mind summarising what you've done so far to hit that figure? It might give me some inspiration! Currently, my plan will pay that amount of by April 2016! But that is just using income from my job.

I noticed something about a lodger in previous posts - might also be an option for me!
hmmm.

Anyway, congrats on how well you've done so far!

Hi Lacherlich and welcome on board.


I really appreciate you kind words. I am hardly an inspiration though!


I will list a few things (in no particular order) that I have done since June and if any of them help you a little bit in your journey, great!

1. I started using YNAB (You Need a Budget) which is an incredibly useful budgeting tool. I am still getting my head around it but I would say after nearly 4 months of using it, I am now budgeting correctly - the first couple of months were rubbish!
2. As I now budget correctly and know where all my pennies go, I am making the most of ALL of my income.
3. As you noticed, I got a lodger a few months ago and I also rented my garage out. Due to YNAB, all that I income (£500) is going towards debt. This was a huge thing for me as I LOVE living alone with the two hounds but, needs must.
4. I also sold some things, via 2 car boot sales, which was interesting for me as I had never stepped foot on one, never mind sell there The sales made me a couple of hundred pounds.
5. I listed lots of stuff on Gumtree and Facebook and have thrown that the debt - another couple of hundred pounds.
6. I sold all of my ex's (he moved out in 2013 and I got tired of asking him to collect his stuff) PS4 and Wii games, iPad, blueray and other gadget bits to a High St shop that buys in stuff like that. That made another couple of hundred pounds.
7. I switched bank accounts and I got £250 in incentives and due to YNAB, all got thrown at the debt.
8. I put a claim into Experian, following the MSE email advising to do so if there had been a monthly subscription. I got £140ish back straight away.
9. I cook 90% from scratch and make all my breakies and lunches, unless I am meeting with a colleague/friend which is rare. Before, I used to live at Nero and Costa!
10. I have many NSDs. I see it as a great target to have at least three days a week where I spend nothing

The two things that made the most difference in numbers are these though:


I cashed in a pension for just over £5,000. This is mainly for two reasons, I don't intend to stay in the industry I am in long term so won't be building a huge pension in it anyway and, I listen to Dave Ramsey's podcasts a lot. He advises focussing on the debt mainly and after that is gone, save like mad for pension. So that is my plan.

The other main thing that helped was that I had an overdraft that reached £3,000 each month. In fact, on the 23rd June, a week after pay day, it stood at £2,881. I hated that overdraft for many reasons, and I wanted it to be gone, once I decided to pay off my debt. So for the next two months, I had my salary paid into it and I spent VERY little. I cut out lots and lots of things I used to spend money on, like £125 a month on hairdresser (now I pay £36), hundreds of pounds a month on luxuries like wine, massages, nails, huge groceries bill (I now got to the shop with a £20 each week - no more), fancy restaurants (I still eat out but Pizza Express or other places that take vouchers are my place of choice), walked A LOT more and left the car at home etc.


I guess what I am saying is that I made it my mission to get rid of the overdraft and now that I have, it is much easier to budget as all my money is my own to use as best I can.


It's not been easy as, although I am determined to get rid of my debt as I really see it as a ball and chain, I struggle with depression/anxiety and when I get down, I have to fight the 'need' to go out and spend money. So far, I have had one 'mishap' where I bought a dress for £99 that was not budgeted for but I took it back as my desire to get control of my life was, eventually, stronger.


I am sorry for the long post but I am a chatter! Hope something help - sadly no lotto win, just a lot of work....

IWillBeFree

kaf3g wrote: »

Hi IWTBF

I have been reading your diary after you posted your encouraging comments on mine and just wanted to say a huge well done for what you have achieved over the past few months, it's so hard to keep the momentum going for the long haul but hopefully we can support each other with this.

Also the post where you explained how you were feeling, manic busy, happy socialising then all goes to pot feeling lonely and sad is the first time I have read somebody putting into words exactly how I feel every month, thank you for making me feel like I am normal

Going to subscribe - if I can work out how x

Hey kaf3g


Nice to 'see' you in my thread. I am glad you found my comments encouraging. Sometimes, just reading someone's kind words is all we need to feel encouraged. That is certainly the case for me!


I agree, keeping the momentum going for the long haul is tough and it is the thing that scares me the most. I am trying to manage this by setting myself little targets, like getting below certain figures by a certain time. This makes my huge task a little more manageable although I have to say, last Friday I had a full on proper panic attack when it all got too much. So, work in progress


I am sorry you are also a mood cycler, like me. It's a pain, isn't it? But I think you are right, we are 'normal' as that is how we are and we are doing our best with it


Hope you worked out the subscription thingy, nice to see you again

Lacherlich

IWillBeFree wrote: »

Hi Lacherlich and welcome on board.


I really appreciate you kind words. I am hardly an inspiration though!


I will list a few things (in no particular order) that I have done since June and if any of them help you a little bit in your journey, great!

1. I started using YNAB (You Need a Budget) which is an incredibly useful budgeting tool. I am still getting my head around it but I would say after nearly 4 months of using it, I am now budgeting correctly - the first couple of months were rubbish!
2. As I now budget correctly and know where all my pennies go, I am making the most of ALL of my income.
3. As you noticed, I got a lodger a few months ago and I also rented my garage out. Due to YNAB, all that I income (£500) is going towards debt. This was a huge thing for me as I LOVE living alone with the two hounds but, needs must.
4. I also sold some things, via 2 car boot sales, which was interesting for me as I had never stepped foot on one, never mind sell there The sales made me a couple of hundred pounds.
5. I listed lots of stuff on Gumtree and Facebook and have thrown that the debt - another couple of hundred pounds.
6. I sold all of my ex's (he moved out in 2013 and I got tired of asking him to collect his stuff) PS4 and Wii games, iPad, blueray and other gadget bits to a High St shop that buys in stuff like that. That made another couple of hundred pounds.
7. I switched bank accounts and I got £250 in incentives and due to YNAB, all got thrown at the debt.
8. I put a claim into Experian, following the MSE email advising to do so if there had been a monthly subscription. I got £140ish back straight away.
9. I cook 90% from scratch and make all my breakies and lunches, unless I am meeting with a colleague/friend which is rare. Before, I used to live at Nero and Costa!
10. I have many NSDs. I see it as a great target to have at least three days a week where I spend nothing

The two things that made the most difference in numbers are these though:


I cashed in a pension for just over £5,000. This is mainly for two reasons, I don't intend to stay in the industry I am in long term so won't be building a huge pension in it anyway and, I listen to Dave Ramsey's podcasts a lot. He advises focussing on the debt mainly and after that is gone, save like mad for pension. So that is my plan.

The other main thing that helped was that I had an overdraft that reached £3,000 each month. In fact, on the 23rd June, a week after pay day, it stood at £2,881. I hated that overdraft for many reasons, and I wanted it to be gone, once I decided to pay off my debt. So for the next two months, I had my salary paid into it and I spent VERY little. I cut out lots and lots of things I used to spend money on, like £125 a month on hairdresser (now I pay £36), hundreds of pounds a month on luxuries like wine, massages, nails, huge groceries bill (I now got to the shop with a £20 each week - no more), fancy restaurants (I still eat out but Pizza Express or other places that take vouchers are my place of choice), walked A LOT more and left the car at home etc.


I guess what I am saying is that I made it my mission to get rid of the overdraft and now that I have, it is much easier to budget as all my money is my own to use as best I can.


It's not been easy as, although I am determined to get rid of my debt as I really see it as a ball and chain, I struggle with depression/anxiety and when I get down, I have to fight the 'need' to go out and spend money. So far, I have had one 'mishap' where I bought a dress for £99 that was not budgeted for but I took it back as my desire to get control of my life was, eventually, stronger.


I am sorry for the long post but I am a chatter! Hope something help - sadly no lotto win, just a lot of work....

Hi IWBF

Thank you so much for posting your summary, its really interesting and good to hear from someone in a similar situation. I definitely have been inspired by your determination so far. I have become much more determined since my LBM but still feel there is room for improvement. I also have anxiety which manifests itself as insomina, which is such a pain. It always knocks back my motivation generally resulting in me buying a bottle of wine to help relax etc. A cycle I am now starting to break. Although it does mean I end up spending more money at work on food to make me feel better ! I think I need to get back into the habit of bringing in lunch again. I used to make most dinners from scratch such as curry and take it in the next day, so will try do that again! Cooking is also therapeutic I find, can help you reflect and process things whilst you do it.

I will definitely consider a lodger, it would be weird having a stranger in our home, but we have discussed it in the past. We have 4 dogs (2 are pups) which may put some people off! I guess the mortgage company needs to be informed etc, and there is a government incentive to let a spare room out right? - Do you rent out your garage for storage or for someone to put their car in? Mine is quite empty too, but my car parks in front of it so wouldn't be able to park another car inside.

I'd like to do a carboot, but don't actually think I have much to sell? Anything I do find I tend to sell on ebay... well in the process of, so hope it all sells as amounts to about £150.

I also am switching my current account, only for £150 but everything helps! Also selling an old iPhone - another £150-200 I hope!

YNAB - hmm I've seen it mentioned loads on here, so think I will check it out. I guess im not as good at budgeting as I like to think! How did you get your money back from experian, as I have used it in the past. I now use ClearScore, its free and powered by Equifax.

A massive congrats on your overdraft! I hated mine, so in the end took the easy option and moved it over to a 0% credit card. I worked out after all my bills go out I have about £400 to spend on what I like. Everything else goes onto my debts. So that £400 wouldnt have been enough to pay back the overdraft, as I struggle on that as it is ha.

Well I've rambled on for a bit too Thanks again for your tips etc! Here's hoping we can win that Lottery!! I play Euro and the normal lottery with nothing substantial won so far