Will be debt free for April 2010

trying-very-trying

Hi willbe, and welcome to the forum. You'll find lots of practical and moral support here. I've really surprised myself just by doing a couple of the challenges, how addictive it gets, and the difference it can make.

racer256

Hi welcome to the forum. I had a birthday that I aimed for too. It gets you motivated just wanted to wish you luck. It can be done. If you feel down check out the Debt Free Roll of Honour it really picks you up, its inspirational and proves it can be done. It's amazing how the odd £20 or £45 in your case makes a huge difference. Every little helps!

redsquirrel80

Welcome aboard, it looks like you've made a great start! I'm also aiming for a birthday (30th), just a few months earlier than yours. Good luck

willbedebtfree_3

I made an extra payment of £45 last week, and today I've just made another payment of £32 which isn't showing up yet (so I haven't taken it off my signature yet!)

It feels like slow progress but hopefully I'll be able to meet my first target of getting below £4400 by the end of the month. :T

Money is trickling in from Green Metropolis (16.50) and Amazon (17), and I'm up to nearly £50 on Quidco, although only £14 of that is due next month. Still at £12 in £2 coins - I'll bank that when it gets to £20 and pay it straight off my card. Also planning to list some things on Ebay after the weekend - My eldest has grown out of a load of school trousers which look practically new so they can be listed!

I'm also planning to start a spending diary after the weekend (my new diary starts that day) so I can try and work out where my money goes. Definitely need to change my spending habits, I'm another one who has been in debt pretty much all of my adult life.

Thanks again for all the lovely replies - they really do help raise my spirits when I'm feeling a bit blue about things!

willbedebtfree_3

I received my new credit card today - I got a fee-free transfer with a reduced rate for 6 months so I phoned up straight away and transferred £1000 onto it. Will give that card to my husband tonight and get him to hide it.

I also received an unexpected £31 in my account today - so that was paid straight off my card. It won't show up until next week, so I'll update my signature when it does. I've paid around £200 this month, and if I can keep that up it gives me a DFD of December 2009 :T

That'd even give me time to save up a bit of money for a night away for my 35th birthday :beer:

Dr_Hook

Is it an M&S credit card? Only ask because I applied for one and was given a £1k limit but, following a suggestion from one of the peeps on here, I called them and enquired about increasing my limit. They upped the limit to £2,500 there & then! :cool:

willbedebtfree_3

Dr_Hook wrote: »

Is it an M&S credit card? Only ask because I applied for one and was given a £1k limit but, following a suggestion from one of the peeps on here, I called them and enquired about increasing my limit. They upped the limit to £2,500 there & then! :cool:

This one is a First Direct (reduced rate for 6 months) but I've been accepted for an M&S card as well with the low rate life of balance transfer - I'll definitely try calling them when it gets here!!

It'd be fab if I could get even more on the M&S card! Thanks for the tip :T

Dr_Hook

You're welcome - just paying it forward
Might be worth asking First Direct anyway - can't hurt to ask.

trying-very-trying

I know you say that money isn't too tight, willbe, but I've found great inspiration for cutting back, especially on the food bills, on the old style forum.

willbedebtfree_3

trying-very-trying wrote: »

I know you say that money isn't too tight, willbe, but I've found great inspiration for cutting back, especially on the food bills, on the old style forum.

I'm already an OS-lurker - will have to start posting as well, I think!

I've been keeping a track of my food bills this month for the first time in years DH and I have agreed that we'll set a budget for next month, and if I come in under budget then I get to add the savings to my CC payment!

I'm keeping track of my petrol bill as well (for the first time ever :eek: ) and will do the same with that as well.

I have *never* saved, I love the idea that I might clear this debt and actually save some money for my 35th birthday :T