Let's Do This....Debt Free Before 2019

enthusiasticsaver

Sounds like you have been busy working on your budget. It will be a work in progress. Great idea about saving for your car - stick it in your FD regular saver especially if your debt is now on 0%.

enthusiasticsaver

ShiftThisDebt wrote: »

Forgot to add, the total we reached for all those extras is around £600. We're going to see if these need adjusting over the next month or so.

LOL. I think you may have discovered your missing £700 per month then or most of it. Amazing how all these extras add up isn't it?

ShiftThisDebt

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

LOL. I think you may have discovered your missing £700 per month then or most of it. Amazing how all these extras add up isn't it?

Yes :rotfl: when we started adding up the clothes and clubs and birthdays etc it's amazing how much you get through!

However we've not found all of it because the emergency fund is new but it's certainly in a believable area. As I say we'll monitor it and see how we get on once this money is budgeted for.

I'll also add an up to date SOA at some point but probably in a few weeks because we have this messy business of spending money for Disney to 'find' this month.

note3

So...what can you sell to help find that money? Any furniture or clothes to start decluttering or old bikes and toys

ShiftThisDebt

I'm exhausted. Was up at 5:45am thismorning for a bootcamp session. Felt great afterwards but flippin heck it was hard work. And now after a full day of manic kids at school today I'm absolutely beat. I'll get a brief respite tonight though as we're on a school trip in the morning so marking and planning can wait an extra night.

I plan to just cabbage in front of the TV tonight and catch up on Impractical Jokers!

In money news, I finally had confimation from FD that my savings account is now open which I'm really pleased about. :beer:

I was starting to get worried because since applying on Sunday I hadn't heard from FD at all, not even a courtesy email saying 'thanks for your application' etc. I actually called them up last night and they had no record of me on their system!! So at least I now know that the application must have reached them! FIngers crossed I get news of the main bank account being opened and the 7 day switching caan commence too and I can wave Santander adios! :T

I have a great relatonship with my parents and in the past they have bailed me out an awful lot of times, primarily now I look at it due to poor budgeting and planning!

Anyway, I took the stepto tell my dad just how much debt we were in and all the things we're now doing to sort it out and get out of debt before 2019. He was really pleased to hear it and it felt great being able to be open about it all.

enthusiasticsaver

I think FD have been swamped with switching applications. Once you get the email with terms and conditions it only takes 7 days from there to get it all done and dusted. Mine is all up and working now, regular saver open and online access.


Good you told your Dad. You need support from family and friends with a tough challenge ahead.

ShiftThisDebt

Thanks that's good to know. Have to say I was super impressed when I called FD that there was no option menu. Just straight through to an operator.

Make me wonder why more companies don't do this. Clearly the results of customer service speak volumes!

Yeah, I've taken the view that I'm going to be open about this as much as I can. Obviously not disclosing the full amount to everyone but certainly letting them know we're paying off out debt and explaining what our goal is.

Also, been explaining how credit cards work to my 14 year old daughter. She was shocked to understand how little you pay off with minimum payments and how much interest you pay.

Definitely don't want her making the mistakes we have made.

note3

Well done. I'm same...I now openly say I've racked up debt and am changing how I do things so I can pay it off. I don't disclose amount though and to be fair no one's asked

ShiftThisDebt

Took my class on an excellent school trip today. Now absolutely shattered though and have a ton of work to do before next week. A few hours in school on Saturday is looming unfortunately.

After chatting to my MiL last night, she told me her mobile phone was due for renewal. I mentioned about O2's £18 sim only deal. She told me today that she'd gone for it! She's always been one who's seemingly happy to pay £40+ to ensure she has the latest phone. This time though I feel good knowing I've helped her save a load of cash. Hopefully she'll also take my advice and save the difference for when she does want a new, shiny handset and purchase it outright.

Been a quiet day money wise though. Not heard anymore from first direct regarding my new account and the only money spent was £12 for 3 of us at the chinese as none of us fancied cooking.

ShiftThisDebt

I have had a very good day today. I skipped bootcamp this morning because last night I felt so tired I knew I'd need the extra hour in bed. However tonight there is an indoor session at 7pm so I will go to that instead.

I was out of my classroom today and spent the morning in another school looking at assessments with another teacher. Sounds dull, but actually made me feel loads better than I have been. It was a real shot in the arm in terms of confidence. It was some support, from a school I love, which was badly needed. Then to make things better I got a text on the way home from my collegue who told me that another teacher from a school who is supporting us was really impressed with one of my files. So 2 great things ahead of a busy weekend getting some files in order for next week. Roll on half term and our little tript to Disneyland.

When I got home I recieved my welcome pack from First Direct, so I called them up and setup my account. My Santander account will close on February 19th and I'll officially be a FD custmoer then, with the £150 switching bonus too

Finally,I have just this minute called barclaycard back and told them I want to close the account. Once again they offered me things to stay, including another £20 but this time I turned it down and closed the account. They will transfer the £2.15 they now owe me into my account and that'll be that

So within the next month my MBNA credit card, my barclaycard and my lifelong bank account will all be closed.

Talk about a change!
I'll be down to one CC (Halifax 13months 0% which is securely locked away never to be used) and a new FD bank account with a linked 6% savings account.

And of course I will be able to update my signature soon!!