Reality Check...

reality_check

So, tomorrow is my ONE YEAR DIARY BIRTHDAY!! :bdaycake:

Last year my debt was sitting at: £18,675.63 and a few months ago I set a target to try and half my debt in a year....(£9337.81)

Currently my debt is: £10,400 so I am £1062.19 away from my target, I have £400 refunds going back onto my card and my sister is giving me back the £300 she owes me next week so if I take that off I have just missed my target by £362.19 bringing my current debt to a total of: £9700 :dance:

I couldn't be happier!! :j of course it is £9700 higher than I would have liked, I have no savings and I have no saving pots for annual expenses, but baby steps!!

I am going against the MSE way of doing things and not budgeting for the things I know will crop up ie car insurance, birthdays, Christmas etc... but I am sticking with each month pay as much as I can to my debt and reduce the monthly payments the months I have stuff to pay out – not the best plan, but I am rolling with it, it did help me half my debt in a year after all!!

Fingers crossed this is the year I become DEBT FREE!!! Not that my journey will end as I know now how important savings are, it really isn’t about empting my bank from the 15th to the 15th of each month when I am paid and maxing out all available credit.

My entire adult life I have been in debt!! Can’t wait for life out the red and living in the black. Thank you to everyone who pops on this and encourages me to keep going, offering friendly and helpful advice and to all the diaries out there that motivate me to keep on going with my own journey. Starting this diary was the best thing I ever done and I truly don’t believe I would keep up the momentum and keep on going without it. I would encourage everyone to start a diary if you’re thinking about it.

I did have a few slip ups and holidays/weekends away this year and a few spendy luxuries, if I want to be debt free this year it involves paying off more than I did in 2016 so it’s time to pull my socks up!

Thanks again my secret internet friends :kisses: xxx

reality_check

:bdaycake::bdaycake::bdaycake: One today!! :bdaycake::bdaycake::bdaycake:

Seasidegal58

Congratulations on your anniversary! :j

Wow! Clearing £9,700 is a fantastic amount - but you've done it all on your own and should be so proud! Different things work for different people and if your method of debt busting is working well then go with it!

Here's to a debt free 2017 for you reality! :beer:

roomontheend

Wow, you are doing a super job. All that paid off and you have still managed to go on holiday and have treats. You have put things into balance. I am only now able to get a balance where we can have treats but our debt was much greater than yours. Although you don't pay off as quick you do sometimes need a treat.

monz

Look how far you have came and all work you have done. Soon you will be looking back and saying I done it xx

reality_check

Thank you all - progress is being made, even though I feel like I am at a halt right now. Had a spendy weekend, smashed my phone on the kitchen tiles!! £50 to fix it and then spend £25 on a super duper hard wearing ugly phone case!

Spent £60 on a food shop on Saturday, then went out for dinner (pre-theatre) and spend £40 and then had a takeaway with my daughter last night and was £18 – what’s wrong with me!!

Today I spend £2.60 on a coffee as caffeine was really needed, not drank it for 10 days but needed a boost this morning.

I need petrol today which will be roughly £40 and I hope not to spend another penny this week!!

Need to get my head back in the game!!

xxx

reality_check

i must get my electricity moved onto direct debit. I previously couldn't move from Scottish Power as was on a dodgy meter but has been changed just before Christmas so no excuse now!!

Annual bill has came in at £270.29 - will need to wait until 15th.

Will do price comparisons today x

Seasidegal58

reality_check wrote: »

i must get my electricity moved onto direct debit. I previously couldn't move from Scottish Power as was on a dodgy meter but has been changed just before Christmas so no excuse now!!

Annual bill has came in at £270.29 - will need to wait until 15th.

Will do price comparisons today x

You may be able to get some dosh from one of the Cashback sites if you change your provider via one of their websites.

reality_check

Thanks, will check it out, didn't manage to do it yesterday.

Spent £1 on a pineapple yesterday and need to buy some spinach and cucumber today for a salad so probably about £1.50.

I also forgot I NEED to get my eyebrows threaded and tinted on Friday, currently sporting some form of mono brow and not a good look, so that will be £10 plus a few pounds tip.

So as you can see my no spend week is going...great!!

roomontheend

Is your yearly electricity bill only £270? My gas and electric bill is £181 per month. Yes, really £181 per month. I might get everyone a miners lamp and turn all the lights off.