Small Steps Out Of Massive Debt!

GeorgianaCavendish

Those are all great suggestions, thank you redo! I whittled down the present-buying list earlier in the year before I started buying numerous birthday presents, but it is a good reminder to myself to look at it again and realise that actually I can just send a card to that couple instead of worrying about presents, gift wrap etc etc. What a relief that would be!

I'd rather arrange to meet up with people for a genuine catch up, not a frenzied pitstop on the rounds a few days before Xmas "here's your presents! oh thanks for my present I]I bloody hate gin and I can't even regift it now[/I " (Just call me Scrooge, haha!) So this year I might do cards and make an effort to arrange to meet for coffee etc in January.

My husband's extended family do Secret Santa with a budget of £15 per person and it works really well. Apart from last year when my Secret Santa was his Hateful Aunt who gave me a half-used notebook. I know it was her because it had all her notes about her garden in. I really hope that I have to buy a present for her this year :rotfl:

GeorgianaCavendish

Really cheap food shop yesterday, £26.43! I need to get some fruit and veggies though as there was a woeful selection in ALDI yesterday.
I didn't mention this earlier but I had an accident last week with an exploding glass (literally shattered in my hand) :eek: I've had stitches in my hand and can't get the dressing wet, which cuts down my cooking and washing up ability, and indeed the ability to hold a knife and fork at the same time. My husband's been great but he's on an urgent deadline this week so part of the reason that the food bill was so cheap is because I've been looking for food that is easy to cook and eat with one hand - oven chips for the win

Going back to hospital to get the stitches out today, hopefully the dressing can be down-sized somewhat!

Hiddenidenity

Lovely to see you back Sorry things weren't too great while you where away.

Nice to see you're back and have a plan though

Christmas for us is really small really. I stopped buying family gifts when I realised they didn't actually want a small gift from me nor was it needed. It just seemed such a waste.

We make token gifts for grandparents and my sister from smalls (usually cake/fudge or a picture frame or similar)

I stick to the basis of something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read for the smalls and stockings usually have toothpaste etc in.

I don't send cards other than ones the smalls make for close relatives.

I only put a tree up for the smalls or I wouldn't bother :rotfl:

Xmas dinner is just a 'roast' to us. I don't buy anything really extra.

I'm really not the scrooge honest

Chrystal

Great to see you back.

You've had a very stressful time by the sounds of it ((hugs)) but hopefully now will be able to get things bck on track, although it can take a while to get your head in gear after sudden shocks.

Bummer about having to pay £3K up front for you exams... where do they think people get the money from:mad: Still I suppose it's speculate to accumulate and when you pass you'll get it back (plus a pay rise for having better qualifications) :j

Seasidegal58

Hi Georgiana - I’ve just caught up with your diary and have subscribed.

I’m sorry to hear that things have been tough for you and OH lately but you sound like you’re ready to “up and at ‘em” again.

I had a similar amount of debt to you, started well - fell off the wagon some months latet, but got back again and debt has now gone! My wake up call was when I was refused any more 0% balance transfer cards and I realised retirement was on the horizon.

My main helps have been keeping a budget (YNAB is one of my best friends!) and having the safety blanket of an emergency fund which is of such psychological benefit on every level. I started off with the Dave Ramsey method of saving a £1000 EF (it could be lower if you want) then started reducing paying off my credit card debt. Once that had gone I wacked up my EF. Dave says three to six month expenses is what you should aim for but I have gone quite a bit higher than this - I like a massive security blanket around me now!:D. I also went the Dave Ramsey route of clearing the smallest balances first rather than those with the highest interest rates. I loved seeing the balances disappear off my snowball! It’s not everyone’s preferred way but again it worked better for me

Looking forward to reading your future posts.

SSG x

P.S. I loved the Amanda Foreman book on Georgiana as I’m a big history fan. I’m actually going to visit Chatsworth for the first time at the end of November so looking forward to picking up Georgiana vibes (though not her actual attitude towards money!):D

117pauline

I love Chatsworth too. The first time I went with my partner it was coming up to Christmas. We'd been round the house and decided to go up to the restaurant in the stables. As I walked, I had a clear picture in my mind, almost a presence, of a young girl. She was wearing old fashioned ankle boots and a broderie anglaise skirt. I mentioned this and my partner said he had the same feeling and he described a very similar picture. I didn't believe him until I described her skirt and he told me it couldn't be the same as this girl had a skirt made of lacey type stuff - he didn't know what broderie anglaise meant! It was almost unnerving, both of us walking over the cobbles with this young girl.

EssexHebridean

Ouch to the glass and the stitches, and also sorry to hear about the bereavement and the other trials you've had to deal with too. Glad to see you back posting and that things seem to have levelled out a little now.

Definitely a good plan to get that emergency fund in place as a priority - I can't think of much that would make me twitchier on the financial front now than being without one!

Seasidegal58

117pauline wrote: »

I love Chatsworth too. The first time I went with my partner it was coming up to Christmas. We'd been round the house and decided to go up to the restaurant in the stables. As I walked, I had a clear picture in my mind, almost a presence, of a young girl. She was wearing old fashioned ankle boots and a broderie anglaise skirt. I mentioned this and my partner said he had the same feeling and he described a very similar picture. I didn't believe him until I described her skirt and he told me it couldn't be the same as this girl had a skirt made of lacey type stuff - he didn't know what broderie anglaise meant! It was almost unnerving, both of us walking over the cobbles with this young girl.

Wow Pauline!:eek: DSis’s OH will be with us at Chatsworth and who is quite psychic. Will be interesting to see if any reaction is forthcoming....

GeorgianaCavendish

Hiddenidenity wrote: »

Lovely to see you back Sorry things weren't too great while you where away.

Nice to see you're back and have a plan though

Christmas for us is really small really. I stopped buying family gifts when I realised they didn't actually want a small gift from me nor was it needed. It just seemed such a waste.

We make token gifts for grandparents and my sister from smalls (usually cake/fudge or a picture frame or similar)

I stick to the basis of something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read for the smalls and stockings usually have toothpaste etc in.

I don't send cards other than ones the smalls make for close relatives.

I only put a tree up for the smalls or I wouldn't bother :rotfl:

Xmas dinner is just a 'roast' to us. I don't buy anything really extra.

I'm really not the scrooge honest

Hi Hidden, thanks for popping by my diary Great Christmas suggestions there! I really want to keep it as cheap as possible, I can't face the idea of having to find extra money that could be going to my debts or emergency fund! :eek:

GeorgianaCavendish

Chrystal wrote: »

Great to see you back.

You've had a very stressful time by the sounds of it ((hugs)) but hopefully now will be able to get things bck on track, although it can take a while to get your head in gear after sudden shocks.

Bummer about having to pay £3K up front for you exams... where do they think people get the money from:mad: Still I suppose it's speculate to accumulate and when you pass you'll get it back (plus a pay rise for having better qualifications) :j

Hi Chrystal! Thanks for stopping by It has been really stressful but I'm feeling positive now, sitting down to check all my balances was like ripping a plaster off but at least I know where I am and what I have to do to get back on track

It is a total bummer about the course fees. Apparently its because a large number of people have been either not putting the effort in to pass or just not turning up! And then getting the company to pay for their retakes etc. So I do understand it but don't understand why it was implemented with almost no notice :mad: It should all be worth it once I'm fully qualified (in 3 years time) ... I have to keep reminding myself of that!