£67,031.92 is a frightening number indeed....

gemini12

Yet another delurking so as to be recognised as a non troll. I can only admire your change of direction. Something I have never had the courage to do. Too late now a I am retired..

XSpender

Congratulations and good luck with your new business venture!

I am glad to hear that you will be continuing to post. No 2 posters lives are the same, nor were their reasons for getting in to debt so neither will they have the same plan to get out of debt. I know there are lots of ways we too could cut back to clear our debt quicker but, apart from the strain it would put on my marriage, I do not want to regret not spending some money on creating memories with my DH and DS.

Like you my plan to get out of this debt is to earn more money this year but by getting a new job. Surveys and coupon clipping are all well and good but more progress can be made by increasing earnings where a person has the ability to do so.

I hear where you are coming from about working from home and not getting 'home' stuff done. Some days I spend 9-10 hours only moving from home office to kettle and can then feel guilty that I haven't done more in the house or even thought about what's for tea. Your plan to get out of the house is a good one. I find I can get more done when I am not distracted about catching up with the laundry etc.

PositiveBalance

Hello ToPM!

I understand where you are coming from about the business...if your outgoings can't go down any more, the only thing you can do is increase your incomings.

So it's fair enough...IF you do it. Focus, my friend, and no more dreaming of expensive wash basins! :rotfl:


The advantage of having no Plan B is that it means that Plan A simply HAS to work. Ask Arnie - he knows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNDA-o9yJNw


Happy New Year! :A

Sea_Shell

It's great that you've got 100% faith in you being able to earn substantially more money in your new venture...but please don't fall into the trap of spending it all before it's earned.

I know you're in need of a "proper" holiday, and you've already booked...but that can't be cheap, taking a family of 5 abroad (flying) in the summer holidays. Has your flexible friend has come to your assistance for that one.

How have you crunched the numbers with regards potential income? Have you got a minimum target figure for year 1 in mind....say £20,000?

I have no idea about blogging and publishing e-books, and I have no idea how much each item/article will sell for, but if each customer is prepared to pay, say £5, for one of your works, then you're going to need 4000 customers. Then you've got costs and expenses to come off that too. Or is it down to advertising, if your blog gets enough clicks/members/subscibers etc.?

Here's to being the next J K Rowling....(or any other mega-rich writer!!!!)

Heatherweed

I too havnt started a thread as feel my level of debt and lifestyle would be criticised. But loss of child and close family nembers has taught me life is so short. As long as debt is manageable I am happy. Love your diary xx

Blackcatsreturns

This has been such an interesting and measured discussion. As Xspender says we all got into debt for different reasons and will get out of debt in different ways. For me, I earn enough but spend too much - for others that will be different. When we share and learn from others without judging that is the value of these boards. If we started a thread for "people who like animals" we would have an enormous range of animals that we all like and would enjoy hearing other people's stories but we wouldn't expect to convert a cat lover to a rat lover. However, we would learn about our common overarching interest of animals. Same applies to the various approaches to debt busting.

Queevs

Another long time lurker here - I first read your diary I don't know how many moons ago, didn't read it for ages and then realised I wanted to "catch up" and had to get very creative in my search terms to find you again! I have your thread open in my phone's browser at all times and honestly, there's days when it's my highlight (mainly workdays :rotfl: ). I'd love to hear how your new way of life is treating you so do please keep posting, there's nothing I love more than a good read in the morning and my poor boyfriend knows all about you although he's never read a single word of your diary! :rofl:
I was very worried when you didn't post but was delighted to see you back, all I can say is, make yourself happy, the rest will come. If you try to please everyone you end up pleasing no one so you might as well please yourself! Good luck with the venture

Spendy_Spenderson

Lovely comments here! It's made me feel all warm and fuzzy as a long-time lurker It's great that we can accept differences in people and approaches, whether we agree with them or not. Each to their own and all that. We each need to do what is right for us at any one time and not be afraid to change.


Hoping I'm looking very un-troll like now I've escaped from my hiding place under the bridge, ie lurkdoom

Treadingonplaymobil

Starmummy wrote: »

Hi TOPM

Your new focus seems so you. Well done for having the courage to be true to yourself. It is admirable.

As for Holidays, I'd be a huge hypocrite to deny anyone travel, It is the ONLY thing we can buy that makes us richer.
We have discovered the cheapest way to do an abroad Summer holiday is to stay in Ski resorts. They are gorgeous places for hiking in the summer and accommodation (apartments not hotels) and flights are cheap too.
We have just booked a week in Slovenia the last week of August. The flights were £360 for thress of us and the accommodating (2 bed apartment, sleeps 5) was £300.
We will just need car hire and food. The active element would be right up your street too. We went to the Dolomites last year also very budget friendly.

Take care

SM

:rotfl: this is almost exactly what we have done too! The DCs were set on mountain view and lots of walking, so ski resort in summer has proved our best bet too.

debtaghh

You seem really motivated and I hope it goes well for you. I am a long time lurker too but have only replied the odd time. I really enjoy reading your diary so I hope you continue ( if it suits you and you can)