Adventure wanted, but first we must rid ourselves of debt

AdventureWanted

2019 v 2018 debt roundup . (2018 figures in red).

Joint Debt
CC1 - £0.00 £0.00
CC2 - £0.00 £0.00.
CC3 - £0.00 £4,500.00.
CC4 - £9,620.00 £11,180.00.

Total debt - £9,620.00 £15,680.00

DHs Business Cc
Total - £1,355.00 £12,270.91

Total debt at 2019 £10,975.00.
Total debt at 2018 £27,950.91

Comparing the total debt between 2018 and 2019 is quite motivating, although also slightly depressing when you think of the amount paid to debt this year and that I've still got a long way to go.

Overall I think it has been a very successful debt busting year. Next year when DH buys the newer car the debt level won't be as high as in 2018, which will be a slight consolation. Still gutted it'll be increasing, but it'll be a new figure to aim for. Looks like the end of 2021 will be our DF target now.

AdventureWanted

Morning,

Just checked my top cashback and quidco accounts and both have money available for payout . Have withdrawn £7.54 from top cashback and £13.32 from Quidco. A few weeks back I sent two large envelopes of used ink cartridges to The Recycling Factory and I have £24 due back to me. I'm so impressed, as some of the cartridges were a few years old and they were no use to me, so really pleased with the extra cash. Not sure when the Recycling Factory money will be transferred, but hopefully by the end of January I'll have it. If not, I'll email them about how to cash out the money. Will send this extra cash to the CC when they clear my bank.

Have another quiet day today, which I'm loving at the moment. Think today is the day the Christmas decorations come down, so will be nice to get the Living Room back to normal.

jwil

Wow, look how much you've cleared in a year :T :T :T That's amazing.

I hope that makes you feel a bit better - it is overwhelming at times but you've done so well. You've cleared £17k in a year :j :j

If it's going to demotivate you, why not ignore the car finance for now? Continue smashing those debts and then target that one after? Or is it the highest interest?

Keep at it, you are doing fab.

Happy New Year

AdventureWanted

jwil wrote: »

Wow, look how much you've cleared in a year :T :T :T That's amazing.

I hope that makes you feel a bit better - it is overwhelming at times but you've done so well. You've cleared £17k in a year :j :j

If it's going to demotivate you, why not ignore the car finance for now? Continue smashing those debts and then target that one after? Or is it the highest interest?

Keep at it, you are doing fab.

Happy New Year

Thanks Jwil. I think with the car it just feels like we're so close to winning and then there's more to deal with! Finance is sorted, but car is being bought on Thursday, so will add it to the list then (or maybe a separate list). Luckily rather than get car finance we had a money transfer offer on one of our old CCs, so have taken £10k (plus £350 MT fee) at 0% over 26 months. Once all the other CCs have gone it should be fairly easy to clear the debt within the 26 months, just feel like I've been here forever and still haven't quite managed to get to grips with it all! Oh well another year or two on the forum should hopefully cement the MSE ways and hopefully I'll finally manage to rein in the grocery budget!

Hope everyone reading this has a fantastic new year. Here's to a healthy, happy & prosperous 2020. Thank you all for your support and reading along with my journey . I never imagined when I started my diary a few years back how important this forum would end up being.

jwil

Wow, that's even better getting it on 0% :T A car isn't just debt for the sake of it, it at least has a use.

Happy New Year!

CJRyder

Hi there! I found your diary today and, after reading all the way through, just wanted to say what a smashing job you have done in your debt reduction. The few cash withdrawals on CCs did make me cringe as I have almost been caught out by that when I wasn't paying attention and put the wrong card in the machine. You have done a wonderful thing and I'm glad that DH is on board.

AdventureWanted

Hi CJRyder :wave: thanks for stopping by .

Today I've paid £35 to the CC. I received in the bank today £7.54 from top cashback and £24 from The Recycling Factory for old ink cartridges, so I've rounded it up and paid it off DHs course CC.

Groups started back today, which was really good. DC3 had swimming lessons, which she really loved. Was nice to be back to normality.

The EF has been topped up with a whopping £4!! Should have been £100, but we had to have a plumber out to unblock a drain. Am very pleased that we have the EF money available for these expenses.

On Friday we have got a new mattress being delivered, which I'm really looking forward to. Our current mattress is giving me back pain most days, so will be good to get rid of it. Just need to figure out how I'll manage to dispose of the old one. Also need to tidy up my bedroom and the landing prior to the delivery Friday, as think they'd struggle to put it in our room at the moment.

DH has started working away . He left yesterday and will be away for 10 nights. The DC were all in weird moods last night, which I think was due to him being away. Only plus side to him not being here is that it's one less person to clear up after! Hoping that we manage to get a good routine going and that it's not really hard with him being away. Bedtime always seems to be the time when we struggle, as DC1&2 find it hard to be quiet whilst I'm trying to put DC3 to bed or DC2 keeps coming through to ask me questions.

Am trying hard to be better with finances this month. Have got my meal plan sorted for the week, so just need to make sure I stick to it. I'd forgotten that this was a 5 week month, so really need to be good with the food shops.

AdventureWanted

Morning,

The DD for DHs course CC has come out today. It's an annoying non rounded amount that has been taken, so I've used the Quidco cash back money which has arrived in my account today plus a little bit extra to make the balance a nice rounded amount again. Well rounded to the nearest £10 not £100. Balance now stands at £1,240. Keep trying to work out how soon I can get rid of this amount! It's amazing how much time I waste fiddling with my CC spreadsheet! As long as nothing unexpected happens I should hopefully be rid of it by the end of Feb, which will then give me 8 and a bit months to pay off the whopper CC, which is currently sitting at £9,620. Not sure whether that'll be doable, but it'll be a good challenge to see how close I can get. Once that's gone then it'll be DHs new car finance to tackle.

Me & the DC are off to my parents today, which will be really nice. We also get a roast dinner out of it, so it's going to be a good day . Hope you all have a great day whatever you're doing.

Starmummy

Hi Adventure,

long time no speak.
I've loved catching up on your diary. I am so amazed how well you did last year. Just think by the end of this year you could be debt free and living all those adventures you dreamed of.

Take care
SM
x

AdventureWanted

Hi Starmummy,
Nice to hear from you. Have been wondering how you've been getting on, so was pleased when you updated your diary. Can't quite imagine what life will be like when we are eventually DF and can go on adventures, but I cannot wait for that day to come.x