Coffee, Cake, Yarn - New Start

Mumoffourkids

I know its a pain when you actually have to do some work!

I know what you mean about focusing on the small things. I found that focusing on one debt and clearing that one really helped. I chucked all the extras at that one debt and it was clear in a month. It did help with the money I got from my nan. Is the first debt you are going to concentrate on a small one or a large one?

joeyjimbles

Nah, you've got this. It's just going to take a little while.
If you break your MBNA down instead of 100 x £23.85 its 1000 x £2.40 then it might feel a bit more like your frequent £1 pay offs are having an effect.

Mayb even stop looking at the big total all the time and look at getting to 10% so £238.50 then divide by 100 to get that c£2.40. It doesn't change the end game but it makes the achievements feel like what they are, little steps to your goal.

ETA. It also helps crystalise the mind when faced with a £2.50+ cup of coffee or similar choice

CoffeeCakeYarn

Thanks you two

Mumof4 - I 'only' have 4 debts. MBNA, Barclaycard, Ma and ZOPA - in order of size. MBNA is actually the smallest. That sounds awful doesn't it. 26k debt over 4 lenders. MBNA is the smallest and the first where 0% runs out. If I stick to my plan I will only need to find £53 between now and November and I will have cleared it before the 0% ends. Easy, right?

Joey - You are so so so right. Considering my usual costa is £3.40, hence stopping myself last week and actually using the points to pay for it instead! I know I keep harping on about it, but March can't come quick enough for a wee little bit extra to chuck at the debts and the life. Thanks for the encouragement. Seeing 2249 is a much better motivator than seeing 26000!

Just popped to sainsbos for the points shop, another successful £2.50 on the nectar card, and found the wine for £3.75, £1.25 saving on the £5 I budgeted for it. Yay for the little wins!

rexelpink

Hi Coffee,

I have just sat and read your diary, I am going to subscribe. Ive come back to MSE after about an 18 month period where I thought I was coping without my diary - turns out I was NOT! So now I am back to posting every day too. (I also suffer badly with 'over posting' - just find it really helps me to keep motivated if I post regularly)

Well done on lasting the month and staying within budget. Its a hard slog when its a long month, you have done really well (some months I struggle with just a standard month!) especially with the car! - You have actually reminded me my MOT is due soon I think? Hmm must check that!

You've really made me think about ebay too. I have been putting it off because of the postage fees, but as you say those small £1 sales soon add up when you put them all together! Thanks for the inspiration

CoffeeCakeYarn

Hey, welcome rexelpink I'm going to go read your diary now My MOT is also due in March, but the garage have offered to do it for £35 and he said he's convinced that given the work the car has just had done (and the new tyre coming next week) it'll be a pass. Fingers crossed you don't get any unexpected repairs on yours!

Overposting is real haha. It really does help me though, I'm just a little more aware of what I'm doing, a little more motivated, and a little less isolated in my debt bubble.

Crack on with the ebay, I've made £12.37 profit so far this month, not much but better than chucking it in the bin! x

Drawingaline

Hi, just been reading through your diary. You sound so focused, and well done for sticking to the money making things. I tried surveys last year and made £20 but found it far too time consuming.

Know what you mean about waiting for payday. I have five paydays a month (various benefits and two lots of wages) but the wait between the food and petrol paydays seems to go on forever sometimes!

Mumoffourkids

I know what you mean about lots of paydays drawingaline. At the moment I get two lots of money every Monday, one lot of maintenance every Friday, housing benefit every two weeks on a Friday, my wages once a month on the third Thursday of the month and another lot of maintenance on the 25th of every month. Talk about confusing! I am also very paranoid about paying my big bills at the end of the month, so I put money aside each week just in case!

kimplus8

Im subbing to this diary, I love it.
Keep going, you are doing amazingly, you say 'only 4 debts' but its what those debts mean to you that make them big or small. one person could have 20 debts and feel less snowed under than someone with 2 debts. You have 4 debts and you feel like that is 4 too many- thats your focus.
I love seeing people that get get to this determined and focused stage, you got this!!!!

CoffeeCakeYarn

Hello Drawingaline and Kimplus8! Thanks for popping in

It's mcpayday! FINALLY! I would love it if I got bits in weekly, but numbers isn't my strongest and I have a feeling I would just get confused so probably or the best I don't lol.

Thanks Kim It's 4 too many but I feel in control, for now. It's the what if that scares me, if I got sick again I'd be totally out of the game, so that's my reasons for doing this. I want to be able to look after myself financially should I need another 6 months off work. Sometimes I don't feel very determined though, it can feel a little overwhelming, but rome wasn't built in a day, right?

It's PAYDAY.

I've said it before, I know, but it's been so so so very long coming. I'm off to do payday maths and will be back with my first payday check in. Wahooooo!

CoffeeCakeYarn

Month Round Up - January

Original Debt: £26218.58
Now: £25554.46
Jan Payment: £664.12
Total Payment: £664.12

2.53% Paid.

Target Debt:
MBNA: £2385
Now: £2237.73
Jan Payment: £147.27

6.17% Paid :j

Spends:
Food: £53.63
Toiletries: £3
Petrol: £70
Vape: £17.69
Fun: £39.90
Other: £7.20 (trains)

Extra Earnings: £119.12