Diary time...

theroamingnomad

Yep, just knuckle down and get it done!

CMI qualification and associated fees for Fellowship once completed.

Wholly necessary as I'm completely underpaid for what I currently do but don't have any certs to justify higher pay. That'll be done and paid off by June. I'll then start looking for better paid work at the end of the year, having already committed to my current employer to finish current work and projects.

How's your journey going?

enthusiasticsaver

Investing in yourself by way of further qualifications is good debt but still sensible to clear ASAP. I will follow with interest.

I think you could say I have reached my destination but looking for further avenues to explore. We aimed to retire early as my DH had a job which involved working long hours, fairly stressful and lots of travel. My Dad died at 62 with no retirement working a similar high pressure and demanding job so we resolved to make our journey different. We moved away from London and the source of stress, I took part time work and my DH sacrificed promotion prospects for more family time, overpayments into pension and less pressured work environment. We are now both early retired at age 57/59 with no debt, no mortgage and savings to top up our pensions. We will be looking for new interests/ travelling and continuing with current hobbies to make our freedom count but we achieved our goal

theroamingnomad

I'm confident that this qualification will open up some real doors for me. I have a goal to save for a deposit on a house after the debt is cleared. I think because of my defaults I'll have to wait a bit so the more put away I have the more attractive, and less risky, I look to potential lenders down the line.

Sounds like you've done tremendously well, with some real life motivation to keep you on track?

theroamingnomad

So I had breakfast and lunch provided so no money spent. A win!

I've come to the decision to realise the capital tied up in my phone and Xbox One. That should yield me at least £400 at their lowest estimates. That will enable me to clear Drafty and free up funds to be distributed elsewhere, likely towards Cabot and have that cleared down quicker.

fatrab

Wise choices. Tough, but wise.


You can have "wants" again later when you've cleared everything up. The Drafty loan is crippling.


Good luck

theroamingnomad

Yep, time to be a realist and reward myself after the hard work is done. I had already budgeted £360 for Drafty this month so with the additional money from the sales I will clear it entirely

My intention is to then use the additional cash to pay down Cabot and they'll be paid in full within two months instead of the three months I initially budgeted for. It should have an impact then on the rest of the debt.

I also have a bonus, not budgeted for, of around £400 in July or so. They're also reviewing pay bands for disclosure around the same time. I'm hoping that will mean I can be cleared by August! That would be a treat! :beer:

I'm on the way home and only have the Starbucks spend against me today! Feeling good! :j

theroamingnomad

Disappointing, but I just popped into CEX. My phone has a slight crack by the bezel so won't get anywhere near enough to justify trading it and they've changed their rates for Xbox Ones so won't get as much as I had hoped for that.

Oh well, my plan is sound and I just plan on trucking on as I was before. I'll pay anything additional I can raise against my debts. I just don't think there's anything else I can cut?

theroamingnomad

Not to be beaten, I decided to list the Xbox One locally on FB and I've got a buyer coming around tomorrow to have a look. I won't start counting the money until it is sold though!

If I get what I'm asking, it will give me enough to pay off Drafty completely (goodbye, payday loan!) and put a little towards Cabot...

I keep playing around with my forecast and could be debt free by the end of August if I stick to my new budget and don't overspend! I can then start the rest of my life; new job, save for a car and house - the usual! Heck, I might even start dating again? Who knows?

fatrab

Good for you, I like your non-defeatist attitude!


Good luck with the sale!

theroamingnomad

I'm not sure there's any other way for me to be. I hate being beaten by anything in life!

I hope it pans out as I'm hoping! I guess we'll see...