My journey to a debt free life

Onebrokelady

foxgloves wrote: »

Cat teeth cleaning is notoriously pricey. I remember with a past cat we had - a beautiful big grey boy - he needed his teeth cleaning & the vet gave me a quote, & when I went to collect him & pay the bill, it had gone up by another £20 because he was a big cat & the procedure 'needed more anaesthetic than we priced in'. He wasn't even grateful! I could hear him from the waiting room swearing, spitting & yowling at the vet nurse trying to put him in his carry box.

OBL - I know what you mean about being so very glad to have left that horrible January credit card bill/overdraft situation behind. I used to dread it, but during the Spendy Years (well, I've said quite enough in my own diary about how much money I frittered away))I still always repeated the November/December Christmas spending behaviour, even though I knew full well that as sure as night follows day, I would be back in that grim financial position in January.......which following my trips to town & local garden centres plus the Swedish Emporium for the sales......would be even worse by the end of February! It honestly did take the full LBM to break this cycle. The first time I paid off all December's credit card spending IN FULL by the end of December felt like such a breakthrough/ I wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but didn't go round broadcasting it, as it would have felt like I was being a right smuggins.
We can celebrate these things on here though, can't we, as most of us have been in a similar position.
Back in those days, I'd be getting my January pay next Monday. I would have been absolutely dreading my cards being stopped at the tills every time I used them for at least two weeks, made worse by the fact that I fell into the December pay-trap every single year without fail. Oh my days......why DID I choose to live like that for so long?!
F x

Our pets never appreciate what we do for them do they:rotfl:

Sitting in my staff room at work I get the impression everyone is relying on credit to live,I'm just glad I learned my lesson eventually

HairyHandofDartmoor

Onebrokelady wrote: »

Forgot to mention,I'm also feeling very smug at the moment because all week I have been listening to people at work moaning about how long January is and how they are all running up their overdrafts because they have run out of money
That used to be me but although I got paid on the 23rd of December I didn't touch my wages until I should have got paid on the 27th and I saved for Christmas so didn't have to use a credit card to pay for anything, one of my colleagues has had to dip into her overdraft to pay her credit card bill,I'm soooo happy that that is no longer how I live

It's such a wonderful feeling isn't it? Well done for changing your spendy was for frugal ones. You deserve to feel smug :T.

:eek: :eek: :eek: to the vet bills though! It makes me feel thankful I no longer have pets.

Onebrokelady

Well today has been one of those meh days,I didn't wake up until 10.30 which was actually quite nice because I'm shattered for some reason.
DD2 wanted to go into town to get some shopping and return something to Amazon so I went with her for something to do
The cold I thought I was brewing seems to have disappeared thank god,hopefully I've got away with it.

I got my mortgage statement in the post today and it's now less than my debt, I am kicking myself today because if I hadn't been so daft with money I could have paid my mortgage off early,I really didn't have a clue about my mortgage and the benefits of paying it off quicker, it's also one you can make overpayments on and has a no fee early settlement option, which I didn't realise, oh well no point crying over spilt milk

Sun_Addict

Unfortunately we learn the hard way. Still, better late than never. Glad the cold hasn't developed.

Willowtree222

I sometimes get upset about what I could have achieved if I was a little more knowing about debt management. Look at what you are achieving now though. x

Onebrokelady

Nicnak wrote: »

I sometimes get upset about what I could have achieved if I was a little more knowing about debt management. Look at what you are achieving now though. x

I have to keep reminding myself that things could be a whole lot worse and that I did eventually come to my senses about my finances

Onebrokelady

Thats work done for another day,I did struggle today because I couldn't sleep last night,I was wide awake and felt really sick all night,I must have nodded off at about 3ish and I had to get up at 5.30,I felt ok when I left the house but by the time I got to work I started to feel sick again and I've felt like it all day,I did finish the shift though so that's good

I have heartburn now and still feel a bit queasy but not as bad as earlier today,I'm off to bed soon so will hopefully get some sleep tonight

I checked my off duty today and I am working every Sunday in February, this makes me happy because that means my wages in March will be really good,I hope this is a sign of things to come

I'm off tomorrow and don't have any proper plans,I have vague intentions of doing some washing and I have some ironing to do,I should clean the house really because I normally do it on Monday but I'm working so can't, I am definitely doing some sewing as well ,I did quite a bit yesterday but I want to crack on with it now and get it finished

Monday is payday and I can't wait,I don't think this months wages will be that great because my unsocial hours are only one Sunday and half of Christmas Day,I was off sick on the second Sunday I should have worked so won't get any unsocial for that,I want to crack on with my new months budget though, it seems like months since I did my last months budget,why is January twice as long as all the other months �� I can't wait to restart my Christmas savings account this month,I think last year I left it until March to start saving but I'm aiming to start with my January pay this year
I don't have to pay my council tax this month so thats either paying me back my Christmas money that I used for the vets bill or is going towards one of the savings accounts,it depends on how much I get paid
February's council tax money will also be being diverted into savings but I do need to keep in mind that it's DD2s birthday in March so I need to budget for that as well,I'm just thinking I will put as much money in Christmas savings account because this also covers birthdays,I should rename it the present fund really

Oops forgot to add,I made cottage pie yesterday so that is three meals for me and one portion for DGS when he comes on Tuesday,I also have one portion of the bolognese left in the freezer so thats me sorted for meals for the first half of the week

Cherryfudge

Onebrokelady wrote: »

Hi yep pets are exspensive,I come to the sad conclusion that when me current pets are no longer with me I w9nt Be having anymore, it will make me sad but for me it's the responsible thing to do

Did you see the article the other day - I think it was on this site in fact - about fostering animals for animal welfare charities? Most of them pay the costs for the animal. I gather fostering can be for various lengths of time. I'm sure they would welcome experienced animal lovers with open arms.

Willowtree222

keep reminding yourself!

Hope you are feeling better today though, and great news about the other sundays you are in work. I spread my council tax out over the full 12 months now because otherwise it would just be so much. I have little ones birthday in March as well and this year she would like a party (we do alternate years for a party).

Have a lovely day x

Sunshine_girl2

Sounds like things are going well OBL , the extra money in your salary will be very helpful after paying the vet bills.

Hope you are feeling well and ready for the week ahead.