£50k to zero - made it across the finish line

One-step-at-a-time

redofromstart wrote: »

I vaguely know about pensions, so first thing is join your work one if you can. If it's a 5/5 matched contribution then this is free money in the pot. As a minimum they have to put a few percent in if you put 3 in, although that increases to 5 in April. Plus you get tax relief on your bit which helps too.
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Hope this helps

Hi redofromstart, thanks for taking the time to comment! That does help - I'd be starting off only being able to put in a fraction of what I *should* do in order to make things up at this point in time, but taking my head out of the sand is a good start. The workplace pension is a matched contribution one, and from what I recall it's around the 5-6% mark, if I can start with half payments (which I believe is possible through arrangement), that's something I can start doing this year. It will take another shift in mindset and a big reworking of the spreadsheets to get that up and running whilst keeping the debt demolition pace up, but something is better than nothing!

One-step-at-a-time

That debt is going DOWN! :beer:

We are *very* down to the wire on this month's finances, £10 remaining for food top-ups between now and next Wednesday night. It's going to be very close, but doable. I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow and plenty of muesli still at work for breakfast, and will take some yoghurt in tomorrow to go with that.
I've been cheating my travel budget this week by getting buses instead of the train when I've had sufficient time to do so, and so far this has saved me £6.80, which I'll hopefully be able to leave in my Starling account, and then roll over into my savings at the end of the month.

I've got £5.35 pending in Prolific to add to the £2.67 that's currently there, so creeping very slowly towards the next cashout as well.

DH had some great news today about a job in May, no great shakes financially, but something that's always a huge boost to him as he loves it so much. He'll be away for juuuust long enough for me to do my planned stealth renovation of our bathroom (bit of filler, a repaint and a new DIY bath panel). Which reminds me, I need to do an inventory of all our paint this weekend, there are probably a few little jobs that we have enough supplies to complete.

gallygirl

One-step-at-a-time wrote: »

I confess the pension boards scare me a lot more than the DFW one does. I've dipped in to have a look a few times, but haven't posted because I feel like with the huge black hole where my pension planning should have been for the last 25 years I'd be consigned to the naughty step immediately!

The pensions board is really helpful if you go on and ask for help. They suffer fools gladly but don't suffer know-it-alls-who-are-really-fools so well . Seriously all of you, get on there if you need advice and STOP PROCRASTINATING. NO BAKING ALLOWED .

One-step-at-a-time

gallygirl wrote: »

The pensions board is really helpful if you go on and ask for help. They suffer fools gladly but don't suffer know-it-alls-who-are-really-fools so well . Seriously all of you, get on there if you need advice and STOP PROCRASTINATING. NO BAKING ALLOWED .

:wave: Hello and thank you! I'm going to spend a bit more time lurking there, and start offline by investigating the employer's pension properly.

One-step-at-a-time

I'm having a major attack of the 'are we nearly there yet?' s tonight! Thanks to a referral bonus and a brief run of surveys I've just cashed £11.39 out from PA, which was an unexpected boost. I probably won't see it until almost payday, but it's nice to have something on the way.

Almost a NSD today other than needing milk, but it was on what worked out as a two for one and a bit offer, so at least now we are sorted for well past payday. DH is being a bit whingy tonight about lack of food choice, but we both know that what he really means is that we're out of good cheddar (which we are both perfectly capable of living without for five days and we still have other cheese!).

The bank account still stands at £5.89 and I should end the month with around £10 still in the Starling acct for travel.

The weekend shouldn't cost anything at all (the only planned outing is to the tip and there's still plenty of fuel in the car), and next week's breakfasts and lunches are covered as we have plenty of cereal, soup and sandwich ingredients.

One-step-at-a-time

We are on the home stretch for debt #4!

I am excited for Thursday morning. In fact I'm planning on staying up past midnight to check that my wages have gone in, and paying it off before I go to sleep. In the meantime, I need to pull my finger out and get some more auctions started; there's another low final fees offer running until Monday night. I would ideally like to get the spare room cleared of all eb4y bits in the next 2-3 weeks as we've got a friend coming to stay, but the pile is at least diminishing and can be fitted into one cupboard now.

We didn't do the tip run today as DH's back has been iffy and he was wary trying to lift too much, but I've got the next load mostly sorted out, and filled the compost bin up again while I was outside.

enthusiasticsaver

Almost there with debt number 4 then. I would also get yourself over to pensions. We are friendly there too

Drawingaline

Lol gallygirl and enthusiasticsaver. I plan to ask for advice on the pension board, I just need to find the log in details of my last company pension. I need advice on doing one myself as I am self employed, I just want to have all te facts to hand for all my old company ones.

Onestepatatime, wow, that big payment will really help your monthly budget. Can't believe you have been paying it for a year well done! Don't go crazy next month :rotfl:

gallygirl

One-step-at-a-time wrote: »

I am excited for Thursday morning. In fact I'm planning on staying up past midnight to check that my wages have gone in, and paying it off before I go to sleep.

Start checking from around 10pm the previous night, mine always went in a few hours early. Oh what joy that gave me :rotfl:.

Dottles1

Hi One Step (and all)
I found your thread this morning and have read it from the start. Can I say that I am blown away by your determination and planning in managing your debts. I am also trying to get my final debts down now and have picked up quite a few tips from reading about your journey.
I put all small amounts saved/accrued into one account but have realised this can easily be used for other things without thinking. I'm definitely going to pay over smaller amounts as and when throughout the month.
Need to tighten up my budgets and get myself back onto Eb4y asap.
I feel a sort out coming on!!

I will be following you and can't wait to celebrate your final big payment to the dragon with you.

Well done so far. You are an inspiration