The long haul supporters thread...

In_Search_Of_Me

well done jb & roxy! Hope you sort yourself soon roxy..that old ostrich pose tends to be uncomfortable! Have you included some fun money in your monthly allowance? A good idea if you can cos all work & no play I find makes me go of them there rails!!

roxy7699

admittidly I havent quite finished regoing over my budget, but I will have some when I do it - that much Ive worked out. Thankfully I havent increased my debt at all, just not really done much else lol.

In_Search_Of_Me

I've been a bit like that of late...seem to debt bust better in winter!

milliemonster

Hi everyone, just catching up on the thread, some of you are making great inroads into your debts! it does get kind of addicitve doesn't it seeing those numbers coming down each month or few months, I know some of you are struggling aswell by the sounds of things and feel like you're not getting anywhere but I think the biggest thing for me is being back in control, even if the numbers aren't coming down much, I am just so much happier knowing that each time I hand over my debit card, I'm not cringing worrying if its going to be refused and I'm not afraid to open my bank statements anymore as at least I know more or less what we have now as I am keeping track of everthing we spend, thats a really good feeling instead of the last 3 years where I have just repeatedly gone to the cashpoint or used my card in a shop and just prayed it would be accepted.

Even if the debts only come down by a few pounds a month, its better than in going on and at least you're in control, thats a big thing for me

poorbabe

:beer: Hi everyone, I've not posted for a few months but I do lurk and read occasionally.

I have to say I've been struggling a bit these past months and have increased my debts as I'm having two overseas holidays this year. Very bad I know, but I decided to do some living instead of being depressed all the time and extendeing the dfd by a few more months won't hurt me.

Having said that the finances haven't gone completely to pot as I got a very good pay rise and I'll be getting a bonus so the difference in old and new salary will go towards debt reduction and the bonus will help pay for the second holiday.

Also, with all the recent increases , it's concentrated my mind on how to reduce usage even more (one of the few times I'm almost glad to be living on my own :rolleyes: ). I'm making great use of my local library and have been doing a lot of reading this summer. I plan on taking a load of books on my hols to Florida next weekend as I won't have a lot of money, and to be honest, all I want to to do is veg out and relax. I think my SIL has plans for us to visit her relatives and, maybe, Disney and/or one of the other large places but we'll see.

Tackling my debt, albeit slowly, has been good for me in the sense that I now think about what I spend and if I really need to buy 'whatever'. I take lunch to work more often than not and have been using my thermos flask almost daily for the coffee. Just need to reduce the amount I make as I've gone from 1 cup per day (£1) to two+ cups via the thermos!

I go round and switch off the electrics from the socket, where I can and whilst I'm not able to sit in the dark and watch the tv, I now use one desk lamp and the kitchen light (strip light). I'm more careful with my water usage, but admittedly only in the kitchen as I love having a shower and could stay in it for hours . I only do a big shop when there is very little in the cupboards and I can't put together a decent meal with whatever's left, so consequently online shopping is about once every two months.

Slow steps for sure, but I know I'll get there in a few years:T

Keeping_Positive

Sounds like you have things under control Poobabe. Its more important to enjoy life whilst clearing the debt rather than being misrable and clearing it faster. All that will happen in the second instance is a big blow out and back to step one.

I was keeping spends low but I have had a few over the last two days. Not sure if I can hit my £200 GC challenge unless I am very strict on myself and family.

Am now moving cc debts onto overdraft. I say debts I have been clearing them each month but I have found the monthly total has been increasing and making it almost impossible to pay off so I had rather pay a bit more interest and know where I am IYGWIM.

Hope you are all ok

xx

milliemonster

poorbabe, good for you with your holidays!, I think for all us longhaulers as keeping positive has said, we can't all be expected not to have a life at all whilst trying to pay stuff off, I think as long as you know you are in control then over the course of time the debts do decrease, I hope you have a great time in Florida!!

In_Search_Of_Me

Morning all. Enjoy the hol poorbabe - could sil visit people while you chill by the pool with a book sometimes? My totals will go up this month as have spent quite a bit on my sewing machine, an eve class and equipment but I'm ok with it - I paid 700 off last month so borroed 500 back and its a rare event now. Have done lots of babysitting so that helps and I'll end the month wih no o/d which is an improvement on the last few months. Mind you I feek shattered and this w/e has been busy but I did earn a fair amount back so its worth it.
Yup balance is important! Have donated 10 to piggy who is getting quite heavy now, even since being broken into earlier in the year!

jonnyboy80

Evening all! Paid £142 off my Egg card today so feeling quite chuffed! Had applied for the Capital One 0% deal for 15 months last week and found out today I have been turned down but did get their bog standard card which came with 0% on purchases til next Feb so not all bad news How is everyone getting on this month? Have hit a rut at the moment in that I need to shift my Egg card balance of 5K quickly as the 0% anniversary deal runs out at the end of the month hence the reason I applied for the Cap One deal!! Good luck everyone and keep busting those debts! :j

Keeping_Positive

I was in a tight spot with unexpected spends such as glasses and dentist but thought I had got on top of it until yesterday. We found out the car needs a new petrol tank. Thankfully being an old banger the replacement tank was just £40 and labour will be between £40-80 hopefully the former. Still money I didnt have.

The way Ive been feeling recently I feel I may blow the holiday budget a bit this time. Im fed up of saying we cant afford it all the time.

Hope others are having a better time.