The long haul supporters thread...

sashanut

Hi all
Haven't posted for a long while as I have had a p/t job which just ended last Saturday, not a great deal extra money coming in from it but allowed me to stock up from staff shop so groceries should be way cheaper for a few months! Reason for posting is that I have - finally - got up the courage to find out exactly how much each of our debts are - & the interest rate - & put them into the snowball calculator. OMG that was a bit of a shock, I also then put in a rather large amount to start paying back each month - & have just made the first payment towards it :eek: I just hope that we can afford to pay off a decent chunk each month. One thing I did decide was to set a grocery challenge, & any left over at the end of the month - & there should be some, given the stockpile I have :rotfl: - I will also pay off the card. There, I've put it down in writing, onwards & upwards.....oh, the debts are just the ccs, not the overdraft or mortgage BTW!!! Good luck everyone:D

black_taxi_2

a ok plan today is better than no plan tomorrow

poorbabe

thevinternet wrote: »

Ain't that the truth!! Life is soooo much easier when you don't have to think about every bloomin' penny, I miss those days too. BUT it is much nicer in the long run to never have to worry about unpaid bills, credit card balances etc. I actually look forward to my statements coming each month now so that I can see the progress I'm making, how sad is that?!:rolleyes:

I'm very impulsive too, and I agree with you that changing your mindset is the hardest challenge of all, especially for us long-termers. That's usually a reason why we got in so much debt to begin with, I guess!:p

Anyway my Aquarian friend, well done on the 'growing up' as you put it - we'll just have to learn to be fun and spontaneous in other ways I guess!!:D

xx

Am now trying to convince myself that cooking my dinner is better than ordering out, assuming anybody is delivering tonight :rotfl:

In_Search_Of_Me

Londons a ghost town isnt it poorbabe? Lol re growing up/changing/cooking etc...changes take time but its worth it in the end as you realise how much you wasted! The odd splurge is good but I start to panic now if I spend too much - in the same way that I (unbelievably) used to panic if I handt bought something every day...how times have changed eh!

poorbabe

I did cook my own dinner last night and managed to save £1 off the bus fare this morning by walking from Elephant to London Bridge (I left home early!). HOWEVER, any savings was completely wiped out as I didn't get up in time to fill my flask with coffee or have brekkie and make my lunch so I've, so far, spent £3.70 on breakfast and will be buying lunch today

I really really struggle to get out of bed during the winter despite my SAD light, but I know laziness is another part of it. All I need to do is make my sarnies the night before or at the very least get the stuff out before I go to bed :rolleyes:

I'll have to redeem myself tomorrow and hope I'll be able to cycle home tomorrow night and to/from work on Friday - that will save £4 at a minimum - weather permitting. It's still icy on my local pavements so walking in the road is the safer option at the minute :mad:


Update: After a lunchtime run, dodging the ice patches, lunch cost me £3.67 plus 45p for a Twix.

No cycling home tonight as forgot the key for the bike lock, but managed to bring lunch/coffee in so only bought a packet of crisps and a Twix................... but might buy another Twix later.

reb

sashanut wrote: »

Hi all
Haven't posted for a long while as I have had a p/t job which just ended last Saturday, not a great deal extra money coming in from it but allowed me to stock up from staff shop so groceries should be way cheaper for a few months! Reason for posting is that I have - finally - got up the courage to find out exactly how much each of our debts are - & the interest rate - & put them into the snowball calculator. OMG that was a bit of a shock, I also then put in a rather large amount to start paying back each month - & have just made the first payment towards it :eek: I just hope that we can afford to pay off a decent chunk each month. One thing I did decide was to set a grocery challenge, & any left over at the end of the month - & there should be some, given the stockpile I have :rotfl: - I will also pay off the card. There, I've put it down in writing, onwards & upwards.....oh, the debts are just the ccs, not the overdraft or mortgage BTW!!! Good luck everyone:D

WELL DONE YOU! :T

fedupandskint

:hello: Hi guys,

Would you mind if I joined - it's time I faced up to being in for the long haul. I'm currently tackling CC1 with a balance of £4000 at 0% BT for 14mths remaining. I have not used this card for 3yrs due to no space left on the limit and have paid the min payments by DD, and what a surprise - the balance hasn't gone down! :wall:

CC2 with HSBC at £1500 not sure of interest rate
Dorothy Perkins Storecard at 26.9% at £167 :wall:

Next job is to find another balance transfer card for these for these 2 and work towards paying these CC debts off

I have a car loan ending in July 09 at £174 per month and and stuipid long term HSBC one for the best part of 5yrs.

So lets be right I am a long hauler, taking small steps towards being debt free, goodness only knows when I will be card free (then I'll worry about the loan)_pale_

Any space on the long haul flight for me?

Keeping_Positive

Welcomt to the board fedupandskint.

Have you looked at the debt free snowball calculator? I would say tackle the highest interest rates first then the 0%. You can always BT when the 14 months is almost up.

http://www.whatsthecost.com/snowball.aspx

sashanut

I must have my head in the sand as I only just noticed the sneaky ways the cc providers try to part you from yet MORE of your money! As I said in my earlier post, I've just started finally tackling my debts head-on this year & after using the snowballer, decided to start paying of the first high interest card (Citibank; 26.9%:eek: ). Studied for the first time the small print on the bill as to how to make an extra payment, saw that to call them is an 0870 no - & no alternative listed at saynoto0870 either. I also have a citibank bank a/c, so I think I can register the card online & just make a transfer, very difficult to do this at first but I go through all the hoops online - only to find that at the end to 'activate the account' you HAVE to call - yes, that 0870 no! OK, I think,well it's a one-off, I get through & get the a/c activated & the guy asks if I need any other service. Well, I need to pay this first snowball amount, so I say yes I want to make a payment, then suddenly I think to ask him if there is a charge for this service. Yes, indeed, they charge you £3 for accepting a payment:eek: I know it's not much but every little helps as we know in the old long-haul.......he does however, transfer me back to the automated system to make a payment - for which there is no charge, whew :T

Sorry for the long post but I think you really need to have your wits about you & be wise to all their tricks to part you from your cash.:D

I will need to de-motivate myself this week as we are having a little trip away next weekend. Nice, but I already caught myself looking at clothes catalogues for new things to wear...... I don't NEED any more clothes, OK now is the time to 'Shop from my wardrobe', any encouragement, kicks up the behind etc gratefully received :rotfl:

fedupandskint

sashanut wrote: »

I will need to de-motivate myself this week as we are having a little trip away next weekend. Nice, but I already caught myself looking at clothes catalogues for new things to wear...... I don't NEED any more clothes, OK now is the time to 'Shop from my wardrobe', any encouragement, kicks up the behind etc gratefully received :rotfl:

Hi Sashanut,

This might offer some support and help

I'm doing 'The Crazy £100 Clothes Challenge' - pledge to not spend more than £100 on clothes all year. There are lots of people doing this challenge in similar situations and lots of support run by the wonderful Lula Hula!