The long haul supporters thread...

Jacks_xxx

hunnybeanz wrote: »

hi all,
can i join please? i'm looking at a looooong time, as i dont seem to be getting anywhere!
i keep paying, and they keep taking, but the never seems to go down any

can i have a number too please?!

:A

Hi Hunnybeanz!

Maybe the Snowball Calculator would help you make a better dent in it?

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

You give it all the info about your debts and how much you can afford to pay a month and it tells you the fastest way to pay them off.

It inspired us to cut back our spending so that we could pay off more money and clear it all faster.

Our original DFD was 2028 and if we can pay £1750 a month out of the basic £2600 we bring home each month we'll be free and clear next Christmas! We're doing all we can to increase the amount of money we bring in whilst also keeping the spending down too. (Just don't ask me about how much I've spent on Christmas pressies - they're a bit of a chink in my MSE armour!)

Even £50 a month extra can cut off as much as a year from your debt free date wheras just paying the minimums will keep you paying forever (literally)

We also balance transferred to low interest and 0% cards to wherever we could, and we asked the lenders to freeze our interest and some of them did!

Let us know how you get on honey!

Love Jacks xxx

In_Search_Of_Me

Ama (72)
Hunnybeanz (73)

Welcome both! It does take time and some months I end up tw steps back, like this month where I think I've stuffed the budget a bit but not gone totally OTT! This time of year is hard for all DFW's but we long haulers I think get it slightly worse as we know we'll be here for years! At least we'll have each other along the way! Have got all the ingredients to make turkish delight so that & cleaning out the turtle are the jobs for tonight...next weekend will be defrosting the freezer! Fab eh! Hope you are all ok and coping with the stress of DFW christmas. One bonus for me is that even though I've always been quite good at pressie buying I do put much more thought in now than I used to...definately more selective! Have people got any hints for first year long haulers on surviving Christmas? Mine would be dont go mad - remember its just one day and think of that gut wrenching "oh s*it" feeling when you fancy a splurge!

penguin83

Hi ISOM sounds like you have got a fun weekend ahead!

Hello to all newbies.

I have done most of my christmas shopping online to avoid overspending. I have found this works best on the kids presents as otherwise I buy everything that I can!

How is everyone managing this week? x x

poorbabe

:T I think I might have found my dress for the ball... finally:j AND it only cost me £25, as I used a £50 House of Frazer voucher I got from my boss last Christmas. It was reduced to £75 from £150.

Treated myself to a nice lunch. Expensive too at £17.90 including tip but I'd neglected to bring some snacks with me and didn't think I'd make it home without gorging on chocolate and lucozade which would have given me a sugar overload.

I know I'm going to have that :eek::eek:, sick feeling when I finally calculate my spendings and financial manoeuverings for this moment, but I'm quite pleased with myself for not getting caught up in the spending frenzy and making use of vouchers (even old ones) and strange cooking concoctions on a Saturday when I'd normally order a takeaway :D

millionaire_in_training

This week is a total nightmare for me. DS's birthday on Monday so taking him and a pal to the science centre tomorrow. Need to pay for me and DD too though. Will be expensive. Got some goodies today though for a packed lunch for us so hopefully that will keep the cost down. Looking forward to it, it should be a good day. Just crippling me spending wise but we are making memories. x

taxi73

Evening fellowlaunghaulers...
Hang on in there..we can do it!!!...it may take us a while but we will get there!!!
A couple of tips that have worked for christmas for me is to be honest with the family...and...sit down and think of how much you'd like to spend on each person and think of ideas of what to buy before hitting the shops as this will cut out panic buying...I explained to my lot that as I was in a lot of debt and wasn't prepared to go any further into debt that I would be spending a lot less and that didn't mean that I loved them any less and they were absolutely fine and relieved as that took some pressure off them too...and...stick to your budget.
I found pre-planning really helped me instead of panic buying..mine is now all done and wrapped all I've left to do is write christmas cards...so I can now relax...
Welcome to the new joiners ...you'll find lots of advice and encouragement on these boards...
As for spending I'm feeling really positive as I spent £33 this week on new clothes but apart from that no spend days here..on the debt busting front watch this space on monday ...and am extremely happy with myself!!!...take care xx

taxi73

I'm so pleased as I've just made an overpayment of £1000 on my egg card...

hunnybeanz

jacks, thanks for that link... will give it a whirl in a min and see what we come up with :T

in search of me... thanks for my number, will add it to my sig soon as, feels quite "belonging-y" if that makes any sense? i think what i mean, is that its good to know it's not just me thats in a bit of a mess! (no offense intended!)



in terms of tips, i find that if i can take my mind off of wanting to buy... eg. leave the shop to think about it, or something, i find that i generally dont want to buy the thing a little bit later.... comes down to impulse i suppose, those crafty shopkeepers.. :rolleyes:


long term tips.... erm.... i just keep my fingers crossed and keep telling myself that in ten or twenty years, i'll be more or less sorted!

candyblue

taxi73 wrote: »

I'm so pleased as I've just made an overpayment of £1000 on my egg card...

Well done you and to do it in December:T

In_Search_Of_Me

mrning debtbusters! No probs hunneybeanz & no offense taken - its good to feel that you're not alone! I am a tad confused though & hope you dont mind me asking but are the debts in your sig the only ones or are there others? JUst confused with the 20 years comment & the level of your debts? Sorry just being nosy!
Well I made my turkish delight & what can I say but I'm not sure its all as it should be so may have to have another go! The rosewater I think is a dliuted version so it doesent taste much of rose and the colour is interesting! Not sure I can give them as presents but have yet to taste properly as I forgot waxed paper!
Hope tomorrow goes ok MIT - hard these expensive venturings out but an essential part of life! I always try & console myself that I would have gone mad with spending before but am now very reserved in comparison!
Wow thats amazing taxi, well done you and as CB says in December!! Very impressive!!
Have a good day all!