The long haul supporters thread...

In_Search_Of_Me

Itsadogslife (287)
nomorespending (288)
standingtall (289)
recurrent-ostrich (290)
louise3965 (291)
Welcome!

In_Search_Of_Me

Evening lovelies! Sorry been a definate plod here, not helped by Christmas! Trying to pare things down to a minimum and have made some but overall will keep present in total to £200 so am happy with that.
Great to see people chatting! It does tend to get quiet sometimes; probably because long haul can feel very long sometimes! I do admire people who can cut to the bone to pay stuff off but have to admit that I'm more the live a bit camp and would rather do that method! Think it may be a personality thing but alas I don't loathe the banks enough to not want to pay them a penny!
I am away over Christmas and have been a better DFW by changing bank accounts thus getting £100 cashback! Also using quidco more and redid my gas/elec. After Christmas really want to knuckle down. I am trying to get bariatric surgery on the NHS (but ironically am too healthy!) and if I cant will have to come up with 10,000 somehow...never ending isnt it!

thevinternet

Standingtall wrote: »

Yippee. Another thread I can join in with owing to DMP which may be paid up at some point before I die:rotfl: I laugh rather than cry! I suppose I can also use this moment to berate myself for yesterday's overspend too. I went into Sainsbury's; I alternate between there and Lidl. I then spent ..... Wait for it .... £106 !!!! There is only myself, my adult son and my daughter in my home. £106! What was I thinking. I have done so well since starting my DMP.

So these were the big ticket items and the rest really was just food.

So what does everyone else think please? Has anyone else ever written down their overspend like this? Whislt laughing about it now, I still experience a slight sickly feeling about it!

Welcome along! Yes, we long-termers need to stick together!

As regards the food, well I'm sure we have all done a massive overspend before by accident, sometimes I pop in for milk and end up spending £30.

One thing I've found that really helps, is meal planning for the week and then definitely ONLY buying those things, if I plan well enough then I take only the amount of cash I know it will roughly be, rather than taking my card. Or I shop online; I find the amount for delivery will often be less than the extra 'bits and bobs' I pick up if I am wandering around the supermarket.

thevinternet

recurrent-ostrich wrote: »

In a previous life I was a member of the original long haulers thread, prior to the first, or possibly second consolidation.....:o Still, this time I mean it, so can I join this one please? By sticking close to this forum, I'm hoping I can get rid of this blooming debt once and for all considering I've now been in some form of debt or other for all my adult life!

Come on in, the water's fine! I have also been in debt all my adult life but I hope to sort out my mistakes of the past.

thevinternet

louise3965 wrote: »

Can I join please?

We're 5 1/2 years into a DMP with CCCS and have just short of 2 years to go so it feels like we are on the home strait now thank god. It's been the best thing we ever did as we were simply robbing peter to pay paul every month and the stress was unbearable. But the DMP is working and our debts have gone down from 146k (yes, I know....I know) to 38k. I just cant wait for the day we pay off the last card, then I will have a party

Cracking work. :T It will be parties all round, as long as you don't mind economy pork pies

thevinternet

poohbear59 wrote: »

I am still here. Need some strong reminders before I spend anything on Christmas. My most urgent debts are two car repair bills then I can concentrate properly on the long haul again.

My plan is to be debt free in 10 years.

REMIND REMIND REMIND!!! DO NOT SPEND TOO MUCH ON XMAS!!

Strong enough for you?! Seriously though, I need to be careful too!

thevinternet

lucielle wrote: »

Long hauler 124 reporting in. Still plodding but will do a proper up date on 11th December when its our DFW anniversary. Baby steps everyone.
L

Plod along, that's the trick. Curious about the purple numbers on your sig, is that how much you've paid off so far? Hope you don't mind me asking

lucielle

Yes that's this years figure so will let you know in December as had to put another 6k onto the total in January for a new vehicle.
L

nomorespending

Number 288.. Just a quick post before I go to sleep.. Have had a long long weekend working over time yesterday and today, won't see any money though as I'll need to take the time back at some point however I have spent hours tonight putting stuff on eBay on the free listings. I sat there thinking that the number of hours listing and writing descriptions is surely not going to be worth the 1 pound per item I'll probably get plus the time inn posting and packing which is a pain in the bum.. But I wouldn't have been doing anything else so I should shut up and get on with doing constructive things that will help my debt!! At the moment I have 90 pounds in my paypal account from stuff I've sold that was sitting around. I've told myself that whatever money I have in my paypal account by Christmas I can spend when we go out.. Meaning I don't have to be feeling guilty about spending money I could knock off my debt. On the downside I cooked too much veg for tea and instead of throwing it I thought I'd make a soup ( very money saving) but then it was eleven pm I was tired and grumpy at not having a proper weekend so I threw it away.. Very not money saving!! Must do better! tomorrow I need to remember to complete my petrol claim at work and my parking receipts too!! That van be my money saving / earning/ not throwing away mission for tomorrow. It's December this week.. Goodness me!!

recurrent-ostrich

Well today is the start of my new life. OH got paid today (I got paid on Friday) so I've done a budget for the month and allocated money to everything we need and to pay the bills and this month we WILL stick to it. I've used the SOA tool to allocate money for things like car tax and insurance so that this time next year I can pay for it all upfront and not on direct debit like we've always done. And am starting to pay extra on our most costly debt, our Virgin card that is at 34.9% :eek: Have explained to OH what I'm doing and that there will be no more, "Ooh, let's just have a takeaway" unless it's pre-budgeted for. Feeling really positive.