The long haul supporters thread...

millionaire_in_training

Pay day for me tomorrow:j . Should see a difference in my totals then. My car is due its first MOT this month but I am hoping it wont cost too much. I will have to work out my budget tomorrow and restart my spending diary and grocery challenge as I have been doing some silly spending this month. No council tax this month either so hopefully that will cover my MOT. I am knackered tonight as I have had 3 late nights in a row doing an assignment. Sent it in today and now have 2 weeks to do any corrections so hopefully there wont be too many :eek: . xx

phoenixchick

It's payday so I couldn't resist updating my totals so far this month, even though there are still a few more payments to go out. I made a point of paying off one or two of the smaller debts, just so I could cross them out on my spreadsheet (sad I know).

Meant to keep a spending diary, but haven't got round to it yet, rather stressed at the mo as work is really awful. However I decided to put a limit on my coffee habit - I put £20 onto a Starbucks card to do me until Easter, I will have to be strict with myself and not top it up.

For Feb I have made £18 on bingo, £6.85 on pigsback, £45 from quidco as well as starting to add up points on a couple of survey sites.

I still need to get hold of my credit report to find out how bad the situation really is, but at least I have now paid off my capital one CC!

prophecy_grrl

Morning all

Have just joined the make £10 a day in March challenge, any other long haulers partaking?

Quick update on the debt - I have realised that my DFD is actually August 2010, not Sept (told you my maths is rubbish hehehe), so it's closer than I thought :j We'll be cracking open the Lambrini / lambrusco / moet / Saspirilla (?!?!?!) in no time!

This week I'm going to call the loan companys to find out if I can make overpayments, and see if I can bring the date forward sooner again. I'm also starting my spending diary again from today, and will be doing my March budget.

Anyone got any plans for the weekend / upcoming week?

Keeping_Positive

Hello

Weldone Pheonixchick and good luck Prophery grrl :j .

Babysitting this weekend so should limit the time available to spend!. Still got the rest of weekly shop to fit in.

Lowered my total last week 44p over £17K. Next month is key for me I need to not overspend my bonus and use it wisely because its the last six months of the year where the debt is likley to increase.

Feeling a bit sensitive had a couple too many :beer: .

mark55man

Bit late to the party as ever, but with 5 figures of debt and 6 figures of mortgage this is going to be me for a while.

Looking forward to getting to know you all - I'm on the computer quite a lot doing Matched Betting, a bit of bingo (not really my cup of tea but ££££ are nice), not much clickback - too boring, so I'll try and keep in touch every few days.

already been in the long haul for 6 months, mainly establishing more frugal routines with the whole family (OH + 4 tweenies (8-12))

so if I can have a number that would be cool - to go with my Nerd number, and my £10 a day challenge

Keeping_Positive

Welcome Mark88man

Look forward to following your progress.

In_Search_Of_Me

mark88man welcome - no 111 foryou!
Can relate to the starbucks "habit" pc - its a skinny tazo chai latte for me! Have reached a compromise and now buy a box of tea (£3.50) and only very rarely get a coffee - usually gasping "how much" like a truely converted DFW when I do!!
PG thats FAB!! If loan cs wont accept overpayment will you save in a high interest account pay early? Its a toughie if they're front loaded as financially no benefit to you paying early but psych a massive boost releasing teh millstone of debt....I'll never manage to pay all of mine early but when I've paid my CC's off (next year I hope!) can then try to save & pay one of my loans off early which will give me £200 a month extra and all in all will halve the amount that goes on debt repayment...
wendy...focus!! How about putting the bonus amount into snowball & comparing it with no bonus amount to see the difference it willmake to the DFD?
HUgs all! Mark why not tell us a bit about yourself?

Squirrel29

It seems like ages since I was on here. I have been away on holiday to New York (was very well behaved and only spent £50 on myself which must be something of a world record on a trip there!) Obviously had food costs and transport but managed to come back with £100 left over after taking £400!

I have been doing lots of overtime and have very nearly made it to the bronze Olympic challenge. Debts are now sub £10k. I really can't believe that 6 months ago I coudn't see a way out of this mess and felt suicidal

I don't think I will be able to keep up this momentum as DS leaves school this year and I will lose CB and tax credits but at least for the first time, I have got my debts down so that it won't be as much of a struggle. If I had continued to have my head buried in the sand I would have been in a right pickle.

I also paid off my £1100 overdraft. It is wonderful to see a credit balance and this is the first month when they will owe me interest!!

I will spend this weekend trying to catch up on the forum and seeing what everyone has been up to. Love to you all!!:T

phoenixchick

Hi Mark88,:wave:
Best of luck with your challenges.
Hope everyone has a good day. ISOM coffee is my true vice, usually make several cups a dat at home, but am partial to a skinny vanilla latte. :coffee: Mmmm!

I am enjoying reducing the amounts on my signature, and I actually got quite excited when I agreed to a full and final for the CC last night, and could cross off a few of the debts for good. I also set up DDs for electric and phone, so that should prevent the monster bill problem. Also, the rent has now come out so I don't have to panic about that.

I have finally bitten the bullet and put my SOA onto my thread:eek: . It was really scary to see it all written down, but now I have actually started to make a dent it seems more managable.

In_Search_Of_Me

Wow thats FAb Squirrell & well done on spending so little in NY - dread to think how much I spent when I went - did lead to my LBM if thats any indication!!
PC can you get packets of starbucks & make your own - Tesco sell it...as do the coffee house themself of course!! That way you get the joy but no pain! Hows everyone else doing?