Say No to Credit Cards Diary

wishingthemortgaheaway

Say no, once you've decluttered and paid off your fronts, it will feel like you've had an income increase becuase you won't be servicing debts.
Has the family noticed your new found frugalness yet?

Say_No_to_Credit_Cards

Good morning debt busters,

It is a great day, the sun is shining and to burst the bubble the washing machine is on so everything can go on a line outside.

I have just updated my extra income total and it is now standing at £453.96. I am feeling two emotions about this if I am totally honest. Firstly, amazed I could generate so much money in just under a month from the junk around the house. Secondly annoyed at myself for buying it most properly on a credit card in the first place. But this is life and as long as the problem is being address it is so much better than two months ago when I was still buying all this stuff and just putting it on a credit card.

It is coming up to nearly two months since I used a card now, and I think that I have coped really well without them.

We needed milk last night and instead of going to the local shop as it costs a fortune I went to Asda. I decided I was going to be really disciplined and not buy any junk that was not needed. When I got there the lady was marking down all the meat so I ended up buying just over £40 worth of chicken and fish for £4.75. When I got home I put it in the freezer so that is tea sorted out for all of next week. I have never done that before but think I may try and stumble on it again, as it has really really helped the food budget.

Moguline - Thank you so much for dropping by. Hey a granny trolley is so much cheaper than buying and running a car so go you. I just love your new outlook on life. I also think that spending money does not always make you happy. Just take Christmas as an example, that is about spending time together not all the junk everybody buys. You will all be a lot closure come the end of your journey as you are spending quality time together which is so much better than walking around a shopping centre buying stuff you do not really need or want.

OMG, the cleaning lady is like a superwoman. When I have a minute I am going to watch more of the videos to give it a go. I feel like I will need to have an energy drink before hand!

wishingthem - Thanks for calling in on me. I know it will get easier once the debt is gone, it is just getting there. Once I have decluttered the house, garage, shed and loft I was thinking the extra income will stop and I will not be able to make as many extra payments which will slow the debt payments down. It is just a thought at the moment but I was trying to jump the gun a little and try and come up with some ideas to do after the decluttering has all finished. I will come up with something.

As for the family, no they have not noticed a thing yet, which I find quite strange. I think I am quite good at hiding it though. For example the petrol in the car, if I come straight home from work my car is parked on the drive first so if we all go out another car is always used and not mine. This has saved me so much in fuel but everybody takes it that my car is not being used as it is a pain to move all the cars around. I did not tell anybody in the house about the re-gifting as I feel they may have judged me and put me off doing it, so that went un-noticed.

As for the food budget. I said to them all we were eating too much junk and it had to stop, so I only buy maybe one packet of biscuits and no cake and sweets . Both my son and daughter go to a gym regular so they said that they preferred not to have junk in the house, which fell in line with the reduced food budget. I think we used to throw a lot of food away which did not get used. This has now stopped and I plan and use everything. This is something people do not see or notice. So I feel the reductions in the food budget I have made up to now have been cutting out the sweet stuff that I purchase and stopping throwing food that we have not used in the bin.

In the next few months I may cut the food budget again, I will see how I go with it.

Right I must go as I have waffled on for to long, again!!

Thanks for all the help it is really appreciated and very very motivating.

Gemsy81

I know what you mean, Say No to Credit Cards......I am veering between feeling pleased with myself, and absolutely furious with myself for making such a mess of things so far.

Well done on your food budget, I am still fending off the 'there's no goodies in the cupboards' comments!

[Deleted User]

SNTCC - there is nothing to be gained from being furious at our past decisions, only negativity and guilt. All we can do is do our best in the here and now instead, and build a better future.
I feel like that as well sometimes but have to keep reminding myself that what's done is done and feeling guilty about it isn't gonna make the past go away.

[Deleted User]

And forgot to say - if you go to the gym that much, it's definitely worth it - I just wasn't going so there was no point!

Say_No_to_Credit_Cards

Morning everybody,

Another ebay sale with a profit of £14.77 after fees and postage. That takes my extra income total this month to £479.96, I cannot believe that total. I would love it to get up to £500 before the end of the month.

Tea for tonight all sorted. I am going to go shopping on Monday as I have pushed it back one day again. This is working ok and nobody has had any issues with it.

Gemsy81 - Thanks for dropping by. When I read about the goodies in the cupboard it made me laugh so much. Your house sounds like mine. My son keeps opening the cupboard where I put all the goodies, then you hear the sign then the cupboard door gets shut. I keep telling him there is no point in doing all this training then eating a load of rubbish. The things we do!

Moguline - Thank you for dropping by. Yesterday I started reading your diary. It got me thinking about my credit score so I went and had a look at mine. It is not bad to be honest. However, I have some credit cards on there that I have not used in years. Would it be better for my credit score if I get them cancelled or just keep them there as there is a zero balance on them. I really do not have a clue which is the best.

I am trying to stop feeling guilty about my past financial life and just be positive about getting myself out of it. I have said it before but I am quite enjoying the sorting out and am quite motivated about selling all the stuff we do not use. Seeing that total of extra income is very motivating and is pushing me to do more.

I love the gym and that is my entertainment at the moment. So for £20 a month I really do get value for money as I do go 3/4 nights a week. Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon I will put my gym stuff on and go instead of going and have a walk around a shopping centre.

Right, I am off to work, have a great day everybody, the sun is shinning what more can we ask for? Maybe winning the lottery at weekend!!!!!

[Deleted User]

I think it's better to close off the old credit cards - lots of available credit makes you seem like a liability, as you could increase your commitments at the drop of a hat if you know what I mean. It's good to have a credit card that you use to pay for stuff, and then keep repaying in full each month. But lots of available credit over several cards is usually not looked upon favourably.

Say_No_to_Credit_Cards

Moguline wrote: »

I think it's better to close off the old credit cards - lots of available credit makes you seem like a liability, as you could increase your commitments at the drop of a hat if you know what I mean. It's good to have a credit card that you use to pay for stuff, and then keep repaying in full each month. But lots of available credit over several cards is usually not looked upon favourably.

Thank you so much for your help. I have phoned one this morning and cancelled it. There was a £5.25 credit on the account so they have repaid it into my bank account.

Three more to go. This sorting yourself out is like having another full time job. However, I am sure I will get there in the end.

Take care

Say_No_to_Credit_Cards

Well I have just emptied the boot of my car as it was looking a little like a skip. I found a birthday card that somebody must have given me months ago. I opened it and guess what there was a £20 note in it. :j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

Don,t you just love it when that happens. However, I still felt really bad on the person that took the time to send it to me.

Have a great evening everybody

wishingthemortgaheaway

That's a £20 treat to reward yourself with a little something when you hit a mini milestone or target then.