Crunchy's Final Debt Free Diary!

ohdearhowdidthathappen

It's good to prioritise your health, but I understand the sadness of leaving a career you've trained hard for. I'm in the same boat, albeit in the NHS; £21k for part time work, trained hard etc etc, but feel very drained by it and see my work days as things to be got through. Professional pride and income are the only things that keep me there in the short term.
It's good you have an escape plan, that's what I need to work out!
Your health and mental well being will thank you for it, plus your family will be happy if you're happy... everyone benefits.

Willowtree222

I'm so sorry you aren't feeling well. Teaching does this to you. I am currently sat in bed and would be from 7pm every night if I could be so I totally understand your point about not having a life outside of it.

You have to do what is right for you and fingers crossed you manage to find something that is. x

Honeysucklelou2

Totally understand about how teaching drains you. In many ways it's the best job in the world but in other ways, it does take every ounce of energy ...that's why I do part time and I'm still on my knees by day 3! Best of luck in what you choose to do next...

crunch_time

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

Totally understand about how teaching drains you. In many ways it's the best job in the world but in other ways, it does take every ounce of energy ...that's why I do part time and I'm still on my knees by day 3! Best of luck in what you choose to do next...

In many ways it is the best job in the world but it really does take all my energy and I’m definitely on my knees in day 3.

crunch_time

So the big news in our house is....

£1800 bonus for end of year (£3k actually but - 40% tax)

Plus £400 Christmas bonus!!

Husbands company generated a billion dollars this year apparently hence the big one.

Should imagine husband will want to treat himself to something. I’m going to suggest we save it for home improvements then we can pay the debt off and do both.

Xx

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Yay, lovely pre Christmas top up is always nice! 40% tax is a nasty sting as always though...

When we get a lump sum like that, we tend to give ourselves a little bit each to get a treat, put a little towards a treat for the kids and then lob the rest at something sensible

Seasidegal58

Sorry to read that you've been feeling poorly crunchy.

As you say, there's a lot of positives in leaving your work at work at the end of the day. HR sounds like a good idea - and you could work on your plans for a more creative work space further along the line when the debts are paid.

Good news too on OH's bonus!:)

crunch_time

Morning all!

I feel miles better now! Last two days of school! Nearly there!

I went to see the life coach last week and it was an amazing experience. I’ve realised a lot of my issues are actually caused by things from my childhood so she is going to help me sort those out. I’m going to go monthly for a few months and review in the spring. Maybe not leave teaching so quickly but stick to my original plan of a few more years.

Of course husband does want to spend some of his money on fitness stuff!! But thankfully has said it can go on the big bits for home improvements.

I get paid on Thursday and would slush most of it towards the debt but I’m going to hold onto it until we get back from our holiday. Did I share that we are away this Christmas- not paid for by us.

Car service cost £568 yesterday. £200 will be paid by husbands savings and the rest out of mine. It’s in the cc at the moment but will sort out tonight.

A fe more Christmas presents to get and then we are done!!

Cracking on with life and nearly in the Christmas spirit!

Crunch xx

crunch_time

Morning all

We are back from our UK cottage holiday and had a lovely time. Spent too much money though. We didn't really think about food when we were there and of course we were catering for others as well for some of the days, so the cost went up a bit. Husband and I snuck off to the pub for a few drinks one evening too and we had a fish and chip dinner. A few extra Christmas presents as well and I now have no money out of my December pay packet. Ah well, at least we didn't get into any more debt!!

Husband's bumper pay came in on Friday. £2189 was his bonus. He decided he wanted to spend it on the house and health. He has bought some protein powder and a new coat for him (which is actually quite restrained). We had a big discussion and sort out of furniture in the house yesterday making decisions about things we have been talking about for a while. As a result, we have bought a new TV table (to retire the coffee table we currently use) in the sale for £175, and some ikea bookcases for the study as well as a few other bits for £293. Husband has costed up the wall tiles for both bathrooms and reckons them to be about £600 ish and a shower for £150. If this stays true we shall have some change from the bonus towards garden stuff in the spring which would be great.

He used the credit card to buy the furniture and I have just paid it off with his bonus. We have also settled the car service with savings. I'm still waiting for his credit card to settle so I can see what the balance is but I am hoping to pay enough off with what is left in his account (bonus aside) to get the credit card from £4400 ish to under £4k. £3800 is my target.

Husband has agreed to reduce the overdraft by £100 each month so his currently stands at £1400. I feel great about that finally moving. I have also paid the min off my Virgin cc so it stands at £2800. Just husbands Virgin cc to go after the 2nd by £100 to get it to £7300.

If all this goes to plan we should be ending the year £17,750 in debt!!! I'd have to look back but I'm pretty certain we were about £18k same time last year.

I'd like to make massive strides next year and I think we shall make progress. No massive £7k holiday planned and thanks to the bonus, some of the big house purchases will have been bought.

The important thing I have learned this year is that the debt doesn't define who I am. There are reasons behind why we got into debt which are way more than just spending beyond our means and I am grateful that we had access to the credit which enabled us to keep going and be independent and support ourselves. It's now time to pay it back and be grateful for what we have.

Right - must get on with the day. Hope everyone had lovely Christmases!

Crunchy xx

crunch_time

I've just worked out that if we stick to the min payments we are currently paying on each of the debts and get rid of husbands cc completely at some point next year, we will get the debt down from £17,750 to £11,150.

This would be massive!! We could then potentially clear it by the end of 2021 in time for my 40th birthday!!

Just got to not get into anymore debt!!

Crunchy xx