Tidying up the mess

BabyStepper

Thanks for your concern redmel, I appreciate it very much.

At the moment I am only working roughly 1.5 - 2 days per week. Depending on what's happening I make between £700 - £1100 per month. There is LOADS of scope for increasing my working hours, making more money and getting the debt paid down faster. Some days (like today) I am sat at home with my feet up, doing some admin tasks but mostly just following up client queries and hoping a few more of them come to something. To put it bluntly, I'm bored. I have worked hard all of my life, I love what I do and it's very strange to have so much free time. Doing more work would definitely not make me ill or kill me! There is no reason at all I can't work full - time, or at least bit more. I have listened to so many people on DR's show talking about how second jobs are not a long term solution or lifestyle but in the short term, they really help to solve the debt problem. And I'm up for trying.

Hope that explains it, I wasn't aware that I'd given the impression of working myself into the ground. That's totally not the case. :-)

Hope all is well with you today/

redmel1621

Ah that is fantastic, that you have the scope to move from part time to full time. I'm not sure if you had mentioned that you were part time... I do skim read sometimes and miss things lol.

I have just gone part time this year, due to childcare costs. I am saving more than the net income drop per month, so it isn't too bad. Unfortunately it is only a temp contract, so no idea what will happen next year.

BabyStepper

I think childcare and childcare expenses can change everything. It sounds like you're in a good position with work just now though, any chance they would keep you on at the end of the contract? Me and OH don't have children, not for lack of trying, it just hasn't happened, so we now don't try NOT to have any, if you know what I mean. We did think about some other options, adoption etc, but we're not there yet.

BabyStepper

I've just realised I've added up the debt repayment totals all wrong. Our starting point was actually in May, not July. I've gone back and checked all the statements to get a true picture of what the starting figure was on the credit cards, loan and overdraft.

In May 2018 we owed £21,228.07.

We stopped using cards, started to live within our means and began building our emergency fund.

The debt today is £20,081.38.

So we have actually paid off £1,146.69 and that is a little over 5%!

:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

OH has redrawn the thermometer for the THIRD time and this time it is correct. We have scored off 2 x £500 sections and are feeling much more motivated today.

Thank goodness I have this diary to keep me right. My thoughts are all over the place with this debt. I can't wait til it's gone so I can stop worrying about it.

DD265

You're doing brilliantly! It's amazing what we can do when we put our minds to it :T

Lydia42

Woo hoo - well done. Smashing it!!
I think you definitely have the right mindset at the moment. Keep it up! Hope your business does well, as you definitely seem to have scope to increase your income to help meet your deadline.
And at least you are making great use of your time at home by sorting all your finances out xx

BabyStepper

Thanks DD and Lydia. Yes, I feel like I'm actually doing it now rather than preparing to do it! Yippee!

I had the perfect work day yesterday - 2 clients in the morning, home for lunch with OH then a few admin tasks in the afternoon and time for a few personal chores too. This is perfect. If every day was like that I'd be happy. Unfortunately today is a much quieter one, but tomorrow is extra busy. Work comes in fits and starts. Lydia, you're right that the reason I had time to start sorting the cash was because I'm not working as much. Thanks for pointing that out.

Not sure what I'm going to do with my day but hopefully I'll be productive. Have a good one everyone.

BabyStepper

Yesterday was a good day at work and I am working again this afternoon, not a regular thing just a one off. It's good to keep busy.

OH had a snuffly cold earlier in the week and I seem to have picked it up, and it has gone to my chest. I need to dig out the Vicks and steam my head for a bit before I go out. You can't be ill when you're self-employed, it just can't happen.

I also just realised payday is on Friday and not a week on Monday as I had thought. Great!

BabyStepper

I am now well and truly full of the cold. Luckily I have no work today or tomorrow so I'll be taking it easy and trying to get better.

I've also been scouring the debt free diaries for inspiration. I haven't found much yet, I'll need to keep looking.

Have a great day everyone. :beer:

redmel1621

Well done on the bits of extra work you've been picking up.

I think the diaries have all been quite quiet lately, haven't they? I've been scouring myself looking for inspiration. I've not had much to write about myself lately with all the stress of new job, loss of job, job hunting etc etc.. It has all been pretty mundane. I've tried to keep updating my diary so as not to forget about it mainly lol. I think updating, even with the boring stuff, has kept it on my mind and has been helping me to (try) to stick with my cut backs.

I hope your cold is better soon.