Our SOA...

JamesEmma2

Good evening all,
Well it's been some time since I last logged in and so I thought I'd pop by and share how we're doing. For the life of me however I've been unable to access our previous account (JamesEmma)  and I can't seem to reset my password as the system doesn't recognise my email?! Anyway it is here and this is where we're at...

We are down to our final two debts:

Emma FD Loan £5169.99
James FD Loan £4166.94
So... £

JamesEmma2

(sorry hit the post comment button above by mistake!)

So.. £9336.93 to go! 
Im pretty sure we can clear that in three more paydays meaning we'll be debt free by Sept 2020 - only two months behind schedule which we're pretty pleased about!

BabyStepper

I remember when you first posted. I'm so glad things have worked out for you and you're getting close to your debt free date. Well done! You're doing great! I bet you're glad you started when you did, given everything that's happening now. You're in a much better position to cope with any changes that might come along. 

Keep going, you're almost there.  

Kakiste

Well done- that's some impressive debt shifting!

Drawingaline

Wow! Brilliant news.

MallyGirl

That is great to hear. It must feel great to be able to say it.

monetxchange

Incredible news! Threads like this really are inspiring to people coming new to the boards with little hope. Proof that willingness to face up to the debt and change your ways really does work

JamesEmma2

Thanks all and yes it does feel great to be so close to what for years seemed utterly Impossible. When I think back and read my first couple of posts on this thread I barely recognise my former financially illiterate self. These last 18 months have been more than just paying debt, they have marked a whole new way of thinking about money and learning how to make it work for us. To say I've become a little obsessed with personal finance wouldn't be a massive exaggeration! 

From learning how to budget, to paying down our debts, to insuring against disaster, to understanding the importance of an emergency fund, to investing for the future through S&S ISA's and pensions (fire and forget globally well diversified low cost equity index trackers all the way!), to planning our 'retirements' and discovering the FIRE (financial independence retire early) community.. it's all kind of started here on the money saving expert forum (and also thanks to a well timed conversation with a colleague who whispered the name 'Dave Ramsey' one afternoon).

For anyone reading this thread wondering where to start - well you're already in a great place - You'll find a plethora of supportive and helpful people here. On top of the that I've put a list below of some of the other resources that have and continue to be my daily reads and listens..

Podcasts:

The Dave Ramsey show

Meaningful Money (Pete Matthew)

Maven Money (Andy Hart)

Money to the Masses (Damien Fahy)

Choose FI (Financial independence podcast)

Books:

The Total Money Makeover (Dave Ramsey)

The Meaningful Money Handbook (Pete Matthew)

A Simple Path to Wealth (A.J.Collins)

Reset: How to Restart Your Life and Get F.U. Money (David Sawyer)

Rich Dad Poor Dad (Robert Kiyosaki)

The Millionaire next door (Thomas J. Stanley)

How to Own the world (Andrew Craig)

Ultimately getting debt out of your life is the  first and probably most important thing to get out of your life for good. A.J Collins calls it the 'unacceptable burdon' and it really is - like an anchor in the sand holding you and your family back. For this, and as it's the topic this entire section of the forum is concerned with, the best place for anyone to start, I would say all day long is the  Dave Ramsey show. Once you've cracked that and realised it is possible to break the cycle - you'll realise that there is a different way and that you really CAN do it and change your financial future. The rest of the resources I've mentioned will fall into place naturally after that.

  

Lookafterthepennies2020

Congratulations on your journey, your almost debt free!! I’ve been listening to Dave all week and love his no excuses rants as in the past I’ve definitely been stupid on steroids lol !! 

JamesEmma2

We're debt free!!!!
 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳