TravelGirl84's DFD

TravelGirl84

CoffeeCakeYarn wrote: »

I've just read your diary from start to finish, you're doing so well!

Just wanted to share that I got total newbie frenzie when I started this debt journey, and burnt out really quick. I was so obsessed with having everything paid off ASAP, that it totally overwhelmed me. I stepped back, made realistic budgets, and accepted that 26k debt wasn't going to be paid off in two years. I also didn't have much wiggle room in my budget, and once I accepted that I couldn't pay off a huge amount every month, I became a lot more content and settled in for the journey.

I'm not saying that you need to do that, keep smashing it, but it's okay to feel overwhelmed, and it's okay to give yourself some slack every now and then, we didn't spend it overnight, we can't pay it back overnight

Keep up the amazing work

Hi Coffee!

Thanks for reading!

Yes this is exactly how I've been feeling, the need to pay it off ASAP and basically sending myself in to overdrive! I think for me it's hard to accept that the things I want to do may have to wait a little longer, or I need to get more creative with what I want to do, because like you say, we didn't spend it overnight and it won't get paid back overnight either!

Looks like you have/had a similar (though a bit less) debt then me and had the same two year idea of paying it off, which I know is pretty unrealistic. There is definitely a level of acceptance that I need to give to the situation which would maybe make me feel better.

Just found your diary and we are actually a similar age. I'm 35 in Nov, single (but definitely single and not ish haha) and love to travel! Will get reading!

CoffeeCakeYarn

I'm not really single ish any more, I almost living with a boy ISH, eeeek! Scary times. But yeah, I think we are in pretty similar situations. Two years may be realistic, and for some it is! I've seen people pay off the debt I have in two years, so it can be done, I just had to accept that it couldn't be done by me. I loved seeing significant drops in numbers for the first few months, but then I hit a wall and did some damage and just had to reassess the direction I was going in. And you know what, it's okay to do that. We have to do what we can in the way that works for us I really admire those that go all out for two years, but I just couldn't be one of those people, and once I accepted that I felt a ton better.

I've picked up lots of very good habits on the way though, I've got little savings pots in place now for the car and stuff, so I don't have to scramble for money when the expenses come up, and that is worth its weight in gold. I feel so much more in control, and whilst I have said in my diary that I could have paid off a lot more if I hadn't done it that way, I chose the sinking funds method and it's worked.

Still have the odd slip up every now and then, mainly on craft supplies, but we are all human

clearmydebts

You are doing great! I am another one who wants to get the debt paid off sharpish but I've realised I'm here for the long haul!

TravelGirl84

CoffeeCakeYarn wrote: »

I'm not really single ish any more, I almost living with a boy ISH, eeeek! Scary times. But yeah, I think we are in pretty similar situations. Two years may be realistic, and for some it is! I've seen people pay off the debt I have in two years, so it can be done, I just had to accept that it couldn't be done by me. I loved seeing significant drops in numbers for the first few months, but then I hit a wall and did some damage and just had to reassess the direction I was going in. And you know what, it's okay to do that. We have to do what we can in the way that works for us I really admire those that go all out for two years, but I just couldn't be one of those people, and once I accepted that I felt a ton better.

I've picked up lots of very good habits on the way though, I've got little savings pots in place now for the car and stuff, so I don't have to scramble for money when the expenses come up, and that is worth its weight in gold. I feel so much more in control, and whilst I have said in my diary that I could have paid off a lot more if I hadn't done it that way, I chose the sinking funds method and it's worked.

Still have the odd slip up every now and then, mainly on craft supplies, but we are all human

Ah I see! Hope it goes well living with a boy! I can't imagine it again anytime soon but maybe one day haha.

I would love to have the focus to do nothing for a year or two and smash paying off the debt completely, but like you I just don't think that's me. I'm already batting off ideas for things next year to try and save, it's a very big battle :rotfl:

I have created so many pots in my online banking ready for when I start my new SOA in January. Not much in them at the moment haha.

I used to do alot of baking and crafts, pretty sure some of those purchases have contributed to debt in the past, it can get out of hand quite quickly can't it!

TravelGirl84

clearmydebts wrote: »

You are doing great! I am another one who wants to get the debt paid off sharpish but I've realised I'm here for the long haul!

Hi clearmydebts

Thank you! Let's hope we can make the long haul as short as possible!

DebtFreeMonkey

Ah, yes...that balance of paying off debt but still living and somewhat enjoying your life! It's a tricky one, isn't it? But as long as we're moving in the right direction, it's a win, right?

TravelGirl84

Update for this week:

- I actually had a couple of no spends days (including last Sunday), so that's great, usually I atleast spend about 50p on breakfast at work. I always find breakfasts difficult as I don't eat before I get to work (it's too early for me, I'd end up with two breakfasts!), and I try not to eat too much bread, so I tend to get eggs some days, porridge others and toast some days. I have some sachets of porridge which I need to remember to take in to work, sometimes I do take a yoghurt as well.
- £10 extra sent to the B/Card
- Car insurance is sorted, I could have got it cheaper somewhere else but the insurance wasn't as good. I'd rather pay a bit more for better cover
- Travel insurance is sorted, found a deal I am happy with and it was cheaper than elsewhere
- Bits taken to the Post Office to be returned
- Went out for dinner for my friends birthday yesterday and she paid for all of us. We didn't know she was going to do it so it was very naughty but much appreciated. We all put a tip down.
- Did alot of free workouts this week, I did 2 x 1k walk/jogs at work as well as bootcamp, and I did my first ever 5k Parkrun yesterday. Somehow I managed to jog the whole way without stopping and did it in under 40mins :eek: really proud of myself!
- Major potential issue with my buildings service charges. People in my building have said that our maintenance company have said we all need to pay an extra £200 by the end of the year and some of the money has been taken out of some peoples accounts via an increased direct debit!!! We haven't been notified or anything and I'm sure if we are to go over then they have to discuss stuff with us first and then it gets spread out over the next year. Some people arn't even on direct debit. One of the ladies is speaking to them tomorrow, so I'm hoping it's all a mistake. If not I'll be sending them a strong Email!

Plans for next week:
- I have £30 left in my food budget for the next week and two days. I have most of what I need for dinners, just need to get a couple of bits to go with it, plus I'm doing dinner for my parents Sunday, and I need to get food for work. £30 might be a stretch so I'll see how I get on.
- I'm also not sure if I have enough petrol money left so I may need to move some money around for that but hopefully I have enough
- Hopefully I'll get some of the returns money back. I need to book my hotel for the airport and I want to wait for some cash to come in first.
- More free exercise planned for next week.
- I'll probably be staring at my spreadsheet as usual :rotfl:

Have a great week everyone :beer:

TravelGirl84

Alicia1804 wrote: »

Ah, yes...that balance of paying off debt but still living and somewhat enjoying your life! It's a tricky one, isn't it? But as long as we're moving in the right direction, it's a win, right?

It sure is tricky! As Twiggy said, every penny paid off is a step in the right direction!

Hope you had a lovely holiday!

TravelGirl84

I forgot to add to my update the major slap in the face I felt this week, and yet another realisation of how being so much in debt is affecting my life!

If you have read my diary from the beginning you will know that I was looking to pay off my Help to Buy loan this year, but decided against it after doing a full SOA for next year, as well as accepting the fact that I would be better to pay off as much debt as I can over the next two years to put myself in a much better financial position. Rather than increase my mortgage by £160 a month I can pay more off and put more aside. I can technically afford to increase my mortgage now, I have around £500 after bills, food and petrol, but it doesn't take in to account money to put aside for car servicing, birthdays etc etc, and once I had done that it didn't leave me much wiggle room and my debt payments would be minimums, so really I wouldn't be getting far.

Anyway, my neighbour has been looking in to sorting her help to buy and even though she earns (I think) at least £10k less than me, it's looking that she is able to pay off her help to buy with a bigger mortgage, as well as borrow a little more to pay back the remainder of the deposit she got from her Dad, plus, her payments arn't increasing as much as mine as her mortgage is smaller.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy for her and she totally deserves to be able to do it. She is super disciplined with money, pretty much only spends what she has (she might put a car service on a card if she needs to but she pays is back the next month), doesn't tend to buy what she doesn't need, doesn't really buy clothes unless hers are unusable, only goes on holidays when she can afford it etc. I really think she is actually a bit of an inspiration and I joked that she should have control of my money haha. I kind of feel embarrased in front of her about it, though she doesn't know my actual debt figure.

It really hit me that it doesn't matter what you earn, if you owe debt it doesn't mean you are in better financial position just because you earn more.

clearmydebts

TravelGirl84 wrote: »

I forgot to add to my update the major slap in the face I felt this week, and yet another realisation of how being so much in debt is affecting my life!

If you have read my diary from the beginning you will know that I was looking to pay off my Help to Buy loan this year, but decided against it after doing a full SOA for next year, as well as accepting the fact that I would be better to pay off as much debt as I can over the next two years to put myself in a much better financial position. Rather than increase my mortgage by £160 a month I can pay more off and put more aside. I can technically afford to increase my mortgage now, I have around £500 after bills, food and petrol, but it doesn't take in to account money to put aside for car servicing, birthdays etc etc, and once I had done that it didn't leave me much wiggle room and my debt payments would be minimums, so really I wouldn't be getting far.

Anyway, my neighbour has been looking in to sorting her help to buy and even though she earns (I think) at least £10k less than me, it's looking that she is able to pay off her help to buy with a bigger mortgage, as well as borrow a little more to pay back the remainder of the deposit she got from her Dad, plus, her payments arn't increasing as much as mine as her mortgage is smaller.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy for her and she totally deserves to be able to do it. She is super disciplined with money, pretty much only spends what she has (she might put a car service on a card if she needs to but she pays is back the next month), doesn't tend to buy what she doesn't need, doesn't really buy clothes unless hers are unusable, only goes on holidays when she can afford it etc. I really think she is actually a bit of an inspiration and I joked that she should have control of my money haha. I kind of feel embarrased in front of her about it, though she doesn't know my actual debt figure.

It really hit me that it doesn't matter what you earn, if you owe debt it doesn't mean you are in better financial position just because you earn more.

I totally get you. I see people who earn a lot less than myself and H with holiday homes etc and think how do they do that. But's all about discipline and patience. They are inspirational.