I’ve only just realised what a financial mess I’m in.....

Enoughisenough

Good news on the loan, really pleased for you that you've managed to get rid of the high interest rates! It's great that you've got a plan in place and know where you're heading I can't help but keep tinkering with my budget and putting it through the snowball calculator to see what difference it makes, slightly obsessed :rotfl:

Have a good day :wave:

Moneywhizz

Just had a quick read of your diary. Its great that you managed to get a loan and have plans to pay it off so quickly. In fact your plan to pay off such a large amount of debt within 2 years is amazing. However as you said in your first post, you are in a bit of a vulnerable position with no savings, no pension and not a home owner. Given these facts I would seriously think about finding a way to give your car back now. Even if you need a car for work, you could buy something small/cheap that would probably last you for a few years until you are in a much better position. With the extra money you can either pay down your debt more quickly or start building up savings with a view to getting a mortgage and buying your own property. Only you can decide what is more important to you - having such a lovely car, or getting debt free and into a more stable financial position where you can make choices about your work life and where you want to live. Well done on all the changes you have made so far.

Tropically

Are you using up your toiletries, or buying new ones (albeit cheaper) when you still have some in your cupboard?

You might find that you have a lot of heels when you get it all out of the bathroom cupboard and the bedroom. I have been trying to use up my toiletries that I already had in the cupboard and I have been doing it for 11 months. I have finally finished conditioner and switched to a plastic-free bar. I have not been able to finish up the shampoo or all the lotions and body washes etc. I think it will take me another year before the cupboard is bare. I sold some of the perfumes I was never going to wear, and threw out the things that looked disgusting. Even with that, there were so many bottles of lotions and potions and brews to go through.

Have you tried to gather all your toiletries together in one space to see what you can use up?

DebtFreeAliB

Tropically wrote: »

Are you using up your toiletries, or buying new ones (albeit cheaper) when you still have some in your cupboard?

You might find that you have a lot of heels when you get it all out of the bathroom cupboard and the bedroom. I have been trying to use up my toiletries that I already had in the cupboard and I have been doing it for 11 months. I have finally finished conditioner and switched to a plastic-free bar. I have not been able to finish up the shampoo or all the lotions and body washes etc. I think it will take me another year before the cupboard is bare. I sold some of the perfumes I was never going to wear, and threw out the things that looked disgusting. Even with that, there were so many bottles of lotions and potions and brews to go through.

Have you tried to gather all your toiletries together in one space to see what you can use up?

Hi, Thanks for your message. I am just finishing up using some leftover conditioner but already have a healthy supply of the new cheaper stuff. I buy it in bulk because I have a completely irrational fear of running out of things haha. I also love the shampoo and conditioner that I have found and can only buy it in Sainsbury's about 30 miles away when I'm passing so I tend to get about 6 bottles of the things that I like while I'm there.
Other than the conditioner and some little bottles of stuff from hotels all the old stuff is gone. I have a couple of bottles of perfume that are going on ebay when I get round to it but other than that everything is pretty orderly. I don't put my extras of things in the cupboard anymore. They are all visible to me every day. Somehow when I am aware of how much of everything I have got I don't get so tempted to do the impulse toiletry buys that have been my downfall.

Kim_kim

DebtFreeAliB wrote: »

I feel like a right idiot now that I know I have been wasting in excess of £2.5K a year on keeping myself clean and smelling good. But at least I've stopped now.

If you have any stories of luxuries you've given up and what the saving has been/will be please share them. Thanks for reading

As a Molton Brown, L’Occtaine & Elemis devotee I’m shocked by your sums!

Humdinger1

DebtfreeAliB

Just found your diary and totally empathise with your position! I had my LBM when 2 clients went bust (I too am self employed) and I had to decide whether to do the same or pay off 100k of debt! I did the latter, and weirdly am grateful for the shock as that was clearly the size of the lesson I needed. Now have savings and am debt free; never use a cc unless I can pay it off to avoid all interest. Have an old but reliable car that I often make a joke of. Worked out that I was spending £800 per year on my hair; now spend £100 tops via a home hairdresser and doing my own roots at £5 a time.

Please give yourself a pat on the back, as you have had your LBM; sadly, many never get there. You can have the life of your dreams living realistically and without running up debt.

Please keep us posted Humdinger

katsu

Hello DebtfreeAliB

We are a few days off 10 years DF and I very much remember being in a similar place with expensive skin care. I was a dermalogica fan too.

I think what changed for me was coming to value my financial freedom more than things I thought I should have or I deserved to have. I spent more on some things 10 years ago than I do now. It wasn't exactly keeping up with other people but keeping up with my sense of what my life should be. I wanted nice things, things that matched and a life that looked nice. I thought as I was working hard it should be possible. As I have earnt more I have not put my spending habits back up to match my earnings and honestly things are so much easier.

I still use some expensive products but I use less. I try and save money where and when I can, as my savings make me feel secure.

I use top cashback whenever I'm shopping online, use shopmium for supermarket trial products, shoppix and receipt Hog for receipt points, do surveys sometimes and generally look out for discount vouchers/codes.

I have loyalty cards on my phone so that I can earn points, even if I don't use the shop very much. One free coffee a year is still one free

Cat4321

Hoya just to say dove soap bar is really good and the sensitive one has the least man made chemicals in it l(non toxic) see think dirty app (free) also Lidl suddenly perfume (although not great on the toxic front as are nearly all perfumes smells lovely lasts and smells like Chanel, had loads of comments on it, I use simple now as cheaper than dr organic, good luck have subscribed xx