Countdown from £28k...

Sarahwithlove

Don't feel bad for moving out once your debt free. If you're ready to move out then move out. As much as its helped you during this time it's not like you've been living rent free so that's been helping them out too. It's only natural that once things start to go back to normal that you want to be back living your life. Don't let it hold you back. 

alt80

ryanm8655 said:

alt80 said:

You are doing well - any reason you need to move to London, could you rent (presuming you’re going to be renting feel free to correct me if not) somewhere further out: less money or probably a nicer area for your money? 

I prefer the London lifestyle to be honest. I find life a bit slow down here and the commute is a bit of a mission (2.5 hours each way once you account for getting to/from station, waiting around, travelling across London). Most of my friends are in London and I just find the people my age a bit more open minded and on my wavelength on the whole. I’d probably move out if I ever settled down and had kids etc. But while I’m young, I love London. It’s also far better for dating, most people don’t seem to settle down until mid-30s or later, where as down here it’s more like early to mid-20s so I’ve missed the boat

I’d be tempted by a move to somewhere like Manchester, got a few mates up there from
my previous job and the London weighing is only about £3.5k/year (as if London only costs £3.5k more than living in the north or anywhere else for that matter) so my money would go a lot further. It was an idea I was toying with if I stayed in the old job, as they had an office there. It’s got a lot of the pluses of London, without some of the negatives (ridiculous house prices and cost of living). But now I’ve moved roles that’s off the table. Something I’d consider longer term but I do like to socialise so would have to be a place where I’ve got mates, which limits options. I could actually choose to be based in the Leeds office and still get paid about 95% of my wage but know no one there...

Have considered renting down here temporarily but I’d be locked in for a year...if I was certain the office wouldn’t be back to business as usual in a year then it’d probably be worthwhile  but I’d cautiously say that that is unlikely.

@ryanm8655 5 hours a day just getting to and from work is shocking - kudos to you for sticking with it as long as you have. 

Haven't ever lived in London but a lot of people I went to uni with went there to live after and I've visited plenty of times - think you're right about people being more open minded generally. London is a different place to the rest of the country really. I purposely stayed in my uni city to buy a flat needing work in one of the best parts as soon as I'd signed up to my first grad job lol.

Dating scene sounds good to me where you live; pick up a young, fit 20 year old waiting for her knight. 😉

Leeds has a brilliant vibe. Used to love nights out and weekenders in Leeds (I am talking about 10 years ago since I last went out in Leeds so could have changed). Very different to London but the people are friendly - reckon you'd find extra mates there in no time. 

ryanm8655

Thanks for the replies all.

Re: commute, I was typically working from home 3 days a week, so that made the commute far more bearable. Plus I’d often book a cheap hotel so would do 5 hours commute for a 2 day trip to make it more bearable. 

A quick check in. Still not hit the sub £10k yet as the Barclays DD has jumped back to the 21st (tomorrow), no idea why it keeps switching by up to a week. Going to get rid of that card entirely on payday. Haven’t updated my spreadsheet in a couple of weeks but pretty  there is only about £1800 on it now. Still in two minds whether I save the remainder or clear a chunk off of one of the other cards but likely just clear a chunk more off of the other cards, which will get me back on course for debt free before Christmas.

Having a good month spend wise. An expensive start to the month but have done two weeks without booze, which has made a surprising difference to my credit card bill. I’ve also avoided fragrance purchases and some other spends (partly owing to the expensive start to the month plus last months litre blowout).

My noise cancelling headphones have broken though...had them about 4 years and used them everyday, even got me through the London Marathon last year, so they had a pretty good innings. I paid £350 for them but I love my music...they were a bit battered cosmetically but working fine and still sounded awesome but I got caught in a rainstorm and that seems to have killed them...

I need to fork out for some more...I’ve made do with my iPhone earphones for now but the sound quality doesn’t compare and they always drop out... I’m now not sure what to do...I could buy the new version of them for £349: https://www.johnlewis.com/sony-wh-1000xm4-noise-cancelling-wireless-bluetooth-nfc-high-resolution-audio-over-ear-headphones-with-mic-remote/p5100480?sku=238906544&colour=Black&s_ppc=2dx92700056345869375&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=CjwKCAjw-5v7BRAmEiwAJ3DpuGUaGNMSEizRuoqau0ONHP_CVnE7fSTHyG84F6ebHtsB1q2fiD7iwBoCAZ8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds 

But it feels a bit ridiculous to spend that when I have so much debt still...at the same time I don’t want to compromise on the sound quality and buy something that doesn’t sound as good as my old pair (I really love my music, as I say). Toying with the idea of buying them on payday and committing to another month booze free, which would probably pay for them... There are also Apple AirPods Pro, which are about £80 less and have the benefit of being in ear, so you don’t get so hot in the gym, plus you can stick them in your pocket rather than having to lug headphones around, so might be a good compromise...decisions...

Anyway, in 5 hours time I shall be sub £10k for the first time since 2012...that’s depressing

[Deleted User]

ryanm8655 said:

Thanks for the replies all.

Re: commute, I was typically working from home 3 days a week, so that made the commute far more bearable. Plus I’d often book a cheap hotel so would do 5 hours commute for a 2 day trip to make it more bearable. 

A quick check in. Still not hit the sub £10k yet as the Barclays DD has jumped back to the 21st (tomorrow), no idea why it keeps switching by up to a week. Going to get rid of that card entirely on payday. Haven’t updated my spreadsheet in a couple of weeks but pretty  there is only about £1800 on it now. Still in two minds whether I save the remainder or clear a chunk off of one of the other cards but likely just clear a chunk more off of the other cards, which will get me back on course for debt free before Christmas.

Having a good month spend wise. An expensive start to the month but have done two weeks without booze, which has made a surprising difference to my credit card bill. I’ve also avoided fragrance purchases and some other spends (partly owing to the expensive start to the month plus last months litre blowout).

My noise cancelling headphones have broken though...had them about 4 years and used them everyday, even got me through the London Marathon last year, so they had a pretty good innings. I paid £350 for them but I love my music...they were a bit battered cosmetically but working fine and still sounded awesome but I got caught in a rainstorm and that seems to have killed them...

I need to fork out for some more...I’ve made do with my iPhone earphones for now but the sound quality doesn’t compare and they always drop out... I’m now not sure what to do...I could buy the new version of them for £349: https://www.johnlewis.com/sony-wh-1000xm4-noise-cancelling-wireless-bluetooth-nfc-high-resolution-audio-over-ear-headphones-with-mic-remote/p5100480?sku=238906544&colour=Black&s_ppc=2dx92700056345869375&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=CjwKCAjw-5v7BRAmEiwAJ3DpuGUaGNMSEizRuoqau0ONHP_CVnE7fSTHyG84F6ebHtsB1q2fiD7iwBoCAZ8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds 

But it feels a bit ridiculous to spend that when I have so much debt still...at the same time I don’t want to compromise on the sound quality and buy something that doesn’t sound as good as my old pair (I really love my music, as I say). Toying with the idea of buying them on payday and committing to another month booze free, which would probably pay for them... There are also Apple AirPods Pro, which are about £80 less and have the benefit of being in ear, so you don’t get so hot in the gym, plus you can stick them in your pocket rather than having to lug headphones around, so might be a good compromise...decisions...

Anyway, in 5 hours time I shall be sub £10k for the first time since 2012...that’s depressing

I say, go for buying the headphones. Not only are you paying for them once and that's it, you know you're spending your money on something you NEED rather than spending your money on something you want. That's money wasted in my opinion. 

You've got your head on your shoulders, you're working your way to paying your debts and you've a clear plan, so why not just buy yourself something you know you'll get use from?

I'm all for doing all you can to pay off debts and living frugally but if you've been doing extremely well and you're watching your pennies then buy yourself something you know you're doing to use and it's for a useful reason 😊

alt80

I have air pods pro - they're great for the gym etc. Probably not going to be the quality of the Sony overear headphones but no idea how you wear those at the gym. Also worth looking at the Sennheiser wireless buds (spelling of that I'm not sure).

Sarahwithlove

I agree I would go ahead and buy new headphones. You've made cut backs this month due to big spends so just carry it forward to next month. It will be December before we know it anyway and it can be an early Xmas present to yourself if makes you feel better. 

ryanm8655

Thanks for the replies all.

I've decided I'll buy some headphones, though am trying to compromise and looking out for refurbished/barely used ones on ebay for much less. The main things are decent sound quality, battery life and good noise cancelling and the model I had satisfied that. The newer ones look a little bit better and have some additional features that I don't really need but if I can pick up a bargain pair on ebay, I will (hoping to pick up a refurbed or barely used older model for sub £100). Got my eye on a few so will see how it goes. Then I might treat myself to some new in ears for the gym (as the over ears can be a bit hot even though they sound better...) once the debt is gone.

That said, I have just got gift vouchers from my previous team, which would pay for a chunk but think I'll save them for when I move as sure I'll need some flat stuff.

Have just updated my spreadsheet and the debt is finally sub £10k  

Total now stands at £9905.45
Barclaycard: £1852.52 (0% until March)
Virgin: £4282.64 (0% until 21/10/2021)
Natwest: £3770.29 (0% until 23/09/2021)

Will get rid of the Barclaycard next week and probably clear a chunk from the NatWest as well (need to work out exactly how much when I know how much I'm paid as may be emergency taxed). Once the Natwest is gone (which should be by the end of October) it'll be the final card and the finishing line...

Thanks,
Ryan

YouWithTheSadEyes

Well done on the sub £10k 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

alt80

Sub £10k absolutely flying mate, well done. 

Personally I’d be careful with used electronics might be worth seeing if there’s a receipt for less than a year ago so still some kind of warranty?

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Congrats on being sub £10k