Debt free before August 2023

Poppy1984

Thank you @Scloud
There have definitely been so tough times, still are to be honest but getting there! Like now it feels so far away till next pay day and not knowing if I'll even be able to make an overpayment is frustrating. I seem to have spent quite a bit already on food shopping and things for the house and I need petrol, one of those months where everything seems to have ran out all at the same time!! 

I had a flurry on prolific then nothing since. 

I'm so tired of debt busting BUT I know it'll be worth it when I am debt free 

Poppy

FootyFanDan

Keep going Poppy , it does feel frustrating at times but you are working so hard to become debt free,try remember to look after yourself too. I think sometimes we can become very focused on smashing the debt we sometimes forget to look out for ourselves too. 

The journey will have bumps along the road but you are doing amazing, don't let the any slight detour put you off track! You have got this x

WinterWarrior

Another one with nothing on prolific since Friday...just to let you know it’s not just you! I cashed out my first £6 and then nothing...it seems like punishment 😂
tomorrow may be better ⭐️

Poppy1984

FootyFanDan said:

Keep going Poppy , it does feel frustrating at times but you are working so hard to become debt free,try remember to look after yourself too. I think sometimes we can become very focused on smashing the debt we sometimes forget to look out for ourselves too. 

The journey will have bumps along the road but you are doing amazing, don't let the any slight detour put you off track! You have got this x

Thanks so much @FootyFanDan
You are right and I actually think I'm doing that a bit, my living room desperately needs some blinds and I have found the perfect ones but keep putting off buying them because I feel guilty about buying some blinds when I have debt. Despite I actually have a saving pot called house maintenance with enough money for the blinds in 🤦🏻‍♀️ I keep going on to order them and then changing my mind and not getting them because I feel so bad. 

What's that all about?! 

Thank you really need to try and stay positive. 

Poppy  

Poppy1984

Suzanne54321B said:

Another one with nothing on prolific since Friday...just to let you know it’s not just you! I cashed out my first £6 and then nothing...it seems like punishment 😂
tomorrow may be better ⭐️

Thanks @Suzanne54321B

Glad it's not just me then!! Hopefully yea I keep checking but been nothing on there. 

Poppy  

FootyFanDan

Poppy1984 said:

FootyFanDan said:

Keep going Poppy , it does feel frustrating at times but you are working so hard to become debt free,try remember to look after yourself too. I think sometimes we can become very focused on smashing the debt we sometimes forget to look out for ourselves too. 

The journey will have bumps along the road but you are doing amazing, don't let the any slight detour put you off track! You have got this x

Thanks so much @FootyFanDan
You are right and I actually think I'm doing that a bit, my living room desperately needs some blinds and I have found the perfect ones but keep putting off buying them because I feel guilty about buying some blinds when I have debt. Despite I actually have a saving pot called house maintenance with enough money for the blinds in 🤦🏻‍♀️ I keep going on to order them and then changing my mind and not getting them because I feel so bad. 

What's that all about?! 

Thank you really need to try and stay positive. 

Poppy  

I can totally relate to this feeling, despite being in debt you still need to try move forward with other things too. I do get the feeling you have though, I have been there with feeling like that too. Its like we fear spending anything coz we are in a mindset of every penny needs to go on debt which whilst in theory would be fab life also needs servicing too Poppy. You have done well to create the pots and the money is in the pots, this should stop the guilt 

Keep positive you may not feel it always but you are in a good place x

Poppy1984

Well I've gone off the rails a bit this month spent more on food shopping than I normally would (mainly getting snacks and treats for my teenage son) ordered the blinds and bought some other miscellaneous bits. Ok so I've not gone over my budget or anything like that but it's a long time till pay day (15th) so I'm definitely not going to have any left over money to pay off my loan this month annoyed at myself a bit but also think I needed to relax the reins a little as I've been so super strict the last couple of months and managed quite a few over payments. Also my mortgage deal is nearly through so when that fully goes through it will save me about £45 a month which will be great for going off the loan. 

In other news I have eaten so badly during lockdown and I've really let the exercise slip so I'm feeling really low with myself about all that too. I need to cut down on the snacking and start doing regular exercise DVD's or something! My gym membership has been paused during Lockdown and I'm in two minds whether to reinstate it or just cancel it when it re opens as it's £26 a month.  

Poppy

Sarahwithlove

If you will use it and get benefit from it then I would keep it. It's OK to let the reins loosen a little just as long as you keep in control and keep up with regular payments. It's all about finding the right balance. Some people are OK going cold turkey but I've found a reasonable budget has kept me focused and I often find because I have it available I don't actually want to spend it. 

Poppy1984

Hi @Sarahwithlove thank you, I think you're right, I have just been so used to overpaying and driving my debt down that I don't really want to have a month where I only pay the contractual payments. Silly though I know, I just need to sit tight for a bit. I get so impatient and just want rid of the debt NOW!!!! 

I'll have a think about the gym membership, I know it's certainly useful in the winter when it's cold and wet being able to go in a bright gym and do some exercise has done wonders for my mental health so might be a little hasty if I cancel. I have a few friends who I go with so will ask them what they're planning on doing once the gyms re open. It's a membership and for £26 I get full use of the gym, swimming pool, classes and courts so although it's a lot you get quite a bit for your money. 

Prolific has dried up again, got to £10
and no more surveys! Really hoping to get to £20 by the 14th so I can cash out that and my shoppix £20 will hopefully be there by the 14th too so at least I can over pay my loan by £40 not much but better than nothing. 

Checked on my mortgage and it now says they have set a completion date so hopefully that will be very soon. My current mortgage payment comes out on the 1st of the month so I have a feeling it'll complete after that. My new mortgage payment will come out on the 16th (after pay day) which will be much better as it means by the 17th all my direct debits will have been taken from my account and any money left is spending money that will help even more with budgeting as currently I have to remember I have my mortgage coming out on the 1st. 

Poppy

Sarahwithlove

Could you maybe pay more than the min payment but still allow yourself a spending allowance for whatever you want. It's about a good balance of the two.
That's good news about the mortgage how much less will the payments be?