Debt free before August 2023

Eyebright

Hi Poppy, I'm so sorry you're feeling low and going through a tough time at the moment. I'm sending you a big, dodgy MSE hug! :grouphug:

I hope you're managing OK in work today. This time of the year is awful for so many people, we're all struggling post Christmas and it's the start of a new year, so we all start reflecting on where we are at and what we have/haven't achieved. I don't think the short, dark, gloomy days help much either. It's just a toxic cocktail that leaves us feeling inadequate and like we're at rock bottom. To a certain extent I've been feeling a bit the same myself.

Buy we can do this! You've had lots of good advice from everyone here, we are all here for you, and this is exactly the place to vent your feelings and frustrations.
It's so overwhelming when you start looking at everything you need/want to do and change in all areas of your life. I just break it down into little chunks that I feel are more achievable. I think Georgiana Cavendish's diary was where I read about concentrating on the teaspoon not the lake. It's too much to think about the debt in it's totality, so focus on clearing that first teaspoonful first.

For me, it's too much to focus on £19k's worth of debt that needs clearing. So my first goal is to try and clear £1k in the next 100 days, and £4k this year as my stretch goal. Doesn't seem so overwhelming.
Do the same with your house and gym goals. Start small and build up.

Ugggh sorry I've really rambled on! Just want you to know I'm here for you.

savingholmes

Hi Poppy - I feel similar to you currently. Have you tried going to your GP and seeing what support they can offer?

Don't worry about venting on here. I think if you read enough diaries you soon realise there is a mental health component to a lot of people's overspending / debt problems. At least you are taking positive steps to redeem the situation you are in and create a better future.

Keep plodding - it will soon be spring.

Sarahwithlove

Poppy1984 wrote: »

Hi sarah thank you I'm trying hard but not getting very far with the overpayments.

Job hunting is going rubbish! Not found anything worth applying for.

If I overpay it will reduce my interest and the over all length of the loan. As far as my emergency fund I want to get it back up to £300, but I know that's risky as I could run into an emergency that's going to cost more than £300 I guess I'm just hoping I won't!

I do have other pots of money that I could dip into and move around and replenish if the worst come to the worst. I would use my over draft if I needed to in an absolute emergency but I would be aiming. To pay it back very very fast if I did.

So yea a bit risky but the reason why I'm wanting to focus on overpaying the loan is that I just want out of debt as soon as possible I am so fed up of being in debt! I admire your patience building up a couple of months wages!

Poppy

Just remember that it all adds up and keep doing little amounts because it all helps save on the interest. Which totally makes sense why you are paying it off early. Fingers crossed you don't have any emergencies and you can get through it quickly.

I do wonder if I'm doing the right thing building up so much whilst in debt as I know in an emergency my dad would probably lend me the money or my brother. Something I need to think about.

Poppy1984

Eyebright wrote: »

Hi Poppy, I'm so sorry you're feeling low and going through a tough time at the moment. I'm sending you a big, dodgy MSE hug! :grouphug:

I hope you're managing OK in work today. This time of the year is awful for so many people, we're all struggling post Christmas and it's the start of a new year, so we all start reflecting on where we are at and what we have/haven't achieved. I don't think the short, dark, gloomy days help much either. It's just a toxic cocktail that leaves us feeling inadequate and like we're at rock bottom. To a certain extent I've been feeling a bit the same myself.

Buy we can do this! You've had lots of good advice from everyone here, we are all here for you, and this is exactly the place to vent your feelings and frustrations.
It's so overwhelming when you start looking at everything you need/want to do and change in all areas of your life. I just break it down into little chunks that I feel are more achievable. I think Georgiana Cavendish's diary was where I read about concentrating on the teaspoon not the lake. It's too much to think about the debt in it's totality, so focus on clearing that first teaspoonful first.

For me, it's too much to focus on £19k's worth of debt that needs clearing. So my first goal is to try and clear £1k in the next 100 days, and £4k this year as my stretch goal. Doesn't seem so overwhelming.
Do the same with your house and gym goals. Start small and build up.

Ugggh sorry I've really rambled on! Just want you to know I'm here for you.

Hi Eyebright
Thank you for the lovely words of encouragement, I think you're right about the time of year, the weather has been miserable of late, rain constantly and barely getting light so I do definitely think it makes things worse.


Yes that's true, my next goal is really to get my EF back up to £300 and get my loan into the next thousand bracket.


Thank you
Poppy

Poppy1984

savingholmes wrote: »

Hi Poppy - I feel similar to you currently. Have you tried going to your GP and seeing what support they can offer?

Don't worry about venting on here. I think if you read enough diaries you soon realise there is a mental health component to a lot of people's overspending / debt problems. At least you are taking positive steps to redeem the situation you are in and create a better future.

Keep plodding - it will soon be spring.

Hi Savingholmes
Sorry to hear you have been feeling similar too, its rough no I've not been to see my GP, I would I'm not against it but I'd like to try and help myself first.


Thank you I really so think venting on here helps.


Thank you


Poppy

Poppy1984

Sarahwithlove wrote: »

Just remember that it all adds up and keep doing little amounts because it all helps save on the interest. Which totally makes sense why you are paying it off early. Fingers crossed you don't have any emergencies and you can get through it quickly.

I do wonder if I'm doing the right thing building up so much whilst in debt as I know in an emergency my dad would probably lend me the money or my brother. Something I need to think about.

Thanks Sarah,
Hmm its a tricky one isn't it, like I say its probably a bit risky but because I have the end in sight and its not too far away and because I have quite a lot of other saving pots built up as well as my emergency fund and the absolute last resort would be to use my overdraft of £300. Hopefully it wont come to that.


What is your situation? How much debt do you have? Do you have a plan set up for paying it off? Do you have other saving pots for things that occur on a regular basis e.g. Christmas, MOT etc or are you lumping it all in with your EF?


Poppy

Poppy1984

Hi Everyone
I'm feeling in a bit more of a positive mindset. Thank you all for all the lovely kind words and support I really appreciate it so much.


I really think arguing with my partner over the weekend and not getting much sleep has impacted on how I was feeling about everything.


In moneysaving news I have got to my first £10 on zipzero woooop!!! Taken me around a month so if I can earn £10 a month on average from that I'll be chuffed to bits. So I have sent that to my broadband direct debit (not sure how it works really) I'll really enjoy only paying a fiver for my broadband in Feb I have already moved the tenner into my EF so that now stands at £66. I've sold a few bits on ebay so once all that's posted and cleared Ill transfer a few more quid over to my EF. Prolific is a little slow at the moment think I'm on about £3 at the moment so will let that build up to £10 again before I cash out and send it to my EF.


Other news I went to the gym on Wednesday and I'm going again tonight, the house is looking better but it needs decorating no idea where to even start with that I'm useless and clueless when it coms to DIY and I don't have any equipment.


Nearly the weekend


Poppy

Eyebright

Glad to hear you're feeling a bit more positive Poppy, you're doing really well! Congrats on the Zipzero payout

Well done on going to the gym too, that's fab. Our house really needs a lot doing to it too, we've been here 8 years now, so everything is getting tired and needs redoing.
We've decided to do the hall and landing as our first priority this year. It needs the wall paper stripping and re-papering, painting, all the bedrooms need new doors and frames and we need to recarpet the landing and stairs :eek:
I'm lucky that I have a very competent OH, as I am useless at anything practical or DIY related...:o

twiggy86

So pleased you're feeling more positive! I've been very anxious this week but I know the cause of it is hormones as it's the same every month! Awful whilst it's there but I try to remind myself that it will pass. Also, don't beat yourself up for feeling rubbish - everyone goes through it and it is perfectly acceptable. Don't tell yourself you're a bad person for feeling bad - it's the opposite in my opinion as if you didn't care about things/ people then you wouldn't suffer.

Poppy1984

Thanks everyone onwards and upwards


Poppy