A Year in the Life of...

Bubblesmum

Hello GAP, have read your diary from the beginning, wanted to say how well you are doing despite the roller coaster of this year... as our dear friend @beanielou says keep plodding as you are managing your situation so well. 

I am also studying and finding it hard bit treating it as work, I have fixed deadlines which helps. 

girlatplay

Hi @Bubblesmum, thank you for stopping in.  Thank you for the suggestion of treating study like work.  Little Miss is going back to work next week on a part-part-time basis (she works part-time usually) so I'm hoping to pick it up again then.  I need to set hard deadlines but I'm so worried I'll screw up.  Once I get back in the swing of it I'll hopefully get back on track.

savingholmes

Hi GAP - I think most people are struggling with motivation. If you are anything like me it comes in waves - sometimes good - sometimes not good.

astrocytic_kitten

Hi GAP, I noticed today that the forum is working properly on my phone again and thought of you! Hope all is well x

girlatplay

Hey Diary

Well, it's been a while.  Just really here today to give a quick update.

Firstly, congratulations to @beanielou for paying off your mortgage and congratulations to @astrocytic_kitten for becoming debt free.  Great, inspiring work from you both.

So, my update is that I managed my goal of getting the loan below £4k by 31st December.  Not only that, I am nearly below £3k now!  Any extra money is going towards it.  I really started hammering it at the start of the year.  I don't know how much longer I will be able to keep up this pace (I've paid off £280 over and above my monthly payments this year so far which is the equivalent of two extra monthly payments) as I have only managed it because I have not needed to spend elsewhere.  I don't have many friends but I do have some and I know they will want to go out as soon as we can.  I can't make excuses when the first opportunity comes along.  I know it will settle down again but I'm quite liking seeing the balance come down each week.

I have managed to pull my DFD back from 1st Dec 2023 to 1st March 2023 but I'm still working on it.  If I was able to continue as I am then with some help from my emergency fund I could probably pay it off this time next year but that's just a pipe dream at the moment.

I accidentally blurted out to my bf that I'm paying extra to it (we are in a competition that he doesn't know he's in) but I don't think it will make him pay down his any faster.  His reply was "You'll have paid off yours before I pay off mine."  Err yes mate, that's the point (but I didn't say that, it's still a competition after all )

The only other 2020 goal/resolution I achieved was drinking lots of water.  That is still ongoing and is a proper habit now.  I do have days when I don't do so well but for the most part I drink loads.

I had a bit of a meltdown about the course I was doing.  I just wasn't coping with it.  My line manager was lovely about it.  She requested further assistance for me and I am now proud to say that I have passed the first exam out of four and I'm currently studying towards the second.  I should have said something long before that but it's all out there now and things are far better.

That's it from me for now.  Not sure when I'll update again, maybe when I get under £2k.

Keep going everyone.

girlatplay

My last post has spurred me on a bit.  I have just uplifted money from the emergency fund to take the balance below the £3k.  It won't show in my loan account for a couple of days but I've changed my sig as it will have today's date.  I must not do that again anytime soon though as I don't want to deplete the emergency fund.

astrocytic_kitten

Great to hear from you! Weirdly enough, I was just thinking of you the other day and wondering how you were getting on. Glad all is well. That’s fantastic progress you’re making - good to hear you’re still ahead in the secret competition too 😆

[Deleted User]

GAP GAP GAP Gaaaaaap  Been thinking about you too, glad to see you pop in. Take care x 

beanielou

So so lovely to hear from you 
You are just so awesome.
Thanks so much for your MF good wishes.
So glad that you got the support that you needed from work & how awesome that you have passed your first exam already 
Keep plodding & keep posting 

savingholmes

Glad that you are doing well. Nice to hear from you again.