2020: The End is Nigh!

PositiveBalance

No, not like that!

I'm not sure why I am starting a new diary but my old one is a bit flat (my fault!) and everyone else seems to be doing it and we are entering a new decade and all that, so it seems like an optimistic renewal of my intention to debt bust!

I started off with debts of £11,640.02 borrowed from a relative during a seriously awful financial period (multiple redundancies over a 2 – 3 year period after moving into my own flat before I had the chance to get a financial cushion behind me). I have repaid £6771.01 leaving a balance of £4869.01*.

This year, the remaining debt is going. As in going, going, gone. I don't like being in debt, it is weighing me down mentally and stopping me doing the other things I need to do in my life.

I want it over. So it will be.

To get it gone in 2020 I will have to pay an average of £405.75pcm which is a large monthly target for me. On my basic wages of £20k a year with a take-home pay of £1350pcm it's almost impossible. I do overtime regularly but even with that it would be a real stretch to manage that repayment total every month over the year.

It doesn't mean I'm not going to try, though as sometimes when you decide to do something, the Universe decides to step in and help you out.

I have lots of things to Ebay and declutter, which should help if I ever get around to listing them. *Tuts impatiently at self*

I'm also a bit optimistic for some mad reason, that after clearing my credit card of £4999.95 that it will be possible. It took a bit longer than a year but the Universe stepped in last time, so perhaps it will throw me a favour if it sees that I'm trying really, reeeeeally hard!

On top of all that, I need to build my baby emergency fund back up to £1000 from £200. In fact, I need to do that first, just in case.

:beer: Happy New Year everyone! :beer:

*I've just realised that my calculations are a bit out so I may have to revise these figures when I get to the paperwork to recalculate them.

PositiveBalance

I've seen the new '20 20s for 2020' thread on the Old Style board and it has made me thing a bit about the things I want to do/achieve in 2020. I have really let many of the hobbies I have slip recently for a variety of reasons. so I have given the following 20 consideration for the New Year :

1. Save up £1000 emergency fund
2. Pay off remaining debt
3. Sell 20 things on Ebay/Facebay etc.
4. Declutter 20 things for the house you no longer need
5. Learn to lift 20lb at the gym
6. Be able to run/cycle/use the step machine for 20 minutes
7. Attend 20 yoga classes
8. Declutter 20 plastic (preferable single-use) items from house and replace with sustainable alternatives
9. Practice first instrument 20 times for 20 minutes
10. Practice guitar 20 times for 20 minutes
11. Practice crocheting 20 times for 20 minutes
12. Declutter paper 20 times for 20 minutes
13. Garden 20 times for 20 minutes
14. Ride bike 20 times for 20 minutes or more
15. Watch 20 new DVDs
16. Listen to 20 CDs
17. Read 20 books
18. Write 20 diary entries/things I want to write
19. Make sure kitchen work surfaces are ABSOUTELY CLEAN 20 times
20. Donate 20 things to a food bank
21. Do 20 things just for you for no other reason than you want to do them or they make you happy!

PositiveBalance

In that susperstitous way of trying to pay off your debts before entering the New Year I have just paid £69.02 off my off the debt to leave a new balance of £4799.99.

I can't pay it all off before the New Year (I WISH! :rotfl:) but I certainly can get past the next marker.


Here's to 2020, everyone! :j

PositiveBalance

I have just increased my Emergency Fund (EF) to the whopping total of £208 due to some extra funds loitering around.


Last of the big savers, me! :rotfl:

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary

FootyFanDan

Happy new diary.

Here is to getting rid of that debt in 2020!

PositiveBalance

Thanks Beanie and Dan. All the best to you both, as well.

jwil

Happy New Diary Love the goals

PositiveBalance

Thanks Jwil - happy new diary to you as well and I will lo by tomorrow at a more reasonable hour.

I'm back from my unexpected trip (visiting poorly relative) so I'm getting myself back into the swing of things. I don't have to go back to work for a few days which is nice and gives me the chance to get myself and my house a bit straight.


You can tell I have a bit of time on my hands as I have finally got round to cleaning the oven! :eek: :rotfl:



I always joke that I feel rich for the 24 hours between me herring paid on the last day of the month and the first, when most of my bills go out. This month the illusion stretched to 48 hours with the bank holiday and now I feel very poor indeed and need to go through everything again as so much has gone our so quickly and a few DDs have increased slightly from what they were.


I have a book for writing in but I have yet to use it. I think tomorrow will be the day. On the upside, it will be easier to track my allocated amounts left for each category of I do oy correctly and keep it up-to-date (my weakness).

£7.04 extra was allocated into my account today as a percentage cashback for the bills. I have already put £7.00 of it in my emergency fund (Premium Bonds so can only be whole pounds) and I have moved the extra 4p along with the small amount leftover from ti's month's Fido food fund and some interest in an account to another account where I will save any spare money until I have enough to hit the minimum to buy more bonds


I bought Fido more food today. It came to just under £48 thanks to a £20.00 off voucher due to the company I ordered from completely mucking up the last time. Gawd help me when I don't have any vouchers! :eek:


I'm rambling now. I'll be back with figures when I can.

savingholmes

Hi PB. Look forward to seeing you kick that debt into touch

GeorgianaCavendish

Happy New Diary! Loving the 20 x 20 goals for 2020, I may try to implement a few of these myself.

I know exactly what you mean about feeling rich for 24 hours after payday. I got paid a whole week early in December and the Bank Holidays delayed some of my usual direct debits so this Thursday was a rude awakening. I’m now counting down the days until January payday and trying not to panic, I’ve given every £ a job (as per YNAB rules) so I’m trying to tell myself that it’s ok that the balance is plunging. It’s all ending up where it’s supposed to be!

Good luck in 2020!