Pay off £20,000 (ish) by Xmas 2008

Pollydaydream

Hi everyone.

It's a bit of a bumpy road, this debt free journey thing, isn't it?

I've had a bit of a setback this month, so don't have any updates. I have been reading on here every day, so feel like I've been here, but I realise now that I haven't actually logged on since 1st September:eek: . I've slipped back into lurkerdome!

I started this challenge last year, fired with enthusiasm (or desperation, I'm not sure which). The trouble is, my head really was still in daydream land. I'm going to be lucky to reach £10k by Xmas - I'm failing miserably at my own challenge!

I've had about a thousand mini-lightbulb moments since then, followed by new plans and frantic activity, and even more quickly followed by either doing something stupid or not doing anything at all, neither of which helped the situation. .

This last couple of weeks I’ve had more of a major, full-on lightbulb – well, probably, I’m just looking at things more realistically. I’ve probably done/not done a least one thing every week which I shouldn't have/should have done (financially speaking, of course :rolleyes: ) and every week I’ve felt bad about it, but looking back over the year, I can see that I have been moving forward. I am in a (slightly) better financial position than I was last year, I do have (some) better routines in place, I do understand myself (a bit) better.

I understand now, for example, that, although I love the idea of having an emergency fund in the bank, the reality is that, at the moment, some part of my mind says, well you’ve got some money, you can relax a bit, go on, spend it …., so, at the moment, I think it’s easier to pay it straight out again before I can spend it, even if it means not having the comfort blanket of knowing I have some for emergencies. Just another couple of hundred mini lightbulbs and I think I may (possibly) have morphed back into a saver.

Phew, sorry, that turned into a bit of an epic ‘get it off my chest’ session and I haven’t even had a drink.

I only really came on to say to Poorandindenial – don’t beat yourself up about it, you’ve done fantastically and you’re sub £25K :j :j (now that calls for a drink, surely).

Well done to everyone else too – I don’t think I would have even got this far without your inspiration.

Polly

taxi73

Well done on sub £25k Poorandindenial....must feel great and before you know it you will be sub £20k..
Pollydaydream...look at what you've achieved so far and what you have learnt so far!!!!
Nobody on here is a failure as we are all owing less than last year and in these economic times ...that's a miracle xx

taxi73

Just updated sig as have paid £140 off BMI and £100 off A+L also put £40 in emergency savings but unfortunately don't count that or offset money...lol....

Jacks_xxx

:hello: Hiya Gang!

We are not having the greatest month.

I'm having some time off from eBay (well, still doing dribs and drabs but just when I feel like it,) because I've been ill with lots of silly little things and my energy level is in the toilet so I'm working a lot less this month.

I've also spent some significant dosh - I bought about £300 worth of new clothes. It was all very much needed. I've been surviving on four tops and four bottoms for the last two years or so, but they were all becoming decidedly scruffy looking. It's very nice to have some new duds, but even after spending all that money I still don't have any socks!

Usually I feel all energised at Back To School time of year but this year I'm feeling a bit blah so far.

Well done all for your continuing efforts and extra special well done on the sub £25k milestone poorandindenial! :T

Love Jacks xxx

Shineyhappy

Hi everyone!

I am not on your challenge, although I would love to be able to knock 20k off my mortgage in a year but there is no way I could do that! I just wanted to say that paying 5k off your debts is amazing so even if you pay off a fraction of that 20k its still better than getting further into debt and it is still saving you interest in the long run.

Sometimes we all need a break from the dfw lifestyle and a treat but the trick is to not let it get ignored and run up the cards again. Take some time off if you need it but come back with avengence!

You have all made amazing progress!

hypno06

Jacks I hope you feel better soon x

poorandindenial - well done on being under £25k :j

Taxi, you are right - anything we can pay off in this difficult climate is a significant achievement!

Pollydaydream - get posting......you know it keeps you focused!!!

Today I have paid off £30.33.........not much but it all helps......:D

Earthstrong

Hello everyone

I have paid £26.74 to my cc which is now cleared, don't think I will have a lot to pay off next month due to having 3 weeks holiday and 1 week off with the flu and the boiler has now died. However I am very glad that I was inspired by all of you in this challenge otherwise I would be in a much worse situation.
keep up the good work, we all deserve a pat on the back.

Gemmzie

September payments are made in full £797.98

Still hoping to pay another £100 or so before the end of the month though

Grand Total - £8,745.54

Uniscots97

Nothing to add lately, its been a slow month and lots of other bills which means no extra to pay off my debt.

Uniscots97

Managed 4 quid extra paid off today. I'm feeling pretty down about things lately as nothing seems to be going right. We're getting our overtime cut to zero, it means losing £2500 a year after tax. My OH just couldn't comprehend why I was upset. On the upside doing something about life assurance thanks to someone on here and that should save me at least a tenner a month.