I am the obstacle and I am the path (to debt free...again)

DrCarrie

I am quite obsessed with my debt recovery plan, I have amended my goals and I think that they really are attainable. I have rejigged 2 budget planners one for when I can get all the debt on 0% on one card and below 50% utilisation. and the other for debt free day!

This I have some control over - but there is another professional difficulty looming and have no idea when it will be resolved. it's stressful and plays on my mind, its not really fair and it has cost me £3,500 in legal fees upfront. 

So the overriding stressors are:
- the academic course  - will be finished next week. 
- the debt - will be finished in 2022/ 2023
- professional thing - who knows.
- relationship recovery - who knows 💔  

What I do know is that all of the above is contributing to my feeling of being stuck, and has had a massive negative impact on top of the Pandemic. BUT I have not spent any money, to make myself feel better. This is really quite an achievement, for me! I am so grateful to myself for not increasing the debt, which would lead to more stress. 

DrCarrie gets unstuck plan in action, just sad about what I have lost, because of the stress and debt. But I will grow around the grief, and pay for my future, not my past. 

WinterWarrior

Plans and goals really do help…although I look at mine daily and disappoint myself as I can only really make changes on pay day! I have been pretty bad so far in July so am planning to have mostly NSD’s for the rest of the month…it will be hard. The professional thing sounds awful and very difficult to plan around ☹️

DrCarrie

Thanks @WinterWarrior it is really awful and difficult, and frankly - annoying! and it could easily be another year before it is resolved. 

NSD yesterday and sorted out my IT account at uni - very stressful, but the assignment will be done this time next week, and hopefully, I will be graduating from the University of Oxford next spring/summer. 

A bit more on the unstuck plan: To unstick yourself, your mind needs to adjust and I have always find moving to be helpful to do that. I am thinking about a project for myself in the run-up to my 50th birthday. When I turned 40 I did a vlog of 40 days before I was 40.

I think I am going to do 50 walks before I am 50. Going to see how that feels after the assignment this done. Looking to the future, and being in the present though. It would do that!

WinterWarrior

That’s an excellent idea. Will you have a time or distance attached to each walk? 

DrCarrie

At least 3 miles I thought!

WinterWarrior

That’s a good amount, not enough to put you off, but a good challenge over 50 walks.

DrCarrie

I went down a bit of a rabbit hole on looking at walks! Found a lovely website: discovering Britain. 

Anyway, I am on NSD 9 for the month and all debt payments and direct debits have gone out. Waiting patiently (cough) to see if I have met mini-goal no. 2, when the statements arrive. 

Oddly looking forward to the 3 day weekend, working on the assignment, probably because it will be the last! 

DrCarrie

Finished my assignment, and submitted it, been out for a lovely amble this morning, longer than my usual one. Really lovely. 12 NSD's so that is doing well.

Thinking about 50 walks before I am 50.  

DrCarrie

It's hard work the debt busting, it's the little things, the daily things that you need to be disciplined about. I am frustrated with myself and grateful that I am doing this, changing my life in this way. 

So...with 3 goals to meet before I am 50, how do enjoy life and feel that I am living and growing and nourishing myself on a very tight budget. No room for dinners out, or spending on my love of skincare and clothes, partying and dancing. 

So I really am going to do 50 walks before I am 50 - they need to be over 3 miles to qualify - exploring my local area and mini-adventures. I am also going to do a bucket list, again, 50 before I am 50 - realistic things, low-cost things. 

From (now)1st of August to the 1st of May it is 9 months; 5.5 walks and 5.5. things off my bucket list a month. 

I am going to share to here, I hope you won't mind, I want a record of it and look back and reflect on my journey to 50. 

The bucket list has not really started but will start at the weekend. 

Anyway, had a spend day yesterday. But shouldn't need one today. Looking forward to the CC statements - still shocked by this. IN particular Virgin...will my minimum payment be below £150...can I meet a goal (which will be on the bucket list). 

WinterWarrior

I look forward to seeing the lists and the progress. There are lots of lovely low cost things like books to read, an ice cream on the beach, a bag of chips eaten outdoors…tiny things that are lovely in the moment. 50 should be quite doable 😁