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

DrCarrie

Dear diary...I have not forgotten my debt-busting intentions and actions. I have paid £5 from my change pot, onto my CC1. It really helps me psychologically to do this little payment on top of the big one. Lets me hold it in mind. 
Looking forward to reaching my mini goals... let's see where we are when my CC statements arrive. 

DrCarrie

Gosh it's a battle, isn't it. I am so determined but it is so frustrating, and I get so cross with myself for racking up so much debt when I could and actually should have capital. I try to be kind but am sometimes so furious with myself. I feel like I need to go through this to really learn..I am aware I have said this to myself on many occasions. There is a feeling inside me that is different though. I have a really strong eye on the future and a big goal. I think that is helping me. We will see I guess. 

I have been thinking all week, a bit about how I can get that CC1 down /gone. My half plan at the moment is as soon as that has gone, I will shift the balance from CC2 when there is a 0% offer. But will snowball it at the time. I have also been sneaking what would have been saving for tax and NI for the tax year 2-21 onto the CC. That needs to stop now as it will only make a very big pickle come January 2022, if I carry on with that strategy. 

I have reviewed my budget this week and decided to make a couple of drastic cuts while I am still working from home. We don't really know when we will be at the last stage of moving out of lockdown will be, so I am going to focus on now! 

My flat is tiny, and in the basement, It feels like a dungeon of zoom doom. I am going to release myself from some of it, so no more yoga online. Quite a hefty saving. I will go back when I can 'go' to yoga! I mean I might do some at home, but I paid for the last 2 weeks, and didn't go/ switch on the computer, so that alerted me to some thinking about why! I need to be out more! Get some vitamin D and breathe, with the light in the evening it is calling me outside. 

So this week, and going forward...for we don't know how long! 
- made the budget to include saving for Tax that will be owed. 
- saving on yoga costs

That CC1 is calling for all the action I can muster, but also need to make sure I don't get in a pickle! That "I will deal with that later" is a big trap and I am not interested in getting stuck in it again!

DrCarrie

Not doing great on NSD's due to a hot water bottle leak,  and a very soggy bed. Led to washing everything and needing the laundrette for drying, very expensive. Glad I have a bit of a buffer for this and the smashed iPad, so I am not dipping into my emergency fund. 
Waiting for CC2 statement - due today to update my totals. I changed my CC2 repayments to fixed rather than minimum payments...anything and everything to work on the credit score. 

DrCarrie

OMG. I have just been looking at CCs and it passed me by that CC1 APR is more than I had believed. Not sure where I got the previous figure from, but it's 25.9% - no wonder it's a blooming struggle! Stay focussed DrCarrie, stay focussed. 

Going to re-do the snowball calculator after the other CC statement comes in...

DrCarrie

So I just did a CC transfer, I got an offer for 0% until November 2022. I shifted the balance of the CC1 (25.9%) over - minus the minimum payment for April. 
I snowballed it and it was almost worth it, but that expensive CC will offer me a 0% balance transfer in the not too distant...so I might be able to shift CC2 over to it and then it will be worth it. 

jusferbrowsing

Wow, just read your diary from the start and your hard work is starting to show some great results.

DrCarrie

@jusferbrowsing thank you so much for dropping by...you are right it is hard work and frustrating, but also so satisfying!

DrCarrie

So I have rejigged my mini-goals, in light of the CC1 balance transfer. 

I have set up a DD already for the amount to be cleared within the 0% period. 
I think I will not need to buy anything else for the rest of the month and will end the month with 18 NSD's - I am getting better at focussing in on what needs to be bought and limiting the 'popping to the shops'. I got my iPad back from the menders today and got a £10 discount. Whoop!  Did the last of the shopping for the week, until next Friday anyway. 
I also doubled up my spare change - the round up that then goes on the CC when it reaches £5 - just did that!

Feeling pleased. 

DrCarrie

So I dropped my iphone in the loo. I am now very happy that I have the iPad back. 
Not sure if the phone will be ok, it's drying. I have an iPhone 6 in the drawer, with a smashed screen...may go get that fixed now! Money, but less money than a new phone! - will have £20 off too. 

DrCarrie

Morning, so I have just paid £250 off the Virgin CC. Looked at MNBA and I have a balance transfer for 3 months at 3.9% pa, with no transfer fee. This really is something to consider.  I am going to do a snowball and then go for a walk, and then see what emerges. 

Emergency fund is at 1K!