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

WinterWarrior

You’re doing fabulously Dr Carrie, well done! I’m rubbish at no spend days, but am going to try for a no spend April, excluding a few essential spends I have mapped out. Maybe it will help me get a grip. The hardest thing is to start isn’t it (and stop cruising random tempting stuff online). 

DrCarrie

@Suzanne54321B - yes, if i spend I want to spend more...so grouping it together in a day, works really well for me. 

DrCarrie

Ok, so I did the snowball, and went for a walk, and then checked back in with my balance transfer offers on MNBA - there were two. One for 36 months at 3.9% - no fee, and one for 12 months 0% - with 3% fee. 
So I have had it in mind that I want to work towards 50% utilisation on all cards, as this is good for credit score. 
I did a Balance transfer for 5K to 0% interest with a fee of £150. To bring the Virgin credit card down to approx 7,500 - the limit is 17K. So that is 2 cards down to 50% utilisation or less, and 2 cards on 0% interest. 
I am going to rejig mini goals again, and wait for the statements to see the balances. 
Am pleased and relivesd. 

Sarahwithlove

Put your phone in a plastic tub full of rice and put lid on and leave for 24hrs the rice should soak any moisture from your phone. 

DrCarrie

Dear diary, I am still here, slowly but surely making gains in all manner of ways! Just quietly chipping away.

The phone is ok following its little paddle in the loo. Phew, but  I think I am still going to get the other one fixed. Just in case. 

Looking forward to getting my CC statements for April - gosh, I mean that's new! But I can see where I am at after the 2 balance transfers I have done in March and April. And find ways to throw money at the Virgin CC, as that is the only one with interest, and am going to pay the other 2 off within the 0% period. 

NSD's really do help me stay focused, so glad this is part of my journey. Son glad I have my emergency fund, really reduced the anxiety about the debt.

It is going to get a bit tougher when I go back to work, the commute is a lot of money! 

Thelaughingcat

I’ve just caught up on your journey and you are absolutely smashing it so far!

Yes, get the other phone fixed as I know from bitter experience that water damage progresses slowly and then one day, a few weeks later, it’s liable to just fritz and there’s nothing left to do.  I’m so clumsy that the guys at my local iSmash know me by name, and my favourite herbal tea to boot.

Really feeling the end of your post - I can’t wait to have the safety net of an emergency fund and I love the mini-goals of NSD’s too!  Definitely not looking forward to the commute either!

DrCarrie

Thanks for stopping by @Thelaughingcat

I am really, really hoping that these little habits are going to see me right for the rest of my life. When I look back to the nipping to the shop ever other day for something and lots dropping into the basket, the FOMO of offers on clothes and beauty, just the little of its only a tenner and frittering money have added to the debt so much. I really hope that this very focused way of being with money is changing my relationship with it again, and I will reach my goals to become debt-free and beyond. I really do love nice things, but this process is really tough and in keeping reigning it in with the spending - it will likely be another 18 months of this so there is lots of opportunity to change these habits and for them to become sustatainable. 

Still looking forwards to the CC statements!😎

Thelaughingcat

Looking forward to credit card statements?!  Now that’s a feeling I can barely imagine. 😁

Isn’t it weird how, when you stop buying lots of things every day, they suddenly become treats again when you do?  All of a sudden, they have more value again precisely because it’s not an everyday thing.

Here’s to sustainability and moderation so we enjoy the nice things in life again, rather than expecting them 😊

AntoMac

@DrCarrie - I recognise your name from the Sealed Pot Challenge.
Good to see you doing well  getting your bets down. Lockdown has definitely been good for spending less for me too, and hopefully creating better habits.
As @Thelaughingcat says, things become special again when they become treats again. Can’t believe I’d buy a coffee out pretty much every day. Surprising how the cost adds up.
Here’s to keeping on getting those balances down. 

DrCarrie

@AntoMac - yes - all those coffees on the way to get the train! so expensive overtime. 
@Thelaughingcat - I love that, 'sustainability and moderation'. I am going to write that down!

So the phone is a little damaged, the screen is not really working where the water went in. I missed out on my last offer, when I got the iPad screen fixed. But attempted to book in, and then stopped as I know this is a way to start to get incentives by the company. I think I will get, £10 off by the end of the week. 

Just paid £50 off the Virgin CC. Doing all I can with it until I go back to work (in the world)- which may be June, but we don't know for sure yet. 

Realised my lockdown / winter chub is a bit of a problem in getting into my clothes. So that is also a focus until the return to work arrives. I will only really be going to the office 2 days a week, so will only need a couple of 'full work' outfits, the rest of the time just a jacket and a top is required really, with jeans or hareem pants. Have a lot of fabric to sew up, but don't want to sew up anything too fitted at the moment. Just want to get done to the top end of the 'healthy' range of BMI. I don't have scales anymore, so need to find somewhere were I can weigh myself, so I can see where I am at. 

I did a meal plan and went shopping, and batch cooked. As well as having a couple of treats from the fishmonger, shetland mussels in an Asian broth and delish Mackrel with middle eastern salads (had the leftovers for breakfast). Have 4 portions of lamb and Apricot tagine int he fridge / freezer and there is a ham hock in the slow cooker for soup. 

So lots of self focus yesterday on my wellbeing. Now I need to work. 😳