Debt free by 40

anjyeah

jokono said:

Forgot to say I have £41 in Prolific with another £14 pending! Not decided what to do with them, might put them on a CC.

Well done on that! I can barely get £5 on it these days - but that's probably because I also limited my choices to just surveys (no calls or video interviews). I need to be more consistent on logging into that site lol 

jokono

sunshine_raincloud said:

Newbie here just reading your diary for inspiration! It seems like you have made a lot of progress in a short amount of time! Can I ask what might be a silly question but what is PB? 

Welcome and good luck on your debt free journey! Having a diary here means you are committed to it, I wish you well!
PB = premium bonds 

jokono

anjyeah said:

Well done on that! I can barely get £5 on it these days - but that's probably because I also limited my choices to just surveys (no calls or video interviews). I need to be more consistent on logging into that site lol 

I don't do calls or videos either but I was lucky to have a 2 week study, 2 short surveys every day, each day was £1.30 and I got a £10 bonus for doing them all. Then a couple of long ones at £5 each, I rarely get these. 

EssexHebridean

jokono said:

sunshine_raincloud said:

Newbie here just reading your diary for inspiration! It seems like you have made a lot of progress in a short amount of time! Can I ask what might be a silly question but what is PB? 

Welcome and good luck on your debt free journey! Having a diary here means you are committed to it, I wish you well!
PB = premium bonds 

Or on my diary sometimes peanut butter….but hopefully it’s obvious which I’m referring too as even I don’t spend THAT much money at once on the tasty jarred stuff! 😂

jokono

I went to a car boot sale this last Sunday, first time as a seller. I went with left overs from the auctions (mostly brand new stuff) and some of the boys' old toys. After paying the £10 entry fee I left with about £45, almost half of which was one sale. I wonder if some sellers make any money, most of the things sell for close to nothing? I guess it adds up if you have volume? It was a lovely sunny day, I enjoyed sitting in the sun for a few hours, but I won't be going back. Getting everything down from the loft, loading the car, unloading at the site, loading again, unloading and putting everything back in the loft took another couple of hours.

I didn't go to London in the end, I had a long terrible cold that lasted until not long ago and after a few days off illness I tested positive. I'm not feeling too bad, paracetamol helps with the headache and fever like symptoms - my temperature is not actually high but it feels like it is?

I didn't update at the end of last month, during Feb my debt went down by almost £1100 and this month will be almost double that thanks to the bonus I got with my last pay. It feels like such a slog, especially now a week before payday. But I made some projections and I am on track to halving the debt this year, which means I might be debt free by the end of 2023

Edit to add: I called Virgin today as my contract was ending next month. I got a new 18 month deal, same package for £5 less than I've been paying so far.

EssexHebridean

Sorry the dreaded lurgy has got you - hopefully you'll be feeling better soon. 

Great negotiation with Virgin, well done! 

jokono

Thanks @EssexHebridean ! I didn't expect it to be so easy, I was prepared to ditch the tv package as we don't really watch anything that's not free anyway, but it wasn't necessary. I looked at the Virgin haggling thread last night and someone got the same bundle we have for about £10 less... I'll still count it as a win as it only took me 5 minutes. Last time was a much more complicated process.

My fitbit broke, the bit that you attach the strap to on one side. I used some Gorilla glue to 'fix' it and it will have to do. I'll keep it for as long as it works and the glue holds but I don't think I'll get a new one after that, I'm sure I can live without one?

jokono

Lidl had citrus trees in, I got a large one so spent about double what I intended. 😬 But the tree is full of fruit, I hope we will get to enjoy it soon 🍊🍊🍊

I found a huge visitor in one of the smaller trees, it was bigger than my thumb!

WinterWarrior

Oh what lovely trees! Will they thrive outside, or do you need to bring them in for winter, or inside permanently? My cats eat everything inside, although citrus might be the answer! 

jokono

@WinterWarrior the label says it should be ok down to 5C. I used to have another tiny one that I kept outside over the summer and then brought in the conservatory when it got cold. It did well until I filled up the room with auction buys, I couldn't see it anymore and forgot to water it