New Year, New me

Mliz

Hi bb
Drawing up a chair to follow your journey - you are doing brilliantly x

bigbeff

Hi all! @Mliz thanks for the comment, support is what gets us through when struggling! I can’t believe I’ve kept this up for 9 months and made so much progress! Focusing on getting rid of it all.

I have done a payment of 349 to CC this yesterday putting it at £1k left on that… there is part of my brain that wants to pay it off with my EF just so it is gone, but that seems silly when it’s interest free! 

Loan is going down slowly - I’ll overpay that when CC is gone. I know that might be wrong way round, but psychologically I need another one gone now. 

Luckily I managed to sort my mortgage last week fixed for 5 years at 4.5% - a bit higher than it was, but payments are about the same so as long as valuation etc goes ok, that’s a weight off my mind. 

Caught up on others diaries this morning and I’m taking a leaf out of @Mliz book and only spending on essentials until Christmas. 

So only allowing myself to spend on: food, consumables, bills, gifts, petrol
not allowed: clothes, lunches(homemade only!), books (I already have a pile to get through!), wool or fabric!

Off to check insurance quotes on Quidco and top cash back as house insurance due. Wish me luck! 

LittleMissDetermined

Well done on sorting the mortgage, I'm guessing the payments being about the same is great considering what's happening to the rates at the moment. You're right to celebrate just how much you have achieved in debt busting this year, 47% gone already!

Not sure I could be strong willed enough to only spend on essentials for the next 3 months. Is that so you can save money to pay for Christmas or to send additional money to CC3? Each month I allocate myself some 'spends' fund which I use for things such as hobbies, clothes, personal care etc. 

Good luck with the insurance hunt, it's a ball-ache but can pay off if you can get cashback and a cheaper quote so always worth shopping around! 
LMD x

bigbeff

LittleMissDetermined said:

Well done on sorting the mortgage, I'm guessing the payments being about the same is great considering what's happening to the rates at the moment. You're right to celebrate just how much you have achieved in debt busting this year, 47% gone already!

Not sure I could be strong willed enough to only spend on essentials for the next 3 months. Is that so you can save money to pay for Christmas or to send additional money to CC3? Each month I allocate myself some 'spends' fund which I use for things such as hobbies, clothes, personal care etc. 

Good luck with the insurance hunt, it's a ball-ache but can pay off if you can get cashback and a cheaper quote so always worth shopping around! 
LMD x

I’d like to throw as much at CC as possible, I need it gone for my own peace of mind and my hobbies and things are running (I just treated myself to new running shoes), patchwork and crochet. I’ve got loads of fabric and wool already. I don’t need my clothes for a while so thought I’d see how long I could go! 

cybertortoise

Found you bigbeff. You've done amazingly well in a pretty short time, so much for your ten year goal. You'll be debt free before you know it! I'll definitely be looking back at your journey and trying to follow your example. Keep up the good work.

Mliz

Morning - your total cleared is fantastic.

I got a good running t-shirt in the Glasgow 10k goody bag - I’m easily pleased 😊.  My trainers should do me for at least a year but popped into a sports shop at the weekend and the temptation was scary but I just have to keep remembering that I have more than enough.

bigbeff

Just realised I hadn’t included my minimum payment when i updated CC balance so that’s another £25 gone! And I’ve made a payment of £11.34 tidying bank account 🙂 once my loan payment goes out on Monday, I think my total debt might be below £8k and I might possibly have paid 50% off… roll on Monday!

Gym this morning, followed by Lidl shop. Got to plan lesson and then I’m going to do some more sewing I think before working later this afternoon. This new patchworking hobby keeps me off the internet on my days off so I don’t just go shopping! I think I might start making some Christmas presents 🙂

bigbeff

BOOM! 50% of the way through my debt! It’s taken me since the beginning of January and I’ve paid off about £8k!! So pleased with my progress - I have been going through a rough patch with it lately, but seeing that 50% psychologically puts me in the home straight - like a marathon, once you can get past half way, it all starts going down 😂 and I’ve got an emergency fund!

So, currently might have a look and see if there is anything I can list on faceache later, I haven’t done that for a while. 

Finished a crochet scarf yesterday. Might start a new project later. Hairdressers tomorrow, it’s been 3 months since I last went 😬 Might go shorter. Patchwork course today before working this afternoon.

Hope everyone has a great day!

LittleMissDetermined

Huge congratulations on smashing that 50% barrier! You are doing so well, keep up the momentum Glad you’re feeling more positive again 
LMD x

bigbeff

I have had a fairly good week - no extravagant spends, except a bottle of wine I fancied 😂 

Work has been frantic which means I come home and collapse in a heap. Does mean no spending mind. 

Back on the fitness train today - plan to lose a stone by Christmas... Hope to stay on the wagon this time... Keep away from the biscuits 😂