Becoming debt free within 18 months

Chemtrails

Sounds like you are getting there!

The 2 months left of paying that 400 will fly in and at least that’s another debt ticked off the list.
I think when paying off debts we end up wishing our lives away as can be difficult to truly live in the moment.

Getridofdebt66

I completely agree, when paying off debts we do look too far into the future, wishing your life away. I am trying to stay in the here and now as much as possible but doing it economically, it doesnt have to cost my future to have a good present. 

I cant wait for the last £800 to be paid off my debt, will be a big relief and a big debt gone no matter how hard it has been paying it off. 

Paying off debts is definitely a difficult lesson but i am hoping thats what deterrs me from doing it again. 

Ive spent half an hour looking at houses in a nice area not to far from ours, not that i could afford anything anytime soon but its nice to dream and knowing that if i get debt free amd work hard its an option....thats what i want for my future....options. just something nice to do and occupy my time. 

Right off for a quick bath

Getridofdebt66

A wet and windy morning here. 

My bills have started to go out....depressing seeing it go out but it is what it is. 

My plans have changed today due to me not being 100% was visiting an elderly relative but I don't want to pass anything on. New plan for today will be to tidy my car out of the rubbish, pop to the tip (if i can get a slot) and try and get on top of my washing, as the mountain keep growing and I can't seem to get on top of it. 

Todays plans:
Clean out car
Book a tip slot and take extra rubbish
Washing and drying
General housework
All food from stores
Put clean washing away

Its a small list but more than enough to keep me going...

Less_Talk_and_More_Action

Hello @Getridofdebt66

I have read all of your diary and I think you are making great progress.  I have just started a diary and my intention is to take small, consistent steps to reduce debt and to learn from that process.  You have done really well since you started your diary - that's very inspirational to me.  Life has to run alongside this process and being able to deal with the financial demands of day to day life whilst still reducing debt is the key to success I think - even if sometimes it seems like tiny steps.

L x 

Getridofdebt66

Thank you @Less_Talk_and_More_Action the little steps make more of a difference i think, well for me anyway. I have tried to make myself accountable for everything I do. I am trying to stay positive, i would be lying if i said it was easy its not especially when i am feeling sad about that I am not where i thought i would be (despite not knowing how to get there and thinking i would magically get out of debt whilst still spiralling and over spending) and thats what I need to hold on to that in 10 years I could have a mortgage, be debt free, have savings...even if its £10 its savings and not debt.

One thing i like to do which I am not sure if anyone else does but I like to think about how much I am paying each month in debts and dream about the different things i could do with it or mainly how much i can save each month, that is giving me the motivation.

Getridofdebt66

So today has been a lovely day, took dd to her club, spent £4.50 which was budgeted for, also got my petrol again budgeted for so i have spent £24.50 out of the £25 i budgeted for for this week so lots of nsds now until Monday. Today I visited my mum and she made me and dd tea so no cooking again! Not done much else tomorrow i plan on pottering around the house and catching up with some jobs, its not glamorous but needs to be done and won't cost any money. 

Tomorrow 
All food from stores 
Movie evening with oh and dd
General housework
Put washing away
Washing and drying
Sort fridge out and freeze whatever I wont use before it goes out of date
Meal plan for over the weekend with what I already have
Polish all through the house
Steam mop all floors

Thats enough to start me off

Getridofdebt66

Had another enjoyable day today, met up with some friends who moved away earlier this year had a few hours talking and the kids playing, they came to mine so drinks and snacks we what we already had in after Christmas, nsd today! A few of my jobs will have to be rolled over and my dryer has broken so I am making do, oh said he will buy one next month with his wages as we have so much washing we would never get on top of it. 

Had a nice evening with dd, i forgot oh was out but me and dd watched a film with snacks and drinks. Oh has given me some more money to help through the month and I received £50 i forgot was due from inlaws (i brought something a couple of months ago and they have just paid for it) its going in the pot but I am hoping to stick with my original budget.

Tomorrow's plans
Meal plan for the weekend
Sort fridge out (i did check all dates earlier but need to check what needs freezing) also cupboards need a final check to
General housework
Washing and dry on airer
Visit BIL
All food from stores
Nsd
Got some bananas holding on until the end - may make a quick banana bread and freeze if necessary due to the surplus of food in the house atm
Take the last of dds presents upstairs to help clear the clutter downstairs 
Put boxes of chocolates away

Getridofdebt66

Happy new year! A chilled one this evening with dd. Oh took on some extra hours before Christmas and had an extra £150, he gave me £100 to treat dd whilst he was at work, I took dd shopping yesterday and brought a takeaway. Today i managed to get some discount cinema tickets and that was our new years eve evening out, it was lovely having some time out especially after weve not done much trying to save the pennies paying off the debts but back on it now for 2024. 

This is a quote from last new years eve:
I was feeling really down earlier about my debts so i have taken stock. My starting debt was £17765 which includes my car finance and dds present from last year that i had forgotten about. My total debt stands at £13693 which is a reduction of £4072 since March. Whilst most debts are coming down slowly they are coming down especially with the financial constraints we have had personally this year along with how much everything is increasing. Whilst i dont think i will have everything paid by 2024 i am going to try my best to at least pay off £5000 in 2023 towards my debt. It took me many years of constantly over spending to get here it is not going to be easy to get rid of it but it is going down and I need to keep hold of that

I have worked my debts out and they are now down to £6391, i have reduced my debts by £7302 in 2023 which is more than i anticipated or ever thought i could do. It has not been easy and we have really been to the bone last year but i am hoping to reduce my debt again by £5000 this year, if not get it all gone. But i think £5000 across the year is a good starting point. I have learnt a lot about myself this year and about changing my spending mentality. Even the past 2 days i have spent £100 but i have been careful and made it stretch for 2 days that dd has really enjoyed. 

Today i have also, tidied up, done washing and drying, used my dehumidifier to help reduce the excess water in the house from airing the clothes dry because of the dryer being broken.

Tomorrow 
Visiting inlaws
Washing and drying
All food from stores
Do meal.plan and food shop for this week online 
Buy dog food to last
General cleaning
Change the beds
Put washing away
Put meat in sc to cook all day
Start to think in more detail about goals for 2024 beyond debt busting. 

Time for bed i think...

jusferbrowsing

Very well done on your debt busting of 2023. If you tackle 2024 in a similar way you will have cleared everything and have a good amount as savings/emergency pot.
All the best for the New Year

Getridofdebt66

Hello @jusferbrowsing thank you, i am hoping to have some small savings by the end of 2024, that would be a first for me and a wonderful feeling for me getting debt free and having some rainy day money but more importantly a big turning point for my adult life. 

Today has been successful except I haven't put the shopping away or got dog food, have online shop coming tomorrow and have enough. Had a lovely visit to inlaws was a really nice few hours, had a big lie in today as a nice way to start 2024. 

Tomorrows plans
General housework 
Put washing away
Gas service so waiting all day
Take drying to my mums (bedding and towels which take a lot to dry without the dryer)
Put food shop away
Take dd to club
Clean bathroom
Take Christmas decorations down and put in loft

Thats enough for tomorrow or at least to get me started...