My Debt Free Journey

Keedie

Glad to see that you're back on your feet abaka, that's great news. Sorry that your taste is still missing, hopefully it'll come back soon. 

My son's a Man Utd fan, not sure if you're the same or Man City, but when I took him to Manchester as a surprise treat in 2016, we watched the Wayne Rooney testimonial/charity match at Old Trafford and we stayed in a Premier Inn in the city centre. Granted we were travelling up from London, so not sure where the airport is in relation to the stadium, but Premier Inns are usually quite cost effective. Unless you're wanting to be near the airport as you have an early flight etc? 

Well done for chipping away at your Pay Pal, and that's good news about the Tesco credit card, and at least you have options. Fingers crossed the inheritance comes through, but if not, at least you have the back up.

In terms of the sentimental item that you're having a hard time selling, if it means that much to you, personally I would keep it. I don't know much about your collection, or how much it's on sale for, or what kind of impact the sale would have on your debt. But sometimes, we do need those little slices of happiness to keep us ticking along. I know that's not a very MSE approach. If you're simply holding on because of the thought of getting rid of it in itself is upsetting, because of having to sell your collection but you can live without it, but you'd like to have it but it's not necessary, then sell it. Even if you make peace with letting it go and re-list it in a few weeks or months. Or after you've had your inheritance, to see if you're still willing to part with it, when the situation isn't as critical. But if you want to keep something for yourself, but know that it comes as a pay off with the debts taking longer to clear, and you can reconcile that, then keep it. After all, we still need to live.

abaka

Haven't posted in a while.  July has been a very busy and spendy month for me.  I took time off work last week just to potter around the house with my daughter.  The weather was very poor so had plenty of eating out as treats with daughter.  It was so lovely to spend so much quality time with her whilst I was off and her daycare was closed.  She's 2, but she has such a great temperament and such a funny little character. 

It's very depressive to be back to normal today.  Both my wife and I are back to work and daughter is in day care (and we're having the first nice day we've had this summer!! whilst I'm trapped in what can be described as a 7 storey greenhouse!)

However, whilst I've described it as a spendy month....I haven't spent anything on credit cards and I'm still on top of my budgeting to ensure I don't go anywhere near my overdraft...The downside is that the big end of month payment to my PayPal will be lower than I expected but I'm still making positive progress towards it and not having to completely give up on enjoying life.

I was also speaking with my friend about the £500 item I'm selling....Going to compete that sale this week and that's another huge chunk of the PayPal.

I did do a sit down with my wife this weekend and updated her on the position on all my balances (first time since my LBM and she was also amazed at how much I had achieved in that timeframe), so that was good to reinforce the progress I'm making.

No word on the inheritance but that was to be expected with the July holiday period in N.I....I will ask my father about progress on that matter come the end of the month.

Possibly having a BBQ today, depending on what time I get out of work so need to pick up meat on way home so another non-no spend day....I think I'll be lucky if I hit double figures on my NSDs this month unfortunately.

savingholmes

Good you were able to talk openly with your wife. A support system works wonders for debt clearance 

LittleMissDetermined

Definitely made a massive difference to me when I finally told hubby what I owed back at the start of 2021.  He’s also astounded about how much I have paid off to date and I’m always giving him updates haha

Sarahwithlove

You'll have that PayPal paid off in no time. Hope you are recovered from covid? I had it last week and found over weekend that my taste has come back with a vengeance. Everything tastes much stronger or spicier! 

Aimingforthegoodlife

Hey, have just read your diary and I think you are often very hard on yourself, none of us are perfect and identifying you had a problem is a huge step, let alone looking at all the work you have already put in and the progress you are making! Is it worth looking to see if any Airbnb's are near the airport? We got a great deal for a night in Manchester airport using the holiday extras link on this site- 10% discount and have done before using booking.com, very basic hotels but might help? They have shuttles to and from the actual airport and are a couple of miles away but still very handy! Keep up the good work, and whenever that negative voice pipes up, remind it how far you have already come!

Keedie

I think you're doing so well @abaka and it's good to see that you had nice quality time with your family even if the weather was a bit rubbish. I think what you've achieved in such a short space of time is really admirable and the fact that you've had a non-credit card spendy time shows how much your mindset has changed. You'll be clear of your Pay Pal before you know it, just keep chipping away.x

abaka

Sorry - I've been really lax at updating and keeping on top of my subscribed posts recently. 

I know it's been a very spendy month for me but the day before Payday and I'm still sitting with a positive figure in my bank account and won't go into my overdraft... although I only have about £30 to pay into my debts with the remaining money this month.  But not going into my overdraft for 2 months in a row is a complete game changer for me.  I also worked out that I only had 9 NSD days this month - I think I had aimed for 14 but I'm not sure if I'll manage that now (had to spend for a bus into work today as I'm not fit to drive this morning and have a few things planned this week.

Saturday, I took my daughter out for the day and we went to Smyths and I bought her a new doll with a cot that she is in love with...being all over my finances and realising I can afford to buy little treats for her is an amazing feeling....we then decided to go for lunch....and I ended up getting food poisoning from it (the only thing I ate on Sat)....Woke up yesterday feeling dodgy and within an hour of waking I was vomitting.  It was my nephews birthday yesterday and his party was at a trampoline/bouncy caste park and I couldn't even enjoy it....Got on the bouncy castle for a second and had to leg it to the bathroom.....I then ended up going and sitting in the car and ended up being sick in the carpark twice (no energy to move!!) for the last hour.  Still feeling dodgy now and the thought of food is making me want to vomit....haven't ate a thing since Saturday so food poisoning is great for the diet!!

Also Saturday, my dad told me that the cheque for the inheritance is due to come this week or next....So all being well, I will have that money soon and I will be able to wipe out £4k of my debt (PayPal and most of the MBNA) and another 6k into my savings. And my friend is sending me £500 for the item I'm selling him so more positive debt wiping!!

LittleMissDetermined

Sorry to hear about the food poisoning, that's just awful! Make sure you still get plenty of fluids and use electrolyte sachets if you can so that your body gets some good rehydration. Hope you feel better soon. 

Really well done on the positive balance. As someone who (many years ago) used to include her overdraft in her 'available balance' it definitely is a game changer! I've not used my overdraft for about 7-8 years now and it's a great feeling. 

So lovely to b able to treat your daughter and not have that worrying feeling about whether you can afford it and fingers crossed on that cheque, it'll be a great relief to clear that PayPal I'm certain. 

LMD x

savingholmes

Great news on the inheritance coming through before the paypal interest charge.

Commiserations on the food poisoning. Did you let the place know/complain?