The Final Bite of the Cherry- Journey to Clear £66k

outoftheviciouscircle

@Jrcoal5, Prolific is worth it when you finally get on. Never screened out, well paid. It's the only survey site I bother with now. Ive been on there 3 years and earned just over £800 and thats taking months off at a time when I've lost interest in the past.

Jrcoal5

really sounds brilliant hope I get on it soon! 

outoftheviciouscircle

YAY!! £862.54 paid off the virgin credit card today. This brings the debt figure down below £60,000 and currently sits at £59,296.46. Still a very high figure but it certainly progress. I still have the the kitchen DD to leave my account this month too which strangely enough is £296 something so with a bit of luck, it may get into the next thousand bracket this month.

We've been thinking, while clearing our debt, we would still like a certain quality of life. We are lucky that between us we have a decent wage coming in and all the debt is on 0%. We are debating making sure we pay enough each month to ensure the credit cards are cleared by the time the 0% deal ends and building a nice savings pot so we can still have nice things like holidays. We are torn, while it would be lovely to clear the debt as quickly as possible, if we don't have savings or treat ourselves every once in a while, with money we actually have, do we run the risk of getting fed up and frustrated and ending up back to square one. 
If by budgeting and sticking to it, we have a decent amount left over then we will try and save, if its just a few quid we may as well just put it towards the debt. We will see!!

DH had his bonus figure through today, to be perfectly honest he didn't expect to get anything at all this year but was pleasantly surprised that it will be close to £1k after tax. That get paid in his May pay.

In other news £17.14 cashed out from Prolific.

NeverendingDMP

Well done at breaking the 60k barrier and potentially soon the 59k. Maybe have a three or month stint at getting the debts lower and then take a break and live alongside them. 

Jrcoal5

Could you maybe have a down graded holiday like your normal holiday but find ways to go cheaper? I think you need to allow yourself to live as well as pay the debts otherwise it becomes where you just wish your life away to the next pay day to pay more off (this is me right now)!

outoftheviciouscircle

Absolutely nothing to report today, apart from I got my work schedule until mid June and I only have to go away for 2 weeks in the next 8. I suppose that means a higher grocery spend but I won't need to budget for all these work expenses. Being at home means a lot though, I've started to get a little homesick. Plus I'll be able to take a packed lunch everyday, that will help the waistline.
I'm keeping an eye on prolific but nothing as of yet this evening

outoftheviciouscircle

Jrcoal5 said:

Could you maybe have a down graded holiday like your normal holiday but find ways to go cheaper? I think you need to allow yourself to live as well as pay the debts otherwise it becomes where you just wish your life away to the next pay day to pay more off (this is me right now)!

This is my exact problem at the moment. This is going to sound awful but our usual holiday is to Florida, we used to go every year, covid put an end to that. We went last April, after it had been postponed for 2 years. We decided not to go this year and are going to the South of France instead. I'm itching to get back there though

outoftheviciouscircle

3:22am and I'm wide awake but I just earned £4.51 completing 2 surveys 

Jrcoal5

outoftheviciouscircle said:

Jrcoal5 said:

Could you maybe have a down graded holiday like your normal holiday but find ways to go cheaper? I think you need to allow yourself to live as well as pay the debts otherwise it becomes where you just wish your life away to the next pay day to pay more off (this is me right now)!

This is my exact problem at the moment. This is going to sound awful but our usual holiday is to Florida, we used to go every year, covid put an end to that. We went last April, after it had been postponed for 2 years. We decided not to go this year and are going to the South of France instead. I'm itching to get back there though

Nothing wrong with liking where you like, but the south of France I am sure will be beautiful, we went to the lakes for the weekend recently and stayed in a caravan and in some ways I actually enjoyed it better than going abroad, why not plan a Florida holiday for every other year instead of every year as a compromise xx

outoftheviciouscircle

What a day!!! I am actually physically exhausted. I can't wait for lights out tonight. For some reason, I'm feeling a little homesick this week. This is the 6th week, I've been away from home so maybe its getting to me.
It's also Poppy (the dogs) birthday today. We have no children and treat her as a baby as do the family. I'm getting photos sent to me of her opening her presents and eating her cake, so maybe I feel like I'm missing out.

Nothing to report on the financial front. I have £6.50 ready to cash out in Prolific but for some reason it won't let me withdraw. I'll keep my eye on it.