It begins today..

Martico

Not sure if it's the kind of thing that would work for you, but I've found a spreadsheet enormously helpful. One tab for an overview, then different tabs for daily spends, cards, current accounts, savings, monthly spends, everything basically. They all feed into each other.
That's become my bible, and it's expanded to targets, graphs, all sorts.
It's a personal geek-out that works for me, has helped me to feel in control of personal finances.

Simple or complex as you like, a budget and target planner is a really useful tool that keeps you on top of things, and reins you in if you find you're over-extending

debtfreedreamer23

I love a spreadsheet! I have one for my account, my joint account and debt! 

I’ve put some items to sell online, sold 2 for £12 so far, once that comes in I can pay that off. 

thebikemechanic

Well done for starting a diary, great way to keep the motivation up and looking forward to seeing your progress! 

EssexHebridean

Really pleased to see that you've started a diary - they can be an incredibly useful tool, not only for keeping accountable but also for being able to see your own progress - a few of those who have commented here already have personal experience of that! 

I'm going to suggest a slightly off-piste approach to the cards. It definitely makes sense to make the most of the 0% interest - so first things first, I'd suggest that on all the cards you're not using you set the monthly payment to a level just above the minimum required. Round it up to maybe the next £5 of £10 - then, so long as you don't use any of the cards for any purchases or BT's, you can forget about all bar the first target card (Halifax 2) and the smallest - MBNA 2 I think? I'd suggest that you then put your big monthly lump sum overpayment straight against Halifax 2 - but any oddments of money you can save/earn etc you apply to MBNA 2. This way your targeted planned overpayments are serving to cut down on the interest you're paying - and the amount you are talking about will make a fairly fast impact there - while seeing the level on the smallest balance drop off will serve hopefully as a good incentive to keep trying to save where you can and make oddments by selling things, doing surveys etc.  The two things you need to be aware of using this method - for any cards you are still using the enhanced monthly payment idea is not the right one - as the minimum will increase if the balance increases. And also you must keep a close eye for any paperwork telling you that the calculations for working out the monthly minimum is changing as this can also mean you needing to pay more. The advantage though is that you know how much you are budgeting for the minimums at this point in time, so you know those are affordable and in the budget, and paying a set monthly amount means that you get more impact as time goes on - minimum payments drop as the balance drops, where a set amount payment doesn't. 

Only you will know what methods will work best for you - and feeling disgusted with yourself at this point is natural - I think most of us will have been there at some point, so sit with that feeling for a few minutes, make a special note of how unpleasant that feeling is, in fact, if you journal at all you might even want to note down how you're feeling about things at this stage. Done? Right - now tell yourself that you never want to put yourself back in that place again - and in the future if you're tempted to repeat the behaviours that have lead you here, stop for a moment and remember that feeling you're experiencing at the moment.  Now - time to move on - and feel proud of yourself. Proud for facing that there is an issue, for being honest with yourself, for being willing to be honest with other people, and for asking for help. Clearing the level of debt you have is never an easy ride, but strange as it might seem, you've actually done the hardest part now, so pat yourself on the back for that. 

debtfreedreamer23

Thank you for that comment essexhebridan, really motivating and lovely. 

I started up a few survey sites this weekend, for Qmee, cashed out £2.50 to check it works before I spend any more time on there. 

Also got Swagbucks and opinion post.

Does anyone have any experience with these? 

Are_We_Doing_Ok_For_Money

Didn't want to read this post and walk on by without saying hi.

I too am in your position, only double the debt. Mine being £69k debt, spread over 32k on a debt management plan anf the other 39k debt on stuff i bought and interest free credit card and stuff.

I totally get the feeling you described of being annoyed with yourself. It's good to start with that, as a point of realisation. But don't go beating yourself up about it. Use that as a tool, as a driver to get this done and cleared. As your debt starts to decrease and you get into the swing of paying things off, then use that as all the positivity you need to keep on going forward.

I have got a lot of inspiration from this forum, and also watching the Dave Ramsey - Debt Snowball Method on youtube. That guy does not talk any nonsense. 

Online Surveys - try Ylive surveys.

debtfreedreamer23

So it’s been almost a week since I started this diary and became fully motivated to sort my debt issue. 

I’m feeling so much more positive about things and feel that I can and will get out of this situation. 

In the last week I have paid £41.78 extra off my card through not spending, surveys and selling items and I still have a couple of sold items pending that I’ll be able to pay off shortly. 

That just massively spurs me on and makes me want to try and make savings everywhere I can to keep chipping away with extra payments. 

shell16

You will be surprised how addictive this can be in a good way!  Once you have the motivation to succeed you will always find ways to generate extra income to continue reducing debt.  Well done!

Shell x

Karonher

Prolific is a good survey site. Lots of little surveys and cashout at £5.

debtfreedreamer23

Having a really down day today, I just feel so upset with myself.
I know I can’t turn back the clock and I need to carry on with the motivation I had over the last week. 

Just having one of those days where it hits me how much I’ve let myself down.