A space for my thoughts - tackling debt once and for all!

Debtfree2026 · 15 January at 1:09PM

Hello all! Been a while since I've written on here but I have been continuing to read other's posts and more importantly, I have been doing my spreadsheet every day still! Made a big overpayment on my credit card this month bringing my total debt at Jan 2026 to £14,654.89. Still seems so high to me but this time last year it was £27k!

Christmas was lovely - it was so nice to not have anything on credit card or BNPL on catalogue! In fact I actually had £430 left in my Christmas pot at the beginning of Jan and although I originally thought, "ooh that's a nice head start on Christmas 2026!" I decided to use it as an overpayment on my credit card. It is on 0% interest BUT we are due to renew our mortgage in June and I really want to get the credit card gone before then.

Some of you may recall that my dad borrowed £900 from me about 10 months ago and I had mentally written it off. Well, surprisingly he paid me £600 towards it in December! I've put that into my emergency funds pot as it's accruing a bit of interest for me there, then in a couple of months I'll pay a lump sum to the credit card.

So it's all going the right way at the moment. My aim is very much on getting rid of this last credit card as soon as possible. I can then use the money I was spending on that to overpay my loan. I'm actually feeling pretty confident that I could potentially be debt free by the end of 2026!

Debtfree2026 · 20 January at 12:32PM

Debtfree2026 said:

Feeling a bit deflated today!

Not sure why really, so thought I'd pop on here. This post is very 'woe is me' so bare with my thought process........

I guess it's really down to the one thing that I can't change - time. I spend £959.29 a month on servicing my two remaining debts and I just can't wait until that money is available and can actually be put into savings/mortgage overpayment. My credit card debt is due to be paid off by next year which is actually really good, considering I've had it for 10+ years - but I just want it to be gone! I want to live my life without it hanging over me! I just feel like it's overwhelming at this point.

So here's my sanity check. It isn't overwhelming. I am in a fortunate position where I am paying it back and whilst the extra cash would definitely be better spent elsewhere it could be a lot worse. This 'journey' (sorry we all hate that!) is about a lot more than paying off the debts - it's forming new habits, recognising mistakes we've made, and learning about financial freedom. A year ago I couldn't tell you how much we had going out in bills a month, or how much I spent on groceries - now I know exact figures. I am in control. That is improvement. And my debt figure in a year's time is going to look very different and I'm going to refer back to this post then!! And in two years time it will be completely gone.

Right, enough of this - metaphorical kick up the backside given, let's get on with the day! Sunny day here in Surrey, washing on the line, kids playing nicely. We got this!!

Just rereading my diary to give myself a bit of a kick up the backside again and thought I'd quote my own post from August 2025! Not even a year on and already got the debt down so much more.......paydown next week and I actually think I may be in a position to pay off the balance of my credit card, leaving me with just the loan to contend with. Finger's crossed!

Debtfree2026 · 19 February at 2:58PM

Afternoon all!

Just reading some other diaries on here, helpful as always. I've been in quite a good place mentally, with my debt journey.

I was just posting on someone else's diary and I can't remember if I mentioned it here, but I am using the zero based budgeting method. This is where I account for every penny of our monthly income. I have found it so helpful for me. Initially I was scared to do it - what if money came out the joint account that I hadn't accounted for? But after budgeting and keeping daily checks on my bank accounts I realised that I had it under control - I knew exactly what was coming out of our account every month. This really is the best grasp on my finances I've ever had!

In addition to this, I have been using Sainsburys deliveries for over ten years. It has only been the last couple of months that I have been cross checking my groceries against the receipt! And three times I have found things to be missing - one week they refunded me back £2.40 but last week it was £15 for cat food! I'd ordered two bulk boxes. I said to the delivery guy that I must have messed up the order and just ordered the 1 - he double checked and said no, I had ordered 2 and been charged for two but only one was there! So I will make sure I always check, as it all helps.

Debtfree2026 · 3 March at 2:39PM

Afternoon all! Lovely day here in Surrey, good for the motivation!

Unfortunately I have been suffering with a really bad back for the last week or so; I've actually made an appointment to go and see someone about it on Thursday. £70 for the initial appointment - I'm grateful that I have that money put aside and can afford it.

It's a short half term for the girls but as a result we have a very busy March - parents evening next week, my youngest has a ballet exam in a couple of weeks time so is having an extra practise session this weekend, then they both have a gymnastics show the same day! Not to mention birthday parties and of course Mother's Day! Plus my husband's birthday this month!

So I think this month will go by very quickly.

In other news, debt total is just under £8k! Will update signature!

Debtfree2026 · 17 March at 7:40PM

Well for the first time in a while I haven't been logging on. I'm so devastated to write that last Wednesday morning I got the call that no one wants to get at 3am. My darling mother, just 65 years old, had had a heart attack and they couldn't bring her back. It still doesn't feel real. I have four sisters. Two of them were going to bring her up to Surrey and I was going to host Mother's Day. Instead we let the day pass, not unnoticed but not significant.

I'll be back to catch up in due course. Apologies for the dejected post. I was going to write more but I'm a bit lost. I will be back xxx