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

LzzyIsGod

That sounds such a great day out !

Debtfree2026

I've had a really disappointing day money wise!  So, I picked up my youngest from school and went to Café Nero to redeem my free octopus flat white and the code wasn't scanning...… we tried multiple times and the staff very kindly ended up putting it through for free anyway as we couldn't work out why it wasn't working.  Anyway, I sat down and went onto the app to investigate further and realised I'd accidentally got the Greggs one instead!  So of course I went back up, admitted to my mistake and paid for my coffee.  Not so money saving.

Did karma then help me out?  Of course not.  I then went on to the school app to double check I'd put my eldest into homework club and realised that I'd accidentally booked her onto both sessions, until 6pm.  As I was cancelling at 3.45pm I would be charged for the second session even though I needed to get her at 4.30.  So another £13.50 down the drain for nothing.

Just frustrating. And all my own fault.

warby68

It IS frustrating to sabotage yourself but in my years of juggling jobs/children/home a few of the balls got dropped. I can say they were usually smallish if that reassures you and I must say, be kind to yourself and shrug them off as a fair bit under 20 quid in total with no other real consequences. We're all human - I don't think I could do those years again, its the sheer number of smallish things that occupy your. brain that make the odd one drop out of it at just the worng moment.

Debtfree2026

Thanks @warby68 - that's exactly it.  I also dropped the ball on a couple of other things yesterday (not money related) and I think the added expense just pushed me over the edge with frustration!  

LzzyIsGod

Happens to the best of us @Debtfree2026 - too many things to think about and we end up taking it out on ourselves. Totally agree with @warby68, can't be helped so be kind to yourself x

Debtfree2026

Hi all - where has the last week gone! Another pay day came and went... I do rather enjoy sorting my sinking fund pots at the beginning of the month! Regarding my debts, it is nice to just have the two now - even though they are both very large!

I can't recall if I mentioned it but I have an excel spreadsheet on which I have imputed various columns for income, all fixed outgoings, non fixed outgoings (gas, electric) and allocation for saving pots.  Every day I log on and mark off once a direct debit has come out for that month.  It's working very well for me.  I have now done a separate sheet for my debts and I worked out that if I pay the loan payment of £459.29 and £400 a month for the MBNA card (minimum is £260 at the moment) I will have both debts completely paid off by August 2027.  Why does that seem so far away?! I'm so motivated and positive and I really hope I can keep that momentum going.  Realistically I hope to pay the card off sooner - anything left in my groceries and personal spends budget at the end of the month I am putting as extra payment towards the card, together with any additional money through surveys etc.

It will be interesting to see how quickly I can get that card down.  I do think there needs to be a balance between actually living and paying off debt - as I am fortunately in a position to do so - but I also think I could reign in the personal spending more and really focus on getting rid of the debt quicker.  Food for thought!

Debtfree2026

Further to the above, I have of course realised that if I don't make more significant overpayments on the credit card, it won't be finished by August 2027 as the 0% interest rate would have ended and the interest rate would have sky rocketed...... I do think I would be able to get another 0% card at that time if necessary but it's a good incentive to get that card paid off as soon as I can!

Sarahwithlove

August 2027 is still what 28/29 paydays away, so you have time. You may also find that one of the cards you already have offer you a balance transfer etc. So worry about that nearer the time I would say. 

Debtfree2026

I've just made an additional payment of £49.12 on my MBNA account, bringing it down to £9,700.  Would be lovely to pay off a further £200 this month if I have enough surplus in my groceries and personal spending pot.  

LzzyIsGod

Sounds like you're making ace progress @Debtfree2026