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Teetering on the brink

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  • EatingBeans
    EatingBeans Posts: 351 Forumite
    100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Evening @DrunklMunkee 👋 Breaking the debt down into baby steps seems like a great idea. When I set myself my targets for next month I am going to give this one a go! Thanks for the tip. 😁
    End of
    Dec-24 May-25
    Brother  £  5,400.00  £  5,200.00
    Overdraft owed  £  1,349.90  £            -  
    MBNA CC  £ 10,534.20  £ 12,056.18
    Barclaycard CC  £  9,667.21  £  8,138.15
    Fluid CC  £            -    £     732.50
    NatWest CC  £ 12,018.14  £ 11,774.23
    Total debt  £ 38,969.45  £ 37,901.06

    Paid off in the month

    -£     914.90
    Total paid off 2025  £  1,068.39

  • ellen_vannin
    ellen_vannin Posts: 424 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 100 Posts
    Good point about tracking your spending with a card.
    I do most of my spending with an M& S credit card paid off in full each month.
    Small pay back with reward vouchers too.
    Only times I spend cash is Charity shops and pocket money to grandchildren.
    Talking about rewards etc make sure don't have any unused loyalty points on your cards. Some like Boots and Sainsbury's only give you a year to spend them now.
    Also when you have time ( or you might have already) browse the shopping, discount, freebies forums on here.
    Occasionally a good deal.
    For instance the last one I got Colgate were giving sample small tubes out. Ideal for travel, overnights or just when you run out.

  • EatingBeans
    EatingBeans Posts: 351 Forumite
    100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Eek. Woke up to a cry that the cat has run out of food too. No getting around that one so off to the shops to get enough to keep her going until the delivery, and bought the pups a bit too whilst there. It leaves me with just £12.66 to stay on budget for the month. 😳 

    Checked the app which gives me points based on how much I walk (which then converts to free coffee/lunch at work), sadly not enough even for the coffee. 😞 That’s what happens when you stop leaving the house I guess.

    Ahh well, time to be super cautious about what I buy today. It really doesn’t help that it’s networking day so I am expecting people to want to go for coffee and lunch ‘out’. This is going to be fun! 

    End of
    Dec-24 May-25
    Brother  £  5,400.00  £  5,200.00
    Overdraft owed  £  1,349.90  £            -  
    MBNA CC  £ 10,534.20  £ 12,056.18
    Barclaycard CC  £  9,667.21  £  8,138.15
    Fluid CC  £            -    £     732.50
    NatWest CC  £ 12,018.14  £ 11,774.23
    Total debt  £ 38,969.45  £ 37,901.06

    Paid off in the month

    -£     914.90
    Total paid off 2025  £  1,068.39

  • DrunklMunkee
    DrunklMunkee Posts: 55 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Hey there, @EatingBeans

    Just checking in early as I am away out, tonight. I shall be skipping the light fandango and turning cartwheels across the floor. Only joking, I will most likely be skipping a drink or two and eating wagon wheels by the door.

    But before I venture out, I just wanted to say that I hope your first day back went as well as could be expected, and you weren't forced into too many lunches/coffees - and if you were, then I hope it was your companion footing the bill :smiley:

    Loving the jungle skinny dipping - so very decadent.

    And yes - anyone with teenagers, boys or girls, will know exactly how proud you should feel. It's great when you realise they are all playing for the same team. #TeamBeans

    Oh well - will catch up after the groggy head / wagonwheel-gorged stomach allow.  Take care
    Debt Free as of June 2023

    £63,050.94 - repaid & forgotten
  • Andyjflet
    Andyjflet Posts: 699 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Thanks @trizzyrascal thanks for dropping by! Great to hear from someone in a similar position who is also just trying to furiously pay down their debt. You definitely sound like you have a plan which is awesome.👍

    I’ll be honest, the user interview thing I will be sure to be looking in to but I am not sure I am brave enough to do the flipping thing. It is only a small town around here and I suspect the flipping might be somewhat frowned upon. I am actively avoiding facebook marketplace as the local community forum can be a vicious place sometimes. Ebay seems safer! 🤣

    I wish you all the best for paying down your debt, you’ll have to let me know how you get on. 
    We got this! 💪 
    I think the above post could be a scam, do your research!
    Baby Step 6/7 . £16000 saved and invested. £47,000 deposit paid on new home DEBT FREE !!!
    Currently Negotiating with HMRC !
  • EatingBeans
    EatingBeans Posts: 351 Forumite
    100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Well first day back turned out to be pretty fun - am I allowed to say fun when talking about work? 🤔 I feel very blessed to work where I do and with such a lovely bunch of people, I know from experience that not all places are like it. 

    The only main drawback is the cost of eating onsite. Really good, very yummy food, but super expensive. They had my favourite meal on today, Tandoori chicken, I just could not resist! Yes, it was £10.74 despite taking my own drink, but I resisted any temptation to buy a coffee all day so 🤞 I should still come in under budget.

    Just 3 more days until I reach the end of my ‘first’ month - thankfully all wfh days! 

    Hope you have a lovely evening out @DrunklMunkee Your comments about wagon wheels by the door properly made my giggle. Sounds like my kind of night! Haha

    And thanks @Andyjflet     I didn’t like to assume the post was just a scam because what if it really is someone in that situation, but I have to say I always avoid links that anyone else provides. Once bitten twice shy in that regard!
    End of
    Dec-24 May-25
    Brother  £  5,400.00  £  5,200.00
    Overdraft owed  £  1,349.90  £            -  
    MBNA CC  £ 10,534.20  £ 12,056.18
    Barclaycard CC  £  9,667.21  £  8,138.15
    Fluid CC  £            -    £     732.50
    NatWest CC  £ 12,018.14  £ 11,774.23
    Total debt  £ 38,969.45  £ 37,901.06

    Paid off in the month

    -£     914.90
    Total paid off 2025  £  1,068.39

  • ellen_vannin
    ellen_vannin Posts: 424 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 100 Posts
    Good that you enjoyed being back in the office.
    But the cost of that lunch is a lot!
    I reckon you could make your own for a lot less( and yes I know it's a treat)
    Well done on resisting the coffee!
  • ellen_vannin
    ellen_vannin Posts: 424 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 100 Posts
    Hopefully you are getting Martin's weekly email.
    If you haven't already seen it there is a good offer for newbies to Quidco cashback site. Spend £5 on Friday and get a £28 bonus.
    Always worth checking who has the highest cashback between Quidco and topcashback , as they sometimes differ.
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