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What on earth am I going to think about when...

I am debt free? I spend a lot of time dreaming up ideas and plans to clear it but when it's gone ? I will have a massive hole in my brain space! I have 20 months to go so it it is a while off yet. 
Sept 24 : £32000                  Sep 25 - £10356         Feb 26 - £6872               
May 25 :  £14000                  Oct 25 -  £9569          Mar 26 - £5998         
June 25 : £13000                   Nov 25 - £9275                                  
July 25 :  £12000                   Dec 25 - £8975
Aug 25 :  £11436                   Jan 26 -  £8065

Comments

  • doingitanyway
    doingitanyway Posts: 10,925 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Mortgage-free Glee!
    I felt adrift once I had paid off debt of 24k. It took months to deal with. But you can transfer debt free zeal to savings zeal!
    If you have built castles in the air, your work should not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them

    Emergency fund 1400/1000
    Buffer fund 100/100
    Debt Free (again) 25/07/2025
  • Ahh, now that is a good idea! Thank you. Did you do that? 

    Sept 24 : £32000                  Sep 25 - £10356         Feb 26 - £6872               
    May 25 :  £14000                  Oct 25 -  £9569          Mar 26 - £5998         
    June 25 : £13000                   Nov 25 - £9275                                  
    July 25 :  £12000                   Dec 25 - £8975
    Aug 25 :  £11436                   Jan 26 -  £8065
  • SandyShores
    SandyShores Posts: 2,065 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 29 March 2025 at 9:43PM
    Same here - we had about £5k of our debts left to pay when we received £10k of PPI refunds in the post - felt ever so slightly cheated of the satisfaction of struggling to pay it off.  

    We're paying off our mortgage now, but otherwise its pensions and savings for us.  We've got about £17k in PBs at the moment and hoping for the big prize soon (its a long shot but who knows).  We've also started holidaying more regularly so we saved in advance for those.
    "Think of many things, do one"
    Mortgage est. 30 Apr'26 est. £201,500 £309,749 2020 (ends 2038 - aim for 2031)
    Seven Goals; and healthy diet/walk/run/exercising/weights/yoga 

  • I’m at the beginning of my DMP journey, but today I felt so excited about the thought of just having one bank card! It seems so sad, but after years of having loads of credit cards and thinking about what’s available on what. It just feels liberating. Can’t even dream of being debt free yet. Well done! 
  • sourcrates
    sourcrates Posts: 32,562 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    Put all that effort and resourcefulness into saving money in the future, not giving it to some bank.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter
  • 400ixl
    400ixl Posts: 4,482 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    I would have thought training your brain to only spend on what is necessary for a short period to really understand what your future costs are going to be. Then focus on what you want to save vs spend a little on enjoying living without the risk of getting back into debt.

    You need to find that right balance or you may risk just yo-yo'ing into debt and out again. The discipline and concentration will be needed for a few years before it becomes totally natural I would have thought.
  • Rob5342
    Rob5342 Posts: 2,871 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    I'd make some long term plans and concentrate on making those happen. Paying off your mortgage early, saving up to hsve a new bathroom fitted etc. 
  • I am lucky enough not to have a mortgage - hence the short term debt. I didn't expect the short term debt to annoy me so much, but it has. 
    Sept 24 : £32000                  Sep 25 - £10356         Feb 26 - £6872               
    May 25 :  £14000                  Oct 25 -  £9569          Mar 26 - £5998         
    June 25 : £13000                   Nov 25 - £9275                                  
    July 25 :  £12000                   Dec 25 - £8975
    Aug 25 :  £11436                   Jan 26 -  £8065
  • in a way, it's good that you were annoyed by the debt.  think how much more it would have cost if you weren't determined to clear it
    Mortgage at 01.01.14 £119,481.83:eek: today £0 Emergency fund £5.5/5.5k & £200/200 cash.:jWeight 24/02/19 14st 7lb now 12st 1lb determined to stop defining myself by my mistakes. Progress not perfection.:T100%through my 1% mortgage challenge. 100% through my pb challenge. I’m not perfect but I’m good enough.
  • in a way, it's good that you were annoyed by the debt.  think how much more it would have cost if you weren't determined to clear it
    yes, could do with a holiday though  :D
    Sept 24 : £32000                  Sep 25 - £10356         Feb 26 - £6872               
    May 25 :  £14000                  Oct 25 -  £9569          Mar 26 - £5998         
    June 25 : £13000                   Nov 25 - £9275                                  
    July 25 :  £12000                   Dec 25 - £8975
    Aug 25 :  £11436                   Jan 26 -  £8065
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