Do it for your future self

LzzyIsGod

@Waywardgirl3 I think that feeling is pretty common so you aren't alone, however lonely it feels in that moment. It's more than just a maths journey, it's emotional too (I've been up and down more times than the lifts in the Eiffel Tower) and definitely not a linear journey. The first few months are challenging as you find your feet, especially when the little things totally upskittle the budget and it feels like a huge mountain to climb - 2 steps forward and 1 step back at times.

 The big thing is to recognise that the feeling will pass and whilst there's no doubt it will pop back up at some point in the future like an unwanted visitor, if you keep going it's visits either become less frequent or slightly less annoying. Or you use that annoyance to spur you on!

I will subscribe and follow your journey.  x

Waywardgirl3

Thankyou for the kind comments. Okay so i stepped into the garden for some fresh air on Friday and it helped calm me down. Apologies in advance if i sound unhinged on this diary. It’s nice to have somewhere to vent and feel less alone. 

Yesterday (Saturday) was a mixed bag. I withdrew my £35 vinted balance and sent it to my virgin card so thats something. But then we went for breakfast and I ended up paying - £41.49 - for two very average breakfasts and coffees! Eating out just always seems to disappoint. So this leaves my personal spends for September at £9.96 - and it’s not even September! Trying to remain calm, I made a bad decision but it’s going to be a long journey. I currently have a further pending vinted balance of £37.50 so this will be transferred to my personal pot to last me the month. 

Still aiming for my goal of £200 side hustled to virgin card in September -£165 to go! 

After breakfast i completed 8 hours of overtime and then collapsed into bed - wild Saturday! 

Today will be a NSD, 8 hours more overtime to complete and going to the in-laws for a roast. It is lovely and sunny but not too hot so also going to try to go out with the dog to cheer me up 

birdsfoottrefoil

Hi! Yes I’ve a diary, I’ve had it over a year and been fairly useless as my debt has just built… trying to think that without it it would probably have built more! Had a change in circumstances now with my finances so hoping I can finally get it to reduce. 

On the personal spends, I do think you need to be kind to yourself I know I’ve been worse at building debt when I haven’t allowed myself adequate spending money. I’m fine for a bit then sort of go off the rails in boredom and frustration! 

Waywardgirl3

Completed all my overtime yesterday and had quite a nice day despite working 8 hours. 

However woke up this morning to a notification that my HSBC loan coming out has left my account overdrawn by £100???!! I do a zero based budget using an excel sheet so i have no idea how this has happened. 

Well I’ve just checked my spreadsheet and the formula is broken and my horses livery was not pulling through so i have indeed budgeted myself short this month :-( 

I also don’t want to draw from my emergency fund to cover it so i’ve drawn from house sinking fund and horse sinking fund - which are now both empty - truly one step forward and two steps back. 

Money transferred over now and I’ve not incurred any unauthorised overdraft fees so at least that is something. 

Anyway, NSD today and going to ride a friends horse later after work - keeping my chin up 

Waywardgirl3

Just had a notification for a 0% balance transfer offer on my Barclaycard! I can only transfer over £2495 to it but it’s interest free until September 2027 so ive transferred that amount from my virgin card to it. Bearing in mind my virgin card is nearly 27% interest! Will update card totals once its all gone through :-)

Waywardgirl3

LzzyIsGod said:

@Waywardgirl3 I think that feeling is pretty common so you aren't alone, however lonely it feels in that moment. It's more than just a maths journey, it's emotional too (I've been up and down more times than the lifts in the Eiffel Tower) and definitely not a linear journey. The first few months are challenging as you find your feet, especially when the little things totally upskittle the budget and it feels like a huge mountain to climb - 2 steps forward and 1 step back at times.

 The big thing is to recognise that the feeling will pass and whilst there's no doubt it will pop back up at some point in the future like an unwanted visitor, if you keep going it's visits either become less frequent or slightly less annoying. Or you use that annoyance to spur you on!

I will subscribe and follow your journey.  x

Wanted to say thankyou in particular for your comment - nice to know i’m not alone xx

LzzyIsGod

You are more than welcome. Many of the posters here take pride in the supportive nature of this little corner of the Internet and I'd never have made the progress I have without this place.

MissPennySave

Hey, I've just read through your diary, and wanted you to know you are definitely not alone in this journey, especially not now you have your diary here!!  I started my journey with a not too dissimilar amount to you in November 2022, it's been a hard slog and the beginning was definitely the hardest for me, but it gets so much easier!  and your right, once you start reducing your debts balance transfer options should open up for you to be able to move some of it to 0%.  You can do this and I've subscribed to follow along on your journey with you.x 

Waywardgirl3

Balance transfer has gone through! As promised, updated card totals in updated priority order;

Virgin cc - £8,172 (27% interest)

HSBC cc - £931.49 (0%)

MBNA 1 - £5,700 (23.44%)

MBNA 2 - £5,220 (0%)

Barclaycard - £9,882.33 (0%)

Hsbc loan - £6,005.45 (9%)

Ive decided that for now my car loan will just be treated as one of my monthly bills - to be tackled once all the above are cleared! 

Waywardgirl3

MissPennySave said:

Hey, I've just read through your diary, and wanted you to know you are definitely not alone in this journey, especially not now you have your diary here!!  I started my journey with a not too dissimilar amount to you in November 2022, it's been a hard slog and the beginning was definitely the hardest for me, but it gets so much easier!  and your right, once you start reducing your debts balance transfer options should open up for you to be able to move some of it to 0%.  You can do this and I've subscribed to follow along on your journey with you.x 

Your progress is AMAZING!!! If i can make that much progress in 3 years i will be so so happy. Will definitely check out your diary :-)