The Journey to being debt free, hopefully

in_need_of_direction

Well done for staying on track with all that’s going on.  Two years will fly past.

linz

There are some ideas for what else to make apart from soup in this Reddit thread - https://www.reddit.com/r/frugaluk/comments/1pqpra9/what_can_i_make_and_freezestore_with_the_5p/

Presume you know about Topcashback/Quidco. Certainly worth using for annual car / home insurance, hotel stays, and any other significant online purchases.

Do you or anyone else in your household qualify for a Blue Light Card? It's not just the emergency services anymore, there are loads of jobs that qualify.

Do you do surveys? See if you can get on the waiting list for Prolific. They're really good and you could put everything you make towards overpayments. There's also bank switching. Much easier if you have an account you don't really use that you can use as a burner, so you don't have to faff switching your salary account & direct debits etc.

[Deleted User]

Oh what a week you've had no wonder you're feeling a bit down. 

You're still keeping on top of things though so well done. 

It's is difficult to keep up the momentum especially when it's going to take a couple years but just think of the end goal and how you will feel making that last payment!

How was the nativity? So much going on at this time of year so I get the near miss - but the main thing is you made it. 

Smudgeismydog

Sorry to hear you e had a tough few days, it does sound like you’ve had a lot to deal with 

I think you are right to just take things one day at a time, remember to be kind to yourself

1stTimer

ryandotdee said:

The last couple of days have been a bit tough for a few reasons. As this is a debt-free diary, it probably makes sense to start there. I think this is a fairly common experience. You have that lightbulb moment where you realise how much debt you’re in and decide you need a proper plan. You make the plan, start acting on it, and then the initial motivation fades and the reality hits. Yes, there is a plan and I know what I’m doing, but realistically this is going to take around two years at best.

That has hit me a bit this week. I’m quite an impatient and impulsive person if I’m honest, which is probably part of how I got into debt in the first place. So I’m having to sit with those feelings and not let them derail me.

I think this is very common, at least I can say it has happened to me and not just at the start. It has come and gone throughout the whole debt process.
I ended up creating little goals so I always have something to aim for in the interim.
One was how much extra I can make on the side each month via surveys etc, another was how many no spend days I could have during the month (I’m rubbish at this one but it means I’m always trying to achieve it)
I’m sorry to hear you’ve had a tough week and I hope the Dr’s caught your diagnosis early.

Wishing you all the luck and good health going forward!

Cara_

I'm sorry you've had a difficult week and I hope you can take some time to have a break.You've had a lot to deal with but you are still keeping to your plan to tackle the debt so well done for sticking with it as it would be so easy to give in.

I hope you receive some better news soon.

Sarahwithlove

I think we all eventually have a down moment regarding the time it takes. But one of things I find that helps is finding ways to make money and save up a months repayment. Then pay it off and you can knock a month off your debt free date. Having a smaller amount to aim for when making extra money is always better and bringing date forward is a good incentive. 

ryandotdee

Sarahwithlove said:

I think we all eventually have a down moment regarding the time it takes. But one of things I find that helps is finding ways to make money and save up a months repayment. Then pay it off and you can knock a month off your debt free date. Having a smaller amount to aim for when making extra money is always better and bringing date forward is a good incentive. 

Yes that definitely is a good incentive.  I am in that phase where I am trying to recondition my brain to feel good about saving, rather than chasing the temporary dopamine hit of spending.  I have been on the cliff edge of guying something for the last week but have managed to stop myself, and have been focusing more on getting through this month without spending needlessly, and thinking how nice it will be to see the debt starting to go down for once!

ryandotdee

Cara_ said:

I'm sorry you've had a difficult week and I hope you can take some time to have a break.You've had a lot to deal with but you are still keeping to your plan to tackle the debt so well done for sticking with it as it would be so easy to give in.

I hope you receive some better news soon.

Thanks @Cara_ I was definitely in a bit of a low point, but in a much more positive mindset now

ryandotdee

@linz - thanks, yeah I am aware of those sites etc, I try to use TCB when I can but often forget,  most of my insurances / BB etc all auto renew, so I will have a look at quotes when the dates come up and try and get some CB.  I have been a member of Prolific for a couple of years, I go through phases of doing some surveys, but find them a bit draining for the time spent to be honest, that being said I have not done one in a while so I will have a look.

@[Deleted User] The nativity was good thanks, a bit different to normal but its always nice to see the kids doing things together!


@1stTimer - Yeah little goals feel like the way forward, eating the whole elephant is not gonna happen!  The NSD`s are such a good one, I have been building a budgeting app to replace my google sheet, and I have made a widget specifically for tracking these!