Is this what it would feel like to be Debt Free? My challenge!

redsquirrel80

Since December I've been keeping track of how much I've earned from surveys, clicks, eBay, etc (and more recently the joys of online bingo free trials!). Putting my figures into my spreadsheet this morning, I realised I've made £105 so far this 'month' - I count my financial months starting on 23rd when I get paid. Now my minimum debt payments each month are £165, so effectively I've almost made enough to cover them! For sooo long I've been thinking how easier things would be if I wasn't paying out that money to damn credit card companies and DCAs every month... so I guess this month (if I can get another £60 raised) I'll be finding out just how much better things would be! Is this what it'll feel like to be debt free...? Well, hmm, not quite, I wouldn't have to be clicking, selling and so on to raise the money - or I still would be but it would be a nice extra on top of my salary! Mind you, it's also made me realise that DF-ness is not going to mean lots of luxuries that I can suddenly afford, well not until I get a better paid job!!!

Anyway, despite keeping track of my extra income I've never got round to setting myself a target, but this realisation has caused a plan to form... my challenge to myself is to raise £165 (in other words my minimum payments) from extra stuff every month. Still going to keep track of my total from December, but I now also have a target of £1650 in ten months - 23rd Jan to 22nd Nov. Hopefully this'll let me make some bigger payments to the credit cards - as I'll still be putting some of my salary towards the debt as well - and also put a bit aside to maybe manage to pay off the whole of a couple of the smaller debts this year :j

Obviously some of the 'money' raised is vouchers, but I've been very sensible and got ones that I actually use for everyday things rather than treating myself. It's mostly real money this month though! This is what I've got so far for 'February':

Ebay 9.70
Greenmetropolis 3.00
Quidco 7.02
Royal Mail Survey (free stamps + prize draws) 6.12
My Search Funds 5.20
Bingo 74.70

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Total £105.74

Sorry for the long Monday morning ramble, just wanted to get it down in words and share it with you all. It's very rare that I actually have a plan for anything!! :rotfl: I know there's loads of challenges going on already but if anyone wants to join me to 'raise your debt payments' then feel free.....

redsquirrel80

Another night, another Bingo site - won another £8! And cashed in £3 from Lightspeed, so my total is now at £116.. this seems too easy, but what am I going to do next month once I've 'done' all the Bingo sites???

elantan

you should think about mbing if you want to make some extra money ...it's great being df isnt it ...enjoy

redsquirrel80

elantan wrote: »

you should think about mbing if you want to make some extra money ...it's great being df isnt it ...enjoy

That's a good idea, would like to give it a go - I did try to read the guide a while back but will have to try again when I'm more awake :rotfl:

Tiglet

Yes, mbing is a good way to make extra money, but you do have to be sure that you understand all the ins and outs of what you're doing. Download some of the spreadsheets available and play around with the numbers on them so that you know exactly how they work before you do it for real. Read the threads about common mistakes, and remember to take everything slowly. That way you're more likely to find it successful.

MBing isn't for everyone - I tried it for a while but I found I didn't really have the patience. If you enjoy it, then good luck!

elantan

it took me months to get to grips with mbing read the thread re-read the thread then re-read it again and again ask questions and get your bets checked but it can be worth it

redsquirrel80

Thanks guys, I'll have a good look at it when I get the chance and see if I can get my head round it!

Couple more bits to add to the total this lunchtime - £10 from Consumer Pulse, and a whole £1.50 commission from one of those 'design your own t shirt' sites that I signed up to a while ago, played about making a few things then forgot about as I never thought anyone would buy anything - not much but I was pleasantly surprised!

kizzykizzywizzy

Well done you are doing brilliantly, I don't think I'll be very well off either when I'm debt free, I've been so focussed on the debt free bit that when I looked to see what I would have after the debt is gone ( as hubby has a drop in wages in July, end of contract ) I will be as bad off as I am now!! A sobering thought & this will certainly give me the push I need to get a job in July, when he's back home & I can work evenings as looking after the children on my own at the moment. If I can get a decent job, we will be fine, it's just the not knowing, I can't stand.

redsquirrel80

Hope everything works out well for you Kizzy. At least our DFW ways mean that we can budget and be aware of our money, even if we're never gonna be millionaires!

Another £9 on Bingo last night and a £5 Sainsburys voucher from ToLuna on the way. Bingo withdrawals seem to be taking forever to go back onto my card though Oh well, it stops me spending it I suppose, but I'd rather it was in my account than theirs!!

pania

morning squirrel just seen your thread. sounds fantastic hon, I'll join you but i think £700 is a bit ambitious so will go witha half that if ok!!!
So far this month is have
Amazon £21.32
M-mobile £15.00
Bingo £52.40
Quidco £20 (tracking)

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88.72 actual money
108.72 incl quidco!!

Wow i LOVE free money!!!!

Thanks for this hon, will fit in well with the ten pound per day challenge...
Have a good day now!!! xxx

redsquirrel80

Hello Miss P, nice to have you on board, be good to have some mutual encouragement/ nagging when needed Free money is rather lovely isn't it?!

Have a good day too xx