Update from me...

clarab_3

Hello friends

It struck me today that it was over a year since I joined the site, and took a little bit of control.

It also struck me just how relaxed I'd got with my situation (a good thing) but also how my pursestrings are loosening (a bad bad thing )

So Im here, to remotivate myself and hopefully encourage any new posters that one year in, you CAN do this... A year ago my head was so far in the sand that despite a decent salary I was getting further and further in debt.

so, my current SOA.

Income:
1750 basic

Out:
Mortgage: 650
Council tax 89
Gas and electric 89 (I had arrears, but as of April this is going to £65)
Tv Licence £12
Virgin £30
Mobile £20
Food £100
Contact lenses £15
Home and contents ins £15
"Not looking like a tramp at work" £25

total £1045

Debts:
Cahoot (man how I hate them) £7800 @ 14.9% - £162 a month
Egg £4650 @7.9% - £134 a month
Black Horse £2660 @ 15.9% - £92 a month
BOS Visa £1300 @ 22.9%

So - the plan! Lovely lovely Egg have allowed me a 3 month payment break from March. My plan is that during that 3 month break I am going to divert every spare penny and.... bye bye to my last ever credit card! I cant explain what an achievement that will feel, at one point I had £12k on there:o

Black Horse, I'm gunning for you next :wall:

Any bright ideas? Snowball calculator reckons Im free in 2010 :j

Gemmzie

Hi clarab, glad to hear you're still around. CC free nearly :j

Welshlassie

clarab wrote: »

Hello friends

It struck me today that it was over a year since I joined the site, and took a little bit of control.

It also struck me just how relaxed I'd got with my situation (a good thing) but also how my pursestrings are loosening (a bad bad thing )

So Im here, to remotivate myself and hopefully encourage any new posters that one year in, you CAN do this... A year ago my head was so far in the sand that despite a decent salary I was getting further and further in debt.

so, my current SOA.

Income:
1750 basic

Out:
Mortgage: 650
Council tax 89
Gas and electric 89 (I had arrears, but as of April this is going to £65)
Tv Licence £12
Virgin £30
Mobile £20 Can this be cut at all ?PAYG
Food £100
Contact lenses £15
Home and contents ins £15
"Not looking like a tramp at work" £25

total £1045

Debts:
Cahoot (man how I hate them) £7800 @ 14.9% - £162 a month
Egg £4650 @7.9% - £134 a month
Black Horse £2660 @ 15.9% - £92 a month
BOS Visa £1300 @ 22.9% Would it be better to tackle this one first as its costing you the most, you could get it sub £1k with the Egg money for the 3 months your not paying them, I'd then go for the Black Horse with money used for this one.

So - the plan! Lovely lovely Egg have allowed me a 3 month payment break from March. My plan is that during that 3 month break I am going to divert every spare penny and.... bye bye to my last ever credit card! I cant explain what an achievement that will feel, at one point I had £12k on there:o

Black Horse, I'm gunning for you next :wall:

Any bright ideas? Snowball calculator reckons Im free in 2010 :j

Well done on sticking with it. It does feel fantastic to be completely free, and little boosts along the way when each individual debt is finished.

You don't seem to be budgeting for Christmas/birthdays, travelling (either car and expenses or public transport), clothes and hair, going out, etc.

Good luck and stick with it.

clarab_3

Welshlassie wrote: »

Well done on sticking with it. It does feel fantastic to be completely free, and little boosts along the way when each individual debt is finished.

You don't seem to be budgeting for Christmas/birthdays, travelling (either car and expenses or public transport), clothes and hair, going out, etc.

Good luck and stick with it.

Thanks! Sorry, I should say I managed to get a job where I work from home, so outwith my visits to customers (which are expensed ) I spend nowt on transport - I also take my food budget while I am away and stock up on shampoo and the like in supermarkets and just eat a sandwich:o

Then i go and ruin it by having a big weekend out about once a month, but I try to finance those by working standby and overtime. Basically put, if I dont do overtime - no nights out, no clothes! Maybe a bottle of wine...