Hey all,

I'm back again. *sigh*. Progress stopped for a long while and the debt total has spiralled back up to crazy heights again. I'm pretty angry with myself but happy to be back here!

I'm annoyed at how I wasted my hard work but I intend to sort it now instead of letting it go back up to it's original level.

I was almost debt free in 2009 (just a few hundred pounds off) but I had worked so hard for so long, I was properly burned out. Fortunately the systems I set up to manage my bills held up and I'm not behind with anything.

So the situation now. Back at just under £8k debt, I can make small overpayments each month.

Estimated debt free day is in around a year - June 2013.

I want to smash that so that I am debt free before Nov 2012 which is 5 years since I started this journey.

I enjoy my little projects, building, writing and creating. I'm going to see if I can make money from my ideas instead of taking on an evening job like I did before. Having 2 jobs was very tiring and I missed out on a lot with friends and family.

Now I just need (hehe 'just') 100 ways to make £80! I can try lots of things and hopefully find something repeatable that will become a good source of income. Doing it 1% at a time seems manageable.

I've found a pack of 100 wage envelopes, so I'm going to use them for collecting my cash from each of my projects.

If you have any ideas I'd love to hear them!!! Maybe this method might suit others too!

Here are the first few I'm starting with :-

***I will edit this list with new ideas and progress so far***

Edit - My list of progress has had to be moved to make way for new joiners. This post had reached it's max of 25k characters. The list of things I've done can be seen on this page here.



This thread has taken on a life of its own!

Join in on the challenge! - Post in BIG colourful letters, your name, 1% and total so far. I'll add you to the list.

When the budget has settled and you have a long journey ahead of you, it often gets tough, trying to look for the light at the end of the tunnel. We often push ourselves hard but always wish we could pay more, do more and save more. Sometimes it's hard to be satisfied with the baby steps that we know are good for us.

By doing it 1% at a time and celebrating every milestone, you're on the debt-free ladder & you know exactly which rung you're on. You can take the steps as fast or slow as you like. When you need to, you can pause for a while and reflect on your progress and then carry on renewed.

We need to enjoy the journey and not just the destination.

What you might need :-
Moneybox / petty cash tin (keep your £s safe!)
100 wage envelopes, or 100 paperclips - (the freer the better)
Notebook
Free printable 100 square here or here (press begin & then print)
(or make one of your own! Get the felt pens out! )

How to...
Take your exact debt or savings total and divide by 100.
Round UP to the nearest £1 or £10. This is your 1%
In your notebook start a list of 100 ways that you can earn 1%
Use the list above for inspiration
Use the thread for support & motivation
Contribute new ideas and what worked for you
Shout up and join the list & get a member number.
Post a weekly/monthly update of what you've done and how you did it!
Colour in your progress on your 100 square
Put your member number in your sig, and your % so far & spread the word!

Important Notes

***You MUST MUST MUST pay your minimum payments to all of your debts AND save your 1%'s as well.***

Your 1%'s are what you owe, your min payments are the interest you are paying. I consider the min payments as a 'service charge' the cost of rolling your debt on to the next month. This makes you consider just how much your debt is costing you each month!

As you pay your 1%'s to your cards, your min payments will start to drop. The faster you put your 1%'s to your cards the less interest you will pay.

If you save up to 100% and pay it off in one go this is MORE expensive than paying each 1% as soon as you have earned it. (I try to save 5% then pay it off)

This challenge is probably best for debts/savings £20k or less.
If you find your 1% still too daunting, just decide on how much you want to pay off this year. Divide it by 100. That should give you a 1% figure that is more suitable.

If your debt is still increasing through spending, this challenge isn't right for you yet. You need to go back a step to your SOA and re-work it until your debt is steady and you have a little room for overpayments. Then come back when you're ready!

Please contribute your 1% ideas - we need to build a fantastic list for people to choose from!

So far, people are listed in the order they have contributed to the thread. You guys got us up to post 240! Anyone wanting to join from now on please post in BIG letters and you'll get the next number on the list.

***The Official '1% at a time' Members List ***
------------The Percentage Peeps!-------------
# Username--------------- 1% ------Progress
1 Little Miss Uni-Debt -------£80---------17.68%
2 Time to face the music
3 tony_ack
4 sickasachip13
5 DharmaBunny
6 RedSaxon
7 Zepsgal --------------------£12----------0%
8 Starbrite
9 BlushingRose
10 Treacle1983
11 DebbieDebt
12 LindsayGalaxy
13 7Roland8
14 MuffinTops
15 Shrimpy_80 --------------£30---------- 5%
16 TenBob84
17 CraftingMad--------------£20------------ 86% !!!9733; 2nd saver to 100% 16/10/12 was £30
18 Starnac
19 Ss3n08
20 Fae -------------------- £129.95----------- 29.5%
21 Emmaglet
22 Danni-R--------------------£15 -------------3%
23 Remote-Control ----------- £10------------38% !!!9733; Complete 01.12.12 was £38
24 TattyCath--------------£28.75/£7.22 ------8%/100%!!!9733;
25 Everhopeful09--------------£47 ------------14%
26 Hummingbird
27 Paulmapp8306
28 TakingControl
29 NatterJack99----------------£50--------------0%
30 sc1
31 ToriaTerrier-----------------£10--------------0%
32 Skinto_7
33 Tiff
34 Elaine1966
35 DD265
36 Cuba Cat----------------------£27-----------------17%
37 Lesgeo2012--------------------£40 / £46-------- 0% / 38%
38 TeamNicholson -----------------£98--------------0%
39 Chelmsfordgirl1
40 Liz-Paul ------------------------£80 -------------14%
41 Ammonite
42 415SanFran---------------------£50 -------------20%
43 HappyTails ----------------- £65/£7/£21-------16.3%/100% !!!9733;/57%
44 EccentricRavenJewellery
45 SkintSue-------------------------£30 ------------10.5%
46 Shoe_gal_84
47 LisaJane
48 ever-hopeful
49 Sbarkia
50 Moneysaverme
51 Kte------------------------------£29 -------------0%
52 FlacosFloozie
53 bpsp10 -------------------------- £70 ------------14%
54 mark88man
55 Electrobix99
56 Clairelg88-------------------------£20 --------------12%
57 ThemStarryNights
58 BeadGirl87
59 KitchenBunny-----------------------£10 -----------0%
60 LondonGirl252
61 Jubilee76
62 Buffythedebtslayer -------------£100-------------0%
63 Katsu
64 mosaic012---------------------£13.71------------0%
65 billysmum
66 Lezley307 -----------------------£40--------------5%
67 LynseyDee --------------------- £50-------------- 0%
68 Helen2012b ---------------------£100------------5%
69 MrsM1983-----------------------£15--------------11%
70 MessyMare----------------------£50---------------31%
71 xJoJox--------------------------£20----------------29%
72 Kellbobs------------------------ £10----------------0%
73 Nimbo-------------------------- £60 ---------------5%
74 HappyBucket--------------------£10 ---------------0%
75 Seashell------------------------£125 ---------------0%
76 Braddy970----------------------£100 -------------10%
77 MayForHer----------------------£80----------------0%
78 Welsh Girl Slim------------------£32- -------------0%
79 Hanliam------------------------£140---------------6%
80 Ali-t---------------------------£160-----------------0%
81 GraceSophia--------------------£10----------------0%
82 Emzilla-------------------------£60.66------------- 0%
83 Ruby789-----------------------£40----------------- 0%
84 Clairelg88----------------------£20-----------------7%
85 Kelfen-------------------------£5--------------------4%
86 Smoosh-----------------------£13.33---------------0%
87 Marshy1985--------------- ----£13-----------------22%
88 Jammydodgersandrhl-----------£13-----------0---11%
89 Mrs Rosecroft------------------£25-----------------0%
90 x.nukke.x----------------------£70-------------------7%
91 Hele_an-----------------------£40/£30--------------1.4%/6%
92 SaraSage----------------------£24-------------------2.6%
93 Decluttering-------------------£25--------------65% !!!9733; 1st to 100%. 10/10/12 was £5
94 LeaLea89----------------------£25-------------------0%
95 ChocolateBum-----------------£25------------------1%
96 KirstyMcManus----------------£6-------------------4%
97 Mossop93--------------------£2--------------------0%
98 JackieRHE-------------------£8---------------------13%
99 NikkeiPositivity------------£167-------------------11.43%
100 WelshGirl78 --------------£100-------------------5%
101 LaughingLorna-----------£68---------------------12%
102 TudorFan22--------------£19.30------------------14%
103 Debt Free Soon-----------£10---------------------40%
104 Hmm-----------------------£60--------------------2.5%
105 Tra--------------------------£25-------------------23%
106 FunkyStarfish-------------£10--------------------4.4%
107 Asoe209---------------£10/£15/£16--------------11%
108 EllieGibbo------------------£76--------------------0%
109 PaintYourBox--------------£12--------------------0%
110 Mummy2threeboys-------£42--------------------0%
111 LizH-------------------------£70-------------------0%
112 Soxxxxy------------------£260--------------------2%
113 Ellesbellesxxx--------------£25-------------------21%
114 BargainBetty---------------£70-------------------10%
115 Diana3564------------------£?--------------------0%
116 Naughty-yet-sorta-nice-----£10------------------0% !!!9733; 100% done 25/10/12 was £30
117 Kaz665---------------------£13--------------------6%
118 Tiggy10--------------------£20--------------------15%
119 Munchin-------------------£11--------------------0%
120 Floella80------------------£48--------------------0%
121 DebtBeGone---------------£50--------------------7%
122 FatPuddingMumma---------£19.67---------------0%
123 KKing----------------------£80--------------------2%
124 JennyPennySaver----------£246------------------0%
125 Triangle--------------------£20--------------------22%
126 Rachel84-------------------£12--------------------27.4%
127 SpecialKaye----------------£23--------------------100% !!!9733;
128 PottersGal-----------------£75---------------------2%
129 Digging-------------------£90----------------------0%
130 KayleighPea---------------£38---------------------6.5%
131 Pernicious-----------------£106--------------------29%
132 THEMONEYSPIDER---------£5---------------------17%
133 Rubyinamountainofrocks---£22-------------------2%
134 Henna123----------------£16----------------------0%
135 Frugalgdubs--------------£?-----------------------0%
136 Thrifty_gal26-------------£100--------------------4%
137 Sapanga-----------------£30-----------------------0%
138 Motoko------------------£60------------------------3%
139 Jeneflower---------------£20-----------------------2%
140 Hummingbird-------------£18----------------------3%
141 OllieGami----------------£45-----------------------5%
142 NockyNoonah------------£30-----------------------0%
143 Vintage43 -------------£10-------------------------0%
144 PataraWendy-----------£200-----------------------0%
145 Katie26----------------£45--------------------------0%
146 AprilShower------------£40-------------------------6%
147 MrsGriff---------------£22---------------------------0%
148 Nanell-----------------£20--------------------------31%
149 Gerturdeanna-----------£5-------------------------0%
150 MrsPoppy--------------£30------------------------0%
151 Moneymakestheworldgoround --£5.74-----------14%
152 Headoutthesand--------£30------------------------5%
153 Jez1020----------------£80-------------------------0%
154 Fedupandskint----------£160----------------------7%
155 Quok-------------------$50-------------------------0%
156 Alana171---------------£60------------------------12%
157 Bublin1-----------------£60------------------------20%
158 SleggySortingMoney----£90-----------------------0%
159 Lily_the_Legend--------£45------------------------5%
160 Kerfuffle----------------£70------------------------10%
161 Liberty6201-------------£25-----------------------10%
162 LittleMissKitty-----------£?-------------------------?%
163 TrulyMadlyDeeply_indebt--£5.5-------------------67%
164 FallenArcher-------------£90----------------------20%
165 StarrySaver--------------£50---------------------0%
166 DMPtofreedom----------£460---------------------?%
167 Abundant1972----------£125---------------------20%
168 Ecoverbee (Andy)--------£9-----------------------9%
169 Happy Daddy------------£52----------------------0%
170 Determined Diva--------£110---------------------20%
171 Rising from the ashes---£6.50--------------------0%
172 Gelmc-------------------£?-------------------------0%
173 HappyTorty-----------£23.30---------------------0%
174 Mthanry----------------£5.33---------------------15%
175 DanielleNic87-----------£88.19-------------------1%
176 Justamummy------------£90----------------------0%
177 Youareallhelpingme------£??----------------------0%
178 Treehouse ------------£300-----------------------13%
179 TheShinyOne-----------£5-------------------------3%
180 MrOrchard-------------£400-----------------------10.5%
181 WinterGhosts-----------£20-----------------------2%
182 Shell78 ----------------£120-----------------------0%
183 ilovetea-----------------£10-----------------------27%
184 Nomi1-----------------£24.97---------------------22.5%
185 Embirch---------------£5--------------------------7%
186 Nat21luv--------------£8--------------------------53.83%
187 IWannabeasaver------£100----------------------49.02%
188 AccountingBod--------£74.03--------------------6.3%
189 Unoriginal_uk---------£50------------------------0%
190 WorkFromHome-------£10-----------------------0%
191 Elmly-------------------£40-----------------------57.5%
192 Nicci985----------------£20-----------------------10%
193 Natterjack88----------£30------------------------18.72%
194 Westie660-------------£??------------------------0%
195 Maddie57--------------£60-----------------------10.5%
196 Melodramaticme------£45-----------------------0%
197 Rushy------------------£25----------------------41%
198 GreenSaints-----------£150---------------------0%
199 Saz186----------------£40----------------------0%
200 SophiesMum----------£75----------------------0%
201 CouldSaveMore-------£140--------------------1%
202 Ninno820--------------£18---------------------0%
203 Vics199----------------£18---------------------0%
204 Pisces72---------------£40----------------------0%
205 Debtisgoing-----------£70-----------------------0%
206 WillGetThere----------£??-----------------------0%
207 Purple.Sarah----------£??-----------------------0%
208 Utopiah----------------£45----------------------0%
209 Honeypisquared-------£7.33-------------------0%
210 VW Campervan Mum-£??----------------------0%
211 Stressed Steph--------£172-------------------0%
212 ThriftyFelicity----------£100-------------------0% _____END OF 2012


updated to post no #1948 pg98 !!!9734;!!!9733;