Becoming debt free in 2018

[iammeegan]

I've decided to make a plan to become debt free in 2018.
Money and debt give me terrible anxiety which means I bury my head in the sand and it's become out of control!
So starting in the new year and I'm going to stop spending and start paying everything off.
I would love some support and people to help motivate me.
I have already worked out that I can be debt free in 14 months with some serious cut backs and forward planning.
I'm currently on mat leave but will be returning to work in March which will allow me to pay off more each month

So would anyone like to join me?

But you are both becoming really aware of where money goes
well done

Ahh well twinkle did you enjoy it?

Yes Talkin that's made a massive difference to me! I've been keeping receipts and noting what I'm spending because I find it easier to not spend when I have to write it down!

It was something I had been lusting after since Christmas and I was walking past the shop so I had it

I worked late so I guess I can call it dinner?!

Even though payday is next week I did a top up food shop as I'm finding I have no food to bring in for lunches which means I am spending plus I'm meeting another friend today. I could easily have my lunch at my desk then meet them for a walk or coffee (and same yesterday) but lack of lunch items is making me buy lunch out and I don't want to do that.

Anyone got any good take out lunch ideas? Preferably diet friendly? I eat a shed load of chicken salad!

A favourite of mine is cous cous made with stock cube instead of just water with peas sweetcorn and salmon. It's soooo nice and is a bonus that it's healthy!

Met friend for lunch.

Ummed and ahhd about where to go.

Running out of time.

Ended up in the pub!

£14 🤦🏽‍♀️

twinkledag
The secret to healthy and cheaper meals out is .....
starters
if the two of you have three starters between you, you spend less, eat less and its likely to be healthier food.

in terms of snack foods to go, vegan stuff is often the best bet - things like falafel wraps and hummus thingies
filling, low fat

but I'm really impressed how you are taking spending control as a positive challenge rather than a negative one

Thanks for the tips.

My Tesco shop has been delivered so lunches now sorted 👍

I switched an old account to NatWest and they paid me £125 today for it

I've found another switch deal - £75 to switch to Halifax - so am about to switch mine and OH's old accounts. £150 not to be sniffed at!

Happy to report that today was a No Spend Day

RESULT
And how are you feeling in yourself about the bigger issues ?
Is one part of control helping with the others
(fingers crossed)

I'm trying not to think about the 'other' issues

Good
Focus on the positive
get the serotonin working
and the debt under control
and enjoy the sunshine
and focus on your relationship with your DH
and the rest of the world will slot into your plan
because mindful spending and action will help with all things

Another NSD today.

Nearly went out for dinner with DS to cheer myself up and ended up staying in and eating at home instead.

DH has gone out for drinks so not a total NSD but at least I didn't spend!

twinkle
But was your meal with your son a nice one ?
As that is what matters
And hopefully your DH will do the Sunday breakfast in exchange for having had the evening out

No way would DH do Sunday breakfast, he was too hungover

Payday today but 2 steps forward, 1 step back: HMRC overpaid me last year so they're claiming the money back. £200 a month 😢. Will have to revise budget.

Good news though, my bank account switch payments have come through so that's £150 to add to the overpayment pot.

twinkle
If they are reclaiming it through a coding notice, CHECK THEIR NUMBERS
as they are crap at adding up ....

making him cook when hungover is definitely a goal

Thanks @TalkinPeece.

Just transferred £500 into another account - hoping that can be this month's overpayment.

£100 has been taken out of the current account today to use as family money for the week.

Feels like a long old slog to get to the end

Sorry posted off the computer from an old username. Above post is me!

twinkle
It does feel like a slog at the start.
Go back and look at the credit card spreadsheet though to give yourself hope.
At the beginning the whittling down of the debt can be as little as a few pence a month.
By the end - if you stick to plan, because your repayments hold steady and the debt shrinks, you suddenly progress in leaps and bounds.

Use the dull early stage to change your spending habits
so that by the time the debt is gone you are ready to start saving and enjoying the change in lifestyle.
You'll do it

Embarrassingly for someone who has several credit card and as done for many years I know very little about how they work so hoping for some help here please.

One of my cc has been closed so I'm just paying it off each money and obviously no spending on it but yet the minimum amount changes each month often being higher then the previous month, I've been meaning to set up a set amount each month but not got around to it until now so was sometimes paying the minimum amount and other months a bit more, only a couple of pound though. I have now set up a DD starting next month, it's for a set amount not just the minimum payment.

Welcome myway
pop your numbers into the credit card spreadsheet ....
the thread is on page 1 or 2 of this board.

If you pay their minimum it will take you around 18 years to clear the debt.
If you follow my method, its two

Thanks TalkinPeece so is that right that even though I'm not spending on the card my minimum payment can still go up, I assumed it would go down although only a small amount.

@myway - how much do you owe and what are your monthly repayments? Are you paying any interest?

I've had a good day today! Lunch brought in from home, only spent 45p on an apple :)

I got £12.95 back in expenses today so that went into my overpayment pot as it was taken out of last month's wages.

I then transferred the £75 x 2 that I got for switching mine and DH's account so that's taken this month's overpayment pot to £662.97 and I only got paid 2 days ago .

twinkledag I owe £5500 on that card and just set my monthly payments at £165 a month and yes paying interest, unfortunately I can't get a 0% deal.

@mywayalltheway I have just woked out that will take you 3.5 years to pay. Is that right @TalkinPeece?

Yup, that is around the right ballpark .....

18 years of paying interest to those parasites reduced to three - what's not to like ;-)