Enjoying the journey

A question about : Enjoying the journey

Well I did it!

It took 5 years from joining this site and 12 months of really hard work and changes repaying them, but I did it, and paid the credit cards back. For the first time in 14 years I am credit card free and if you would have told me that a year ago I would not have believed it was possible.

Here is the diary of all that hard work and change - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4168577

With that phase of life well and truly over, here I am, moving on to the next stage of my journey. Over the last 2 years I've been teaching myself to save; starting off small and learning I can do it.

Now it's time for the next phase;
Building up a long term nest egg
Emergency/redundancy fund
Household and white goods fund
House decorating
Car and car deposit
Holidays
Christmas and birthdays

Also continuing the change pots savings challenges - Ј2, 20p, 50p and 5p and the Ј1 every time a beauty product is used up.

I've made a start with all the above and over the next year I'm aiming to build this up while living within my means. This is the point I'm really happy to be at now and to maintain all of this is what I really want to do next. I am learning to save up for things rather than use credit. That's one of the biggest lessons I've learnt over the last 12 months - onwards I go!

In 10 months time I will have paid off a long term loan and will at a point to sort out the final long term loan which is the final one to sort out apart from the mortgage and then I might be in a position to over pay on the mortgage at last.

Oh yes, and the other thing I really want to happen? To change my career and that's my priority over the next six months.

Best answers:

• We are trying to pay off a small debt just now so we are able to save small amounts too. Will be following your journey for new ideas
• I think you should change your name to happynsolvent Well Done
• WELL DONE!
  What a great story! Sounds like you are have really learnt aswell!
  An inspiration to me that has been in debt since 2009...also nearing on 5 years!!! x
• WELL DONE!
  What a great story! Sounds like you are have really learnt aswell!
  An inspiration to me that has been in debt since 2009...also nearing on 5 years!!! x
• well done all your hard work has been worth it
• Well done. I will be interested to see how you get on long term debt free.
• Firstly, thanks for all your good wishes. At one time I was going to change my user name once I had turned the corner on debt as it summed up exactly how I felt when I joined the site. Now however, I'm not too bothered as its only a pretend name after all plus, for now, its a reminder to me of where I came from money wise and it certainly hasn't described how I feel for many years now thankfully!
  Last night I had a little tot up of what I repaid last year - Ј12,919.39 repaid from loan repayments and credit card repayments - I paid back half and a ppi refund paid back the other half to repay the remaining credit cards 12 months earlier than the plan I was sticking to.
  I have also repaid a Ј500 overdraft over the last 3 months
  The plan for next month is to stay in credit, monitor all budgets and continue to stick to the petrol budget. Then, see if I can increase the food budget a little and also if I can set up a treat budget for myself for coffees at the weekend and so on each month. This has been in my plans for a while, and it would be really good to set that up next.
  I'm going to increase the Christmas present budget by Ј5 each month for next year which is manageable and certainly has made life much easier saving each month rather than having to find Ј30-50-60 each month from my bank account and as I did previously for presents. Birthday budgets can stay the same for next year and this was the best thing as I usually struggle to afford to buy birthday presents and it was really nice to have the cash to buy them this year!
  Today's plans are to fab myself up with a hair mask and face mask, finish the cleaning off, do the ironing and do some exercise at long last. Try not to aggravate my toothache further as I managed to yesterday and today will be NSD 12 along with no clothes spend day 13 as I go for a 6th month without buying any new clothes - good grief!
• How absolutely fantastic!! Stories like yours are what spurs on all us DFWs who see a chink of light at the end of the tunnel and are pushing ourselves towards it with every bit of strength. I am so pleased for you and know that this time next year I will be in your position because of being here and feeling such amazing support and comraderie. Very well done and best wishes for a very bright future.
• Hi FU&S, well done on clearing the CC's!! Feels great doesnt it, especially if they were very high in the 1st place
  I recently became DF and have similar goals as you-
  Building up a long term nest egg- I really need to do this. I have never really thought of the future before, but i am more determined than ever to make sure i have some decent savings.
  Emergency fund-Mine was wiped out last month due to car trouble (Ј500!!) so i need to make sure that i have about Ј2000 emergency fund.
  Household and white goods fund-I hate to think what would happen if any of my white goods broke down! Although i did fix my tumble dryer last year, thanks to the help of some lovely people on this website! Only cost me Ј22 to buy a part online and it was very easy to fit My 1st piece of proper DIY ever!
  House decorating-I am actually planning on moving house (i rent) so i need to have about Ј2000 for this.
  Car- I need a new one, so about Ј2000 again! Eeek!
  Holidays- LAst in my priorities, but it's be really nice to be able to afford one!
  Christmas and birthdays- I budget for this. I NORMALLY save all of my Child Benefit all year and this pays for it all, but this year was a really tight one, so havent managed to do this. As of now i have Ј0 saved up...and it's almost November! but both of the kids have been told that it'll be a small Christmas this year.
  Anyway, enough rambling from me! Have subscribed and look forward to reading/posting more
• A very priductive morning
  Cleaning and ironing all finished - yeah!
  Ebay sale parcelled up ready to post tomorrow
  Ebay fees paid from proceeds made - very tiny amount this week
  Worked out my spends from the isa account saving to make sure all is on track which it is.just a bit strange seeing the balance go down as the spends are made for what I have saved for but hey that's the reason why!
  This afternoon will be listing more items as its free listing weekend - better get quite a few on there I think! Strange now, as before all the profits went straight to credit card repayments for the last 12months, will have to work out what to do with them - pop them in a savings account maybe for white goods or emergency saver I think.
  Thanks for reading everyone, I remember when I read diaries that had been in this position and really really wanted to reach this stage myself - so all I can say is you can do it - stick at it and progress is made and then you see yourself getting to where you want to.
• What a lovely thread Fedupandskint.
  Enjoy your plans, they sound fab.
• 23 items listed on ebay
  More photos taken of the rest to list next time around - getting there through some boxes left with things in for years.
  Some more boxes to work through next weekend and take more photos to get them ready to go and then again the weekend after and on and on! Trying to get my spare room more declutted ready for renovating early next year.
  NSD 12 today achieved and will be another one tomorrow.
  Work stuff all ready to go for tomorrow - a short week thank goodness as I'm off on Friday (a busy day though). Didn't feel like any exercise today as my tooth is really uncomfortable - after 5 days of this time to ring the dentist tomorrow
• Not a very good day today - tooth still worsening pain wise so rang the dentist and managed to get in this afternoon after freeing up some time at work. Good job I did as it turns out I have a massive infection around one tooth and an abscess threatening to start. The cause of this infection is linked to my previous 2 infections a couple of months ago - great. Now on another strong 2 sets of meds to take it away including one more lot of super strength antibiotics making that the 3rd lot this year. Let's hope its the last as I'm off for my flu jab on Friday to get that done and fend off those winter viruses all being well.
  So hammered with unexpected prescription costs, dental fee for this week and next week to come out of budgeted account thankfully and this will replace next months planned dentist appt.
  Off exercise then it is for another week, as it finally hits home that I need to let myself recover from the last 12months and everything that has happened. My dentist also hammered that point home. Then take it easy building back up with the exercise again gently to the point I've been at before. mind you that infection is making me feel very strange indeed - tired and off my food - only because it hurts to eat it - rubbish!
• Not had a terribly good week and am feeling very glad its the weekend.
  At last my tooth appears to be on the mend and is healing I think - will find out for certain when I return to the dentist on Monday.
  Went to voluntary placement this morning and knuckled down to get that last phase of work finished. Flu jab also done and that's another job ticked off. Meal out tonight cancelled due to my infection as I decided to take it easy for a change and be out and about in the damp cold. Errands run for today and will do a little bit of cleaning today and take the dog for a nice walk and that is it!
  A few bids on ebay this week - not many but at least some sales for a change.
  Knock back for ppi from another bank - will have a look at this over the weekend and work out how to appeal.
  Tomorrow off to mums for a catch up, Sunday a chill out day and catch up on housework then Monday is door fitting day
• Certainly feel better after a chilling out afternoon.
  A ppi letter put together ready to send off, a bit of cleaning and a good long walk with the dog in the autumnal air that it made a nice change to enjoy not moan about!
  Feeling better about what's gone on this week which is the best thing.
• Nice relaxing day with mum yesterday dropping my ring off for resizing at long long last. Woke up with an ear infection - what on earth is going on? And it's still here today hissing away annoyingly.. Hopefully it will subside on its own and if not then I'll ring the Dr's midweek. Dentist check up tomorrow for tooth infection - this is turning out to be not a great month at all!
  Ordered a birthday present today and a Christmas present to tick those ones of the list. WIll have a think about what else there is to get and work out the remaining budgets - all spends came out of present budgets so can count today as a NSD 18
  Ironing done and a quick wipe around of the kitchen, just a hoover to go then all that's left to do is take some more ebay photos and then get ready for tomorrow. Ebay sales going well this week 3 items so far and a quite decent total which is nice
• Sorry to hear that you still aren't feeling 100%. It's horrid when it drags on isn't it.
  I have started birthday and Christmas present shopping too, luckily i dont have loads to buy for!
• Made a nice amount on those 3 sales - all ready to be posted now. Fees paid for ebay and postage costs also accounted for leaving a little profit.
  Totalled up some budgets this afternoon, washed the windows outside and made a nice tea - ear still hissing away annoyingly
• Very pleased.
  Door and new window fitted today and it went really well - hardly any mess at all! Really happy with how they look and are letting more light in now some leaded windows have gone. Last year's saving plan worked a treat to save up for them. Will be a getting a quote for another window and door and see if they can be done before Christmas or leave them while spring
  Went for the dentist appt - infection gone - phew! Have more antibacterial things to apply and keep in stock to prevent it returning as I have a viral infection again apparently which is why my ear is infected. Will leave it a couple more days and ring the Drs although I'm sure I'll feel worse when I return to work tomorrow!
  Off to post ebay sales next and buy a new door mat to celebrate as planned!