Every single penny counts!

A question about : Every single penny counts!

Well here I go! Time to tackle the debt and get control of my life.

LBM beginning of April and added the debt up to Ј65,000! Wedding, honeymoon, two children and our 'forever' home all happened in our twenties. I was quite happy to ignore the debt for a long time as we were able to manage the monthly repayments. However, very slowly I realised I was working more and more. I now work 2 jobs and my husband works full time. We can't afford to take the children abroad in holiday and we're worrying about paying bills (although we have never have missed payments).

So enough is enough! We've sat down and worked everything out and plan to live as frugally as possible to pay off ALL our debts as quickly as possible.

What have I done so far?
I've spent a week de-cluttering!
If we're not using it then it's being sold!!

All our debts are on interest free credit cards or family debts are incurring no interest.

Old clothes have gone to Cash4Clothes, sold my old phones to Mazuma, books and CDs have gone to Zapper, old camera has gone to Cash in your gadgets.

We shopped at Sainsbury's and sometimes ASDA. I'm now doing fresh shop in LIDL and frozen in Iceland.

I'm writing this diary to keep me on track ALL THE WAY! I want to cut out one job completely and maybe go down to 4 day week once we're out of debt. I want to enjoy my children and spend quality time with them and my husband. I need and want to do this....so here I go!

Best answers:

• Ooh a new diary
  It sounds as though you have made a good start
  I'm a Lidl fan too, the quality of much of their stuff is so good for the price! We have an Aldi as well, and surprisingly, they sell different things, and some things cheaper / some more expensive than Lidl, so tend to alternate
  Looking forward to following your progress - good luck with it all
• I love a new diary!! Well done on making the first step hun and make sure you use this to keep posting all your ups and downs. It will be an amazing read for you once you are debt free!
  DDx
• Good luck on your debt free journey! Remember to get yourself an iceland card, they send you coupons every so often for somewhere around Ј5 off a Ј20 or Ј30 shop.
  Also, I went on one holiday abroad by the time I was 15 and I loved all my holidays.
• Aww thanks so much for replying I'm so impatient so now I've decided I am committed I really hope I can start making a dent! Thanks for the tips - will be checking out ALDI and getting an Iceland card. X
• I've just done a huge spring clean and sold lots of bits! It all adds up! Good luck x
• Well today I have filled in my CPP claim form and posted it.
  I have been doing swagbucks, roamler, iPoll & VoxPopMe.
  I used the shopitize app and got Ј2.90 back.
  I also used quidco for the first time - bought children new shoes and will be getting 12% cashback. woohoo.
  My biggest accomplishment (for me!) though was going to Sainsbury's this afternoon to keep my mum company and I didn't pick up a new item of clothing! Something I would have done without even thinking before i.e. a new top for work, some summer sandals.
• Look forward to following
  *Subscribes
• Thank you xx
• Good luck
• Well another day with big changes for me.
  1. I took over Ј700 in savings and paid a chunk off debt no.1
  2. I dropped into a lower Ј1000 bracket today Ј65,000 to Ј64,000. (small victory -I will never see Ј65,000 again!)
  3. I transferred a debt with interest to a 0% interest credit card for 2 years.
  I am so committed to this I don't think my husband can quite believe it. I do not want to spend a penny more than is necessary because I know every single frivolous purchase means longer away from my debt free life. I'm not willing to wait any longer than I have to.
  My DFD works out as October 2016 - even sooner if I have anything to do with it
• Good luck! Will subscribe to see your progress, sounds like you are doing great so far
• Very good day today
  1. I paid off my first debt of Ј1500!
  2. I've dropped from Ј64,000 to Ј63,000 - goodbye Ј64,000 - never to be in that much debt ever again!
  3. I have listed several items on Gumtree.
  This debt just has to go! Any tips on how to get this debt down will be gratefully received! So far:
  2nd job
  eBay, Gumtree, NetMums
  Cash4Clothes
  Zapper, MusicMagpie
  I am trying to gear myself up for a car boot sale but a little scared!!
  Also doing shopitize, voxpopme, Roamer, IPoll & Swagbucks.
  Literally every single penny is going towards debt. I have budgeted for essentials & kids clubs but all luxuries are out.
• Wow! You have made so much progress in just a few days. Well done!
• Thanks DawnW - the big things will soon turn to small things but it all helps!...every penny
• Woohoo I hit 5% paid off today
  It's amazing how addictive paying off debt becomes when you're in the right frame of mind. (yes I sound sad I know!)
  Literally hunting around the house for pennies...surprising what's down the sofa!!
• Well - home ill today. Feeling depleted of energy!
  A couple of things have sold from gum tree and net mums and a couple of cheques arrived from zapper
  All income from my 2nd job is now going towards the debt and I am about to cancel direct debits for the gym and graze etc. this should make a big difference.
  Feeling so much more in control already
  Debt free for me will mean more time with the children - every time I go to spend something I think of all the special moments I will miss out on because I have to work 2 jobs!! Such huge motivation.
• Hope you are feeling better today. I am following your diary and you seem to be doing amazingly so far. At this rate you will be debt free and spending more time with your children before you know it!
• Wow you have so much energy. Have you done a spending diary to see what you spend it on? Or an soa , to stick to a budget.
  But cracking start, yes it is addictive.
  Ooh just remembered. Think there's a guide to overhauling your money on the main site.
• Can I just say "wow!". What an incredible start.
  I don't know if you feel the same, but when I have seen how much can be paid off so quickly I feel, firstly really happy with my progress, but then a bit cross with myself as there was really no excuse for getting in such a bind to begin with!
  Keep up the good great work!!!!