tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56521052476228530252012-01-27T22:35:35.419ZI have join the debit free revolution! Now it's time to live the dream or at least start saving for it.LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.comBlogger1511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-60044952733570707022012-01-27T20:25:00.011Z2012-01-27T22:35:35.427Z

17 daysJanuary is almost over and I have done very badly this month with regards to not spending and keeping away from coffee shops. I have four days left before the month ends and my spending budget is already just under £30 over budget. I need to spend more time in the gym so I can avoid the shops and work on the weight loss.With regards to the 10 Pound Challenge I am not having any great

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-59799375170578667582012-01-12T17:08:00.005Z2012-01-12T19:36:51.823Z

No spending Days: 7After working out at the gym for a hour and then walking all over Barnes I stopped in at Boots (the chemist) on the way home for the start numbers I need for the 10 pound challenge. (Big roll of the drums here..) My current weight is 10st 7lb (67.1kg). So that is the starting point for me and I wish everyone else who have taken up the challenge all the very best.I have been

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-19075290002632662252012-01-11T19:05:00.004Z2012-01-11T19:40:06.818Z

I have taken up my first Challenge for the year and will be working on my waist line for the next 12 weeks. Lose 10 pounds in 12 weeks - sounds like a plan.I dropped a jean size towards the end of last year and would like to get my weight into the middle range of my ideal body weight for my BMI, which is 7st 9lb (48.5kg) to 10st 4lb (65.6kg). The very idea of weighing only 7st 9lb is crazy - I'd

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-91276771943130822322012-01-10T20:49:00.006Z2012-01-10T22:28:25.168Z

No spend days: 6Everybody seems to be doing Carla's No-Spend challenge for January I thought about participating too but as I have a very set budget for January and my spending money for the month is £155.85 my current account balance left over from last year. So 100% of my income for January is all budgeted for and there is no room for saving anything extra.January is Tax payment month for the

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-27518932899566726642011-12-30T01:55:00.006Z2012-01-03T21:57:12.381Z

It's 2012 a new year with all new possibilities, new goals and new opportunitiesI have been working on my new budget for the year. First I have my big income tax bill to pay at the end of January and then it's going to be a bit tight for the first few months because of a trip I have planned a trip to Venice with three of my godkids in March.I will have to start leaving my debit card at home or

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-6843351275300545732011-12-30T00:24:00.007Z2011-12-30T01:43:29.913Z

Hope you all had a great Hanukkah/Christmas!Now that the festivities are done, it's time to sit down and see what damage it has all done to our finances.For me - so much for not doing Christmas, I have spent way more that I thought I would on my Godkids and even sent some pressies back home for my younger brothers family. And of cause something for my Mums too.My biggest thrill this year was a

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-63527875681483143562011-12-01T15:52:00.017Z2011-12-01T18:14:14.611Z

It's offically the silly season and as it is December I feel able to start shopping for Christmas not that that will be a lot of shopping for me. As I tell all my friends and family - "I don't do Christmas or birthday". That way I never forget a birthday and no one is disappointed at Christmas time. But am so very glad that I did purchase a Heston Blumenthal's Christmas pudding last month as they

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-27410033125621120382011-11-24T16:42:00.005Z2011-11-24T19:13:18.955Z

November is roaring through like a express train and next thing you know it will be Christmas.My spending hasn't really improved since last month and it's all small purchases, a coffee here, an item of clothing there and downloads from iTunes etc. I need to start leaving my debit card at home to prevent wasting monies on things that I don't really need.So far I have paid £500 into my Freedom Fund

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-22170928821279118352011-11-05T16:17:00.020Z2011-11-09T18:16:15.997Z

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-77761687386672061282011-10-31T19:46:00.006Z2011-10-31T21:16:16.788Z

It's been a great month - the All Blacks won the Rugby World Cup for the second time after 24 years of chasing the dream, I have dropped a 'jeans' size and I am still debt free! Yep, a good month all round!When I open the newspaper in the morning the first thing I do is chuck the sports section but not in October this year. I have been pouring over all the articles I could find on the Rugby World

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-90249036478881786182011-09-29T22:25:00.010+01:002011-09-30T01:14:00.217+01:00

It's September and I was trying to remember what my Year End Goal was and if I even had one. Well I found I had stated in January;Goal 1. to clear my debtGoal 2. save emergency fund of £5000Goal 3. savings over and above this amount to fund house building fund.Okay these are the only gaols I found and am a little disappointed I wasn't clearer on what I wanted to achieve for the year financially.

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-81865888516498820242011-09-26T19:42:00.006+01:002011-09-29T20:07:15.914+01:00

I have banked my final cheque for the month and now have to sit around waiting for it to clear before I can credit any of my accounts. It will clear by Thursday but it is aways such a drag having to wait.In the mean time I have to confess that my Emergency Fund is almost not there and will have to built up again over the next few months. My holiday to the North cost me more than I had planned as

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-91066678215457042882011-09-23T20:20:00.004+01:002011-09-23T20:55:39.445+01:00

Yes I am back from the edge of the Empire - the old Roman empire that is, as Hadrian's Wall was just that. And I have to confess that I didn't complete the wall walk either. I completed three days, walking from Bowness-on-Solway to Steel Rigg and then did the final day walking from Heddon-on-the-Wall to Wallsend in Newcastle (I did that last day wearing jandels, aka flip-flops).But for three days

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-9322634328868008692011-08-31T20:22:00.004+01:002011-08-31T20:46:18.087+01:00

What happen to summer, we have had a horrid month weather wise here in London. What happened to global warming? Oh well....... My saving plan for the month is completed but because my pay cheque wasn't banked until Tuesday (as Monday was a bank holiday), it will not clear until Friday so I will transfer another £250 into my Freedom Fund then. September is going to be a half month as I have two

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-59186308051777667292011-08-11T19:15:00.005+01:002011-08-11T20:43:02.206+01:00

July has gone and the tax bill is paid for, for another six month. With the chaps from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs dealt with I feel very free to start planning my finances for the rest of the year. But before I can get to excited I have to reveal that I have had to purchase a new computer as my last one died on me suddenly. I had had it for just over five years so it was to be unexpected

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-13375081816658020712011-06-27T17:32:00.009+01:002011-06-27T20:55:44.648+01:00

Spending - oh dear I have been spending this month, and I so didn't want to go over my budget but have well and truly stuffed my goals for this month, in fact the only goal I will accomplish is my payment to my Regular Saving Account. I am treating all my regular savings as if they were debit payments, I have the amount I want to have saved by the end of the year and am paying it off each

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-46468746913792430992011-06-13T00:41:00.003+01:002011-06-13T20:19:17.062+01:00

Wow can you believe it it's been 4 years since I first started blogging

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-52389933393819336142011-06-01T16:45:00.014+01:002011-08-11T19:58:50.268+01:00

My three goals for the month of May were as follows: Totally fund my Emergency Fund with £1k DoneSet aside £500 for my rates DoneSet aside £880 for my taxes Not completed"Two out of three aren't bad" but it's not good either. The good is that I have opened

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-85871990456790178312011-05-28T21:33:00.007+01:002011-05-30T17:52:19.695+01:00

Investing has been my hot search topic on Google this week and I have been doing lots of reading up on Stocks and Shares ISA's, Tracker Funds, Investment Trust, Unit Trust and everything related. I have had a Share builder account with the Halifax for a few years but because of debt wasn't able to add to it. I haven't found a better share dealer so will stick with the Halifax, they only charge

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-46492740709412749012011-05-16T16:52:00.006+01:002011-05-18T00:41:15.560+01:00

My Emergency Fund is now fully funded, I know, I have done Dave Ramsey's steps in the wrong order but am now on to Baby Step three having completed the first two. Gosh I am so happy to get to this place in my finances. Not sure if I will be able to totally complete one of the goals I hope to achieve this month, that being putting aside £1k to pay towards my taxes. This amount I have to lowered to

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-47113805457312714022011-05-05T22:25:00.008+01:002011-05-06T21:30:36.914+01:00

May has been the start of my saving plan, last month after fifteen years, I changed banks and have opened a regular saving plan with my new bank which allows me to save up to £300 a month at 8% for twelve months only. I plan to start up an e-ISA account (if your in the USA think Roth IRA or 401k sort of) once I have fully funded my emergency fund of £1k.Where to put my emergency fund has been a

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-91365414267455081222011-05-01T14:10:00.008+01:002011-05-05T16:01:37.584+01:00

Saving is the journey to a destination or it it?This is how I have always considered saving to be, I would have a goal or destination and then I would put aside money weekly, monthly etc until I had arrived at the goal amount. Always short term goals - usually saving for a trip or the latest gadget but there was a start and an end. I always had part time jobs when I was growing up - I was from a

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-12831622464995784332011-04-28T18:42:00.004+01:002011-05-01T01:10:30.231+01:00

I've done very well I think this month and have clear my final loan which was my main goal. The other goals I set for myself in March were to save £300 and start my Emergence Fund with £60.00. The latter is the only goal I didn't complete and this is because I have been doing some spending this month (cash only of cause!). In total I have spent £174.22 which is the most I have spent since last

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-24430393027780298392011-04-19T20:53:00.006+01:002011-04-20T00:43:22.373+01:00

Yep I did it again but this time I have a plan!

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-66398542509195169262011-04-06T21:14:00.026+01:002011-04-22T20:59:36.719+01:00

Debt sucks and I guess if you read pf blogs you're a debt hater - your probably in the red and are blogging away debt like I am. Getting freedom from debt whether you're a single broke female and are head over heels in debt or it's single guy money issues that have you wanting to kick debt off, we all want to leave debt behind. A budge, some bills and a lot of determination is the way to finding

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-71937931521463575462011-04-06T16:50:00.005+01:002011-04-06T17:44:41.621+01:00

Yep it's the start of the new tax year of 2011/2012 and I am now waiting for my tax forms for last year to arrive having already worked out all the figures I need to complete them. Technicality I have made one payment toward the balance of my last years tax bill. The "Tax Man" (sorry I am not PC) always sends out a guesstimated statement in advance, of which I pay half in January and the second

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-49120794845522130642011-03-31T21:42:00.025+01:002011-04-01T00:24:43.295+01:00

Goal for the month was to clear £1440 from my Flexiloan account but I am ending the month £215.54 short of that goal. Still not to worry I have opened a Regular Saving Account (RSA) and have deposited £260 into it. The account has an interest rate of 6.4% (net) and 8% (gross) but this is only for 12 months. Also by opening this account I will not have to pay the £10 monthly charge for my new

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-71347812059526948262011-03-29T00:13:00.003+01:002011-03-29T00:51:11.192+01:00

Got a text message this evening advising me that the text messaging service for my new bank will be activated within the next 10 days. So I take that as a yes, I am changing banks!! All my direct debts and standing orders will be transferred over for me and being the end of the month they have already been paid. Oh and I even get £100 for switching my current account. Now I have to sort out what

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-38640947805536312662011-03-27T20:15:00.010+01:002011-03-30T16:10:44.771+01:00

Coffee jar snow flaking for March is £31.55, down from last month and £6.45 short of my monthly gym membership. I really have four days left till the end of the month but I will count the rest of the month as April. Tomorrow I'll bank my last pay cheque for March and I'm hoping that it is the last time with my current bank as I'm hoping that I will be able to change banks this week. I have been

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-7801085569217244372011-03-21T15:57:00.013Z2011-03-21T16:51:25.485Z

In light of my February review I will not be able to achieve my goal for March to pay £1440.00 off my Flexiloan but unlike my over spend in February, this time it is an unforeseen expense.The joy of the NHS (Nation Health Service) is that you don't have to pay for any medical expense (well you do as it is included in our tax bills) but what is not covered by the NHS is dental and optical costs.

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-14323643182640918322011-03-14T00:06:00.004Z2011-03-14T01:14:13.950Z

It's half way through March and my finances are okay, everything is on budget and I haven't been buying things online. However my snow flaking isn't so good and I have only saved about £17.00 or so. This money is to cover my gym membership which I have been informed by letter will increase as of the first of April by £2.00 to £38.00 a month. Yes finally I can say that government cuts have caught

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-89303704021526128342011-03-09T20:37:00.005Z2011-03-10T08:34:35.546Z

Having crunched the numbers for my spending last month I find that I've spent £63.98 that I didn't need too and a further £25.00 for expenses that weren't budgeted for. The £63.98 relates totally to Internet purchases and that means £60.00 less going to pay off my Flexiloan in February which is not good news.The £25.00 is for my mobile phone and wifi both are pay-as-you-go and well the wifi is

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-73448964844274323682011-03-01T00:58:00.002Z2011-03-01T01:32:07.013Z

The total balance from my coffee jar for February is £59.25 a further £18.25 added since last week, great snowflaking or what and very needed too. I have told a few of my friends and family that for me this is the year of the bitch! Yep I need to focus on clearing my debt (again) and saving up the start of a deposit for a house - so no little gifts etc,. to anyone. But okay I did buy two books on

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-16761911978340501602011-02-19T21:55:00.015Z2011-02-20T01:52:27.168Z

With still a week and a pay cheque to go till the end of February - I am way ahead of myself with my coffee jar savings. For the last forever it seems, I have been living on £5 a day and each day when I get home I put all my change into a empty coffee jar. I have counted the contents today and it totals £42.05, up from £32.85 in January. This I will bank on Monday as it more than covers my gym

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-66310848482682817242011-02-11T23:18:00.007Z2011-02-25T17:33:43.783Z

I have been reading lots of older blogs and found this from kickdebtoff.com (dated 17 September 2010) which I thought might be good to consider.Do you know your financial situation?Are you doing something about it?Do you have a written budget?Do you have an emergency saving fund?Do you have health insurance?Do you have life insurance?Do you have a written will?Does someone else know where you

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-73624730546339799402011-02-10T17:21:00.016Z2011-02-11T17:47:01.608Z

I did this back in July 2008 but thought why not do it again it's been a while, what is cluttering up my wallet (or purse as I call it). It's a bit early for spring cleaning but a February clear out is okay I guess.The before picture of my purse Yes, a new purse my old one just got too tattie. While going through it I came across a card I really do need to deal with, it's an internet account ATM

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-5841653326467928682011-02-04T21:53:00.006Z2011-02-04T23:00:55.080Z

Very well actually - (big drum roll) - today I cancelled my Barclaycard and also my CreditExpert account. Yes I really did it!! (big smile and happy dance) And I feel really go about it too.Dave would be so proud!!My CreditExpert account is only £6.99 a month but as I am clearing my credit accounts and closing them my credit rating is not really of interest to me, should I need to check my rating

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-60241624747321441962011-01-31T17:21:00.020Z2011-02-01T18:11:38.583Z

It's the last day of January, the day my first tax payment is due for the year ending in April and I am happy to say that the payment has been made. Next tax payment is due at the end of July and I am budgeting to have the monies put aside before that payment in due, once I have cleared my debt in April.All my debt is now held in my Flexiloan account - an account I want to cancel once I clear it

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-59945937536887612772011-01-19T19:38:00.015Z2011-01-19T22:16:56.404Z

This week I received a cheque for a savings investment plan I had and after much thought I have decided to use it to clear my debt sooner. Having decided this I have banked the cheque into my Flexiloan account, which is my smaller debit and also has a lower interest rate than my credit card debit. This in turn made me think about clearing the card with the Flexiloan account, which should save me

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-45654706282967323372011-01-18T21:57:00.003Z2011-01-18T22:23:39.801Z

My Visa Debit Card, good, bad or ugly?Last year I had the opportunity to use my new Visa Debit Card overseas - when I took it with me on my visit home (that's New Zealand if your new to the blog). I loaded it, having been assured by my bank that it would work just like a Visa Credit Card and with great anticipation handed it over to refuel my rental car.No go! (as they say back home) - the petrol

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-5667672054373281082011-01-11T00:04:00.005Z2011-01-18T21:56:22.319Z

Gosh it is well into January and time is flying again.I have listed a load of books I have been reading in the past year on amazon.co.uk and check each morning to see if I have a sale or not, usually not but I have sold about four books since mid December. Snow flaking is up and running then.I was given some money to look after a neighbours dog over the New Year and used that as my spending money

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-35915740445762499572011-01-05T15:19:00.002Z2011-01-05T15:39:46.609Z

Oh Man!!!It's the start of the year again and the Tax man is waiting for his cut at the end of the month and once again I am using my January pay checks to clear it, not the worse part even. While on my second holiday to NZ last year (yes that is correct - second) I have clocked up debt on my credit card and my flexiloan. So now is the time to get rid of both.An emergency situation with my god

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-17943703922582695452010-08-05T17:37:00.003+01:002010-08-05T17:43:17.122+01:00

Well they have both whizzed by...... I haven't gotten around to doing any blogging of late. It's that time of year - weather has been great and these so much else to do!I have been spending on my card mostly books and DVDs but am still keeping the costs way down.My tax due at the end of July is the balance left on my flexiloan, so that will be gone in a week or so and after that the Credit Card

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-72642618749798391762010-05-30T12:32:00.002+01:002010-05-30T12:50:42.690+01:00

Well it's almost the end of May and I am waiting for my last cheque to clear and my next pay cheque will be a day late as it's a bank holiday on Monday. So I wont updated my records until they both clear by the end of this week.I have been bad these last two weeks as I have been buying up some books on Amazon, for some reason or another I have really gotten into reading apocalyptic and post

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-12119279001042984332010-05-26T22:25:00.002+01:002010-05-26T22:49:29.166+01:00

May is coming to an end and we have been enjoyed some lovely "summer" weather here in London, so here's hoping for a hot summer (for once)!As yet I haven't been paid for last week and should be getting a cheque tomorrow but too late to bank until Friday, which means that cheque will not clear till next week, probably Wednesday. So that means that I will have too cheques clearing next week and so

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-58417825011153669822010-05-14T13:18:00.002+01:002010-05-14T13:38:40.778+01:00

Okay, so I booked my flights for the wedding and as we all know the earlier you book the cheaper the ticket. I chose the dates so that I had a good week and a half before the wedding date it's self for any re wedding get together's and all of that. When lo and behold I get a phone call from my Mum to tell me that dates have changed and he's now getting married at the beginning of October and not

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-15463883630223289172010-04-27T20:50:00.003+01:002010-04-27T21:43:22.472+01:00

Well I came back from New Zealand with some debt on my card and having used some of my flexiloan account. The latter would have been cleared by next week but I have just had some news from home which changes all of that. My older brother is getting married at the end of October this year, so I will have to make a second trip home. So that adds £800.00 to my current debt (best to buy tickets early

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-11537594947281972562010-03-22T19:54:00.031Z2010-03-22T22:23:44.319Z

I had a wonderfull holiday........ This is a view of Queenstown, with two para-gliders sailing down towards the town, something I will have to have a go at next time I am in town! The green roof structure at the bottom of the photo is the platform for those mad enough to go "bungy jumping". This is the view I had to put up with from my hotel room - oh well, I have seen worse huh??A view of the

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-88453320429492535202009-12-25T22:02:00.003Z2009-12-25T22:09:54.182Z

Can't wait - the big count down for my trip home is now down to four days. Still haven't finished packing and have so much other things to get done between now and my last day at work which is Sunday.Will get to see my god kids really briefly, which is a real drag but as I haven't seen them at all for about five and a half month even one day is a blessing. They are good kids and understand the

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-47478148774052724102009-12-18T17:13:00.002Z2009-12-18T17:23:15.496Z

It really feels like Christmas is here - we have had snow and could well have a white Christmas too. I am sitting in front of a nice warm fire and have some lovey smelly candles burning to add to the cosy feeling inside. My shopping is mostly done and everything purchased has been wrapped and ready for the big day. It is wonderful to pay cash for all my purchases, not a piece of plastic in sight!

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-4275926085026823192009-11-26T11:56:00.003Z2009-12-05T22:19:38.462Z

Wow the year is really racing now - blink and you miss it!I can't believe I have only one more payment for my taxes and then then next four weeks are all savings towards my two month trip home. I will not make the tax payment until the end of next week (the first week of December)..... gosh so much to do and so little time. I need to sort out my summer wardrobe and also get rid of some of the

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-13073442473035959832009-11-14T12:12:00.002Z2009-11-14T12:39:57.402Z

Winter has arrived and the weather is filthy - along with the end of daylight saving, it is enough to drive anyone to online shopping right? So... okay I haven't gone out of control but I have clocked up some debt on my (one and only) credit card. I will clear it this coming week when my pay check clears but that means a little less to go towards my up and coming income tax bill due at the end of

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-26136267275080237812009-10-17T13:33:00.005+01:002009-10-24T22:17:51.235+01:00

Don't know what the problem is, maybe it is just the fact that autumn has suddenly arrived and is making me feel very down. I've not been reading any blogs and it is half way though the month and I haven't blogged once myself.With the sharp change in the weather I have had to go shopping for some winter clothes. I have been living in jeans and t-shirts all summer long and having had a major clear

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-59257541104808783042009-09-28T23:21:00.004+01:002009-09-30T00:47:57.430+01:00

I have banked my pay cheque and it will not clear till Thursday morning but I have decided to update my charts today. I pay off the last of the debt I own on my credit card with this cheque, and that debt relates to the flight tickets I brought this year for my trip home. So it is not old debt that I have been paying off for years.Next Monday I have an appointment with the nice folk at Her

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-15491575054517399362009-09-24T22:40:00.004+01:002009-09-24T23:24:16.217+01:00

Oops did I say weekly report???I have been busy - sort of... but I am back and doing okay as far as my finances. I'm still on track with my £5 a day spending and am slowly whitling away at my debt. As far as my monthly goals go - I have cleared my Flexiloan (again) and will clear the final payment on my credit card with my last pay cheque of the month. So all is going very well!!Other news which

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-62507504197478203902009-09-04T20:45:00.004+01:002009-09-14T23:50:27.696+01:00

That's it, all there is, only seventeen pay cheques left till the end of the year.Wow that is so scary!Having written out my spread sheets for the rest of the year, I find that to achieve every thing needed, I will have to follow my payoff plan to the letter. My £5 a day will have to cover all my personal expenses and all spending. It's all going to be very tight from now till the end of the

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-9663548033723007452009-08-27T20:24:00.005+01:002009-08-27T22:30:07.403+01:00

Just when I had cleared all my cards I have to put my travel expenses onto it, all £1,146.92. Still I am glad I have confirmed my trip home and can now give dates of arrival to my friends and family instead of just vague statements of "the end of December" or "just after Christmas".But I have a balance on my credit card again which I need to clear - I also have a new balance on my Flexiloan

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-13576168417853973682009-08-07T17:58:00.005+01:002009-08-07T18:52:35.471+01:00

Okay, this is partly a date thing - it is the seventh of the eighth of the ninth today - surely a reason in it's self to make an entry on your blog?The other reason to make this posting is that I have just closed my Halifax credit card, having been put through to their "special" closure department. I think all banks have them, as this is the second one I have dealt with of late. And they really

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-61258972699351765152009-08-03T19:35:00.010+01:002009-08-03T21:46:08.421+01:00

Okay - I am a little ahead of myself, I have paid in my paycheck along with some extra income from the last few weeks, onto my last credit card (with my snowballing debt). The cheque will not clear until Friday, as I didn't get to the bank till after 3pm. Never mind!I have also transfer the last £82.18 from my Emergency Account to clear the card but that will not be taken from the account until

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-86440745561894814742009-08-02T22:28:00.007+01:002009-08-02T22:51:08.338+01:00

Well it is the end of my No Spending Week which I have completed with very little problem. My usual £5 a day spending plan was budgeted for and so I paid the monies for the week onto my final credit card. A little step closer to my closing that last credit card.I did have to ration my chewing gum, as I hadn't thought about getting more until last Monday afternoon when the challenge had already

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-38785582492578793822009-07-31T16:50:00.015+01:002009-07-31T18:02:12.012+01:00

Well I have added my tax bill, which is now due, to my debt balance which brings it back to just over the balance I had a the start of June. Gosh it seems like a big step backwards. Still on the positive side I have paid £1,429.19 off my last credit card, better than I had planned and really once that is paid off I will feel I have clear my debit. Okay I will still have debt but it will be all

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-3482484140972862652009-07-27T21:04:00.006+01:002009-07-27T22:40:11.338+01:00

I have taken the challenge of having a "no spend week" and will put my weekly spending money towards clearing my Halifax Credit card. A card I should be able to clear by next month.My extra work is only going to fetch me an extra £450 and not the £700 I had hoped for but still - something is better than nothing.I have £2.08 in my purse from last week which I will add to my emergency fund. My

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-13645455668710417372009-07-20T21:41:00.009+01:002009-07-20T22:33:40.814+01:00

Had a great week last week with my £5 a day and ended it with just over £15 in my purse. Down to half my total weekly spending allowance of £30.No More Spending is going on a No Spending Week but as I have already been out spending a little today I would like to have a go at a no spend week next week. Last year I did do a lot of no spend days which was okay but sometimes I found that I would then

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-54489706158917509472009-07-13T20:36:00.004+01:002009-07-14T19:53:42.654+01:00

I should hang my head in shame as I have clocked up over £700 on my only active credit card.That's the bad news, it's aways good to get that out first and the good news is well the insurance company has sent me a large cheque relating back to the holiday I had in Turkey back in May. It is however £200 less than what I was expecting and less a further £75 excess fee.Also, during my little break

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-14194029834504768812009-07-04T22:22:00.015+01:002009-07-05T23:48:54.383+01:00

I haven't been giving myself goals of late, which was brought home to me when reading DebtHater latest post. In fact re reading my first January post the only real goal I had was to get debt free this year - sort of stating the obvious really. I have been encouraged in the past by other blogger's to make some plans and goals for the future and that is something I just never feel comfortable about

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-90597378296401334522009-07-01T18:16:00.010+01:002009-07-01T22:34:17.871+01:00

I did even better than planned for June and found an extra £150.13 to get my end of month balance down to £2,514.37. I also paid off my second to last credit card in June but as yet have not closed the account, I have destroyed the card and haven't used the account since about last year. So one credit card to go and I would have cleared the £20,056.05 that I started blogging about in June 2007.

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-49020579170887436342009-06-24T20:06:00.003+01:002009-06-24T21:10:47.382+01:00

UNDER 3K ALERT UNDER 3K ALERT UNDER 3K ALERT Yes I am under 3k and also down to one credit card, so until it is cleared everything is going onto my final card. It is really amazing that after two long years I am down to only one debt account. Once that 3k is gone all my debt will be new - it's not stuff I have been carry around for years and paying lots of interest on, my only interest now is to

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-77434530505852172372009-06-14T12:55:00.005+01:002009-06-14T14:37:37.469+01:00

My blog is 2 years old!!!! When I started my blog, I was sure I'd be out of debt within 18 month or 20 months tops! By the end of the first year I knew that, that wasn't going to happen. Life happens - you don't always know what is around the corner and you can only plan for what you know. Also, it is a learning skill to get out of debt, you don't need to learn to get into debt but getting out is

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-85202175084419501122009-06-11T16:51:00.011+01:002009-06-18T11:56:03.791+01:00

Have you noticed? I have been refreshing my blog (a little) - adding some more info and have now included some saving goals. Saturday marks my 2nd year of my blog and I am closer to my goal that ever before and I really believe that without my blogging about my debt I don't think I would have gotten this far. Reading other peoples posts about getting out of debt has been a great help in giving me

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-49508837707117523472009-06-01T20:33:00.014+01:002009-07-08T00:12:04.388+01:00

The 13th of June will mark my second year of the "getting out of debt slogg", which I had originally planned to have achieve by October 2008. Obviously I didn't reach my goal but I figure you have to aim for something and now two whole years later I am so much closer to my ultimate goal of being "debt free".In June 2007 I was £20,056.05 in debt, all of it being unsecured debt, credit card, loans

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-68932480068914983202009-05-30T17:52:00.011+01:002009-05-30T19:53:52.876+01:00

Well another week is almost over and we're having a wonderful weekend here in London. I was back in Richmond Park for my walk/jog around the park this morning and it was full of joggers, dog walkers, family picnics, cyclist and ramblers. Here's hoping for a glorious summer this year.I still have £2.90 in my purse for this week which is very good going. On Friday I was meeting a friend for lunch

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-12543149946119553472009-05-21T21:14:00.004+01:002009-05-22T08:42:03.336+01:00

I am back on the £5 a day deal, after about two weeks off it and I still have £17.09 left until Sunday. So I am back on track with with this concept, which is very pleasing as it gives me a micro budget to play around with during the week. (yes I am a very sad person I know) A micro budget is very helpful to teach you to be thoughtful with your money. I say 'thoughtful' instead of 'careful'

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-54074050693708071342009-05-21T12:33:00.002+01:002009-05-21T12:54:02.264+01:00

It's quite weird to see my debt balance as less than 5k, that was usually the balance owing on one credit card. What a strange journey I have been on. Okay what is happening this month?I plan to pay a minimum of £1,100.00 off my debt - less than I had plan at the start of last month but my holiday spending was about £500 over what I had planned.So my snowballing card which is currently at

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-82388474302550394472009-05-15T14:22:00.003+01:002009-05-15T14:46:44.628+01:00

I have just come back from a weeks break in Icmeler, Turkey - where I completed my Open Water Scuba Diving course along with my godson Joel. He did beat me in the final exam by miles but I have dived off a boat and have also dived deeper than him so there!!Poor Joel - he only just scraped in on completing his diving as the day before the final exam and the big dive off the boat he injured himself

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-66530602998399744972009-05-01T13:45:00.005+01:002009-05-19T15:13:16.443+01:00

I have just checked out my credit score with Creditexpert.co.uk and yaaa-me!!I have gone from 696 "Poor" in 2007, to 818 "Good" in 2008, to 969 "Excellent" in 2009.So my credit rating is now (according to the site) above average - 71% of people have a score lower than Excellent. Wow that puts little ol' me in with the other 29%. I am well chuffed!!According to my report I am not perfect yet as;

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-53390948576911498082009-04-24T13:44:00.003+01:002009-04-24T14:17:17.607+01:00

I am getting so excited - I can see the light at the end of the tunnel (and it's green) and am counting down the weeks till I will be debt free!We have just had the government budget and no good news there - I should be grateful the Labour government did give us a minimum wage but really other than that I have gain nothing from more that ten years of Labour government. And the credit crunch will

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-13446153028165929732009-04-08T14:36:00.003+01:002009-04-08T14:55:10.621+01:00

To get under the £6k I have paid £3.40 onto the credit card I am working on clearing first and so have brought my balance down to only £5,998.30. A land mark balance in my very checked history of being in debt. My lowest balance in the last 10 years (yep you read that right!) is £6,662.28 and that was back in December 2004. My total debt is at it's lowest level ever!!This is how my March balances

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-62749394479163969152009-03-19T12:29:00.004Z2009-03-19T12:56:56.348Z

It has taken a while but I have finally gotten below the lowest record balance I have had in about a decade. Way back in December 2004 my total debit balance was down to a mere £6,662.28 before it slowly (but insistently) climbed to the heights of £20,056.05 in June 2007. That amount really horrified me - how could I be in so much debt but have nothing to show for it? And so my blog journey

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-57307430454027254502009-03-04T12:55:00.002Z2009-03-04T13:12:43.243Z

Well I am down to only two credit cards and would like them both gone (forever) by July this year.The higher interest changing card is going first and currently it stands at £4,560.49. The idea is to throw as much money at it till it is totally gone and to pay £100 a month on the other card until the first is cleared. This monthly payment is more than double the required payment for the month but

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-2005882023757606052009-02-28T14:04:00.003Z2009-02-28T14:19:03.960Z

This is a very brief update as I don't have the current figures for Credit Card No. 2, so I will have to update again this evening if I get the time. Still I am very please the total is now below the £8k mark once again and my networth chart is once again heading in the correct direction.With only two bills to clear it is starting to feel like the end is near! This time next month (G-D willing) I

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-21359535951764437952009-02-24T12:30:00.003Z2009-02-24T12:48:19.828Z

If you have been following my £5 a day plan you will know that last week I was only using the £15 I had left over from the week before and on Sunday evening I still had £6.68 in my purse. So I really have gotten this £5 a day "sorted" (as they say up here).Currently I am waiting for my pay cheque to clear before updating my current debt level but it will be under £8K, so it's all good!!One

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-48061996190735288752009-02-18T13:41:00.005Z2009-02-18T14:02:07.169Z

This £5 a day deal is really working for me - on Monday morning I still had £15 in my purse from last week and so have decided not to take out any money for this week at all.I have closed my ISA account as I don't have any saving in it and have made the decision to send all my savings back home (ie. off shore) and have closed my web saver account (the interest on the account had gone to almost

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-30413489705373202092009-02-05T13:04:00.009Z2009-02-05T13:51:19.966Z

With interest rates tumbing here in the UK - that 14% African rate looks just too good to be true! Fun, friendship and uniforms? Well two out of three isn't bad - a Ugandan Compassion project.These guys are really proud of their home made foot ball and asked me to take this picture of it!When you think you have it hard - take another look at someone else and then count your blessings! (And when

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-55036195341132418462009-02-05T12:40:00.004Z2009-02-05T13:04:09.247Z

We've been snowed under in the UK - it's the most snow I have ever seen since I arrive in the UK in 1993. It has brought back lots of memories of living in Chicago and my very first white winter. It has put a stop to my walks around Richmond Park - it would take twice the time at the moment and I really don't want to be breaking an arm or a leg at them moment.On Monday my bank was closed, I guess

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-53951770231299589682009-01-28T13:04:00.004Z2009-01-29T12:47:57.255Z

Another wet and wintry day in the UK and yet another visit to the library.... and behold lots of empty computers so I shell be able to get my 120 minute quote in full today. I have even brought a packed lunch to save some money!... well really it's because I totally blew my £5 a day budget on Monday when I had lunch with a friend (and of cause I paid), so now I am left with only two £5 notes and

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-38983674984546594902009-01-07T13:58:00.012Z2009-05-29T08:27:09.596+01:00

Yep, at the library again and my time is almost up so I will have to be very brief.Tax Owing £1,828.95 To clear this by end of month Credit Card 1 £4,155.95 minimum payment only /need to reduce the interest on thisCredit Card 2 £3,278.19 minimum payment onlyCredit Card 3 £ 670.77 minimum payment only /plan to clear this in FebFlexiloan £1,386.74 minimum payment only /plan to pay half of this off

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-37392284077983326872009-01-06T12:55:00.002Z2009-01-06T13:17:41.469Z

The big goal is to get debt free and this is the year!!My major for the month of January is to pay off my tax payment by the 31st January, so by avoiding any interest chargers. To do this I will only be able to pay minim payments on all my cards etc, but this will all change in February when I should be able to clear my smallest credit card balance and also clear at least half of my flexiloan

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-82255318830683043282009-01-02T13:00:00.007Z2009-01-03T12:49:10.484Z

January is always overshadowed by the last day of the month - January 31st is one of the two dreaded dates for those of us self-employed souls, here in the UK. That big bill, which becomes due for the upcoming tax year is hanging there, waiting to pounce. And I am sure that the good folk at Her Majesty's revenues and customs are practicing their speed dialing techniques in readiness for the

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-79664292829913307662008-12-31T13:16:00.002Z2008-12-31T13:35:37.179Z

I am back from Africa and even before the end of the year I am in a new job and am working in London now. Hooray!!! Just can't go to the sales in Richmond or Putney etc and I will be find. The job is better paid than my last, but with my tax bill due on the 31st of January I will need it for the start of 2009.My African trip was amazing but I haven't been able to get my pictures online at the

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-707206408953922282008-11-30T10:11:00.007Z2009-07-07T19:37:07.186+01:00

This month has just zipped by and it's already the last day - where did all the time go?Today is my last day to chill out before things go crazy!Tomorrow, oh tomorrow I have a million and one things to do - finish my job and clear out my room, bank my last pay check from my second job, say all my goodbyes to the fine folk I have gotten to know in the village of Chiddingfold and get back to London

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-18688688602899490642008-11-20T20:34:00.003Z2008-11-20T21:26:33.261Z

What's been happening? Where do I start? My second job, the one which has been funding my debt clearing, has been on hold for the last three weeks and doesn't looking like restarting any time soon. Which means my Africa trip is going to have to be mostly funded via my tax payment account - something I am not very happy about but as the trip is now less than a fortnight away what else can I do. At

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-27697946109065444722008-11-08T09:25:00.011Z2008-11-09T14:06:53.257Z

Finally I have started getting my shopping list sorted out for my African trip which is getting closer and closer - time is running out to get it all done. The list isn't complete as I keep getting a brain wave and adding a few more items.I have been amazed by the price differences for products online, I have been looking at prices for a children's world map. The top end price was £18 and my

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-29438910953621701592008-10-31T10:13:00.017Z2008-11-03T14:21:12.885Z

October GoalsEnd the month under £8k DoneStart Freedom Account for rate payments DoneAs of the 01/10/09 have only 8 spend days (that is 23 no spend days) 9 spend daysSort Credit Card No. 3 as the 0 % interest rate is ending in October DoneNot a bad month got under the £8k mark which was a great goal to have achieved and only went one day over my 8 spending day limit for the month. Also started my

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-70003438824023738222008-10-20T12:26:00.002+01:002008-10-20T12:46:43.850+01:00

Oh I just love my alerts and I seem to be having them more often which means my budget is working and I am being very good. All going well I hope to have one more alert before the end of the year.In the last 8 years I have ended the month at under 8k only 12 times and only once since 2006, so I am closer to getting into new territory. The lowest my debt has been since 2001 is £6662.28 (US

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-87537273595524513982008-10-18T10:25:00.005+01:002008-10-19T10:36:41.226+01:00

Having been warned by Fool.co.uk about some sneaky new tricks from the Halifax people but then forgetting about it until I happened to check the account online - I at once noticed that the upcoming minimum payment was less than half of what I had just paid the month earlier. What they have done is reduce the minimum payment percentage by half, to only 1%. This means you will never really clear

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-71447708444711912912008-10-15T00:19:00.009+01:002008-10-20T11:53:25.869+01:00

Last week I received a letter with a very strange photo attached. The photo showed seven cows lying in a field, to the right in the distance another cow is grazing. Nothing odd you would think in that. However the seven cow were not resting, it was very clear from the photo - they were dead.The dark brown cow with very large horns to the far left of the picture, I had seen before in another photo

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-79722520055157423382008-10-09T21:11:00.001+01:002008-10-09T22:09:03.543+01:00

I have read lots of blogs by pf blogger's who are big on "no spending days" and decided I needed to do this too. I sort of do it any way because of my job situation but I tend to waste money here and there on snacks. Not good for my budget and not good for my weight. So I need to nip it in the bud.So far this month I have had three spend days which is totally on schedule - so very good so

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-73925938289726923242008-09-30T21:16:00.015+01:002008-09-30T22:42:01.697+01:00

September has been a great month for me!I have achieved some of my goals and will work towards completed them all in October.Short Term GoalsEnd September under £9k (Done)Start Freedom Account for rate payments (Will get onto this in October)Clear all loans by 31/10/08 (Done on the 30/09/08)Clear Credit Card No. 3 by end of year (Well under way!)End year under £7k (Well under way also - could

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-44384760522205793052008-09-25T21:38:00.004+01:002008-09-25T22:25:52.175+01:00

Unlike credit card payments, loan payments are much larger and can really be a strain on your budget. I have been paying both my loans at about the same time, so it has been a challenge to get the full payment in my account on time each month for the direct debit payments. Often I have had to use my saving to cover any short fall, replacing it the next time I was paid.By paying off my loans I

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652105247622853025.post-31270632771690890422008-09-23T12:14:00.004+01:002008-09-24T08:46:24.353+01:00

Yaaaahoooooo!!Another grand has been wipe off my debt total and I am pretty damn happy about it. For the whole of last year my debts totalled over ten thousand and at it's worst it was at twenty thousand, it is pretty scary when you debt equals your annual income.So I am thrilled for each and every thousand I can reduce my debt by. And I am hoping to clear all my loans by the end of this month

LisaClarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02215188885810609968noreply@blogger.com2