Reflecting on the challenge.

I've earnt an extra £350 this month, after tax and that will clear my overdraft that I ran up paying for the boiler to be repaired. The lodger is fine and seems cosy wrapped up in a big jumper and when I asked him is he was warm enough, told me he hasn't used the heating at all since he moved from Yorkshire. My challenge tomorrow is a day at a poetry convention in Plymouth and I have to pay for the train, lunch and coffee! The train is in the opposite direction that I usually travel so I have to pay, lunch I can take so I need only buy coffee and I know of all the cheap places in Plymouth. My next challenge is a half term break without any money and keeping myself amused. I may buy a new sewing machine needle tomorrow and start my scrap store patch work project and get that done in the holiday. Although I am teaching my 'private' students over the week and will have some spare money to pay off extra debts. I am on the count down to being debt free by the London Olympics - by August; I won't owe the Halifax any money and by October I won't owe the Abbey any money and by the Olympics I won't owe LLoyds any money and then I can start to make a hole in my mortgage capital. At first it seems a mountain and now I see it as a simple task of a few steps a month. I'm not cold, I'm not hungry and I am resolutely determined to make it to my 50th birthday with no personal debt in the household at all. I've started to really look after things. I keep the car cleaner and worry about scratches as it's the last car I'm going to buy. the new washing machine is left with the door and soap dispenser door left open so it never goes mouldy and my 'new' coat is brushed down and hung up carefully as that too will have to last. I clean my shoes and keep them in good order and dry them carefully so they too will get good wear. I hang towels that I would have previously washed up to dry and use the same one all week and wear the same work trousers all week with just a clean shirt each day to make myself 'look' professional. It's almost a year since I cut up my credit card and this April I will celebrate a year of living within my means. Had I have always lived like this, then I'd be mortgage free with money in the bank!