Debt free and Emigrating..

The first goal is to cut the unnecessary spending which is the real killer. We don't spend a lot on big purchases really or anything like that, we just fritter our money a little bit on things.

I'm feeling quite pleased with myself so far though because it's pay-day week but we're already in money-saving mode for this whole month, rather than over-spending at the beginning of the month and then having to pull in the reins in the week before payday like usual!

This week, I'm feeling very determined! I have brought in my lunch from home and so spent nothing on lunches and snacks. I have been cooking the old-style way - baking puddings while cooking dinner, cooking more from scratch and batch cooking - and managed to get our grocery shop for £18 this week. Trying to set the tone for the rest of the month which will really stand us in good stead for attacking those debts. My aim is to spend more time at home - thinking about budgeting, shopping wisely and cooking / meal-planning more to avoid those impulse buys / take-away urges.

I think I may join the unnecessary challenge which will be good for me as that is definitely my downfall. DH is on board with this too which is a great help because I find we can do this much easier when we do it together.

Aim for this month then is to pay off the very small balance on the credit card (under £100) and cut that up, not cut into our emergency overdraft (we've just got a £200 overdraft which we use for emergenices...) and so then start next month off on a good starting point. DH has done loads of overtime this month too - 45 hours! - so we'll get a nice bonus in the June pay-packet. If we budget correctly, we might be able to put some of that in savings which will be really good.

Hi Ytaya

You're right about the interest issue - but I'd just rather clear the small debt first. I know it's not that logical but psychologically, I'd prefer to get rid of the one smaller debt and then just have one debt to focus on!

It's been a good week this week

Truly on the money-saving mission, have brought in lunches and not spend anything unnecessary all week, looking forward to joining the unnecessary challenge to prove this next week :rotfl:

I've realised that living the DFW way seems to unleash my inner domestic goddess too - this week I have spent so much time at home, cleaning, organising, meal-planning and making home cooked meals - and then got upset when my husband was not seriously impressed with all this effort :rotfl:

Seriously though, I'm enjoying it. We're eating better meals and everything feels better when the house is clean and organised and we're not out spending money. DH and I were talking about how good and satisfying it feels to economise - it's almost like a detox - living a nice, simple, non-wasteful life..I love it more and more.

I'm pleased with just a little bit of effort, sometimes how quickly you can see results. I often check the position of our bank account at the date of the previous month to see how we are doing relatively money-wise - 3 days ago, we were £400 down on last month but now we've pulled it back to £150 down on last month in just a few days so I'm really pleased about that - makes me realise how much we spent between DH's pay day and my pay day last month :mad: but also it's nice to see how easy it is just to cut back. I haven't withdrawn any cash from the machine this week and I love that :cool:

Dh has told me that because of all of his hard work this month, he's due an extra £500+ in his pay packet next month :j :j :j I'm thrilled! Half of me is tempted to take it off him :rotfl: and put it on our Lewis Group debt to reduce it down to £1,500 which would be lovely - but the other half of me can't bear to lose that lovely hard earned money. I'm also tempted to just stick it in a savings account and that will completely pay for a holiday for us both later on in the year (we want to get a week in France in the area where we want to relocate!) so that would probably be sensible because then we won't need to find any money for the holiday out of our monthly salary. Will have a think about it - think DH probably deserves a treat out of that money seeing as he's been working so hard though :rotfl:

Tonight, I'm going to buy my bus season ticket for next week and we will do the grocery shopping at the weekend so Monday I won't need to spend anything and can start the week afresh.

I LOVE people reading my diary! - I love the comments, advice and support, that's what it's all about! so thank you!! :beer:

I will definitely keep posting - I find diaries are great for keeping me accountable - when I was losing weight with WeightWatchers, I kept an onlin diary and I think it was a huge part of my success, hopefully it will be the same way with the debt!

Sorry your OH doesn't notice either when you work around the house - what is it with men??!! :rotfl: I always go around saying things like 'the house looks really clean, doesn't it??!!!' and then he agrees with me