This Duo's debt free journey

DebtFreeDuo · 25 September 2017 at 7:17PM

I spent a little more than I would have liked today and it was completely due to lack of planning, after a long day I just didn't want to cook and it didn't help that I hadn't had time to grab anything for dinner so I had to go out anyway, if I had something in the fridge then I absolutely would have chosen cooking over going out. Ended up going to the chip shop and the shop for a couple of bits I needed. Total spends of the day £5.30 on dinner and £7.50 in the shop.

On the plus side I managed to cycle all the way into university and back! I'm feeling it now though, going to see how my legs feel in the morning before I decide whether to take the car tomorrow. Total saved by cycling: £4.50. I will have to buy myself a rain coat for cycling but without this I won't be encouraged to cycle, I think the savings I will make in parking and fuel can justify a cheap rain coat.

HairyHandofDartmoor · 25 September 2017 at 7:47PM

I think a rain coat is essential for winter cycling DFD. Well done on cycling in, you could always do it every other day until you build up your stamina.

Tea&Kittens · 25 September 2017 at 8:27PM

Well done on the cycling DFD! Having the right gear for wet weather makes a world of difference, so I'd say invest and cycle as often as you can!

DebtFreeDuo · 26 September 2017 at 6:19PM

Thank you both, I didn't manage to cycle today, I was aching all over this morning and I just couldn't manage it at all. I aim to cycle in tomorrow although I haven't got a raincoat just yet, going to see if I can get one on amazon as I can use my vouchers from Swagbucks that way. I'm hoping to build up to cycling in everyday except one day per week, this should be a saving of at least £10 per week.

Today has been far too spendy, £3.50 on parking for uni and then £55.28 on topping up on food. I'm hoping I won't need to buy any other food now for a couple of weeks except for milk and a top up of fruit, my little one never used to eat much but now hes constantly complaining that hes hungry and getting through so much fruit!

HairyHandofDartmoor · 26 September 2017 at 9:20PM

Children do eat a lot when they're growing, but they need the fuel. I try and buy cheaper fruit such as apples, bananas and satsumas which are quite filling, and avoid things like grapes and cherries etc, which are very pricey.

I don't blame you for not cycling today, I expect you'll feel less ache tomorrow and you wont need to pay for a gym membership

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DebtFreeDuo · 27 September 2017 at 2:11PM

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Children do eat a lot when they're growing, but they need the fuel. I try and buy cheaper fruit such as apples, bananas and satsumas which are quite filling, and avoid things like grapes and cherries etc, which are very pricey.

I don't blame you for not cycling today, I expect you'll feel less ache tomorrow and you wont need to pay for a gym membership .

I agree that grapes and berries etc are very pricey, especially when he can sit there and eat a whole punnet of grapes in no time. He loves his bananas and easy peelers at the moment, not such a big fan of apples but I try to balance it out and do him a mixed bowl of stuff so that the more expensive stuff is mixed in.

My food bill is one thing that I do struggle with, I generally buy organic food which can be a fair bit more than non-organic but as there is only the two of us I feel that I can get away with it because we don't get through tons of food.

Today hasn't been too bad, spent more on parking than I would have liked as my usual car park was full, I think I will have to make sure I can cycle in on Wednesdays because of the later start and the parking situation. I bought myself a rain coat, cost around £17 and I also bought some gloves £7 for cycling to prevent my hands from being sore after riding. Completely prepared for cycling in tomorrow now so I have no excuse.

Tea&Kittens · 27 September 2017 at 2:34PM

Hi Duo, your food shops sound like mine usually are. We do usually eat quite a lot of fruit, though the amount Kitty consumes is reduced now she can only choose between oranges/apples/bananas. Grapes and berries don't last any time at all!
Good going with the rain coat, hope it keeps you dry for cycling!

DebtFreeDuo · 27 September 2017 at 3:08PM

I've just realised I had my figures down wrong so just updating:

Loan: 2346.38 actually £2207.38
Car Loan: 2717.54 actually £2419.64
0% CC: 1063.48 correct
So total is actually: 5690.50

Wow thats a massive £433 I had added to my debt from a simple mistake on my spreadsheet, I know exactly what I had done wrong and I won't be doing that again, it feels good to wipe off debt by doing nothing! I'm so pleased, I thought I was still over the 6k mark but I'm now well and truly below it.

HairyHandofDartmoor · 27 September 2017 at 8:50PM

Great that the debt is lower than you thought :T. Good luck with the cycling tomorrow.

DebtFreeDuo · 30 September 2017 at 10:48AM

The last two weekends I've felt run down, I don't know whats going on with me. Feeling rubbish is really not good for my debt free targets, I find I always go for the easy (more expensive) option, for example I am extremely tempted to order takeaway this evening as I don't feel up to cooking. I usually have a leftover meal in the freezer for occasions like this but I don't think I have anything after being so unprepared this week.

I need to go over my finances today to see how much damage has been done so I will be reporting back later on, I just had to come here to get some focus and now that its written here then I have to do it! Back later.

This Duo's debt free journey

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