Everything is possible if you try!

Tea&Kittens · 19 September 2017 at 12:04PM

Hi EH
I usually do food shopping once a week, based on a meal plan, which tends to work well during the week, but is a bit looser over the weekends, when I'll often pop over to friends on say a saturday afternoon and end up staying for the evening and getting takeaway instead of eating at home (though this is still cheaper than a night out). I have done a good sort out of cupboard food, just need to go through the freezer still - it's on the jobs list for this weekend!
My current phone contract is with 3, might see what they can offer me when contract is up!

EssexHebridean · 19 September 2017 at 12:18PM

I managed to get off my contract with EE 3 months before it was due to finish by ringing them up and giving them details of a deal Plusnet were offering at the time - they matched the deal as a SIM only which was exactly what I wanted, so it may be worth a call a couple of months ahead of the contract end date?

Also tend to be a bit looser with food planning over the weekend - we have a selection of favourite meals for weekends which come into play but usually the makings of those are in the freezer or fridge so I don't plan them rigidly.

My freezer audit is also on the list for this weekend!

Tea&Kittens · 20 September 2017 at 9:46AM

Managed a no spend day yesterday, and I'm on track for bringing lunches into work. So far, so good, though only 2 weeks in.
We were gifted some lovely runner beans from a neighbours allotment, so super fresh tasty veg for tea yesterday

Tea&Kittens · 20 September 2017 at 2:47PM

My budget has almost become like a mantra in my mind, making sure each £ of wages is properly accounted for while trying to reduce debt, while also trying to save for important things and events!
I've had a think about emergency funds being exactly that, so I've set up an additional cash saver account so that I can have one as a genuine emergency fund (I'm thinking most likely use of this is for car/house issues, so I'm also accounting for car tax, insurance and MOT expenses) and the other for saving for more "Luxury" spends such as special occasions, holidays, other sundries. I've spent quite a bit of time working out how to divide the remaining funds after paying all monthly bills and (more than the minimum on) credit cards and I think I have something which should work, so this is what I will be attempting to stick to, I'm hoping to be amending expenditure downwards so I can pay more off the cards as I get better at it/more used to it.
Enthusiastic saver - I did have a look at transferring the interest portion of the b'card to an interest free option. I did the find the best card for you thing elsewhere on this forum, and it suggested the MBNA, but most they would give me was £2500 (so that balance was originally on the b'card but is now a little bit of interest free ....

plush_2 · 20 September 2017 at 3:10PM

@Tea&Kittens found you and subscribed. Read your first two messages, it's strikingly similar... was shocked to learn that an IVA was suggested. You haven't done that, have you?

enthusiasticsaver · 20 September 2017 at 4:22PM

Tea&Kittens wrote: »

My budget has almost become like a mantra in my mind, making sure each £ of wages is properly accounted for while trying to reduce debt, while also trying to save for important things and events!
I've had a think about emergency funds being exactly that, so I've set up an additional cash saver account so that I can have one as a genuine emergency fund (I'm thinking most likely use of this is for car/house issues, so I'm also accounting for car tax, insurance and MOT expenses) and the other for saving for more "Luxury" spends such as special occasions, holidays, other sundries. I've spent quite a bit of time working out how to divide the remaining funds after paying all monthly bills and (more than the minimum on) credit cards and I think I have something which should work, so this is what I will be attempting to stick to, I'm hoping to be amending expenditure downwards so I can pay more off the cards as I get better at it/more used to it.
Enthusiastic saver - I did have a look at transferring the interest portion of the b'card to an interest free option. I did the find the best card for you thing elsewhere on this forum, and it suggested the MBNA, but most they would give me was £2500 (so that balance was originally on the b'card but is now a little bit of interest free ....

Excellent start and as time goes on it will become easier to keep spends within your limits. Great you are able to manage even slightly more than minimums. I do not think an IVA or DMP is for you. You can do this.

Tea&Kittens · 21 September 2017 at 12:06AM

Hi Plush, I'm happy to say that I didn't go with an IVA option. I was all pretty much set to do so when I thought I couldn't see any way out (anxiety issues came into play, it was a really low day). I backed out at the very last minute after I found this forum, read some diaries, really took a good look at incomings and outgoings. I was surprised at how much I had left over after bills even with playing off the debt which was a huge kick up the behind about how irresponsibly I was spending.
Now I feel that I'm doing something positive about it, more in control it helps.

Tea&Kittens · 21 September 2017 at 12:09AM

Thanks for the encouragement enthusiastic saver!

Had another NSD today, that's 2 in a row

System · 21 September 2017 at 6:25AM

Hi Tea & Kittens, just stopped by to say you have started of well. The budgets for things like food, entertainment etc can take a few months to get just right , so stick with it and don't worry if you have to keep changing things around.
Have subscribed to cheer you on.

mrsonions · 21 September 2017 at 9:22AM

Well done tea on the 2 NSDs

Everything is possible if you try!

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