Jolly's new start....another diary!!

Jolly2009

Afternoon all,

Well had me a lovely shopping trip to Ikea - love it! We got loads for the flat, lots more storage now so very pleased. OH bless him paid - he's so lovely.

So today -

• sort and tidy flat (looks as if bomb has hit it at mo!)
• get up to date with washing
• go food shopping
• check online banking
• re-evaluate financial situation (ongoing project)

Lots to do and just on lunch break at mo. Have a nice day everyone xx

Jolly2009

Afternoon,

Well I didn't get anything done on my list yesterday as OH sat down and went through our finances....the goal posts have changed slightly!

We looked at my dmp and his accounts etc (very little debt) and have decided to focus on something other than debt at the mo. My debt is slowly coming down, we are at that stage whereby we want to buy (in my dreams), kids etc....not going to happen unless someone chucks me a magic money tree!!

Anyhow, because we want these things and it is likely OH will have to get mortgage in his name only we are concentrating on saving every penny possible towards this. We're lucky in that he has inheritance and a little money from parents so it's a good start but we want to chuck some more into it so we have a better chance of buying a property and mortgage offer for him alone.

So, from today it's all about getting those extra pennies in, cutting back and chucking every available bit of money be it 1p or £1 to the savings account. I have made a good start as had a bit of overtime in pay this month (if only I had it regularly) but worked out a strict budget and I have transferred £200 to savings....don't think I have ever done this for as long as I can remember :T I'm pleased that I have been able to start doing it and plan on doing a lot more overtime if possible when available and rather than workign on the debts I am concentrating on the savings side of things.

It's a bit of a shift in priorities but we have sat down and worked it out and really is our only chance of buying a house etc sooner rather than later....so will update my totals. I'm going to take a leaf out of Fresians diary and start listing daily tasks and include a daily online banking check and actually pay 1p minimum towards savings account each day - Payment a day.

We have said we'll evaluate in 6 months time and see where we are at, look at dmp and budget etc and see if anything changes.

I'm kinda excited and feel up for the challenge as it's a joint working and we both really want this.

Anyhow....enough babbling from me, sorry if I bore anyone....its really just a place for me to write things down....yawn!

Jolly2009

Afternoon all,

Getting back on track...........so far............................

1. £200 towards savings
2. Cleared flat
3. Sorted budget until payday

To do.......................next.............................

1. Sort through paperwork
2. Work out setting up direct debits
3. Plan ahead - food, bdays etc.

So there we have it so far. Goals have changed and just read an interesting thread re living off nothing after everything paid out (inluding food) so will be watching with interest. Week ahead for me should include NSD every day as have everything I need and train fare for London (thurs work in office) included in budget. Now theres an aim - NSD's all week mon - fri!

Anyhow will update later, just going to pop my new totals up.

I'm looking forward to a new way of thinking and saving towards our first home too :T

Jolly2009

What a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon it has been, hope everyone has had the nice weather

I have just sorted through my paper work, all up to date, shredded if needed and in order :T Also through going through it all come across and old post office savings account with £20 in it so have £20 I didn't know I had in savings too

So, later on going to sit down with OH and go through a few things. He needs to sit and sort through his paper work and then we need to think about what we are going to do....should be fun

Will update later x

Jolly2009

This evening I have managed to.......

• Sit down with OH and go through loads. We're clear about what future plans we have and how we are going to achieve these (won't bore you with details) over the coming months.
• Satisfied myself that taking the option for DMP was the way forwards, debt has gone down - worked out what my payments would be if I wasn't and I still couldn't afford (now) to meet them on a basic salary. Pleased I decided to do it a year ago rather than carry on struggling.
• Decided to let my DMP take it's course, dfd in approx 5yrs. I have decided not to keep following this, I will save this to pay off debt, I will do this to pay off debt. It's a negative process for me and I have been doing it for the past 10 years. So now it's I will continue on my DMP and review my budget when and if I have any financial changes i.e increase in basic salary or change in outgoings etc and I will pay off my debt within the next 5 years.
• I am now going to focus on planning for my future, building joint savings with my partner and savings for myself. Working on my own self esteem, diet, lifestyle. Doing things for me and not thinking too much about the debt all the time.
• Taking positive steps to un-do the past 10 years of debt building. Re-training my thoughts towards money, look at why I spend, why I waste money. Think of ways to change these habits of a life time and positively turn myself around so that when I am debt free it stays this way! Lots of forward planning.
• Finally.....sorry for babbling.....keep on track with this diary. Getting things off my chest, updating my progress and reading others threads for ideas and motivation.

Ok that's a lot of decision made after a weekend speaking with partner, close friends and myself (mad as that sounds!). Decided that I need to start focusing on changing things in my life that lead me to become so in debt and need a DMP. Once I get those sorted and plan for the future better I can then focus on other things. I'll get there, the debt just needs to take a back seat, this is not to say that I won't be doing the usual - re-evaluating budgets, using cashback sites, surveys, nsd etc. I will still be doing all I can to cut back and save still!

Anyhow finally, my aims for tomorrow (day off work) are as follows;

1. Get up after a nice lay in - not setting an alarm.
2. Eat healthy (going to update daily of what I have eaten/drunk to keep me on track.
3. Go for a run.
4. Spring clean my flat, dust, pull out couches etc.
5. Catch up on washing.

Generally a super getting organised day, I see this as a fresh new start with a fresh new outlook on life and I will keep this up on a daily basis. Determined to stay focused in all aspect, money saving, lifestyle changing. Little steps to a more positive future

mooomin

Well done you :T

It really sounds like you have set yourself goals and know where you want to be.

Good luck!

Jolly2009

Thanks Fresian, I do feel like I have turned a corner and am feeling so positive about things now and where I am going :T It's amazing what a weekend of talking, sorting and thinking can do.

So after a lovely lie in this morning I am off to start battling my flat and getting it super organised

Jolly2009

Evening,

Well I have had a productive/chilled day off today. Back to work tomorrow - normality again!

So today I have done......

• Eaten healthy
• Spring cleaned flat - apart from bathrooms
• Done mini top up shop at tescos
• Brought all cards, bdays etc up until end of March
• 1 load of washing (30) - wasn't behind as much as I thought!

Didn't manage the run but that's because I got caught up in my kitchen sorting cupboards so don't feel too bad.

Off for a nice bath and early night now... xx

mooomin

Jolly2009 wrote: »

• Brought all cards, bdays etc up until end of March

I had a mini-sulk today when I walked in to M&S (To buy lunch for a colleague) and there was a Mothers Day display. Another thing to buy for *gumpitygrump*

Have a nice evening!!

Jolly2009

For some reason Fresian I have a Mothers Day card in my 'bdays, wrapping paper etc storage box' why, I don't know I'm starting to wonder whether I gave one to my Mum last year......I must have

Plans for today.....to get through a day at work and that is it Have friend coming round for dinner and cooking us Tuna Pasta Bake and no doubt a bottle of wine so the diet is sort of good/bad

Want a giggle.....OH is busy doing his annual sort out/list of things-to-do and he is stressed out just by booking an MOT, date to get chip in windscreen sorted and because he can't get through to vodafone and keeps speaking to answer machine or automated messages he is stressed......welcome to my world darling;) At last he doesn't have £50K + of debt to contend with, numerous creditors letters and oh, every day life eh :rolleyes:

Anyway, best get back to things. Have a good day all xx