Nat's Diary:One Down...FOUR To Go to DF Forever!!!

nellis10

Well I got paid at midnight and I have checked my balance and I've updated my spreadsheet with the latest amounts!!

Still going to be checking daily via telephone until I get online banking sorted!

Lots of DDs will be going out over the weekend, which is fine...I would rather all my DDs went out in the first week of the month anyway so that I am only left with what I can spend/save/throw at debts!!

I've some savings in my paypal and online savings acct now and am still waiting for quidco to send me my £50...but I will ahve roughly £190 extra to throw at debts...still trying to save it all in one place and have a good amount to throw at it...so will wait till I have £200 and will make the payment...this is on top of my budgeted £150 to overpay my CC...so I am relatively happy as I didn't make the full £150 to the CC in Jan (didn't want to go anywhere near the overdraft ever again!!)

Feeling quite positive about the future and my new control of finances....BUT...I will be relying on whoever reads my thread to stop me from being complacent!

Olderbutnotwiser

Fantastic going.:T
I love payday :smileyhea I am sad too also could not wait to update my spreadsheets xx
Happy February

xnatalie81x

Just an idea: Have you thought about claiming that 350 in charges back.......... The test case is gonna take some time but might as well get started and even if you get 200 back of the 350 you'll have a little injection of cash or maybe even have paid everything off so a lil splurge on baby stuff (have my fingers crossed for the IVF for you )

Also how about trying to get your grocery bill down a little bit more if you feel you can. I see it is around 250 mth....... I budget 240 mth and spend about 200 max in fact but i have me, OH, 4.5yr old, 2.5yr old and 1 yr old. I understand you work so might not wanna spend all sunday afternoon cooking and freezing meals for the week but it may help...........

Love reading your diary and thanks for posting it

nellis10

Hi Nat! I've deliberately over budgeted for spends each month so that I can come in under the total....gives me a little boost each month rather than struggling to find extra money if you see what I mean.

I am in the fortunate position that I have extra money each month to pay off my debts but what I lack is control. I know there are many people out there who are struggling to pay the debts off and I don't take that lightly for one moment, hence I should be doing all I can to get rid of mine whilst I can.

So am actually hoping that out of my "spends/debts" budget below of £722, I will be able to save more for the debts....Things like Christmas though I really need to budget for throughout the year so that I don't have a catastrophe again like 2008 where I end up losing £350 of my bonus to stupid charges!!

Here's my Feb Spends Budget...

Household Budget Amount (after direct debits and standing orders paid)
Car MOT 0.00 (budgeted in April)
Car Tax 0.00 (budgeted in May)
Childcare 37.00 (over and above vouchers I get)
Car Parking 40.00 (£2.50/day 4 days a week)
Petrol 60.00 (necessary evil)
Food 250.00 (looking to actually spend £200)
Clothes 30.00 (looking to save)
Health/Beauty 20.00 (looking to save)
Eating Out 20.00 (another little saving opportunity)
Credit Card Overpay 150.00 (obviously a definite payment!)
Christmas 50.00 (into the separate online acct)
Birthdays 20.00 (2 birthdays and valentines day this month!)
Family Treats 45.00 (looking to save)
Total 722.00

The one extra spend I need to account for this month is a new single bed mattress for DS. Need to factor this into my budget so the "treats" etc will have to be used instead!

Olderbutnotwiser

You are getting so organised honey, :T
I'm going to be brave and cut up my cards one day soon honestly :rolleyes:

nellis10

It felt good getting rid of cards I never use!! Te only ones I ahve are my current account, my savings acct and our joint acct which I never use anyway!

Online Banking again feels great....now I have no excuse not to watch the pounds and pence!! I've also gotten rid of a few direct debits which were still on my acct but never used!

I've listed a few more items on ebay and selling a couple of items a week which is great!

Spends so far not budgeted for: Netgear Wireless Adapter - £40 and Norton 360 for hubby £60 (which won't download for me!!!:mad: ) So I've taken them out of my "Treats" and food budget.

Actually it came out of my £200 emergency money which I need to replace from my budget!! I think I should put that money somewhere I wont use it!!

nellis10

WOOHOOO!!! :j :j :j :j

I made my Virgin Credit Card overpayment today....£168.64 bringing the CC balance down to £1950 UNDER TWO GRAND LEFT TO PAY! :T :T

This also brings my Total Debt down now to UNDER ELEVEN THOUSAND!! :T :T :T

WOOHOO!!!! :j :j

I'm hoping by the end of the month with all my ebaying and my insurance money coming through I might even come in under £1250!!!!

Feeling great today!!